Help deciding fish to add

JMF2324 · Oct 6, 2015

I need help deciding what fish I can add to my tank. I have a fowlr 30 gallon / 20x18x20" tank with 2 ocellaris clown fishand a bicolor dottyback. The bicolor dottyback is agressive. What fish can I add that won't get bullied and is small enough for my tank?

cmcoker · Oct 6, 2015

Your clowns will claim most,if not all, of that footprint as they mature. Plus the dottyback..
I would not add anything myself..

Tahoe61 · Oct 6, 2015

Realistically if you're going to add another fish you might consider getting rid of the aggressive Dotty Back or get a fish with just as much attitude. Some other damsel type like a Blue or Yellow Tail, Starki. You might have to put the Dotty Back in an acclimation box to give a new fish chance to acclimate in piece. Red Hawk fish might be another choice.

Humblefish · Oct 6, 2015

Tahoe61 said:
Realistically if you're going to add another fish you might consider getting rid of the aggressive Dotty Back or get a fish with just as much attitude. Some other damsel type like a Blue or Yellow Tail, Starki. You might have to put the Dotty Back in an acclimation box to give a new fish chance to acclimate in piece. Red Hawk fish might be another choice.

^^This. With the dottyback gone, you could add a small goby or some other bottom dweller that will stay out of the clowns' way.

JMF2324 · Oct 6, 2015

I was thinking of adding a hawkfish. I looked up compatibility of the bicolor dottyback and hawkfish and it says they are compatible. What do you guys think?

JMF2324 · Oct 7, 2015

The dottyback guards his cave like crazy, so I was thinking of moving it to one side and make another small cave across from it. Do you think that will work?

Humblefish · Oct 7, 2015

Juan Fontana said:
I was thinking of adding a hawkfish. I looked up compatibility of the bicolor dottyback and hawkfish and it says they are compatible. What do you guys think?

A hawkfish can probably hold it's own against a dottyback. But IME, dottybacks are holy terrors which seek out a hole in a rock and defend it to the death. Not a fish you want in your tank.

JMF2324 · Oct 7, 2015

Yes he is very aggressive. I put in some small hermit crabs and a emerald crab the other day and he was picking the hermit crabs up with his moth and moving them around. He pecked at the carb once and the crab held his own and he has not messed with him since.

EnLight · Oct 7, 2015

Humblefish said:
A hawkfish can probably hold it's own against a dottyback. But IME, dottybacks are holy terrors which seek out a hole in a rock and defend it to the death. Not a fish you want in your tank.

Are orchid dottybacks like this too? They're on my fish list to get as I've heard that they're the more peaceful of dottybacks but I'm unsure. Anyone got any insight?

Humblefish · Oct 7, 2015

EnLight said:
Are orchid dottybacks like this too? They're on my fish list to get as I've heard that they're the more peaceful of dottybacks but I'm unsure. Anyone got any insight?

They are supposed to be the least aggressive dottyback. Might work out in a big enough tank. I know some people who have owned them, and there still seems to be an issues with them vs. flasher/fairy wrasses.

chefjpaul · Oct 7, 2015

I've torn tanks down to catch them.

Maybe look at the royal gramma if anything, but still will get aggressive in small tanks.

EnLight · Oct 7, 2015

Humblefish said:
They are supposed to be the least aggressive dottyback. Might work out in a big enough tank. I know some people who have owned them, and there still seems to be an issues with them vs. flasher/fairy wrasses.

Ahh crap. I just got a Lubbock's, so I'll probably pass on that guy and go with a royal gramma. My electric blue damsel is enough of a bully as it is.