Best fish that occupy the rocks

[Average joe the reefer]

If you could find an Aussie fisherman I’m sure he would have more then enough different names for fish most of which don’t even make sense

 

[PhreeByrd]

I also recommend hawkfish. They are interesting to watch, colorful, reef-safe, and hardy IME. I don't often see mine except at feeding time, but when they're hungry they'll come out and perch waiting for food. They get along with everything else in the tank, too.

 

[GBRsouth]

but i'd also like to hear more about random aussie names for fish

Got one for you. We call naso tangs "lipstick tangs".

 

[Average joe the reefer]

I also recommend hawkfish. They are interesting to watch, colorful, reef-safe, and hardy IME. I don't often see mine except at feeding time, but when they're hungry they'll come out and perch waiting for food. They get along with everything else in the tank, too.

I just messaged my local fish store and they have a lyertail hawkfish on hold for me and it only costs 25 Australian dollars

 

[PhreeByrd]

I just messaged my local fish store and they have a lyertail hawkfish on hold for me and it only costs 25 Australian dollars

I'd go take a look. I have a Lyretail (red) and a Falco, and I enjoy them a lot.

 

[sfin52]

clown gobies they dont go in the rock but they perch on branching corals. Prefer sps but leathers are a great substitute.

 

[sfin52]

my Bob ycg and Robert gcg

 

[MaiReef]

An Engineer Goby will clean out the sand beneath the rocks and is super fun to watch.

 

[truepercs]

I just messaged my local fish store and they have a lyertail hawkfish on hold for me and it only costs 25 Australian dollars

Most of our local stores allow orders... You want a particular fish just ask them to order one up for you. (of course it must be locally available) If they have not done it before, it is time to start

Hard to imagine it would be tough to get any reef fish in Australia

 

[Average joe the reefer]

Most of our local stores allow orders... You want a particular fish just ask them to order one up for you. (of course it must be locally available) If they have not done it before, it is time to start

Hard to imagine it would be tough to get any reef fish in Australia

I’m pretty sure my lfs does that I have just never decided to ask because whenever I go there I’m looking for a few fish and they usually have one of them

 

[truepercs]

Good to hear...

 

[Eva Rose]

Orange spotted blenny - has a lot of personality. Really comical fish.
My favorite is the Flame Hawk - shame they are so expensive in Australia.
Midas Blenny is also fun to watch. They will peek out of a bolt hole and also swim in the water column. If you have a group of anthias (didn’t read whole thread for your tank size - sorry) the Midas likes to swim with them.

 

[alton]

Another vote for the tailspot blenny. As a bonus he is a great algae eater

 

[Average joe the reefer]

Another vote for the tailspot blenny. As a bonus he is a great algae eater

I like the tail spot blenny I’ve never seen one at my lfs I might ask if they can order one in in a couple of weeks

 

[135zman]

Longnose hawk, bicolor blenny and midas blenny all live in and around the rocks. I like my bicolor blenny the most.

 

[Wolf89]

My mandarin dragonet seems to be on the rock a lot, especially when its feeding time.

 

[Gobi-Wan]

My mandarin dragonet seems to be on the rock a lot, especially when its feeding time.

I was going to suggest a mandarin as well. Just make sure you do your research- they require a healthy established population of copepods. They're cheap here, usually around 20-25USD where I'm at.

 

[Musovski]

royal gramma?

 

[PhreeByrd]

Although they are amazing and beautiful little fish, I don't believe I would consider any dragonet to 'best' for anything. They are, for most hobbyists, extremely difficult to keep alive long-term.

 

[Seamore2001]

The Aussies are fond of irony - from an Australian article about the "Happy Moments" rabbitfish:

"There are at least 2 species of Siganus in Australia that fishers refer to as “happy moments”, but this is not because the event of their capture is a particularly joyful or cheerful experience. Instead, they are so named to describe the several hours of excruciating pain that can follow being spiked by one of these relatively small and innocuous-looking herbivores."
Read more at http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/fish-facts-happy-moments#LptviUHlAZkgTLMo.99