Recommendations on a peaceful active swimmer

[Dannywilders]

I'm currently in the process in getting rid of a coral beauty what has become way too aggressive for my tank and I was just wondering of a fish what could take his place. I love the way the angle fish uses every bit of swimming space darting Inbetween caves and gaps in the rock work and I would like something what has a similar swimming motion. I have a 38 gallon cube tank so has anyone got any suggestions?!

Current stocking list includes:
Pair of clown fish
Pair of chalk bass
Stary blenny
Randall's shrimp and goby pair
Skunk cleaner shrimp

 

[Nina51]

i know a lot of people say their royal grammas aren't real social and hide a lot but mine is out and about all the time and uses the whole tank. he does have one spot under a ledge that he calls his own and will chase the other fish away from it but that's all he ever does, chase. i think they are one of the most underrated fish in our hobby. amazing colors!

if you want a grouping of fish, look at the little spotted cardinalfish on liveaquaria.com.

stay away from any dottybacks. they can be an ornery as they are pretty!

 

[d-man]

My royal gramma is newest member of tank and he is always out. And there is a ton of commotion in my tank

 

[o2manyfish]

Try a Bellus Angel. Never had any issues with them bothering anything (fish or coral).

Dave B

 

[Stevenliu9]

realistically a 38 would be too small for angelfish to comfortably thrive in, and the lack of space will also increase their aggression, which you mentioned in your title you want to avoid. I like the Royal gramma recommendation- they are beautiful and peaceful. The only thing is they don't exactly fit as "open swimmer", I have had several in the past and they always seems to just squat in one spot. I think you should just go with a fairy wrasse, or even a six line wrasse, in my experience they've never been aggressive for me- but you do need to have your tank covered as they jump a lot.

 

[Coelli]

I also recommend a royal gramma. He's the only free-swimmer in my 29g cube (the other fish is a yellow watchman) and he's always out and about. He figured out where the food comes from right quick and will swim to whatever side of the tank someone is looking at. He'll dart into the rocks if startled (and sleeps in them) but comes back out pretty fast. He was an impulse buy but one I definitely don't regret.

 

[Nina51]

I think you should just go with a fairy wrasse, or even a six line wrasse, in my experience they've never been aggressive for me- but you do need to have your tank covered as they jump a lot.

tank is too small for a wrasse.

if you asked 10 people, 9 would say a six line is pure evil.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The royal grammas I have kept were always out in the open. A yellow assessor would also do that. Zebra dartfish also arevery active and peaceful.

 

[Dannywilders]

Do you think that if I get a royal gramma or a yellow assessor they would be alright with the chalk bass? They are all basslets and i don't know if they are all compatable with each other.

 

[Shaummy]

YMMV but my Blue Assessor hides a lot. Has from day 1. not a real brave fish even with passive tank mates.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have found chalk basses stay in the bottom half/third of a tank and a yellow assessor stays in the top half. The yellow assessors I have kept have been quite outgoing.

 

[Dannywilders]

Hmm I might look in to a yellow assessor then it looks like a pretty nice fish

 

[cody6766]

It's nothing special, but a yellow tailed damsel is a nice addition. They aren't aggressive, except to one another, in my experience, and they're really pretty fish. Mine is really active in my 120g, and the one i had in my 34g was always in and out of the rocks. Some have had success with groups, but my group of 4 turned into 1. One died before i could catch it, one is in another tank, one in the sump and the 'winner' is still in the DT. Despite the conspecific infighting, the winner is now as doscile as any other reef fish. A pygmy angel is another smaller option. I had one in a 30g cube and it was an awesome little fish. Unfortunately a tank crash claimed that fish.

 

[brett559]

My royal gramma hid for the first 3 or 4 months, only coming out to eat. But lately he's been a lot more active and present in the tank. They are really pretty fish.

I also like my purple firefish. He can be shy at times, but he's very interesting with that little fin that pops up and down. I'd pay a little extra for the purple firefish as opposed to the orange ones.

You might also consider a hawkfish. I really enjoy watching my long-nose hawkfish. He perches on the rocks and sort of looks out over everything. Mine has been real easy to keep - eats anything and gets along with everyone. But you do have some shrimp, so it's a risk. I've heard adding the hawk after the shrimp can help.

 

[Nina51]

i have 2 longnose hawkfish in my 75g. i love them to pieces, they are extremely active and very curious.

i had a really large cleaner shrimp that they didn't bother for about 2 months, it had been in my tank for about a year before i added the hawkfish. got up one day and poof, shrimp was gone. i wouldn't chance it if you want to keep any shrimp.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Helfrichi firefish

 

[reepher315]

I have a chalk bass pair and they are all over the place. They swim in unison just about everywhere in the tank. One of my personal favs.