14gal Biocube Stocking?

[RussianReefer]

Just curious if there are any single predatory fish or invertebrates that can live comfortably alone in a 14gal biocube aio?

I'm considering a small mantis shrimp but I'm interested in what other options are out there

 

[blaxsun]

Not really. Predator fish usually have a much higher bioload, which will be very hard to balance and offset in a nano tank. You might be ok with a mantis shrimp.

 

[Discotu]

maybe a single frog fish?

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

@lion king suggested a wart skin angler for my biocube 16

 

[RussianReefer]

@lion king suggested a wart skin angler for my biocube 16

What did you end up stocking yours with?

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

What did you end up stocking yours with?

I haven’t yet. I have a 4 stripe damsel whose pushing 12 and I don’t want to stock it until he dies. When he does I’m going for the wartskin. Specifically the orange and white one: I’ve stocked the tabk with coral close to those colors so it’ll keep the camo pattern I like

 

[lion king]

I've never kept a warty in a tank that small, but they are pretty sedentary. It seems to be a slippery slope though, I used to recommend a 20g, then they came out with these 18g aio and I said yeah ok. Then came the 16g, yeah that seems ok, since my experience with the warty has been they really are not that active. This with their feeding habits, a smaller tank seemed to be best. Now we are at the 14g, that's getting borderline, I wouldn't be be like "no way", but you would have to use your own discretion on that. Just create a very creative scape; open sandbed for cruising and multiple levels for climbing and perching.

There are some small mantis shrimp, but the peacock needs a larger tank, in the 40g range. I kept a small mantis in a refugium once, I didn't see much of him. There is a Mantis forum here you could check out for some ideas.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I've never kept a warty in a tank that small, but they are pretty sedentary. It seems to be a slippery slope though, I used to recommend a 20g, then they came out with these 18g aio and I said yeah ok. Then came the 16g, yeah that seems ok, since my experience with the warty has been they really are not that active. This with their feeding habits, a smaller tank seemed to be best. Now we are at the 14g, that's getting borderline, I wouldn't be be like "no way", but you would have to use your own discretion on that. Just create a very creative scape; open sandbed for cruising and multiple levels for climbing and perching.

There are some small mantis shrimp, but the peacock needs a larger tank, in the 40g range. I kept a small mantis in a refugium once, I didn't see much of him. There is a Mantis forum here you could check out for some ideas.

Honestly I think my 16 biocube may be pushing it. I’m not sure how “chunky” wart skins are but if they’re thick it would be hard for one to cruise quickly with my rock scape. I think you’d have to do a really tiny rock scape in a 14 and I may need to change mine if I go that route

 

[RussianReefer]

I've never kept a warty in a tank that small, but they are pretty sedentary. It seems to be a slippery slope though, I used to recommend a 20g, then they came out with these 18g aio and I said yeah ok. Then came the 16g, yeah that seems ok, since my experience with the warty has been they really are not that ac

I've never kept a warty in a tank that small, but they are pretty sedentary. It seems to be a slippery slope though, I used to recommend a 20g, then they came out with these 18g aio and I said yeah ok. Then came the 16g, yeah that seems ok, since my experience with the warty has been they really are not that active. This with their feeding habits, a smaller tank seemed to be best. Now we are at the 14g, that's getting borderline, I wouldn't be be like "no way", but you would have to use your own discretion on that. Just create a very creative scape; open sandbed for cruising and multiple levels for climbing and perching.

There are some small mantis shrimp, but the peacock needs a larger tank, in the 40g range. I kept a small mantis in a refugium once, I didn't see much of him. There is a Mantis forum here you could check out for some ideas.

tive. This with their feeding habits, a smaller tank seemed to be best. Now we are at the 14g, that's getting borderline, I wouldn't be be like "no way", but you would have to use your own discretion on that. Just create a very creative scape; open sandbed for cruising and multiple levels for climbing and perching.

There are some small mantis shrimp, but the peacock needs a larger tank, in the 40g range. I kept a small mantis in a refugium once, I didn't see much of him. There is a Mantis forum here you could check out for some ideas.

I appreciate the advice! I definitely do not plan on forcing any organism to be put in an undersized tank. I am just curious if there are any nano or tiny sized predatory fish or inverts besides mantis shrimp.
If not, I will most likely stock the tank with a small mantis sp. Cheers!

 

[lion king]

There are these guys if you can find one. In a 14g it would be best to keep just one, they are rather cryptic, although my white face female is out all the time. A bonded pair would be fine, otherwise they are loners and can get territorial with each other. They are small enough you could keep a number of other fish with them safely.

Paracentropogon zonatus 1st impressions

aka pygmy red rooster waspfish, red bandtail waspfish. I know I said I was finished with new additions, these had been on my list for a couple of years and this trio was at a lfs, so i picked them up. I have seen questions regarding these guys from time to time, and frustratingly no one ever...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[RussianReefer]

There are these guys if you can find one. In a 14g it would be best to keep just one, they are rather cryptic, although my white face female is out all the time. A bonded pair would be fine, otherwise they are loners and can get territorial with each other. They are small enough you could keep a number of other fish with them safely.

Paracentropogon zonatus 1st impressions

aka pygmy red rooster waspfish, red bandtail waspfish. I know I said I was finished with new additions, these had been on my list for a couple of years and this trio was at a lfs, so i picked them up. I have seen questions regarding these guys from time to time, and frustratingly no one ever...

www.reef2reef.com

Appreciate the help! How are yours doing at the moment?

 

[Uzidaisies]

Yeah maybe a small frogfish or scorpion fish, like a croucher goby? Idk if that fits into what you’re looking for.

 

[Uzidaisies]

Maybe a leaf fish would fit, I’m not sure. The little anglers are pretty dang cool though.

 

[RussianReefer]

I really like the look of sand dwelling fish like scorpions and anglers. Just seeing what is available to live comfortably. If I find one I'll most likely order it through my lfs.

 

[Uzidaisies]

I don’t think you can fit one of these guys.

.

 

[RussianReefer]

I don’t think you can fit one of these guys.

.

I wish!

 

[lion king]

Appreciate the help! How are yours doing at the moment?

It depends on your take; my white face girl is very cool, she is out all the time and is very bold. She quickly eats from hemostats when I want to hand feed her, and she catches little chunks of food when I broadcast feed the tank. The other two live under the rocks; I never see one and the other one shows up from time to time. I do see both very infrequently so I know they are both alive. They must feed from the food that swirls around the back of the rocks and the live ghost shrimp they manage to catch. While I enjoy them, they are not for everyone. As are all of the ambush predators, they are a sedentary bunch that sparks enjoyment from a few. The coolest part is feeding them, as I have stated many times, I do advocate for a live diet with these species of predators.