Small interesting fish

[29reef]

There are lots of small fish that can't be appreciated unless they are in a smaller sized tank. I'd like to hear and see what members in this forum like. I'd like to hear about fish that can be kept in less than 3' tanks. I'm in search of common and uncommon. There's lots of small tanks set up frequently let's see those fish! :fish1:

 

[dzfish17]

I like the purple of the blackcap basslet or the orchid dottyback. The royal gramma is a favorite too. Edit...just read your post again and see that you want pics. Sorry.

 

[SpookyMcSpooker]

tons of different kinds of blennies and gobies and maybe dartfish

 

[SDguy]

I love my Priolepis nocturna. Very flashy, yet small and somewhat secretive.

 

[slee013]

heifrechi firefish is an awesome fish for a small tank

I also like leopard/potter wrasses

 

[nanoreefer1000]

possum wrasse, good for many reef tanks

 

[29reef]

I love my Priolepis nocturna. Very flashy, yet small and somewhat secretive.

How often do you see your circus goby Peter? I always got the impression that they hide a lot of the time.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Yasha Haze Goby and pistol shrimp! Well any shrimp-goby pair really, but I love Yashas!

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Blue spotted puffer.

[/IMG]

 

[SushiGirl]

Redheaded Goby



Orange-Spotted Goby

Sleeper Blue Dot Goby

Yellow Wrasse

 

[SDguy]

How often do you see your circus goby Peter? I always got the impression that they hide a lot of the time.

All the time, I see him fluttering around from one cave to another, or just hanging there, upside down. I have very open rockwork, so I'm not sure if that helps. But no, they are not a "swim out in the open" type of fish, if that's what you mean.

 

[keywestcoralboy]

My mated pair of swissguard basslets are super cool in my 65, IMO in a bigger tank they might be overlooked a little unless you know what they are lol.

 

[spieszak]

I have a Hectors goby in my pico. I can't imagine I'd ever see him in a large tank, but he's the king of his little box of ocean in the pico (he has no court, nor servants to continue with the alliteration) You really learn the value of that eye spot when you're watching him. I swear, 90% of the time I see him, unless I'm actually paying attention, he swims the wrong way.

 

[davocean]

I actually like having very small fish or inverts that aren't always out even in my 150g, that way it seems like there's always something to discover each time someone is viewing my tank.
There are a lot of small gobies and such that are really neat, and small inverts like sexy shrimp.
For a smallish fish that is out in the open a lot I like my tailspot blenny, fearless little guy, not rare or anything but a great addition.
Royal gramma's another of my fav's, though some are a bit shy.

 

[tnyr5]

If you can find it, Flabelligobius are awesome. I miss this lil guy so much :-(.

[/IMG]

 

[SDguy]

If you can find it, Flabelligobius are awesome. I miss this lil guy so much :-(.

[/IMG]

Oh man, so cool!! Break out the $$$ for that one though!

 

[A_Z]

Yasha Haze Goby are very cool fish. also some variates of clownfish when kept singly their behavior is comical. Hosting magfloats etc

Also I like yellow clown gobys, their colors pop when under lighting.

Firefish are also another favorite of mine.

 

[29reef]

If you can find it, Flabelligobius are awesome. I miss this lil guy so much :-(.

[/IMG]

Very nice!! There have been some great suggestions so far. I'm sure there's more common and obscure nano fish out there. Keep the pics and ideas coming.

 

[NatureNerd]

Another vote for the tail spot blenny. See my avatar. Cute, active, curious, hardy, and not expensive. That, and they are decent herbivores.

 

[Stumped]

I love my Priolepis nocturna. Very flashy, yet small and somewhat secretive.

Love that fish, but I have never been able to find one for sale locally. I have a Priolepis semidoliata, but I'm not sure whether I'd recommend someone buy one because I have no idea how much they retail for (I got mine as a misc. fish for $5) and it's by far the most cryptic fish I've ever owned. So definitely not really worth it if they are typically much more expensive than that.

For reference I have mine in a nano with another goby and blenny and I literally only see him during feedings or if I break out a flashlight and look around. It's too bad because they're awesome looking (the pictures online don't really do them justice) and swim upside down what must be close to 100% of the time (I've never seen mine swim upright).

The fishbase pic is the closest to mine as far as body color, but the white lines on the head are much more distinct than that picture shows (similar to the other pictures online)

The only other thing worth mentioning is that I've only ever had him eat frozen. He shows no interest in pellets at all (tried the smallest NLS ones because he's tiny) or flake. I have to mince up mysis or scallop into tiny bits for him. If my experience isn't unique it's definitely one of those fish that'd starve if it had a lot of competition or if you couldn't feed frozen daily.

Since you said common fish are acceptable as well. I have to say I absolutely love my blue and gold blenny (Ecsenius lividanalis) that is coincidentally in the same tank as the P. semidoliata. Super, super active. Is a total pig with pellets and has a the best personality out of any blenny I've ever had. One of those fish that constantly comes up to the glass and is like "Hey! What are you doing out there?"