Fish for a 12 gallon aquapod

[zdrc]

I'm looking for some stocking suggestions for a 12 gallon aquapod.

I'm looking for fish that are:

• captive bred or sustainably collected (or at least not in danger of extinction)
• (inter)active and have character
• cheap (less than $100 per fish)
• will fit in the tank long term and aren't "tank-busting"

First point is self-explanatory.

On the second point, I am interested in fish that are active and visible, interacting with me or their tank buddies. I am possibly interested in keeping a group of the same species of fish specifically so I can observe interspecies interactions, but this is not necessary. I would personally love to get a blenny, but I think my tank is too small for most species of blenny.

On the last point, I am looking for fish that will fit in the aquapod easily. I don't want to be pushing the limits of the tank (e.g. I would not consider a pair of clowns appropriate, but maybe a single clown?).

Bonus points for fish that have a loose biotope that could be reproduced in the 12 gallon, (e.g. specific gobies associated with specific corals, etc.). I'm not sure I'll actually be able to execute on this, but I do love learning about such associations.

Some options I've already collected on my own:

• Trimma and/or Eviota gobies. A small group, ideally captive bred. Seems like a really cool option, but I'm not sure about availability and (inter)activity.
• Barnacle blennies. A small group. I have reservations about how active these fish are. They seem to spend all their time in their barnacle.
• Goby + shrimp. I have reservations about supplying enough sand (I don't want a super deep sand bed), and I'm not sure how interesting/active these will actually be. I also want to make sure I don't get too large of a goby like the yellow watchman.
• A single clown and a goby (e.g. something like a neon goby). I really like the swimming behavior of the clowns (big paddle-y fins), and dislike their temperament. Also, clowns may be too large. Seems kinda like a "white bread" option, but that doesn't mean it can't be satisfying.

What do you think of these options? What other species would you suggest?

 

[afrokobe]

I would suggest a blenny. They are absolute characters and some of the most fun in a tank. My midas blenny will carry snails and hermits around when they walk infront of his hide out. He will also slap? the sand with his tail around the other tank mates.

I had a tailspot blenny before and he was just as fun to watch

 

[Jib]

I have always thought these masked gobies are pretty cool. If anything happens to my clown I'm getting 3 of these for my 14G.

Aquarium Conditioned-Shoaling Masked Goby

Aquarium Conditioned-Shoaling Masked Goby, Coryphopterus sp. This is for a We are very excited to offer our new Shoaling Masked Gobies. These small gobies are very peaceful and actually show shoaling behavior which is really neat to observe in the aquarium. They will sometimes reside on the...

seahorsesavvy.com

 

[zdrc]

I would suggest a blenny. They are absolute characters and some of the most fun in a tank. My midas blenny will carry snails and hermits around when they walk infront of his hide out. He will also slap? the sand with his tail around the other tank mates.

I had a tailspot blenny before and he was just as fun to watch

Yes, I would love to get a blenny. However, I feel that a Midas Blenny is going to be way too large for my tank. Would a tailspot fit? I didn't realize they were so small. I thought they more like 3.5 inches. Maybe a tailspot would be perfect.

 

[zdrc]

I have always thought these masked gobies are pretty cool. If anything happens to my clown I'm getting 3 of these for my 14G.

Aquarium Conditioned-Shoaling Masked Goby

Aquarium Conditioned-Shoaling Masked Goby, Coryphopterus sp. This is for a We are very excited to offer our new Shoaling Masked Gobies. These small gobies are very peaceful and actually show shoaling behavior which is really neat to observe in the aquarium. They will sometimes reside on the...

seahorsesavvy.com

Looks cool! Similar to the Trimma sp. and Eviota sp. gobies.

 

[bnord]

I have had 3 masked gobies (C. personatus) in a 15 with other and they seemed to set up the social hierarchy without the violence.

go look at AB or Biotas CB fish selection and that will help - we got a Biota Starry goby that turned out to be smart, tough and long lived, but not too colorful

Tailspots are small, and always fan favorites - good algae eaters too

 

[afrokobe]

Yes, I would love to get a blenny. However, I feel that a Midas Blenny is going to be way too large for my tank. Would a tailspot fit? I didn't realize they were so small. I thought they more like 3.5 inches. Maybe a tailspot would be perfect.

yea, a midas will be too big. I think a tailspot would be perfect for you. Bicolors could also fit, but I heard they are a bit more prone to nipping than tailspots

 

[bnord]

Looks cool! Similar to the Trimma sp. and Eviota sp. gobies.

great minds....

 

[i cant think]

I have had 3 masked gobies (C. personatus) in a 15 with other and they seemed to set up the social hierarchy without the violence.

go look at AB or Biotas CB fish selection and that will help - we got a Biota Starry goby that turned out to be smart, tough and long lived, but not too colorful

Tailspots are small, and always fan favorites - good algae eaters too

Gobies are much more Sociable than people assume. Yes many gobies will prefer to be in pairs/on their own however, Trimma, Eviota, certain Gobiodon, Coryphopterus all prefer being in groups. Gobiodon okinawae are found in groups of 5-20 in the wild, Eviota atriventris are found in small groups around acropora colonies, Trimma cana can be found in small groups or solitary around hard coral.

 

[DavidsAquariums]

If you were able to find and keep a anemone that's hosting a pair of clowns that would definitely work,They are going to stay near it,Iv kept a pair in a 10 gal and they lived a long healthy life,Iv kept rose bubble tip anemones fairly easy in nano tanks that would be my choice

 

[Tchung23]

Captive bred yasha. Great looking fish. Stays small and can pair up with pistol shrimp.

 

[i cant think]

Captive bred yasha. Great looking fish. Stays small and can pair up with pistol shrimp.

I actually dont see any difference between WC and CB yashas, they are essentially the exact same just one was bred in captivity.

 

[afrokobe]

I actually dont see any difference between WC and CB yashas, they are essentially the exact same just one was bred in captivity.

Why wouldn't they be the same... The reason you buy captive bred is to lessen the amount of wild collected fish. Not to get a different fish. Maybe in the sense of biotas mandarins since they have been trained to eat prepared

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Geometric pygmy hawkfish are good. They have good character, fit in small tanks, and generally don't cost very much. They can be tricky to get on pellets, but they will eat frozen reliably.

 

[i cant think]

Why wouldn't they be the same... The reason you buy captive bred is to lessen the amount of wild collected fish. Not to get a different fish. Maybe in the sense of biotas mandarins since they have been trained to eat prepared

I said that wrong (I was half asleep). I meant to add about how some fish can be deformed, malnourished and weaker than a WC specimen of the same species. Also, I don’t think CB is doing much in terms of less fish being brought out of the wild (Infact I think it’s just made more fish come in from the wild).