Have a Look at My Fish List, Please =)

[Hypostomus]

I'm going to cross-post this from another forum in an effort to get more answers.

I'm getting ready to get another fish for my family's 20g, which currently houses a single (old) ocellaris clownfish and various invertebrates (the fish must be reef-safe and shrimp-safe). I am compiling a list of fish that would work in this situation, and I would appreciate it if anyone could post some tips on the fish listed and if they are in fact appropriate for the tank, and make any additional suggestions. I will only be adding one fish from the list at present. The tank is 30"x12"x12" and is a few months old.

I just kind of copied and pasted this from my research file in Wordpad, but I don't think there's any format errors. Also, I've been looking for a good marine fish atlas but I haven't found one yet, so my list is basically based off information I found on the Internet.

It's also entirely unlikely my mother is going to let me get a goby or blenny, so they're kind of on the list as an afterthought. She doesn't like them.

Blenny, Barnacle (Acanthemblemaria sp.)
Blenny, Bicolor (Ecsenius bicolor)
Blenny, Midas (Ecsenius midas)
Basslet, Black Cap (Gramma melacara)
Basslet, Chalk (Seranus tortugarum) - May attack shrimp?
Basslet, Orangeback (Serranus annularis)
Basslet, Royal Gramma/Fairy (Gramma loreto)
Goby, Clown (Gobiodon sp)
Goby, Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
Goby, Golden Neon (Gobiosoma sp.)
Goby, Neon Blue (Gobiosoma oceanops)
Goby, Red Head (Gobiosoma puncticulatus)
Goby, Wheeler's Watchman (Amblyeleotris wheeleri)
Goby, Yellow Watchman (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
Pseudochromis, Banded Longfin (Belonepterygion fasciolatum)
Pseudochromis, Mccullochi[sp?] (Cypho purpurescens)
Pseudochromis, Purple (Pseudochromis porphyreus)
Wrasse, Banded Possum (Wetmorella sp.)
Wrasse, Exquisite (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)
Wrasse, Longfin Fairy (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis)
Wrasse, Lyretail Fairy (Cirrhilabrus lunatus)
Wrasse, Flame (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
Wrasse, Filamented Flasher (Paracheilinus filamentosus)
Wrasse, Pyle's (Cirrhilabrus pylei)
Wrasse, Redfin (Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis)
Wrasse, Six Line (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
Wrasse, Yellowfin Fairy (Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)

 

[fishfanatic2]

IME, six lines are great, activet yet small and colorful. Blakc Cap basslets, while harder to find and a little more $$, are very purdy and more exotic.

Possum wrasses are fine too, as well as all gobies and blennies if you can. Royal Grammas are great, I lik ethe blackcaps a little better but what gives. :wink:

 

[Baianotang]

You could get 4 Gobys, 2 Neon Blues and 2 yellow Clown's.

 

[Anonymous]

why on earth (out of mere curiosity) would your mom not let you have gobies? those are some of the best fish to have for a reef, especially a nano reef at that..if you can find an Assessor that would be a good choice for a reef fish, you would see it out in the open once it adjusts...the firefish tends to be slightly reclusive, like some of the gobies, I have an orange prawn goby that is pretty reclusive, i hardly ever see it...Wrasses though ive never owned one seem to stay in the open a good amount of the time...

 

[Hypostomus]

Because they're tiny and she can't see them with a casual glance at the tank. :roll: She wants stuff that swims around in the open, I think, which is why at this point I'm favoring some kind of wrasse.

 

[Jolieve]

Grammas are wonderful choices for a tank that size, but they can be secretive. Some of the wrasses are too, so make sure you research which ones are and which ones aren't.

For personality, color and busy body behavior... clownfish win in my mind. Clowns are bossy with other fish in the tank, but if you have two ocellaris in this tank and nothing else, you aren't going to need anything else to watch for *quite* some time.

J.

 

[Hypostomus]

Grammas are wonderful choices for a tank that size, but they can be secretive. Some of the wrasses are too, so make sure you research which ones are and which ones aren't.

...does anybody here know which ones are and which ones aren't (as far as wrasses go)? I haven't found any information on that...

For personality, color and busy body behavior... clownfish win in my mind. Clowns are bossy with other fish in the tank, but if you have two ocellaris in this tank and nothing else, you aren't going to need anything else to watch for *quite* some time.

Our clownfish stays in the same place virtually all day, or it cruises around at the very surface of the water looking for food. I imagine that if it had another clown for a buddy it might come down, but honestly it's one of the most boring fish I've ever kept.

And now I will hide from the army of clownfish aficionados.

 

[fishfanatic2]

IME six lines are very active.

 

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking then most reef fish especially the small ones will tend to hide more often than not..keep in mind its nature, these are small fish that come from great reefs with even larger fish(that would dine on them). gobies and blennies and wrasses etc will perch themselves in caves and will not remain out constantly, its just their nature..i guess if you want fish that stay out in the open, you really have to invest in a large tank and fill it with tangs and butterfly fish and Triggers ect....I have a few fish in my tank and the clowns by far spend more time in the open..

 

[bboyin4lyf]

you've already got a clown so tr a bit of diversity although the additon of another clown might make yours a bit more interesting to watch, id say go with the royal gramma as the colours are amazing and its a contrast to your clown . gota love interior designing : lol

 

[Bojangles]

You could get 4 Gobys, 2 Neon Blues and 2 yellow Clown's.

I would go with another clown, strawberry instead of royal gramma, six line wrasse, 2 neon blue gobys, and a dwarf angel. I know dwarf angels can sometimes pick on clam mantles but I still like them. In the 4 months I've had my coral beauty he's been safe. I am a fan of rusty, eibil's and half-blacks as well.

Ofcourse you could just ditch everything and add a dwarf lion fish :twisted:

 

[Hypostomus]

I've always wanted a dwarf lion but my parents aren't thrilled by them.

Don't you guys think that's too many fish? I was only planning on getting a wrasse and maybe another clown, if I was convinced it would make mine do something more than hover in the corner. :roll:

 

[ChrisRD]

You could get 4 Gobys, 2 Neon Blues and 2 yellow Clown's.

IMO this would be overboard for a 20 gallon tank.

Personally, I'd be reluctant to add more than one or two small, peaceful fish, especially considering the fact that there's already a mature clownfish in there...

I'll move this to the GRD forum so you can get some additional feedback...

 

[cyork]

You should take another look at the Gobies... They are very cool! 8) I have 3 red fire gobies that are about 3 inches long and are out in my reef all the time. I also have a six line wrasse which is the most active fish in my tank. He is very active going in and out of rocks zipping around looking for something to eat. He also will only get about 3 inches.

I also have heard so many good stories about Watchman Gobies that I am getting one of those as well.

 

[Hypostomus]

It's not me you have to convince about gobies. I like quirky little fish.

My mother is the one who doesn't like them, because she wants fish that are easy to spot in the tank.

 

[Bojangles]

I'm assuming you have a standard Osc. Clown, so mix it up and get a black/white one to go with her. That will add alittle interest to the tank. It'll ultimately be your choice which fish to get, under the guidlines that your mom can see them

 

[Dude]

You could get 4 Gobys, 2 Neon Blues and 2 yellow Clown's.

I would go with another clown, strawberry instead of royal gramma, six line wrasse, 2 neon blue gobys, and a dwarf angel. I know dwarf angels can sometimes pick on clam mantles but I still like them. In the 4 months I've had my coral beauty he's been safe. I am a fan of rusty, eibil's and half-blacks as well.

Ofcourse you could just ditch everything and add a dwarf lion fish :twisted:

I think u should go with a six line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) they are great. I would do one of them with either a neon goby or a fire fish. Bojangles why would u tell a person to put a centropyge sp angel into a 20 gal tank? That is too small for them. They are a geat fish too for areef but not in a small reef/tank.