Need advice on ONE fish in a tank

[ThRoewer]

I have found that one fish alone often acts paranoid, but if you have two fish (or more) the behave much more normally. My interpretation is that having no other fish around is warning sign that something is amiss and that the fish just can't get past that.
Exceptions: puffer fish and other very outgoing exploratory fish don't seem to mind.

I'd recommend getting a pair, or at least two fish.

+1

I observed that several Centropyge (dwarf angels) go crazy if kept without a mate, even if other fish are present. They start swimming rounds along the back or rocks as if they are chasing something. I never observed this when I kept them as a pair or in a harem.

 

[snorvich]

+1

I observed that several Centropyge (dwarf angels) go crazy if kept without a mate, even if other fish are present. They start swimming rounds along the back or rocks as if they are chasing something. I never observed this when I kept them as a pair or in a harem.

I have seen this as well but not in my tanks (I keep a harem).

 

[ThRoewer]

I also found that they were less likely to pick on corals when kept in a harem - with the effort they got to make to keep their place in the hierarchy they just don't have the idle time for such nonsense.

 

[Big E]

If it was my tank I'd do a Cooks Island Canary Damsel (Chrysiptera galba) ........very beautiful with flowy fins and some sweet blue pin striping through the eyes and fins. Thay also will show flashes of pink over the body and to top it off are somewhat uncommon.

Mine is out 90% of the time.

If you want to add another fish I'd do a black cap basslet or a P. fridmani with the Canary Damsel.

A pair of fridmanis would be cool too.....they don't hide as much as much of some other rock dwellers.

If it's an SPS tank you need movement..........fish that hide wouldn't be my choice.

A canary damsel and a tanaka possum would be nice too

 

[RDtrack]

Ditto on the basslet. I like the cave basslet (liopropoma mowbrayi). I maybe would skip the nocturnal gobies that they can get large. I would look at a flaming prawn shrimp goby.

 

[GSMclowns]

A Yellowtail Damsel. Just beautiful and hardy. Doesn't jump either

 

[rovster]

Pair of candy basslets, LOL! I guess that's out of the budget, sorry. I have a pair of swissguard basslets (poor man's candies) and they are really cool. I also have a Tanaka but I would never choose it as a single fish. Cool fish for sure, but more of a "background" fish. If you are looking for a single or pair, then I, at least, would want something more striking and "in your face".

I know you said no clowns but an interesting pair would be nice. Pair of Helfrichi dartfish are also very nice to look at.