Purple firefish took a leap:( New yellow watchman really shy... thoughts on stocking?

N

Newreeflady

New member
Hi there-

I have a 20 tall with a mature ocellaris pair who can be a bit bullyish at times. On day one when I added the watchman, he went through the ocellaris' territory and they began to kick sand at him violently. I had to get them away from him, and now the watchman has burrowed himself a spot in an awkward (to me) place and is very shy. I'm not sure he's eating because if I get near him, he darts into his burrow. The ocellaris are aggressive feeders, too, so by the time he notices there is food that I put down there for him, the clowns are done with theirs and are scavenging the floor and they eat the watchman's food.

I know, that was lengthy, but any thoughts on the watchman? I am ordering a pistol for him to come in this Friday, so hopefully that will help???

The firefish I had for two days- guess he jumped this morning. Didn't see him out to eat as he was yesterday so... looked down on the floor and there he was:( He jumped through the eggcrate that covers the tank. Anyhow, I don't want any fish that can fit through the eggcrate when jumping now. It was so cool having a third swimmer... thoughts on a replacement?

thanks!
Angela
 
Small fish for a small tank.

How about a six-line wrasse? Nice coloring, swimms around?

Cardinals?

Dottybacks will hold their own against the clowns.

Dave
 
Hi Dave,

I thought about maybe a yellowtail blue damsel- It is supposed to be a less aggressive damsel, though. Do you have any experience with that one?

I like the bangaii cardinals, but they don't move as much as I'd like. They more float, ime.

I think the dottybacks are even more aggressive than clowns, no? I really never wanted an aggressive tank:( Looking for something that will let the clowns dominate to some extent, but won't be intimidated. The clowns tend to lay off after a few days or so.

I like wrasses, but the six line tends to look muted from a distance. I like that I can see the defined lines in the clowns from my armchair. Also, I want a fish that swims, but not one that looks frusterated. I noticed that, even when I had a wrasse in my 36g it seemed to swim back and forth too rapidly for my taste. Also, chronic jumpers, although don't think they'd make it through the grate.

How about the Dwarf Flameback Angel? That's a pretty fish- grows to up to 3" and is listed as 24g aquarium or more (I know, 20 is smaller.) thoughts?

This next fish will be the last.

Total water volume is probably close to 24g after adding in the sump and subtracting the rock volume.
 
I have yellow tail blue damsel. Nice looking fish but mine doesn't swim around to much. Pretty much move around slowly and spends a lot of time in the rocks. Same with my royal gramma. I never had a problem with the 6-line jumping. Not like other wrasses.

I do not think a orchid dottyback would dominate a pair of adult ocellaris if the clowns have already claimed their space.

You could go with a small angel but I think a 20g would be small for them.

Chromis?

I also think that the clowns will boss anything around for a few days and then leave them alone.

Dave
 
Oh wow, good to know. I thought the damsels swam more.

I have already had 6-line jerky once;)

Yeah, I was on the fence about the angel. I suppose if it outgrows or seems stressed I could sell it, but catching fish is a pain. I'm already working out an upgrade in my head (doncha hate that!)

Eh, chromis. ;)
 
I have a green chromis you can have. does fine with my clown. you could do a small group of them but they always seem to thin out their numbers. still have to get back to you on the order. can't decide whether I want to save for an vortech mp10 or add a few fish to my tank.
 
I have 5 Chromis with my ocellaris pair of clowns. They all swim together and have no issues. Even though my tank is a 180 they pretty much stay together. At least for now. Had them together now for about 3 weeks.

I say go with the chromis. They swim around alot and look great
 
I agree that the Angel would not do all that well in such a small tank. I wouldn't really recomend Angels in anything under 40gal, but that's just me. I've seen most of them in tanks, and they do swim a ton, but if the tank is too small, they will keep going through the same path over and over again. I really don't think this is good for the fish, and it reduces the amount of "cleaning" that they usually do for a tank. I had a problem when I had my 20 high as well. I had a Black Saddleback Clown, 6 Line Wrasse, Perc Clown, and Yellow Watchmen Goby. If I could do things over again in that tank, I'd do all small gobies. I would think that a Mated Pair of Neon Gobies would make kind of a cool addition to that tank, but I'm not sure that they would be a swimming fish like you are looking for. In something so small, it's kind of hard to find fish that like to swim, as most require something larger just because they spend thier time swimming. Definately don't go agressive if you can help it. It makes things hard in a reef tank. I added my Angler to my tank when I had the 20gal, and he ate everything, and I've had a hard time finding fish that are large enough to survive with it, and small enough to fit in my tank. What a stupid spur of the moment purchase!!!!:)
 
I don't really like chromis that aren't in groups- had one in a 65g. They are just not outstanding looking fish- what makes them cool is when they swim together. I'm only looking to add one fish.

Neon gobies out- unless there are 7 of them I won't see them from across the room given they are so small. Plus, they are quite pricey for a fish that has been known to have a short lifespan.

Anyone else have a thought on the yellowtail blue damsel?

Thanks!!
Angela
 
Yellow tail Blue Damsel was my first marine fish. I only had it for half a year or so, cause when we moved from our apartment to our house, someone left the window next to the 10gal tank open and it was November!!!! Anyways, like Dave said, they aren't the greatest open water swimmers, but like the 6 Line Wrasse, they will kind of zoom around in and out of the rockwork. Very nicely colored fish as well!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15593141#post15593141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pimpinitup6969
I have some bangaii cardinals and yes i do agree that the don't swim alot but they are always in your face!
Click to expand...

I had a few of these one time- they were CB and acclimated fine and were eating. At the time I had an anemone and they disappeared one by one until I just sold off the last three. Not to mention that they hid from the clownfish for the duration of their lives:(

-A
 
Hi all,

I decided on the angel in the end after asking here and in the reef discussion. I will post with my experience soon.

Thanks!
angela
 
I know you are focusing on fish, but what about a shrimp? Blood/Fire shrimp have great color, could probably been seen wandering around from across the room, are peaceful and non-intimidating...
 
Hi jackson-

I've already got a pistol shrimp on the way. The cleaners and the blood red shrimp aren't that active, ime, and tend to find a shady hangout.

Anyhow, the order has already been placed.

Thanks:)
angela
 
Yes, that is what I was hoping for. They were all quite small as they were CB from a local in the bay area. I never saw one of them picking on another of them. They all sort of huddled together in the back of the aquarium in the shade. I'm pretty sure the carpet took their lives.

-A
 
Which Angel did you end up getting? I would love to get a few Flamebacks in my tank, but I need to get the Angler out first!
 
Hi Jim,

Here is the description from bluezoo:
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=136&cid=9

Assuming s/he acclimates well, you are certainly welcome to visit anytime to check out the fish:) I'm pretty excited. I hope the clowns lay off a little- I'll probably have to overfeed for the first few days to give them something to do. I ordered some live brine and some of their reef food as well. I'll probably start with the live brine, then move to frozen, then to mysis if his mouth looks large enough. Then, maybe one day, he'll eat flake:)

Angela
 
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