29 gallon stocking

[wherenext]

So sounds like if wanting to do a dottyback, I should stick to fish that aren't super peaceful so they could hold their own if I don't luck out and get a peaceful dotty.

So suggestions so far are dottybacks, blenny, royal gramma, and cardinal, and consensus to probably avoid the 6 line for being a potential terror. Any other suggestions?

 

[donnievaz]

I wouldn't expect it to behave any differently than the Orchid Dottyback from which it's from, (1/2) but like you said all fish are different. Your definitely rolling the dice with one of these in a 29 gallon tank though IMO.

From ORA:
The Indigo Dottyback has the mild and social nature of the Striped Dottyback and can be kept in groups. A reef tank should have plenty of rock structure in which the fish can hide. It will dart in and out of live rock during the day and become more visible at feeding time.

 

[donnievaz]

So sounds like if wanting to do a dottyback, I should stick to fish that aren't super peaceful so they could hold their own if I don't luck out and get a peaceful dotty.

So suggestions so far are dottybacks, blenny, royal gramma, and cardinal, and consensus to probably avoid the 6 line for being a potential terror. Any other suggestions?

There a bunch of different Gobies that would work in your tank.

 

[eatbreakfast]

From ORA:
The Indigo Dottyback has the mild and social nature of the Striped Dottyback and can be kept in groups. A reef tank should have plenty of rock structure in which the fish can hide. It will dart in and out of live rock during the day and become more visible at feeding time.

It is pretty peaceful for a dottyback, but it is still a dottyback, and territorial behavior gets magnified in smaller tanks.

 

[wherenext]

I would really like something more active than a watchman, even though their relationship with the pistol shrimp is pretty fascinating.

Ok, so right now then these are my considerations...

Canary, striped or fork tail blenny

Indigo dotty back or royal gramma

And then possibly a pajama cardinal

Does that sound like that could be a working combination? I am curious about the cardinal since it says they are best kept in a small group.

Also still open to other suggestions. I really liked the fairy wrasse I had but felt he needed more space, so any possible wrasses would also be a welcomed suggestion.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would really like something more active than a watchman, even though their relationship with the pistol shrimp is pretty fascinating.

Ok, so right now then these are my considerations...

Canary, striped or fork tail blenny

Indigo dotty back or royal gramma

And then possibly a pajama cardinal

Does that sound like that could be a working combination? I am curious about the cardinal since it says they are best kept in a small group.

Those should be ok.

Pj cardinals do fine being kept singly.

 

[wherenext]

I have looked at several gobys, just don't seem like the most active fish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have looked at several gobys, just don't seem like the most active fish.

Most gobies aren't, but a 29g tank can't really handle too much activity anyway.

 

[wherenext]

Most gobies aren't, but a 29g tank can't really handle too much activity anyway.

I guess that's true. But it's also why I didn't like the firefish. Just hovered outside his hidey hole.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I guess that's true. But it's also why I didn't like the firefish. Just hovered outside his hidey hole.

That's all cardinals do.

 

[wherenext]

Well, the clowns have only ever showed any aggression to free swimmers at the top of the tank...and I guess that is where the cardinal would fall under. So of I did go with a less active fish like a goby, then I suppose I would want to go with a watchman/pistol pair so I would at least get the cool symbiotic relationship.

 

[wherenext]

That's all cardinals do.

Ah ok. They struck me as more of free swimmers. It didn't mentioned their behavior in that regards when I read up on them.

 

[wherenext]

Are royal gramma known for the potential of being aggressive like dottybacks?

 

[wherenext]

So thanks to everyone's input here, I think I am leaning toward A watchman/pistol pair, striped blenny, and indigo dottyback.

 

[Holy_makerel]

I've got a chalk basslet, red firefish, bangaii cardinal, neon goby, and a yellow banded possum wrasse in my 32. it has made for a peaceful little community tank