need a fish recommendation

[jacksonpt]

This one's got a little bit of a twist...

Tank info is in my sig, water quality/husbandry practices are good, but not spectacular. Only fish in the tank right now is a small, friendly maroon clown.

I'm looking for another fish to compliment my maroon. Obviously has to be friendly, reef safe, and small-ish (30g tank), colorful with some personality (i.e. will be out and visible, not constantly hiding). But, I want something that is a bit of a scavenger/omnivore. I don't feed my tank often, probably 2-3 times a week, so I'm hoping to find something that is happy picking at algae, pods, whatever to supplement my feedings. My clown is doing great, but I find I have a hard time keeping other fish.

If I feed more often, my water gets fouled up and the tank suffers, if I feed less often, water stays clean but fish starve.

I love the midas blenny, but my last one starved.

So, any suggestions? TIA.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

How long has the aquarium been running?

If it's very well established, I would suggest a Rainford's goby. Amblygobious rainfordi

I had one that I never saw take prepared food, but was constantly picking at rocks and hunting the sandbed.

I would not recommend this fish for a tank that's less than a year old.

 

[jacksonpt]

Tank is coming up on 2 years.

 

[Newreeflady]

I would nix the "friendly" requirement- otherwise the addition may be beat to shreds by the maroon... unless you get something very fast (like a Six Line).

So, something slow, but unfriendly, or something friendly, but fast, would be my recommend.

Some options:
Damsel
Wrasse
Pseudochromis
Dwarf Angel
Toby puffer
Fu Manchu

-A

 

[jacksonpt]

I would nix the "friendly" requirement- otherwise the addition may be beat to shreds by the maroon... unless you get something very fast (like a Six Line).

Trust me... he's friendly. He has buddied up with both midas blennies and the dwarf lion I've had in the past. The only thing he has ever harassed was another maroon.

In the 3 years I've had him, he has never shown aggression or territoriality towards anything (except that other maroon).

 

[aquadonkey]

If you're looking for yellow again, you could go with a yellow watchman goby. It'll be in a different territory from the clown (correct me if I'm wrong here guys), so you won't have to worry too much about them getting along? My YWG eats whatever it finds - including bristle worms (I caught her doing it! - gross). You could pair it up with a pistol and it's really exciting to watch! The only problem is that any corals on your sand bed will get buried.....

disclaimer! - check with someone who knows what they are talking about with the aggression thing. I read that ywg are not so aggressive, but mine defends her territory quite well.......

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Orchid Dottyback(s)

 

[block head]

tailspot, eats algae, and meat. very cool ,stays small , neon goby

 

[amazo]

My ywg is not aggressive at all.I have a maroon in a 10gal. nano with a green coral goby(so far he is not that active but i've had him less than a week)and 3 peppermint shrimp and a crab or 2.My maroon is still very small and will need a bigger home someday,i feed everyday i just give them small amounts of food but give them frozen,flake and pellets i might leave 1 or 2 on any given day but for the most part i give all 3 each day.What type of food do you feed and how much?I know if I didn't feed my fish for a day or 2 they wouldn't be too happy (have to give my 55gal. flakes 2-3 times ,frozen and pellets once).All my levels are ok and my tank or water is not dirty.

 

[aquadonkey]

Ooo!
+1 on orchid dottyback
and
+1 on neon goby
you can get both captive bred and they both add some nice color!

 

[jacksonpt]

Thanks everyone. Time to do a little reading...

 

[tozzi]

A small wrasse?

 

[scaz]

+1 for the 6-line or other wrasse. Gobies don't seem to do well with hostility. I also really like Pseudochromis and Dwarf Angels, but a Dwarg Angel might need a little more room.

 

[Newreeflady]

+1 for the 6-line or other wrasse. Gobies don't seem to do well with hostility. I also really like Pseudochromis and Dwarf Angels, but a Dwarg Angel might need a little more room.

Yeah, I might agree on the Dwarf Angel. I own one of the smallest of them (African Flameback) and it did OK in a 20H for a while, but after moving it to the 56g I notice what a swimmer it is. It's the fastest, most active fish in the tank. I have no doubt that it would do even better in a 90g. So, it's small, but it's activity is large. It may be stressful to watch it in a 30g depending on one's tolerance for activity.

If it were me, If it were a white bar maroon clown I'd try to find a yellow or green fish. If it were a gold bar, I'd probably choose a blue fish. (yeah, I'm very color picky.)

Have you considered one of the ORA green mandarins? IME other fish don't seem too opposed to having mandarins around. Probably because they don't compete for swimming space or territory much. That would probably be a nice addition with the maroon.

-A

 

[jacksonpt]

Definitely a no on the dwarf angel... A little due to tank size, but mostly because they are at best unreliable when it comes to them being reef safe.

 

[Newreeflady]

Definitely a no on the dwarf angel... A little due to tank size, but mostly because they are at best unreliable when it comes to them being reef safe.

Fair enough. Nix the possibility of a toby puffer as well, then. And also clown gobies.

 

[Newreeflady]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=99271