showfish for a 30g

[Max The New reefer]

hi, I'm looking to add a showfish to a reef tank, it's a 24"x24"x10" 30g, I want fish that's larger like a wrasse or angelfish or small puffer, I would also prefer it to be reef safe, any suggestion?

current fish
ocelaris clowns
wheelers goby
pincushion urchin
tiger pistol shrimp

 

[Lasse]

I think you already have your showpieces for a 30 gallon tank - the goby and the pistol shrimp

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Max The New reefer]

I think you already have your showpieces for a 30 gallon tank - the goby and the pistol shrimp

Sincerely Lasse

as I love my wheelers he sits in his hole and doesn't move, I kinda want a active fish

 

[Lasse]

Some of the smaller wrasses may add something more to the tank - if you have lot of hiding places - look at the possum wrasses - they are shy in the beginning but if they are the only fish in their nisch - they show up an interesting behaviour with time. There is other small wrasses too - but stay away for the more aggressive species like Pseudocheilinus hexataenia. There is some dwarf/pygmy angels too - see here. Centropyge argi is one example. See species here Some grow to much but there is some that will fit a 30 G with a shoehorn

Sincerely Lasse

 

[lion king]

If you have $600-800 laying around you could do a candy basslet. Or you could do a poor man's version with the swales swissguard basslet, I had one that was quite stunning. They can be shy though. Any real show wrasses would need a bigger tank. The cherub or flameback angel are nice, but 50/50 when it comes to reef safe, I did have a cherub that was good for years in a BC29.

 

[Bossman]

I 2nd the pygmy angel suggestion. I have a cherub angel in my 10 gallon. Pretty fish and very active.

 

[Max The New reefer]

Some of the smaller wrasses may add something more to the tank - if you have lot of hiding places - look at the possum wrasses - they are shy in the beginning but if they are the only fish in their nisch - they show up an interesting behaviour with time. There is other small wrasses too - but stay away for the more aggressive species like. There is some dwarf/pygmy angels too - see here. Centropyge argi is one example. See species here Some grow to much but there is some that will fit a 30 G with a shoehorn

Sincerely Lasse

I love possum wrasses, but they never do well in my tank, even before I had clownfish, they just died, I was thinking a dwarf angel, I cant do a coral beauty, so a flame or a cherub, which do you reccomend?- max

 

[Max The New reefer]

If you have $600-800 laying around you could do a candy basslet. Or you could do a poor man's version with the swales swissguard basslet, I had one that was quite stunning. They can be shy though. Any real show wrasses would need a bigger tank. The cherub or flameback angel are nice, but 50/50 when it comes to reef safe, I did have a cherub that was good for years in a BC29.

WOW candy baskets are crazy, I wish I could afford one, swissgaurds I've heard tend to be aggressive, I'm down to a flame back or cherub angel what do you think?

 

[Max The New reefer]

I 2nd the pygmy angel suggestion. I have a cherub angel in my 10 gallon. Pretty fish and very active.

Aaaa, do you have a tank to but him in eventually?

 

[PicassoClown04]

I’ve got a full grown cherub in a 20 gallon, very very happy and healthy fish. Flamebacks get to the same size so I think one of those would be happy as well

you could do a geometric hawk but they can be quite reclusive, stunning color and pattern though!

 

[Max The New reefer]

I’ve got a full grown cherub in a 20 gallon, very very happy and healthy fish. Flamebacks get to the same size so I think one of those would be happy as well

you could do a geometric hawk but they can be quite reclusive, stunning color and pattern though!

awesome, thanks for the help!

 

[Bossman]

Aaaa, do you have a tank to but him in eventually?

He's in his "forever" tank now.

 

[Max The New reefer]

He's in his "forever" tank now.

that's not ok, they need to have places to move

 

[lion king]

WOW candy baskets are crazy, I wish I could afford one, swissgaurds I've heard tend to be aggressive, I'm down to a flame back or cherub angel what do you think?

My cherub lived in BC29 lps dominant reef for years. He was a model citizen as they say, he was not aggressive or bothered any corals.

 

[Bossman]

that's not ok, they need to have places to move

It's OK with me and my fish. The only fish I want to add to the nano at this point is a cleaner wrasse. I already have one in each of my other 4 tanks.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

It's OK with me and my fish. The only fish I want to add to the nano at this point is a cleaner wrasse. I already have one in each of my other 4 tanks.

So you like cleaners wrasses? In that case this is a MUST read https://oceana.org/blog/certain-men...le and bustle,catch to this happy arrangement.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

hi, I'm looking to add a showfish to a reef tank, it's a 24"x24"x10" 30g, I want fish that's larger like a wrasse or angelfish or small puffer, I would also prefer it to be reef safe, any suggestion?

current fish
ocelaris clowns
wheelers goby
pincushion urchin
tiger pistol shrimp

Yeah as previously said possum wrasse are awesome showpiece fish, for a 30g you could also try a mandarinfish. They work well in 30gs if you keep a good pod population, but i woud still suggest getting a captive bred one that eats pellets, makes everything easier.

 

[Bossman]

So you like cleaners wrasses? In that case this is a MUST read https://oceana.org/blog/certain-mental-tests-tiny-cleaner-wrasse-outperforms-chimps#:~:text=Biting the fin that feeds you&text=In the hustle and bustle,catch to this happy arrangement.

Thanks! A good read. I also have a lawnmower blenny in every tank. In 2 of the tanks, the cleaner wrasse occasionally bites at the blennies, no other fish. Not enough to be more of an immediate nuisance, but the blennies don't like it.

 

[pcon]

Just FYI ORA recommends a 75 gal minimum for captive bred cherub and flame back angels. And they have a vested interest in minimizing that number.

Cherub Angelfish | Centropyge argi | ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

A lovely little angelfish with a big personality. Enjoy the captive bred ORA Cherub Angelfish in your home aquarium today!

www.orafarm.com

I recommend a possum wrasse or one of the many amazing basslets.

 

[lion king]

Just FYI ORA recommends a 75 gal minimum for captive bred cherub and flame back angels. And they have a vested interest in minimizing that number.

Cherub Angelfish | Centropyge argi | ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

A lovely little angelfish with a big personality. Enjoy the captive bred ORA Cherub Angelfish in your home aquarium today!

www.orafarm.com

I recommend a possum wrasse or one of the many amazing basslets.

Not to try justify keeping these guys in a 30g, but the 75g recommendation from ORA is for pairs. I know 30g is likely at the low end of adequate tank space for these guys, but I did have one thrive in a BC29 and was not aggressive or picked on corals.