Barebottom Tank - Looking for bottom dwelling fish

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

Hi guys,

Im looking for a fish that would hang out at bottom of tank with no substrate, it will ahve a good mix of corals there and obviously the scape, is there anything that would suit at all?

Thanks!

Tcook · Mar 17, 2022

dawi03 said:
Hi guys,

Im looking for a fish that would hang out at bottom of tank with no substrate, it will ahve a good mix of corals there and obviously the scape, is there anything that would suit at all?

Thanks!

Assessors will hang out upside-down in caves

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

Tcook said:
Assessors will hang out upside-down in caves

thats cool!!

i dont have any caves unfotunately, theres 2 holes in the scape and the firefish and bicolour take those spots lol.

Tcook · Mar 17, 2022

dawi03 said:
thats cool!!

i dont have any caves unfotunately, theres 2 holes in the scape and the firefish and bicolour take those spots lol.

They'll still cruise along the bottom edge of the rock work.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 17, 2022

+1 lantern bass or harlequin bass or similar.
Scorpionfish or frogfish too. Just need the flat rock on the bottom for them to hide under.
D

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
+1 lantern bass or harlequin bass or similar.
Scorpionfish or frogfish too. Just need the flat rock on the bottom for them to hide under.
D

ive got a 25 gallon so cant get anything too big thats all

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 17, 2022

Ohhhh

Wicket · Mar 17, 2022

Clown goby if you don't have sps

Ricox · Mar 17, 2022

In my opinion you should just add a thin layer of sand that is easy to maintain.

Jacked Reefer · Mar 17, 2022

My personal pick would be a transparent cave goby. Great fish tons of personality I currently have one. Don’t need sand, don’t need anything special.
Another good fish for your tank that matches your description are red spotted sand perch, Clingfish, geometric Pygmy hawk, and there are many gobies and blennies that would fit this description as well. Good luck on your search!

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

Ricox said:
In my opinion you should just add a thin layer of sand that is easy to maintain.

Nah I took all the sand out I much prefer the barebottom look

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

Kayden Hutchings said:
My personal pick would be a transparent cave goby. Great fish tons of personality I currently have one. Don’t need sand, don’t need anything special.
Another good fish for your tank that matches your description are red spotted sand perch, Clingfish, geometric Pygmy hawk, and there are many gobies and blennies that would fit this description as well. Good luck on your search!

Thanks mate I’ll have a look at the transparent cave goby, there a really cool shelf low down with a good spot for a fish to hide, it’s not fully enclosed but would be perfect for something to make home

dawi03 · Mar 17, 2022

Kayden Hutchings said:
My personal pick would be a transparent cave goby. Great fish tons of personality I currently have one. Don’t need sand, don’t need anything special.
Another good fish for your tank that matches your description are red spotted sand perch, Clingfish, geometric Pygmy hawk, and there are many gobies and blennies that would fit this description as well. Good luck on your search!

Cave Goby might be hard to find in Australia.

Ive got :

1 x Percula Clownfish
1x Helfrichi Firefish
1x BiColour Blenny

Will have a look at those others. will the sand perch need sand though?

Jacked Reefer · Mar 17, 2022

dawi03 said:
Cave Goby might be hard to find in Australia.

Ive got :

1 x Percula Clownfish
1x Helfrichi Firefish
1x BiColour Blenny

Will have a look at those others. will the sand perch need sand though?

Nope! They just chill on the bottom all day. Never seen them burrow. But they need a tight fitting lid. Mine got through the tiniest crack.
also the cave goby is hard to find anyways. But they turn up on LFS order list at least 4-5 times a year here in the US. It wouldn’t hurt to ask some stores if they can get em.