Which fish should I add?

[Lyss]

Help me decide what fish to add to my tank.

Tank is Max Nano 20g AIO -- about 16.5g in the display. Current stock is below:

• Ocellaris clown pair
• Tailspot blenny
• Cleaner shrimp
• Tiger conch
• Two scarlet hermits
• Two green porcelain crabs
• Two feather dusters
• A bunch of snails (4 trochus, 3 nasaruius, 10 Cerith)

I've added a poll but here are the choices below, too:

• Pink-streaked wrasse
• Randall's assessor (LFS has in stock right now)
• A trio of Eviota nano gobies
• Nothing -- keep the peace for now and get more fish when I upgrade the tank in a year or two

I kinda have the bug for more fish, but could also just focus on adding more corals until I'm ready to get a larger tank...

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I’d keep it as is. Fan of odd numbers. Wait til u go bigger and just add some corals

 

[Uncle99]

I might have some concern with the wrasse, the shrimp and the feather duster worm.

I was thinking Royal Gramma, but that’s just me.

 

[Sean Clark]

The Randall's assessor is going to add so much color and spectacle to the tank with a single fish.

 

[Lyss]

I genuinely can't decide. A big part of me says just keep things as they are and build up corals in this tank. The other part of me wants more fish.

Initially I'd had my heart set on the pink-streaked but those are annoyingly hard to come by, and now I'm interested in the assessor esp since LFS has it, but I could also see a trio of those little nano gobies being fun.

My biggest concern is with aggression/territorial behavior. The clowns and blenny went in two weeks apart, and the clowns were just babies. They all pal around together w/the cleaner shrimp hunting for food, and are not territorial with each other. But now they are all very established in the tank and I'm worried they may react poorly to any more fish.

 

[Chrisv.]

I really like to keep tanks "understocked" when it comes to fish and overstocked when it comes to coral. I think the fish behave more naturally when they aren't on top of each other.

 

[Uncle99]

I genuinely can't decide. A big part me me says just keep things as they are and build up corals in this tank. The other part of me wants more fish.

Initially I'd had my heart set on the pink-streaked but those are annoyingly hard to come by, and now I'm interested in the assessor esp since LFS has it, but I could also see a trio of those little nano gobies being fun.

My biggest concern is with aggression/territorial behavior. The clowns and blenny went in two weeks apart, and the clowns were just babies. They all pal around together w/the cleaner shrimp hunting for food, and are not territorial with each other. But now they are all very established in the tank and I'm worried they may react poorly to any more fish.

All valid concerns.
Sometimes we stretch that elastic band just a hair to far and BAM, we wish we never started.
Sometimes if you got it right, I’d just leave it.

 

[Lyss]

I almost ordered the assessor for pickup, and then I posted this instead lol.

I think I was hoping to hear exactly these types of responses, to keep me from doing something I might regret, esp when things are going so well w/the tank rn.

 

[damsels are not mean]

I might have some concern with the wrasse, the shrimp and the feather duster worm.

I was thinking Royal Gramma, but that’s just me.

nah a royal gramma is 10x more of a risk with small crustaceans than a pink streaked wrasse. The wrasse's mouth is like that of a mandarin, and slightly smaller overall. I don't think they can hunt more than pods.

 

[Chrisv.]

nah a royal gramma is 10x more of a risk with small crustaceans than a pink streaked wrasse. The wrasse's mouth is like that of a mandarin, and slightly smaller overall. I don't think they can hunt more than pods.

On the other hand...they are basically unobtainable right now. Not sure where one would buy a pink streak if they wanted one.

 

[damsels are not mean]

On the other hand...they are basically unobtainable right now. Not sure where one would buy a pink streak if they wanted one.

Yeah no idea. I was looking at one for a few weeks but found a possum wrasse in stock and quarantined I pulled the trigger on instead. Might have to special order a pink streak ATM.

 

[Chrisv.]

Yeah no idea. I was looking at one for a few weeks but found a possum wrasse in stock and quarantined I pulled the trigger on instead. Might have to special order a pink streak ATM.

I've been trying to make that happen for like 4 months. Nobody seems to be able to get them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I might have some concern with the wrasse, the shrimp and the feather duster worm.

I was thinking Royal Gramma, but that’s just me.

Gramma would be fine too. Ive always had one and the hardiest of small fish and cause mee no issues. Always had some at my pet store and was often a first choice due to the brilliant colors.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Assessor is gorgeous but also a jumper

 

[Lyss]

I've been trying to make that happen for like 4 months. Nobody seems to be able to get them.

Blue Zoo had them a few months ago but I didn’t do it b/c I was still like idk if I want to add another fish and risk blowing up my whole situation…

 

[Lyss]

Now I’m thinking about the assessor at the LFS again, ugh.

I would probably go pick that up if not for being unsure of how the clowns would react — they utilize all the open areas of the tank, and while they’re still young and extremely friendly w/the blenny, idk how especially the female would react to a new fish now. There’s plenty of rock/cave area but it’s a small enough tank that it’s a concern.

Same for the blenny — he has a home base but is all over the rockwork during the day. He recently was irked by the presence of the conch when I added her, and attacked her more than once when she went on the rocks, though now he seems to have mellowed out over that and accepted her.

 

[Chrisv.]

Now I’m thinking about the assessor at the LFS again, ugh.

I would probably go pick that up if not for being unsure of how the clowns would react — they utilize all the open areas of the tank, and while they’re still young and extremely friendly w/the blenny, idk how especially the female would react to a new fish now. There’s plenty of rock/cave area but it’s a small enough tank that it’s a concern.

Same for the blenny — he has a home base but is all over the rockwork during the day. He recently was irked by the presence of the conch when I added her, and attacked her more than once when she went on the rocks, though now he seems to have mellowed out over that and accepted her.

I will say that I had a yellow assessor back in the day and it was one of my favorite fish.

 

[jdiefenbaugh]

Can't go wrong with the assessor or any of the pygmy wrasses, all are perfect nano fish. The wrasses are seasonal I believe, which is why they are difficult to find at times.

 

[Lyss]

I’m gonna think on it a bit longer and if I still want it and it’s still available later today I’ll pick it up.

 

[Lyss]

Well, in a bit of a twist, I ordered a trio of these direct from Biota. I think they’re more the right size for the current tank, will do well, and will add the additional fish life and color I’m looking for.