Why I choose smaller fish over the larger specimens for my reef aquarium.
Many years ago I made a conscious decision to concentrate of keeping smaller specimens of reef fish and in as large an aquarium as I could afford to have and run. No large tangs, angels or the like for me. (I tell a lie as I currently house a smallish yellow tang which I put in my previous tank to rid it of some nuisance Caulerpa I will move it on when I need to) At the same time, I also made the decision to try as much as possible to house my fish as they would be found in nature. Therefore, I won't keep any open water fish and only those that stayed close to the reef structure and corals just as they would be found in their natural habitat on and in the reef. I also keep my fish in pairs, trios or small groups again as they would be found on the reef.
There are many reasons I chose to go down this route not least of which was concern for the welfare of the fish in my care. However, there are more reasons that I think we should consider when setting up our reef tanks and our choice of fish. The following is the main reasons I went with my decisions.
1/As above IMO we all have a moral obligation to provide the best care we can for any animal we keep. We are the custodians of those animals we incarcerate in their glass box. If you can't meet the requirements of an animal then don't keep it, it really is as simple as that. We have a duty of care which entails many things from space to diet to tank mates, there are more of course.
2/ By choosing fish that naturally stay close the reefscape and corals we are mimicking their natural enthronement. This has many beneficial effects on the fish IMO. Our fish will feel secure in familiar surroundings. Fish will feel less stressed (always a good thing right?) They will be healthier, often more colourful and even less aggressive to others. Your fish will live longer lives as a result.
3/ When we house fish in as they are found on the reef in pairs or small groups many will nest build and spawn as mine often do while others are pelagic spawner’s of course . EG, I have a pair of common clowns that spawn continuously, a group of damsels that do the same. A pair of pinstriped wrasse that spawn and so on. Many fish that I have heard people say are boring come alive when they have a mate after all fish live to eat and reproduce along with self-preservation. I have 2 different species of gobies along with partner pistol shrimps in a symbiotic relationship as my clowns are in their Red Bubble Tip Anemone. BTW I would never keep clowns without a host anemone as they are never found in nature without one and yes I know about clowns doing well without an anemone and even spawning without a host nem.
4/ Let's take a look at so-called age old stocking fish ratio in relation to size of fish per gallon. 5 x 1” damsels does not equate to a 5” angel for instance with regards to bio load so there is less pressure on your filters. I am not suggesting you can therefore cram your aquarium with a lot more fish as a result, however. Having said that most small fish are almost constant feeders so I feed a little and often and provide a good varied diet but that is for another post. Most my fish are opportunistic feeders feeding on what comes their way in the water column but I digress.
5/ My fish enjoy a predator free environment, sure there is the odd squabble as with my 5 star damsels but they are so preoccupied chasing one another they have no time or any other fish in the aquarium it would seem. However, these squabbles never end in any injuries to any of them not even a nipped fin. I recently introduced a pair of Purple Firefish, none of my fish including the damsels have given them a second look.
There are other reasons I have chosen to keep my reef as I do and I could expand on the above but I have covered most of if not all the main reasons for my choice, my fish have no option after all.
Finally, I would like to think given the choice or returning to the reef with all the perils that await them or staying residing in the 5 star Hilton I call my reef aquarium they would choose the latter . I have no real way of knowing this but all appear very healthy and contented with what I provide in my 100-gallon reef tank. I am not trying to preach to you all at all as these are just my thoughts and philosophy towards my animals and reef keeping yours of course, may well differ.
