Good fish for nano tank.

gar732 · Jul 21, 2012

I have a 5gal fluval spec that will be mostly a macro tank with some shrooms and zoas. It was originally supposed to be for dwarf seahorses that the wife was supposed to take care of. Realistically she wants them but she won't end up helping much and with a new job I don't have as much time as I used to. What is a good, colorful, active fish for a 5 gal tank?

_Alex_ · Jul 21, 2012

Red Pygmy goby. They dart to and from hiding places and will live in empty shells. Only get to be about a half inch. And clown gobies come in different colors and very active ours is going on 3 years old

gar732 · Jul 21, 2012

Sounds cool, I'll check them out. Thanks

gar732 · Jul 22, 2012

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Degener8 · Jul 22, 2012

Ranfordi Goby.. awesome lil fish love being around macro and picking through algae for pods etc. Some can be a bit of a pin to get to eat prepared foods so just make sure its eating cyclopeze or the like before purchasing

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Court Jester Goby

gar732 · Jul 22, 2012

Interesting looking fish thanks.

Degener8 · Jul 22, 2012

I had one over a year ago for a small fish he was active and I saw him all the time. I will get another for sure.

Nano sapiens · Jul 22, 2012

In a 5g you could go with one of the Gobies or Blennies. I have both a Red Headed Goby and a Barnacle Blenny and they are both real characters. The Goby is more apt to come out and sit around waiting for food (but he does dig in the sand a bit) while the Blenny is more of an ambush hunter that sits in a favorite hole or two most of the time, but he'll watch everything very intently. The Blenny is small, so you could actually keep a couple in small tank which would be very entertaining (especially at feeding time): Barnacle Blennies in action! - YouTube

Barnacle Blenny out of his hole (hard to find, isn't he?)

Red Headed Goby:

spsboss · Jul 23, 2012

Do you have a full tank shot, I have the same tank and I am looking for little fish to add to this.

Dowtish · Jul 23, 2012

I have this little guy in my 10 gal. awesome personality!
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Clown Goby, Green

FisheriesOmen · Jul 24, 2012

I was going to suggest Clown Goby but I have found they really prefer having some branching SPS to perch on. Also they're a pain to feed.
Also I will second that a Red-Headed goby is fun to keep in the tank. I had one in a 10g until I moved it to my 55g. I wouldn't really suggest Red-Headed Goby for a 5g (probably not even a 10g either), they're packed with energy and do best in 30+ gallons.

I would say stick with the Dwarf Sea Horses, they NEED small tanks and are easy to care for other than feeding (which can easily be taken care of). Otherwise small gobies tend to fair well, I have a shrimp/goby pair in my 10g atm.

Nano sapiens · Jul 24, 2012

FisheriesOmen said:
I wouldn't really suggest Red-Headed Goby for a 5g (probably not even a 10g either), they're packed with energy and do best in 30+ gallons.

Interesting. My Red-Headed Goby is in a 12g and it is not all that active, at least not compared to something like a Damsel. I see it most when it comes out and perches on the rocks awaiting food.

A small Goby/Shrimp pair would be very cool.

FisheriesOmen · Jul 24, 2012

Ya...they tend to cover corals on the sand though :/ I really need to attach those to rocks already...
It all depends on this fish....my was buzzing everywhere in my 10g.
They still might be happy in a nano though.

Nano sapiens · Jul 25, 2012

Yes, the Red Heads do like to spit the sand they excavate. For about a week I was battling the constant sand all over my Rics. Once they get their lairs the way they like them, they stop (thank goodness!).

_Alex_ · Jul 25, 2012

the clown goby we have has been with us for almost 3 years and eats evreythign that goes in the tank from pellets, flake, mysis, brine, reefcrack... you name it it eats it! but i will say its a green clown goby. we have tried every other color of clown goby and not had such good of luck....

lpslover · Jul 25, 2012

Rainford's or Hector's Gobies are awesome, though as mentioned above, some eat well in captivity, some not as well. Mine have done well on cyclopeeze and nutramar ova. Or how about a Yasha Hase Shrimp Goby and a Candy Stripe Pistol Shrimp pair? Both only get about 2 inches. A small quiet tank with no other critters would be perfect for the shy couple.