Can I add a helfrichi filefish?

[NotReefsafe]

I have a nano with a lone female clown. She's still fairly small and I haven't seen her be aggressive, but will she be okay with the addition of the helfrichi fire? Thanks

 

[BirdFish5000]

What size is that nano?

 

[i cant think]

What size is that nano?

+1 to this, nano just means small tank volume. Dimensions will be better than volume in this case.

 

[Tcook]

If it's at least a 20 gallon with plenty of rock, and the clown is small, then maybe. I had a pair of gladiators in my 20 with a purple firefish and they were ok. The clown will get bigger and more protective of its home. Helfrichi are timid and will hide. But the largest clown is 2.5 inches now and both are in the 120. Clowns are too big for a nano imo.

Small


Huge

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How many gallons is your tank, and what fish are in there already?
Cannot answer your question without these 2 information.
Firefish is a cave dweller so need hiding spots in the tank for this fish.

 

[NotReefsafe]

Has one Ocellaris clown, a cleaner shrimp and some snails. It's a 15 gallon 14x14x16. I was hoping just a single clown would be less aggressive than a pair, but it sounds from what you're saying the tank will still be a little small. Thanks for the help!

 

[Goby Bryant]

A pair is less aggressive from my experiences. My female got very aggressive when she was widowed, but when I put a new male in, she was very peaceful.

 

[Tcook]

I would consider the helfrichi, a yellow clown goby, and a pink streak wrasse for your tank. Trade in the clown.

 

[Janet Belanger]

A pair is less aggressive from my experiences. My female got very aggressive when she was widowed, but when I put a new male in, she was very peaceful.

This has also been my experience. I think the male helps temper the female because it gives her something else to focus her attention on, and he can handle the abuse.

 

[NotReefsafe]

Do you think I could add a male clown AND a helfrichi to put the aggression off of the latter?

 

[Janet Belanger]

Do you think I could add a male clown AND a helfrichi to put the aggression off of the latter?

I think it would be a tight squeeze in a 15 in my opinion. I would do the helfrichi with some other nano fish and rehome the clown. There are loads of great nano fishy out there, some with super cute personalities.

 

[NotReefsafe]

Got it--thanks again. I'll probably stick w the clowns until I get another tank!

 

[Goby Bryant]

Do you think I could add a male clown AND a helfrichi to put the aggression off of the latter?

Too much for 15g. You could add a male clown, goby or blenny though.

 

[Goby Bryant]

But that’s about it.

 

[NotReefsafe]

Got it, thanks for input