What fish can't go in bare-bottom?

saltysailor · Sep 10, 2020

Hi I was thinking about getting a goby pistol shrimp combo or just a goby but have a bare bottom tank. Is this advisable or if not which fish should I avoid. Looking to stock my 25 lagoon.

BlennyTime · Sep 10, 2020

They won’t have anywhere to live if there’s no sand.

Some wrasses and other fish like to bury in the sand as well.

DaneGer21 · Sep 10, 2020

No, not advisable IMO.

Most wrasse, and any sand sifting gobys are a no go.

ShepherdReefer · Sep 10, 2020

The current tank, the first bare bottom, has had some challenges but I am glad we did. I agree, most wrasse will not do well however, we did have one that did great...well, tell he found a small gap in the lid, and took a jump. Was a sad day. We are trying to get another one but the radian wrasse is had to find.

old salt reefer · Sep 10, 2020

Plastic container with gravel in it, hide behind rocks. Works for most wrasses that sleep in gravel. Gobies might be a different story. I have sand dwelling anemones that way.

Gablami · Sep 10, 2020

To be more specific, fairy wrasses are fine in a BB tank because they are not sand dwelling.

K7BMG · Sep 10, 2020

There may be an individual fish that can adapt to a situation.
say a sand sifting Goby in a bare bottom tank.
This is a rare occurance at best.

generally not a specific species of fish on the whole should be considered able to adapt.

jpnegrete14 · Sep 10, 2020

I currently have a YWMG and pistol shrimp combo with a sand bottom and it’s extremely hard for me to imagine them not having a sand bottom. Not only do they live in a burrow made in the sand but their daily tasks are pretty much all interactions involving the sand. Build the burrow, maintain the burrow, YWMG protects the shrimp while on the sand bottom, sleep in the burrow. Repeat.

IME I would not advise keeping that specific combo in a bare bottom. I’m not saying I know for a fact it can’t be done it just seems to go against what is completely innate to those species. Good luck!

Aere · Sep 10, 2020

They live in the sand. Don't do it imo.

Realamerican13 · Sep 10, 2020

No go for a pistol shrimp but I have a bare bottom 25 lagoon with a yellow watchman goby and a possum wrasse, both doing great.

saltysailor · Sep 11, 2020

Thank you all! Won't go for it! looking now at fairy wrasses I love the Naoki but LFS said 25 lagoon is too small. Any other suggestions? Also anything else glaringly obvious that shouldn't go in a bare-bottom aside from cuc.