Which fish are active swimmers?

[bleumoon]

Which fish are active swimmers like the flame angelfish? Almost continuously swimming through and around the rockwork, also swimming in the open. Unlike clownfish or firefish that are somewhat stationary.

 

[tc2007]

Active:
Tangs
Butterflies
Angles
Chromis
Wrasses
Hogfish

Not so active:
Pajama and Bangaii Cardinals
Blennies
Hawkfishes
Gobies
Clowns

 

[mattgumaer]

anthias?

 

[cnewsome]

Tangs
Anthias
Wrasses
Butterfly
Angels

Would be on my list

 

[SoloChromis]

* Dottybacks
* Wrasses
* Dragonets
* Blennies
* Tangs

 

[cody6766]

With more fish in the tank, you may find your clowns out and about more. Mine roam all over my 120g now that there are other active swimmers. In contrast, the clowns in my Solana hang out together, in a small area. There's only one other swimmer in that tank.

A yellow tailed damsel is a very pretty active swimmer. I've never had one aggressive to anything but another yellow tail damsel. I tried a group of 4 and the last man standing in the 120 (removed 2, one died before I could get it out) is now a model citizen. He was the meanest of the 4, but doesn't bother non conspecific tankmates. I also have 2 green chromis that are active and doscile. My larger swimmers are a Foxface, smaller Kole tang and a Blue Jaw Trigger. With all of those fish moving about, the dottyback is still a little shy (but not bad) and the YWG and mandarin spend their time in the rocks, like gobies and dragonets do.

In previous tanks, I had a Yellow Coris Wrasse and a McCosker's wrasse and they were both always out and about. Flasher wrasses will give you the color that a flame angel gives without the risk of coral nipping.
For people to give good recommendations you will have to post your tank size.

 

[Moort82]

Wrasse is all you need.

 

[Betta132]

Fangblennies aren't crazy active, but they move around and tend to be midwater.
Hector's gobies are cute, eat hair algae, and are constantly hovering around about an inch off the stuff under them.
Yellowtail damsels work if added last.

 

[Nina51]

Wrasse is all you need.

yup. i have 4 wrasses in my 75g and there's never a dull moment. the nice thing about wrasses is that there are so many shapes and colors.

 

[Robert M]

My wrasse, chromis and flame angel are the most active. But like Cody said, my clowns swim around a lot due to the action from the other fish. Surprisingly, my yellow tail damsel is not very active. He has a notched rock that he calls home now. He was much more active when he was smaller.

 

[cody6766]

He has a notched rock that he calls home now. He was much more active when he was smaller.

That's interesting. I have three, in different tanks, and they're always out and about. One has claimed a side of the tank as his favorite, but he's always buzzing in and out of the nooks and crannies. I also didn't have trouble adding fish when the damsel already set up home. I won't say all yellow tails are the same, but that's what I've seen with about 5 different YTDs over the years. Other damsels aren't so forgiving...they can get nasty.

 

[Robert M]

I think if I had more damsels in there, he would be more active. He chases the chromis and clowns when they get close to his home. The clowns don't back down though. Had a few standoffs but nothing more than that. I'm sure most damsels are more active.

Before he found his spot, he would swim across the top of my rock work. Still does here and there but not nearly as much. Very healthy otherwise. Amazing coloring too.

 

[Paul B]

Manta rays..............What!

 

[Dmorty217]

Manta rays..............What!

Black tip reef sharks?

 

[Paul B]

Yes, those also.

 

[JiveTurkey]

If you're going fish only... YOU NEED A LUNAR WRASSE!!!

 

[johnike]

My Tomini Tang is the most active fish in my tank, always moving.