most personable/intelligent fish for 20 gallon reef

[fishkeepinginasia]

greetings brethren,

I am looking for something small, intelligent and reef safe for my 20 gallon cube. I am going attempt to train it so I need a clever fish. What do you guys think?

 

[JoshB94]

I've been impressed with the personality of both my long nose hawkfish but a 20 is pretty small.

 

[Tired]

Damsel! Yellow-tail blue damselfish have lots of personality, and, if added last, could go with another fish or two.

Pygmy geometric hawkfish stay pretty small and are perching fish, but are VERY much not safe with shrimp. Even shrimp their own size may be a target, they're impressive hunters. Small fish may also have an issue.

What do you want to train it to do?

 

[fishkeepinginasia]

I've been impressed with the personality of both my long nose hawkfish but a 20 is pretty small.

I have had several people tell me the same thing. How are the personable? Are they interactive with you? Maybe I'll try them when I get a larger tank.

 

[JoshB94]

I have had several people tell me the same thing. How are the personable? Are they interactive with you? Maybe I'll try them when I get a larger tank.

They are very interactive with me. They swim right in front of me and not skittish, they perch in funny places like the cleaner magnet, mine "yawns" a lot. Overall they quickly became one of our favorites and a smaller one could still manage a 20 gallon compared to many other fish as they are pretty sedentary. No experience with other hawks but I'd assume similar

 

[PicassoClown04]

I would definitely say a cherub angel. Mine rests in my hand like a betta fish if I let it. Always swims up to me, intentionally photobombs my frag pics, and exhibits play behavior with my clowns. Definitely my favorite fish! Evidence of photobombing:

 

[fishkeepinginasia]

thats

Damsel! Yellow-tail blue damselfish have lots of personality, and, if added last, could go with another fish or two.

Pygmy geometric hawkfish stay pretty small and are perching fish, but are VERY much not safe with shrimp. Even shrimp their own size may be a target, they're impressive hunters. Small fish may also have an issue.

What do you want to train it to do?

That's not a bad idea. I need something really motivated by food. I once had a domino damsel and I'd really enjoy another. I want to train it to do basic stuff, you know, like to get me beers out of the fridge haha Really just things like swimming through hoops and stuff, but I wanna command train it. I am going to try and deliever commands with a kalimba and condition it to do a different trick with each note. No idea if it'll work but I think it'll be fun to try.

 

[fishkeepinginasia]

I would definitely say a cherub angel. Mine rests in my hand like a betta fish if I let it. Always swims up to me, intentionally photobombs my frag pics, and exhibits play behavior with my clowns. Definitely my favorite fish! Evidence of photobombing:

That's exactly the sort of fish behavior I think I could work with. Thanks!

 

[PicassoClown04]

That's exactly the sort of fish behavior I think I could work with. Thanks!

No problem! Mine cost me $15 at LFS 4 months ago so they learn fast and are very cheap. Beautiful fish as well, good luck with it!

 

[fishkeepinginasia]

Tha

They are very interactive with me. They swim right in front of me and not skittish, they perch in funny places like the cleaner magnet, mine "yawns" a lot. Overall they quickly became one of our favorites and a smaller one could still manage a 20 gallon compared to many other fish as they are pretty sedentary. No experience with other hawks but I'd assume similar

Haha they sound like the want attention almost. I for sure want to give this fish a try, I'm gonna give it some thought.

 

[Krixic]

I love my midas blenny! He does some really goofy stuff and pokes my hand when I feed. He loves to hide and poke his little head out of holes in rockwork

 

[Daniel]

4 or 6-line wrasse have been one of my favorite!! The cherub angel is also a great suggestion!