Reeeeally peaceful fish?

[cstonge72]

I just went through mayhem in my tank. Removed a couple of bullies and all I have now is a pajama cardinal and a Pygmy angel. I'd like to get two more fish, but I want to make sure they'll be peaceful. I also have a long tentacled anemone I've had for about a year and a coral-banded shrimp I've had for a few months. Any ideas what to get?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

How big is the tank?

 

[cstonge72]

Small. Just 30 gals.

 

[cmantis]

Get rid of the coral banded or it might get rid of your really peaceful fish. Look into hi fin perchlet.

 

[Mark9]

Gold Assessor Basslet
Firefish
Watchman Goby
Yellow Clown goby

Check out liveaquaria.com

 

[billdogg]

In a tank like a 30, you'll almost certainly have to get rid of the pygmy angel before you can add anything. I have had several over the years and at least IME, they are consistently one of the most territorial fish in the sea, especially considering their size.

 

[toothybugs]

I like clown gobies (surprisingly fun and interesting), tailspot (or similar) blennies, firefish, chalk basslets, and shrimp/ watchman gobies (territorial but only to their burrow) for tanks about 30 gallons. If you look around LiveAquaria and some other sites, you may find listings for "nano fish" which are typically all very peaceful.

 

[cstonge72]

Thanks Mark9. I like the yellows! Had a firefish. But I think my coral banded shrimp may have gotten him. ...either that or he jumped the tank and my cat or dog ate him. Not sure....he just disappeared and No one's talking.

 

[cstonge72]

Thanks toothybugs.
Billdogg...noooooo! The Pygmy is small and adorable! Lol. Just got it, so I want to add a couple more fish quickly before it becomes territorial.
...I'm thinking maybe a goby and a blennie of some sort. My favorite fish was a horse-faced blennie. He was really cool.

 

[vette.tech]

Tailspot blenny for sure

 

[snorvich]

The Coral Banded Shrimp can take fish. When you put an aggressive fish, such as a the pygmy angelfish, with a territorial imperative in a tank that is too small, it will be aggressive. As such, peaceful fish introduced later are likely to be bullied, especially if they are in the same ecological niche.

 

[Xavibear]

Get rid of the angel & get a Escenius blennys.

 

[cstonge72]

Come on! I love the angel! Never had one before!
What will be peaceful but hold its own against it? Royal gramma? Clown maybe?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

There are no "ifs" about the aggression with the pygmy angel. They get more and more aggressive as they age and will turn on tankmates that have been in there with it long term. It's just their nature. If you truely want a peaceful tank, the angel will have to go.

As Steve mentioned, coral banded shrimp are also known fish snatchers, the bigger they get the more aggressive they become.