Need an active nano fish, copepod lover?

[NanoLove]

I have a LOT of copepods. I love them but I would like a fish that loves them as much as I do. This is for an 8 gallon nano so fish needs to be small. Ideally Wouldn’t mind if fish was quite active in main water column as this is for a live streamed aquarium. Thanks for any suggestions! Tank is about 2 months old, has happy soft corals and cuc with no current fish.

(I’m a bit of a snob and don’t want a damsel unless it’s extremely fancy )

 

[blaxsun]

A pipefish would probably go cuckoo for copepods.

 

[NanoLove]

A pipefish would probably go cuckoo for copepods.

I would love one but I’m worried he would be stressed in my little tank? it’s very small, cube size so only like 10 inches long or so.

i spent years in this hobby but this is my first tank back after several years. I’m just buying purified water, adding salt and checking the bare min stuff. I don’t plan to have any hard corals and more than likely will need some very small hardy fish to avoid stress from such a small tank and possibly just not as stable since it is so small.

 

[blaxsun]

Pipefish aren't very big and they spend most of their time just chilling on or near the sandbed.

 

[NanoLove]

Pipefish aren't very big and they spend most of their time just chilling on or near the sandbed.

I will look further into them thanks!

 

[polyppal]

nice looking nano! the problem with copepod-specific fish in such a small tank is that they will wipe out the pod population very quickly then likely starve. For that reason I wouldn't recommend a mandarin or live pod-specific fish, but a number of 'regular' fish will go after the pods too

 

[NanoLove]

nice looking nano! the problem with copepod-specific fish in such a small tank is that they will wipe out the pod population very quickly then likely starve. For that reason I wouldn't recommend a mandarin or live pod-specific fish, but a number of 'regular' fish will go after the pods too

Yes that is what I’m interested it! I’m cool with (would prefer as well) stuff that can also accept other foods. I just adore the tiny life of nanos and love watching my fish eat stuff that grew in there by itself! and hey thank you! Forgot how much I missed tanks

 

[polyppal]

8g is prob a bit too small, but a possum wrasse would look awesome

you could consider a damsel maybe sand goby or single clown, they'd prob hunt the pods

 

[NanoLove]

Hey all I have decided on a royal gramma

It is a tiny bit bigger than I would have hoped as a final fish, but 3 inches seems manageable. I’ve turned down the lights so as not to disturb him so much but happy to say he happily picking away within a few minutes, thanks for suggestions guys!

 

[Chrisv.]

Hey all I have decided on a royal gramma

It is a tiny bit bigger than I would have hoped as a final fish, but 3 inches seems manageable. I’ve turned down the lights so as not to disturb him so much but happy to say he happily picking away within a few minutes, thanks for suggestions guys!

I honestly think you will find it will outgrow the space. What about a yasha goby and a pistol shrimp. It will make a nice display for the live stream. Or if you want, maybe a tailspot blenny. Quite comical.

 

[NanoLove]

I honestly think you will find it will outgrow the space. What about a yasha goby and a pistol shrimp. It will make a nice display for the live stream. Or if you want, maybe a tailspot blenny. Quite comical.

I may be fine changing him to a larger eventually as he grows yeah, I ended up going with the smallest in the store. It’s been a few weeks and I had visited so many and just couldn’t find the perfect fish for me Though I do enjoy him a lot so far. I thought hard about the goby and pistol pair but so much of my sand space is slowly getting overtaken by corals and things im afraid they would burrow in the back of the tank and I’d be kinda sad about it forever

I also agree the gramma as a species is a little large, I wanted something closer to only 2 inches or just 3 inches is fine but like a less active maybe? May I ask do you think he will outgrow based on waste produced or activity/stress level or both? Here is a pic for size comparison to tank.

 

[NanoLove]

edited post, sorry I don’t know how to delete this to clean this up but if a mod wants to, was having trouble uploading

 

[NanoLove]

 

[damsels are not mean]

everyone thinks they have a lot of copepods until they introduce a predator ;Joyful

 

[Chrisv.]

Ah I didn't realize he was already with you. Beautiful fish!

 

[NanoLove]

everyone thinks they have a lot of copepods until they introduce a predator ;Joyful

Haha yeah I don’t expect them to last long, I kind of already feel sorry for them, he is extremely busy right now lol rippers poor pods

He’s found a hole he likes already, darts out to eat a few, darts in and repeats and is already a little plump will have to offer him many things once he decimates these quickly

 

[NanoLove]

 

[NanoLove]

Ah I didn't realize he was already with you. Beautiful fish!

Thank you! I also looked up the other you mentioned, the Blenny, that’s a cool little fish I will keep an eye out for when I upgrade this one! I tried to post a video of him eating but I don’t think it shows ah well