20 gallon inhabitant ideas

[mbixler1537]

I really want a firefish or a mandarin goby for my 20g. (Mandarin would already be trained onto prepared foods and i would add copepods and be cultivating them). I want to know if a pair of clownfish would be mean to the firefish. We all know clowns can be bullies at times XD #reefsquad

I have had clowns be bullies in the past. My tank is newly cycled and I added a firefish and 2 tiny clowns together. They are working out fine. In your situation, I would add a firefish before the clowns though.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I have had clowns be bullies in the past. My tank is newly cycled and I added a firefish and 2 tiny clowns together. They are working out fine. In your situation, I would add a firefish before the clowns though.

Oof. I added the clowns before anything else. Is there any other fish that would do well? I know people recommend damsels but i dont really like them too much.

 

[mbixler1537]

Oof. I added the clowns before anything else. Is there any other fish that would do well? I know people recommend damsels but i dont really like them too much.

It also depends on how long the clowns have been in the tank. If they have only been in the tank a short amount of time, you might still have time to add a firefish without having any issue.

 

[PicassoClown04]

My 20 gallon has a pair of clowns and my cherub angel. I think that’s a good amount of fish. I might get a very small goby/perching fish/ground dwelling fish later but I feel like the water column would be crowded if I were to add another swimmer. I would steer away from a firefish if you want a fish you’re going to see often and go more towards a red perching fish such as a geometric or longnose hawk because they won’t be competing for swimming space with your clowns. The clowns are less likely to bully fish that don’t swim often (like a goby/shrimp/perching fish) as opposed to something like a firefish that swims around their area a lot.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

It also depends on how long the clowns have been in the tank. If they have only been in the tank a short amount of time, you might still have time to add a firefish without having any issue.

Theyve been in for about 5 months I think, so it may not work. Any other fish I could add. I want mandarin (trained onto prepared foods), but my dad thinks its too much work, which it may be.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Theyve been in for about 5 months I think, so it may not work. Any other fish I could add. I want mandarin (trained onto prepared foods), but my dad thinks its too much work, which it may be.

Mandarins are definitely a lot of work, I would not and will not attempt one in my 20 gallon. Imo, you need at least 30 gallons to have an appropriate amount of space for pods to reproduce and a sump is even better. I think you’d be better off with a coral croucher/clown goby. I understand the allure of the mandarins because I’ve felt it too, but it’s a lot of work to feed it in a 20 gallon and you can never leave it alone or stop or it will starve to death. There are many other fish with beautiful patterns and feeding habits that are easier to maintain in a tank that size.