Stupid fish question #39876

[Jcat2k]

Thanks for helping in advance!

I have a 32 gal AIO reef tank with 2 young clowns, 1 purple firefish, 1 royal gamma, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 bloodred fire shrimp, 2 trochus snails, 1 cerith snail, and 1 nasarious snail

Generally a boring crew of wimpy fish suitable for their small home. I would like to add something of vivid color with a little energy (utilitarian would be nice too) like a wrasse - but I dont want to add a fish that will terrorize the existing crew - or my corals.

I've researched and researched and everybody has a '...but' in all of their recommendations and I am going crazy lol!

Any suggestions you have had success with in small tanks?

 

[Reefer80]

I would definitely go with a Possum wrasse. Very active fish and cool personality as well as a very peaceful fish

 

[Jcat2k]

I would definitely go with a Possum wrasse. Very active fish and cool personality as well as a very peaceful fish

Good recommendation out of the gate, thanks! LiveAquaria says 'These microcarnivores will feed on tiny worms and crustaceans that associate with live rock' I wonder if that means they would eat spirorbid worms? That would be awesome - because I have a bit of an infestation of the harmless punks lol

 

[PDR]

I honestly think you are already at your limit for that tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Flasher wrasse is god, but for the price and color and ease of care: Purple firefish goby

 

[jda]

Look at the fairy wrasse family. They are jumpers so it will help if you have a lid. They are colorful and peaceful and not too expensive. Carpenter Wrasses is a good example.

Avoid 4 line, 6 line and the like... they are a holes.

 

[Jcat2k]

I honestly think you are already at your limit for that tank.

You may be correct However, properly 'layering' the inhabitants has given them each their own tank area to enjoy (or share with 1 other) for the most part. There is no aggression in the tank with the current load, and that is why I'm trying to be very careful with this last fish addition.

 

[PDR]

Your tank is too small for fairy or flasher wrasses, please do not consider them as viable options. If you are determined to add more fish and imo overstock your tank, I think a pink-streaked or pygmy wrasse of some kind would be the best option although they are known to be pretty shy and hide a lot.

You may be correct However, properly 'layering' the inhabitants has given them each their own tank area to enjoy (or share with 1 other) for the most part. There is no aggression in the tank with the current load, and that is why I'm trying to be very careful with this last fish addition.

The main problem is your clowns. They are still small so are likely showing minimal to no aggression. This can drastically change as they mature (within the next few months, not years). I'm assuming this is a biocube due to it being 32 gallons, if that is correct then the display is closer to 25~ gallons. A mature pair of clownfish can easily claim that much territory, especially in a cube.

I am speaking from experience when it comes to clownfish aggression, I had an ocellaris pair kill a Helfrichi firefish in a similar size tank and have had numerous other pairs that have had aggression issues.

 

[Jcat2k]

Your tank is too small for fairy or flasher wrasses, please do not consider them as viable options. If you are determined to add more fish and imo overstock your tank, I think a pink-streaked or pygmy wrasse of some kind would be the best option although they are known to be pretty shy and hide a lot.



The main problem is your clowns. They are still small so are likely showing minimal to no aggression. This can drastically change as they mature (within the next few months, not years). I'm assuming this is a biocube due to it being 32 gallons, if that is correct then the display is closer to 25~ gallons. A mature pair of clownfish can easily claim that much territory, especially in a cube.

I am speaking from experience when it comes to clownfish aggression, I had an ocellaris pair kill a Helfrichi firefish in a similar size tank and have had numerous other pairs that have had aggression issues.

Thanks for the info! I last had a clown in a 65 gal bowfront (you can probably guess it had many tank mates from this post)- I didn't notice that rapid of growth in size or aggression the 2 years I had that tank - but that may be due to it being a larger tank. I will keep an eye out for that. I'm not going to let it get stressful for the fish (or me) so we will adapt to any changes that may occur. I'm one to share a fish with a buddy or even return one to the LFS before I let someone get bullied or stressed.

I spend hours watching my tank, and even stream it to my computer at work now. If I honestly thought another life in the tank (properly chosen) would be an issue, I wouldn't do it. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it and take appropriate action. Thanks for the tip!

 

[jabberwock]

I have 32 gallon biocube with 6 fish (one too many I think). 2 clowns, firefish, yellow watchman goby, lawnmower blenny, royal gramma. Sometimes the aggression comes from where you are not expecting it. I added the 2 clowns last, and all of a sudden the LMB started harassing the YWG. This lasted for a couple weeks. I was very close to removing the YWG back to the LFS, who said "of course, they would take it in." Hats off to them. It hid for a few days and then found a spot in the tank where he could hang out without getting harassed. So all is good now, however it feels precarious. I would say it is not worth the stress on the fish, or yourself to push the limits of your tank size.

 

[jabberwock]

I should add that I purchased a magnetic rock/frag holder that hangs up high on the tank glass, thus creating some additional habitat that the LMB took to right away. He perches up there alot, so I think that helped a great deal with the aggression.

 

[drblakjak55]

Five fish in a 32 is fine. Lots of room. A group of cardinalfish will add activity. Flame or longnose hawkfish are colorful and perch on corals to watch you. Blennies. Grammas. All peaceful occupy different areas.

 

[jabberwock]

Five fish in a 32 is fine. Lots of room. A group of cardinalfish will add activity. Flame or longnose hawkfish are colorful and perch on corals to watch you. Blennies. Grammas. All peaceful occupy different areas.

My gramma is a jerk. So is my lawn mower blenny...

 

[Bossman]

I had a possum wrasse and I loved that fish. Peaceful, constantly hunting for pods to eat in the rock work. I have a scarlet pin stripe wrasse in that tank now and it's also a great fish. Gets along with all the other tank mates.

The Possum wrasse jumped out of the tank during feeding when I had the lid off. Didn't notice it until too late. I lost a Solar wrasse through a small opening in the lid on another tank. The wrasse's are awesome fish, but they jump. Make sure you have a lid.

 

[jabberwock]

My female clown fish just freaked out and killed my fire fish. Sorry little buddy...
I did not see it until he was pretty badly banged up. The weaker he got the more aggressive the clown got. She was dragging him around by the tail and thrashing him like a rag doll. He was nearly dead when I intervened and put him out of his misery.

Sucks for Christmas...

 

[belsgarde]

I always like peppermint shrimp, so maybe two of them?

 

[Jcat2k]

My female clown fish just freaked out and killed my fire fish. Sorry little buddy...
I did not see it until he was pretty badly banged up. The weaker he got the more aggressive the clown got. She was dragging him around by the tail and thrashing him like a rag doll. He was nearly dead when I intervened and put him out of his misery.

Sucks for Christmas...

Yikes! Sorry for your loss!