What is your favorite inexpensive fish?

[Gumbies R Us]

In the hobby, there are a lot of fish we get to choose from when it comes to our tanks. Sometimes, our favorite fish in our tanks don't always have to be the most expensive ones. I am wondering what is your favorite fish in your tank that doesn't break the bank. Curious to know what everyone says!

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

Yellow Tangs!

Oh wait... it's 2023...

 

[Gtinnel]

Melanurus wrasse for me.

 

[Reeflix]

Gem tang. oh wait... nevermind those are 1000$

Ok anyways i really like the springeri damsel, the color is quite nice for 20$

 

[Waters]

Either Flame Hawk or Azure Damsels.

 

[Patientman]

Lyretail Anthias and Firefish

 

[Hooz]

Clown Gobies (any color) have a TON of personality, and typically don't cost much at all.

 

[Alexraptor]

Occelaris Clowns!

They just add a delightful amount of whimsy to the tank with the way they swim, and it's always fun to see them host in an anemone or coral.

Various gobies are also fun too, my second favorite are probably Eviota gobies, but I've only seem them in stores here once in my years in the hobby. Also a source of grief, as they readily hide and crawl through small passages inside rocks! Sometiems they can be missing for months and suddenly just reappear.

 

[mosreef]

Captive bred Lemon damsels - I bought 7 of them. They were so so tiny when they came I thought they would never make it through qt. But they all ate well from day 1, grew fast & were very vigorous.

Now in the main display, they chase each other out of their chosen territories, but no serious aggression.

2 pairs have spawned in my tank so far. They don’t hide, but rather spread out across the length of the tank and add a lot of color & movement.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Yellow Tangs!

Oh wait... it's 2023...

Maybe one day we will see those fish be cheap again

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Occelaris Clowns!

They just add a delightful amount of whimsy to the tank with the way they swim, and it's always fun to see them host in an anemone or coral.

Various gobies are also fun too, my second favorite are probably Eviota gobies, but I've only seem them in stores here once in my years in the hobby. Also a source of grief, as they readily hide and crawl through small passages inside rocks! Sometiems they can be missing for months and suddenly just reappear.

Love those kinds of clowns!

 

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

I mean, pretty much all my fish are relatively inexpensive. In my 34g I have:

Yellow watchman/pistol pair
Springeri damsel
Purple firefish
Priolepsis goby
Smiths Blenny
Pair of onyx Picasso perculas

The most expensive fish was $30 for the smiths blenny.

 

[1112-425XL]

Under $30 Tailspot Blenny
Under $60 Melanurus Wrasse
Under $100 Male Bluethroat Trigger

 

[Jedi1199]

For me I think it would have to be any of my Damsels. I don't think I paid over $20 for any of them. They are all active swimmers and fun to watch.

 

[vlangel]

Most of my fish are relatively inexpensive but I have 2 masked gobies from KP Aquatics that were very reasonable. They were secretive in the beginning but now are always out.

 

[ChristineInMaryland]

Royal grammas are usually pretty inexpensive and they add great color to the tank. And I love my tiny little yellow clown goby. He perches in different spots of the tank all day and he’s so small that I think the other fish don’t even see that he exists.

 

[i cant think]

Rabbitfish… although the two I own are definitely not cheap.

Nothing beats their sleeping behaviours!

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

I love my Lawnmower Blenny, Ronnie

 

[rhitee93]

This little goof-ball was only $12.99 at my LFS. My tank plans were in no way compatible with a puffer, but it was so interactive with me at the store I had to bring "him" home. Tank will have to go another direction now.

 

[Sleepingtiger]

Copperband butterfly:
$90
Reefsafe
Eats aptasia
It’s beautiful
Peaceful
Impervious to ich, velvet (I had ich and velvet outbreaks that will kill clowns and pseudochromis. copperband never show signs of infection)