Looking for a perching fish

[ThreeMoneyJ]

My first vote is longnose hawk. Mine doesn't bother shrimp (he started small and is fed well) and they love to perch on soft corals. Beyond that I'll second a tailspot blenny, but have to disagree on the starry or algae blenny. I love my starry, but I feel they just get too big for a 40.

 

[Betta132]

If you keep a clown goby with anything that might nip, you'll see that they taste bad. I used to have one, and my blue damsel instantly started pestering it- hitting it with his tail and such. It didn't budge. The damsel took one nip, froze, zipped across the tank, and sat in the corner looking unhappy and mouthing furiously. He did NOT like how the goby tasted. It's apparently the slime coat, as he didn't do any damage to the goby.

 

[bighex]

Lots to think about. I would love a longnose or a flame hawk. I'm just not sure I want to risk my shrimp.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[Stevenliu9]

While there is caution for hawkfish threatening invert, not all are bad. I have a lyretail hawkfish living with six shrimp (cleaner and coral banded) and it leaves them alone. Imo hawkfish has so much personality they are really cool to look at.

 

[IdahoCindy]

My vote would be a hawkfish. My starry blenny was a terror and I'm glad he is gone. Love my hawkfish.

 

[3dees]

I have four peppermints with my flame hawkfish and have no problems. they may go after very small shrimp, but they are generally ok with larger shrimp, especially if the shrimp were in the tank first.

 

[Booboobear259]

Lawn mower blenny. I love mine

 

[maikoa02]

I have four peppermints with my flame hawkfish and have no problems. they may go after very small shrimp, but they are generally ok with larger shrimp, especially if the shrimp were in the tank first.

Completely agree. Had flame hawk in nanos from 12-24 gallons with no issues with shrimp. Really cool fish that get a lot of attention and compliments from visitors.

 

[twon8]

I've had longnoses hawks for years and they've never bothered my cleaner shrimp or peppermint a

 

[Azedenkae]

I'd vote for a Gobiodon of some kind. Like a Clown Goby, as others have suggested.

 

[nathan1986]

Wispy wasp fish and red fin wasp fish. Bottom dwellers, stay small, carnivores and not aggressive but are highly venomous

Thats my wispy wasp. He mainly hops along the sand bed or hops rock to rock. He will only swim when I feed the tank and even then he will swim to the food, take a piece then sink back to the bottom

 

[bighex]

Is one type of hawkfish more "shrimp safe" than others? Flame vs. longnose for example or is it strictly dependent on the individual?

 

[twon8]

Is one type of hawkfish more "shrimp safe" than others? Flame vs. longnose for example or is it strictly dependent on the individual?

Smaller is better. I don't think either is much of a threat unless they are newly added agrimp

 

[ReeferSutherlnd]

Hello reef central. I've been reading a lot here, but this is my first post.

I have a 40 gallon fusion AIO reef tank (softies and LPS so far). I'm looking for some input on stocking. Currently I have a black ocellaris clown, yellowhead pearly jawfish, and a blackcap basslet. There is a skunk cleaner shrimp and some blue leg hermits for inverts. The tank is about 2 months old. I transferred some of the live rock and the clown from a smaller tank so it's a little more mature than 2 months would indicate. Anyway, I'm planning out my next fish.

I would like a fish that will spend much of its time hopping around/perching on the rock. I've been looking at blennies primarly, but haven't found one that I'm totally sold on. I would like something that stays pretty small and is hardy. I love hawkfish but have ruled them out because I want to keep my shrimp.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hey I have a 90 gal mixed reef and have a cleaner shrimp, p'mint shrimp, fire shrimp, anemone shrimp, monkey shrimp etc. My hawkfish plays nice and even gives them hugs. Momma says you can never keep enough shrimp.

 

[Fishmaster13]

I would say hawkfish but they really aren't safe with shrimp. I love them like crazy, I had Falco hawkish for years, but soon they don't just eat shrimp, they start attacking other fish. All new fish i put in the tank he tried (and succeeded) to kill. So I would have to say either lawnmower blenny or clown goby. I've had both, and the clown goby is a "cute," great, active little fish that stays under an inch long. As for the lawnmower blenny, they get slightly larger (3-4 in), but are very peaceful towards tankmates just like the clown goby. The thing about this guy is that he's called "lawnmower blenny" for a reason. He eats every speck of algea in the tank! Your tank is only two months old, so you might not have had an algea outbreak yet, but trusts me, you will! Hope I helped!

 

[Marshall O]

I would say hawkfish but they really aren't safe with shrimp. I love them like crazy, I had Falco hawkish for years, but soon they don't just eat shrimp, they start attacking other fish. All new fish i put in the tank he tried (and succeeded) to kill. So I would have to say either lawnmower blenny or clown goby. I've had both, and the clown goby is a "cute," great, active little fish that stays under an inch long. As for the lawnmower blenny, they get slightly larger (3-4 in), but are very peaceful towards tankmates just like the clown goby. The thing about this guy is that he's called "lawnmower blenny" for a reason. He eats every speck of algea in the tank! Your tank is only two months old, so you might not have had an algea outbreak yet, but trusts me, you will! Hope I helped!

Careful with Lawnmower Blennies though. I had one starve in my 55 gallon. Ate all of the hair algae in the tank, and then nothing else. Offered it at least 15 different kinds of food and wouldn't touch anything. They can also get grumpy as they mature.

My vote is on Flame Hawkfish

 

[GT350pwns]

I had a midas blenny that loved to perch.

BEAUTIFUL fish with an amazing personality. But, he decided to go carpet surfing after I went open top need to build my BRS screen top so I can get another.

 

[Armon_p]

A mandarin goby is one of my favorites, try to get one that eats frozen food. Or you'll need a refugium for Copepods

 

[airtime23]

I had a midas blenny that loved to perch.

BEAUTIFUL fish with an amazing personality. But, he decided to go carpet surfing after I went open top need to build my BRS screen top so I can get another.

I love midas blennies, too.

Great fish with a wonderful personality!

 

[GT350pwns]

I love midas blennies, too.

Great fish with a wonderful personality!

He was definitely my favorite. Acted like a dog lol.

He would perch on the rock and just lay there on his side if there wasn't anything going on. If you peeked at the tank he would lift his head and then perk up and swim to the glass lol