Rate My Fish Lists /10

[pinnochio5]

Started Up a 30G tank today. Transferred all the water, LR and Coral from my now Defunct 3 year old 10 Gallon nano.

Probably gonna add the cuc tomorrow and am hoping to get the fish in there by no later than wednesday next week. As well as some more LR and coral. The tank has Hawaii black substrate.
The tank has pretty good filtration coming in soon. I've ordered the In-Tank Media basket + Fuge kit to retrofit into the filter chamber, CPE, also fitting a UV sterilizer.

After barely 3 hours of up-time I'd say my new tank is off to a good start:

Rate these Potential Stock Lists:

List 1:

- Pair of occ. clowns
- Firefish
- 1 lawnmower blenny
- 1-2 gobies (green spot and YW)

List 2:
- 3 Damsels (2 Yellowtail Dascyllus 1 Three Stripe Damselfish)
- 1-2 Firefish
- 1 Bicolor Blenny

List 3:

- 1-2 Yellowstripe Maroon Clownfish
-1 Green Clown goby


List 4:
- 1 Sixline Wrasse
-1 Fire Fish
- 1-2 Occ. Clowns

Which list is best? Which is not good? Any fish list you think would be more interesting to observe?


Thanks!

 

[o2manyfish]

I like list 1 and would probably add a pair or trio of firefish.

Dave B

 

[Ghstwolf]

List 2 is my biggest turn off because of the damsels.. Personally don't care for them, but that's just my preferrence..

Here is an option with some character fish.

2 or 3 Firefish
Tailspot Blenny (or Bi-color blenny)
Midas Blenny
6-line Wrasse (or Royal Gramma)

 

[drukkosz]

list number 1 is the best. But i would go with snowflakes or picasso if you have the $

 

[rssjsb]

I would go with list one. Also, lawnmowers can starve if there's not enough of the right kind of algae available. Some never take prepared foods. So you'll have to watch out for it. I don't know what a green spot goby is, so I don't know if it's compatible with a watchman. If you can come up with a picture of the fish you're considering (or its latin name), we can give you better advice.

Lists two and four are no-go because you've got a timid fish (firefish) in with different types of very territorial/aggressive fish. Damsels are aggressive in general and the two you've listed are on the murderous end of the spectrum. Sixlines are also a problem once they get comfortable. I would avoid these three fish in a 30-gallon, no matter what other fish you want.

At any rate, firefish need to be kept singly or in bonded pairs. A trio will end up being two (if you're lucky enough to get an actual pair) or maybe just one (if you're not) in a tank that size.

I second the recommendation of a tailspot blenny. Only buy one that's eating prepared foods in the LFS, though. They'll eat algae, but every now and then, you'll see one that refuses prepared foods and starves once the algae is gone. Very sad.

You could have a pair of maroons in that tank, but you probably won't be able to have any other fish. They're pretty, but very mean.

 

[pinnochio5]

Ok so how about this as a final list:

Pair of clowns
Pair of firefish
Bi color blenny
Either a mandarin dragonette or a ywg (with pistol)

Ive never had dragonettes but I heard they eat gunk in the algae? I have a ton of algae on my lr from the 10g that has been growing for years. Im sure a mandarin would appreciate that.


Anyways how does this list sound?

 

[rssjsb]

Mandarins eat tiny little pods, not algae or gunk in the algae. You may be thinking of a rainsford or court jester goby. Anyway, your tank isn't really big enough to be sure that a mandarin would find enough to eat.

A watchman/pistol pair would be good, though.

 

[nanoreefer1000]

Ok so how about this as a final list:

Pair of clowns
Pair of firefish
Bi color blenny
Either a mandarin dragonette or a ywg (with pistol)

Ive never had dragonettes but I heard they eat gunk in the algae? I have a ton of algae on my lr from the 10g that has been growing for years. Im sure a mandarin would appreciate that.


Anyways how does this list sound?

Good, go with either one clown or one firefish. The less fish, the better IMO/IME. Go with the YWG to.

 

[pinnochio5]

Would prawn gobies appreciate the hawaii black substrate as opposed to reg sand? I heard gobies can move rocks twice their size anyways.

 

[small alien]

Robin's advice is excellent as usual.

I would go with the watchman with a shrimp, pair of captive bred ocellaris clowns and a royal gramma. Could maybe add a little possum wrasse to that. Good luck. Go slow.

 

[nanoreefer1000]

I wouldn't add a RG and possum wrasse together, they both inhabit the same area of the tank (Or at least similar area) and the RG might become territorial as it get's older and harass the wrasse. IMO the shrimp goby, 2 occy clowns, RG plus a small perching goby or blenny could work.

 

[sponger0]

Looks like you are planning on over stocking. 4 fish really should be the max for 30 gallons, unless you like nuisance algae.

Dragonettes are not suitable for nano tanks unless you either buy pods alot or can culture them yourself.

 

[that guy]

the only possible sustainable situation for a dragonet would be one that eats frozen or other prepeared foods. I have one in my tank that eats mysis. I have to feed him mysis piece by piece though so he gets enough to eat and he has gotten VERY fat. If you are not prepaared to do that for the fish then you should probably consider another fish. I have a six line in there also and I know six lines have bad reviews but mine has been great and never niped or attacked anything. I think if you get a six line it will be a hit or miss.

 

[that guy]

the tank is 38 gallons by the way

 

[Blakperl21]

I like the clown, firefish, bi-color and YWG. I've always heard paired clowns can be kind of territorial. If you do a pair, I would add the firefish first as they can be very timid. We have a purple firefish that was added first and holds his own.

Another neat small fish you may want to consider is a neon goby. We got one and it's pretty active and though small has a pretty good personality.

 

[Blakperl21]

I like the clown, firefish, bi-color and YWG. I've always heard paired clowns can be kind of territorial. If you do a pair, I would add the firefish first as they can be very timid. We have a purple firefish that was added first and holds his own.

Another neat small fish you may want to consider is a neon goby. We got one and it's pretty active and though small has a pretty good personality.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Avoid the option of maroon clowns/clown. A single maroon clown will, almost certainly, become a female and a pair obviously has a female. An adult female maroon is the most territorial fish I know of and probably (almost certainly) won't allow any other fish in a small tank. If a pair of maroons are the first fish in a big tank; She will still make all new fish miserable.

 

[Planet Q]

ilike the orangespot goby and black cap jawfish and keep small fish like possum wrasse, neon gobys, cardinals

 

[brubakron]

Look into a Pink Streaked Wrasse (may also be called a Cryptic Six Line Wrasse I believe). IMO it looks more interesting than a Six - Line wrasse, and is a great fish for a smaller tank. Mine is out all of the time, and I really enjoy having him in the tank.