Best open swimming nano fish?

[Enad]

Hi all,

I've got a WB3620(60g) well stocked with mid sized fish(I'll list below), and I'm looking to add a few more true nano fish, something that tops out at around 3" or smaller.


Now, I'm looking for something that I could get a pair of ideally, or 3 if that's a better number and is also more of an open/active swimmer. I feel like many of these nano fish are gobies who tend to be rock/cave dwellers and I've already got that covered. Would love some recommendations!

Current stock list:
2 Clowns
2 Mandarins
2 Royal Grammas
1 Yellow Head Jawfish
1 Yasha Goby
1 Leopard Wrasse
1 Blue Damsel
1 Cherub Angel
1 Pygmy Hawkfish

 

[shakacuz]

the royal gramma will not be okay with a second in the tank. chalk bass would be a decent alternative. mandarins, hopefully are eating frozen or pellets otherwise you'll have to think of consistently stocking/seeding your tank with pods. the angel will also be hit or miss on if it leaves your corals alone. they're nippers.

i vote for hector's goby, and court jester goby. good utility fish which eat algae off sand, rocks, and glass(if long enough). a blenny could also work as they swim for a bit, then perch!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would say damsel fishes are open water swimmers, so are some basslets IME.

But honestly your tank seems overstocked already, I wouldn't add any more.

 

[Enad]

the royal gramma will not be okay with a second in the tank. chalk bass would be a decent alternative. mandarins, hopefully are eating frozen or pellets otherwise you'll have to think of consistently stocking/seeding your tank with pods. the angel will also me hit or miss on if it leaves your corals alone. they're nippers.

i vote for hector's goby, and court jester goby. good utility fish which eat algae off sand, rocks, and glass(if long enough). a blenny could also work as they swim for a bit, then perch!

This list is all current, so I already have a mated pair of Grammas, and my Mandarins are very fat and happy. I have a mature tank and dose pods monthly, though they eat all sorts of food including frozen and live black worms.

As for Chalk Bass, I assume the royal grammas would have an issue with them seeing as they're from the same family? Maybe that's what you were referencing.

I do like Court Jester Goby - are they solidly open swimmers?
Also like the look of the Sharknose Goby but I get the vibe that they're perchers.

I would say damsel fishes are open water swimmers, so are some basslets IME.

But honestly your tank seems overstocked already, I wouldn't add any more.

I believe I'm limited with adding any Damsels or Basslets due to already having Royal Grammas and a blue damsel, and yeah I'm pretty heavily stocked but many of my fish will stay small. I run an oversized skimmer, and I've never had any nutrient issues.

 

[shakacuz]

This list is all current, so I already have a mated pair of Grammas, and my Mandarins are very fat and happy. I have a mature tank and dose pods monthly, though they eat all sorts of food including frozen and live black worms.

As for Chalk Bass, I assume the royal grammas would have an issue with them seeing as they're from the same family? Maybe that's what you were referencing.

I do like Court Jester Goby - are they solidly open swimmers?
Also like the look of the Sharknose Goby but I get the vibe that they're perchers.




I believe I'm limited with adding any Damsels or Basslets due to already having Royal Grammas and a blue damsel, and yeah I'm pretty heavily stocked but many of my fish will stay small. I run an oversized skimmer, and I've never had any nutrient issues.

wasn't aware your gramma's were paired. if that's the case, i rescind my suggestion of the chalk bass!(i originally thought your stock list was what you were looking to add/get suggestions on. sorry!) shark nose goby could definitely add some life in the tank, but they perch more than they swim.

 

[areefer01]

I believe I'm limited with adding any Damsels or Basslets due to already having Royal Grammas and a blue damsel, and yeah I'm pretty heavily stocked but many of my fish will stay small. I run an oversized skimmer, and I've never had any nutrient issues.

I don't believe that they are coming from a nutrient level but more of space as it relates to personal space, refuge, and possible competition for similar food. I could be wrong through. Basically sleeping quarters or spawning if you have pairs.

If I was in your shoes I would rule out any fish that will compete with the Mandarins or who forage for food. I understand that you restock pods regularly but to me that is cost prohibitive in the long run. Plus you have the wrasse. So...

A blenny could work. Fang type like the Fork Tail. Can get those captive bred via Biota and they are pretty cool. Especially the eyes. Midas Blenny may be another option. Take a look at those. Other than that hard to say as I do not have a display of that size.

Starcki damsel may be worth while. Not that common but beautiful fish. I'm a bit biased towards damsels as I have 11 Lyretails and a sucker for them.

 

[Enad]

I don't believe that they are coming from a nutrient level but more of space as it relates to personal space, refuge, and possible competition for similar food. I could be wrong through.

If I was in your shoes I would rule out any fish that will compete with the Mandarins or who forage for food. I understand that you restock pods regularly but to me that is cost prohibitive in the long run. Plus you have the wrasse. So...

A blenny could work. Fang type like the Fork Tail. Can get those captive bred via Biota and they are pretty cool. Especially the eyes. Midas Blenny may be another option. Take a look at those. Other than that hard to say as I do not have a display of that size.

Starcki damsel may be worth while. Not that common but beautiful fish. I'm a bit biased towards damsels as I have 11 Lyretails and a sucker for them.

I'm very aware of each fish needing a 'home' - and I've actually recently rescaped my mature aquascape to provide better shelter and pass throughs for my fish.

It's definitely my biggest concern with adding any new fish, but I do feel like I'm now in a position where I have adequate caves to accommodate another 1-2 fish.

Anyway, I do love Damsels and their swim pattern but I don't think my lil old blue damsel would be happy about another damsel, sadly.

Blennys are cool but I feel like they tend to be perchers, or cave dwellers and I'm just not looking for more of that. If I were to add another fish or two, I'd want it to be constantly out in the open swimming.

 

[areefer01]

I'm very aware of each fish needing a 'home' - and I've actually recently rescaped my mature aquascape to provide better shelter and pass throughs for my fish.

It's definitely my biggest concern with adding any new fish, but I do feel like I'm now in a position where I have adequate caves to accommodate another 1-2 fish.

Anyway, I do love Damsels and their swim pattern but I don't think my lil old blue damsel would be happy about another damsel, sadly.

Blennys are cool but I feel like they tend to be perchers, or cave dwellers and I'm just not looking for more of that. If I were to add another fish or two, I'd want it to be constantly out in the open swimming.

Search on the two blennies I mentioned as they are not Barnicle or cave oriented. Also I was not judging your stocking only suggesting that was the direction our fellow hobbyist was going. You are your own keeper so only listing a possible open water option.

Depending on the amount of rock and coral maturity (colony size) you are limited as you know. Good luck.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Threadfin cardinalfish are a open swimming fish that likes groups. Take a look at em

 

[Daniel Rosenwinkel]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned chromis, they can do great in small tanks.

 

[areefer01]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned chromis, they can do great in small tanks.

Probably due to numbers dwindling over time due to fight club death matches. Then there is also the whole Uronema to deal with more often than not. So one needs to be well versed in QT protocols.

 

[Enad]

Chromis can also get quite large. I've seen some real meaty older chromis. That's not to mention the Uronema issue. Definitely no interest in a Chromis.


I'll be honest, the Cardinalfish is just a bit too drab looking for me. It's also primarily nocturnal as far as I'm aware, so I don't know how often they would be out and about in the daytime.

What about Saltwater acclimated Mollies? I don't really know anything about them but when I've seen them in my LFS, they appear to be open swimmers and quite small.

 

[mdpitts]

I recently added a scissortail goby and I love that fish. He's curious, super friendly and not skittish at all. He hangs out at the front right side of my tank (40B) about mid-column. I love his muted but pretty color as well.

 

[littlefoxx]

Zebra dart gobies in a small school are cool, or the cardinals. Those are super open water swimmers, just like to float in the water column. Super cool!

 

[soulman978]

Chromis can also get quite large. I've seen some real meaty older chromis. That's not to mention the Uronema issue. Definitely no interest in a Chromis.


I'll be honest, the Cardinalfish is just a bit too drab looking for me. It's also primarily nocturnal as far as I'm aware, so I don't know how often they would be out and about in the daytime.

What about Saltwater acclimated Mollies? I don't really know anything about them but when I've seen them in my LFS, they appear to be open swimmers and quite small.

Maybe look at Pajama Cardinals? They are a bit more colorful.