Gobies or Blennies in an open top tank ?

[Alexxn]

Hi,

I'm looking for a few more peaceful fish for my 30 gal tank which is open at the top....can I consider either a Gobie or Blenny in this situation or will they escape ?

Thanks !

 

[Deanos]

Given reason, most fish can jump out of a tank. I had a dwarf lionfish jump out of an open topped tank What other fish do you currently have (or is it just the Percs)? One of them might be peaceful now, but become a blenny/goby chaser in the future.

 

[Alexxn]

Given reason, most fish can jump out of a tank. I had a dwarf lionfish jump out of an open topped tank What other fish do you currently have (or is it just the Percs)? One of them might be peaceful now, but become a blenny/goby chaser in the future.

Just the Percs for now...my other choices were a Sixline Wrasse and a Royal Gramma....

 

[ellebelle]

I have heard of grammas jumping. It's not common, but possible.

I have both a purple firefish and a clown wrasse which I know are jumpers that have never ever tried. But, jhale lost a bunch of firefish jumping out of the back of his tank. Every fish is different, but I'd close off the top just to be sure.

KathyC has a nice DIY thread about how to make a top for your tank out of acrylic and mesh.

 

[Alexxn]

OK then....I guess a better question is which peaceful, reef safe fish are OK to keep in an open top tank ?

 

[marki24]

i would go with the chromis. they should do fine in your tank given the size you have right now.

 

[ellebelle]

sixline probably won't jump ... it's not a peaceful fish, though.

 

[SuRFeR BoY]

i say no for the sixline and the grama if you want a blenny.. i have an open top and have an algea blenny.. when he gets chased he goes into the rock not up to the top of the tank.. canary blennies and scissortails i heard are the jumps.. they usually stay suspened at the surface of the tank and that is why. sixlines and gramas can both be aggressive and become bullies.. i had a sixline that disappeared after a day so i dont know but most people that i know that have or had them start to hate them after a whle.. my advise is stay away.. just my 2 cents

i think you should be ok with clown and citrus gobies and an algea blenny or a redlip.. hope this helps... i have false percs and they dont both anyone but each other

 

[bergerd]

Maybe try a screen mesh to protect from jumping. This would widen you choise of fish to select. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to know with certainty which will or will not JUMP. IMO, this is the summation of the responses you have received. Buen surte.

 

[Alexxn]

Maybe try a screen mesh to protect from jumping. This would widen you choise of fish to select. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to know with certainty which will or will not JUMP. IMO, this is the summation of the responses you have received. Buen surte.

I'm actually thinking about making something with eggcrate....

 

[KathyC]

Agreed that a top widens your selection of fish. The problem with eggcrate is that it blocks a lot of light and smaller fish can go through it diagonally.
And my Gramma has jumped...
A cover is your best guarantee and will cost you less than the price of the one fish it saves.

 

[Alexxn]

Agreed that a top widens your selection of fish. The problem with eggcrate is that it blocks a lot of light and smaller fish can go through it diagonally.
And my Gramma has jumped...
A cover is your best guarantee and will cost you less than the price of the one fish it saves.

I'm worried about my water temp though

 

[SIReefer]

I never saw my gramma chase any of my gobies - yellow watchman & pink spotted. The gramma stayed in his own territory. The pinkspot was larger & more agressive :grumpy: than the yellow watchman . His could hold his own in the tank. This might be a good choice for you especially if he pairs with a pistol shrimp. Both gobies stayed on the bottom even during feeding.
I think KathyC had a thread on plexi/mesh top. Check it out!!!

 

[KathyC]

I'm worried about my water temp though

This top won't affect your temp ..take a look
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/22953-acrylic-mesh-tank-cover.html

 

[Alexxn]

What about 2 small Yellowtail Blue Damsels ?

 

[ellebelle]

You said you did want aggressive fish - Damsels are nearly always aggressive.

A hawkfish probably won't jump, but you can say probably goodbye to any shrimp you might have, unless they are enormous.

A cover like Kathy's won't affect your temp too much. If you went with a full cover, you can always wire fans into it to cool the water.

 

[taat2d]

The first day I added my yellow watchman goby he dissappeared. I know new fish hide at first. After 3 days of not seeing him I figured he bought the farm. On the 4th day I happened to look behind my tank. In my HOB prefilter box, low and behold....I found my goby. He must have jumped into the prefilter box in the tank, got sucked up the cyphon tube and wound up in the back box having no place else to go. So after finally fishing him out I put him back into the tank and watched him like a hawk for the whle night as he kept trying to jump out again. Nedless to say I didn't let him and now he's doing fine in the tank.