Final Fish?

[Jofiel]

I can't seem to make up my mind about what to add as a final fish for my little nano. Bonus points for something that will eat algae or clean my sand but I can't seem to come up with something that does either and will be happy in such a small tank. I love the personality of blennies don't mind something a bit cryptic.

I've vacillated a bunch! Yellow assessor, tailspot blenny, a single clown (that seems kind of mean, are they happy as singles?), Rainfordi Goby( I have a little hair algea and tons of pods but know that won't last), citrine goby?

I don't care for firefish.

Ultimate goal is a little sexy shrimp garden with a group of 5 or 7 sexies, soft coral, and some nano sized gorgonians.

Any suggestions or input is appreciated! Thanks.

9.5 Gallon nano with 1 gallon hob refugium. 3 months old. Current inhabitants; pair of neon gobies, 10 tiny nerite snails, vibex snail, small fighting conch, purple sea whip, mushroom, GSP island, zoa frag.

Here are Jot and Tittle my neon goby pair from Sustainable Aquatics. They are very cute. The female likes to come hang out on my hand whenever I put it in the tank.

 

[Diesel]

Can you post a FTS?
Maybe look into a Pygmy wrasse as 9.5 gallons isn't much for three fish.

 

[Jofiel]

That's a great suggestion! I hadn't even considered wrasses because of the size tank and the sexy shrimp. Maybe a pink streaked or a Tanaka's. I believe they would eat pods too. I have a snowstorm of pods and nothing to eat them :/

 

[Diesel]

Ruby red dragnets are great fish too.
Colorful, peaceful, all over the place and not shy.
Oh they eat pods

 

[Jofiel]

Here's a FTS. Excuse the dirty algae glass. I didn't realize we were having company.

I've never had a dragonet. Wouldn't it run out of pods after eating what is in there? The hob fuge is pretty small and I'm not sure how consistent the population will be. I'd hate to starve a fish. I see them a lot in the LFSs and they make me sad thinking most will starve :(

 

[Diesel]

For one you will have enough pods.
Ifvtheyvalready in there breeding than don't worry.

 

[mta_morrow]

I'm picking up a red dragonet this weekend. I have a 30 gallon with pods but this little guy has been in quarantine for 3 weeks at my supplier and is eating prepared as well

 

[eatbreakfast]

A 9.5g is not enough for a dragonet. The amount of pods they consume will eventually deplete the system. They eat several thousand a day.

If you can find a hectori or rainsfordi goby that is eating frozen, then your tank should be able to support one and they eat algae and sift sand.

A pygmy wrasse is a great choice.

Other options would include a group of barnacle blennies, a curious wormfish, plectranthias.

 

[Jofiel]

I'm really digging the pygmy wrasse. I'll look at the others you suggested as well thanks!

 

[Jofiel]

After even more dithering I'm going to see if my LFS, who orders from Quality Marine, can order me an aquacultured Randfordi goby. That way I will know that it will eat prepared food. Their tanks are gross but I'm going to see if they will keep it in the bag and I'll come grab it as soon as it arrives.

I like that the Randfordi will eat both algae and pods and sift sand! The wrasse was tempting!

Check out my pods just two days after a 3 gallon water change.