Help picking a fish for nano reef

[i cant think]

I know :'( my opinion on firefish seems to be incredibly unpopular!

Thanks so much for the thought that went into your list, it's incredibly helpful! I have a few questions about some:

Would the valentini puffer not be too big for a tank of this size (20g)? I was looking into them before and they seem awesome. Is there any ability to get them to eat prepared foods or somehow feed them when I'm away or would I need a tank sitter?

Six-line wrasse seem really cool also - though I do have concerns about the tank being too small for them again. I'd love a wrasse that would be happy and healthy in my 20g, but I've been told even fairy or possum wrasse would find the tank too small.

Scooter Dragonet/Ruby Red Dragonet - are these actually different to a mandarin? I was always under the assumption it was essentially the same fish but in a different colour. If they're more likely to be able to be maintained from an auto feeder while I'm away and take to prepared foods, this could be a winner also!

Thanks so much again!

I’d go for a Pink streaked wrasse over a six line any day. To have a peaceful sì line you need a TON of caves and rock to keep him happy, if he isn’t given that then there’s a change he will go mental. A pink streaked won’t do that (Their temperament is on the same level as the leopard & Anampses wrasses).

 

[jfoahs04]

I’d go for a Pink streaked wrasse over a six line any day. To have a peaceful sì line you need a TON of caves and rock to keep him happy, if he isn’t given that then there’s a change he will go mental. A pink streaked won’t do that (Their temperament is on the same level as the leopard & Anampses wrasses).

Absolutely. The Pink Streaked is a great fish. The problem, at least for me, is that they are extremely hard to come by. Occasionally they'll pop up online, but there are wait lists at my local LFS.

OP - I share your opinion on firefish. I know they're peaceful and they have some nice colors, but they don't excite me in the slightest.

I have an orchid dottyback in my 13.5 with a single clown and a tailspot blenny. To be honest with you, I was on the fence about getting one (and nearly took it back within the first few days when the dotty and blenny established their turf), but it's actually a model citizen in a nano tank with a lot of rockwork. The color is great, it's active in/out of the rockwork (and begging for food at the glass if I'm near the tank), and it doesn't even really acknowledge the clown's existence. Apparently other dotties can be jerks, but the captive bred orchids are fairly tame - my experience reflects that. The only caution (apart from making sure you have plenty of rockwork) is that if you have a similar shape/size fish that occupies the same region of the tank (like a tailspot blenny), there may be some aggression. I'd add the dotty last if that's the case. Otherwise, it'd be a good tankmate with clowns (mine ignores the clown and vice versa as they occupy different areas of the tank.

 

[Tchung23]

idk if it would get along with the goby too well, they may choose the burrow in similar spots

I have 2 yasha and 2 jawfish. They seem to get along pretty well.

 

[Latte]

2-3 weeks is really pushing it even with seeding the tank. Definitely feed a few times a day. Making a baby brine shrimp feeder is also a good idea.

I kept 6 dragonetts in a 20 or 30? hex years ago. I made it a species tank though. A macro dominant tank with another 20g fuge attached and lots of feedings for the mandys and even more importantly, the pods. My oldest was with me 5 years before I moved and tore it all down.

As much as I would love to keep them again, I found it a huge amount of work to keep them in spawning condition which interferes with having a life. It is a lot of dedication for a fish that should live 10-15 years.

It does seem that while I love the idea of a mandarin, it would just be way too much effort in a tank this small and I'd end up neglecting the rest of the tank to take care of one fish.

Some puffer beaks grow faster than others. Most can be trimmed by a steady supply of hard shelled foods, but some, like the freshwater Amazon puffer, colomesus asselus, has a beak that grows too fast for provided foods to be enough. Inevitably these guys need trimming. From there, it involves sedating the puffer (clove oil is often used, but ms-222 is best) and trimming the teeth with a file or cuticle clippers. I haven’t heard of Valentini needing this, but it can certainly be necessary if proper diet is not provided.
If you really like puffers, you could always set up a separate 5 gallon tank for the freshwater dwarf puffer, carinotetradon travancoricus, which does not have a beak which requires trimming.
One of my Amazon puffers:

Dwarf puffer (google):

This is actually an awesome idea - I think I might scratch that puffer itch with a pea puffer tank sometime in the future, thanks a ton for this suggestion :) Pretty perfect really as I would love to get a nicely planted freshwater tank too.

How about a Jawfish? I have them and they are really cool

Which ones do you keep? Would they be suitable in a 20g? Do you have any pictures! I've just looked into jawfish a little and they seem like they could be a cool idea.

Candy basslet how much more of a show piece fish could you want for a nano would be most peoples big tanks show piece fish

Pretty fish, but my god is that expensive.

I certainly agree if it's a dwarf whitespotted filefish, which are wonderful fish that probably won't snack on your corals. Avoid matted filefish, which can (and do, in my case) eat my coral. My matted filefish is also very active and steals food from other fish.

I would not get a pygmy geometric hawkfish. They're lovely, but very timid.

Dwarf whitespotted filefish look really cool - I love this fish! I am super keen to keep more unique looking things. I do wonder if I'd be able to find one in Australia though. Do you think it'd be suitable for a 20g?

In my nano (20g total volume), I have 6 fish - 2 are temporary. While yes people tend to disagree with the idea of 6 fish in a 20g tank, I find mine has been doing quite well with 6. I do a WC once a week so my nutrient export is rather good. I have:
- Lineatus blenny
- Yasha goby
- Black Clown Goby
- Blue star leopard wrasse
- Naoko fairy wrasse
- Pink streaked wrasse
Everyone gets along just fine but I have been wanting to keep 6 fish total long term (The BLSW and Naoko fairy won’t be long term) I’ve been debating on a Long fin clownfish and a jawfish, I definitely want a jawfish again due to the personality! I’d love a fire fish but for that price on a helfrichi I’d rather get two more tilefish (Purple & a second Flashing) in my 90g tank.

From the responses to my thread so far - this definitely sounds like way too many fish. Would it really be ok to keep even a leopard wrasse in a 20g by itself, let alone with other wrasses? If so, that could definitely be an option too!

 

[i cant think]

From the responses to my thread so far - this definitely sounds like way too many fish. Would it really be ok to keep even a leopard wrasse in a 20g by itself, let alone with other wrasses? If so, that could definitely be an option too!

Yes, it can be classed as way too many fish however, overstocked isn’t the right word for it (I am keeping ontop of my nutrients easily by a weekly water change). I have my leopard with 2 other wrasses, she’s 1” at a push at the moment so still a juvie. I wouldn’t say long term but it’s not impossible (Get one that eats just fine at 0.5” - that’s how big mine was back in September), I have a plan for when she hits 2.5-3” but she can’t go into the 4’ tank just yet. Reason for this is my other wrasses and fish are all pushing 2” and the biggest fish are pushing 5” (Biggest wrasse is 4” at a push, you could get 4.5”).

 

[Latte]

Absolutely. The Pink Streaked is a great fish. The problem, at least for me, is that they are extremely hard to come by. Occasionally they'll pop up online, but there are wait lists at my local LFS.

OP - I share your opinion on firefish. I know they're peaceful and they have some nice colors, but they don't excite me in the slightest.

I have an orchid dottyback in my 13.5 with a single clown and a tailspot blenny. To be honest with you, I was on the fence about getting one (and nearly took it back within the first few days when the dotty and blenny established their turf), but it's actually a model citizen in a nano tank with a lot of rockwork. The color is great, it's active in/out of the rockwork (and begging for food at the glass if I'm near the tank), and it doesn't even really acknowledge the clown's existence. Apparently other dotties can be jerks, but the captive bred orchids are fairly tame - my experience reflects that. The only caution (apart from making sure you have plenty of rockwork) is that if you have a similar shape/size fish that occupies the same region of the tank (like a tailspot blenny), there may be some aggression. I'd add the dotty last if that's the case. Otherwise, it'd be a good tankmate with clowns (mine ignores the clown and vice versa as they occupy different areas of the tank.

Wow that's a pretty fish - thanks for sharing (and glad to find someone else who feels the exact same way about firefish!).

I wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has replied so far and shared all this insight, super helpful!

So my current list of still being considered:

- Neon goby
- Jawfish of some kind (keen for recommendations?)
- Tailspot blenny
- White spotted pygmy filefish
- Wrasse (would possum be the only type suitable for this size? I'd love one that burrowed in the sand if possible).

Would it be feasible to get something like a tailspot blenny and a filefish, or would that be too much? Thanks again for all the help everyone!

 

[Lyss]

It does seem that while I love the idea of a mandarin, it would just be way too much effort in a tank this small and I'd end up neglecting the rest of the tank to take care of one fish.



This is actually an awesome idea - I think I might scratch that puffer itch with a pea puffer tank sometime in the future, thanks a ton for this suggestion :) Pretty perfect really as I would love to get a nicely planted freshwater tank too.



Which ones do you keep? Would they be suitable in a 20g? Do you have any pictures! I've just looked into jawfish a little and they seem like they could be a cool idea.



Pretty fish, but my god is that expensive.



Dwarf whitespotted filefish look really cool - I love this fish! I am super keen to keep more unique looking things. I do wonder if I'd be able to find one in Australia though. Do you think it'd be suitable for a 20g?



From the responses to my thread so far - this definitely sounds like way too many fish. Would it really be ok to keep even a leopard wrasse in a 20g by itself, let alone with other wrasses? If so, that could definitely be an option too!

I have a pea puffer planted FW tank! For the same reason — I wanted a puffer but didn’t think it could work in the max nano. They are fun little fish. Tiny but mighty.

Edit: I think in terms of bio load 4 small fish like the ones you mentioned above would probably be fine. Physical space may be more of an issue, so make sure you choose fish that won’t be glass surfing or becoming territorial in a smaller tank.

 

[Tamberav]

It does seem that while I love the idea of a mandarin, it would just be way too much effort in a tank this small and I'd end up neglecting the rest of the tank to take care of one fish.



This is actually an awesome idea - I think I might scratch that puffer itch with a pea puffer tank sometime in the future, thanks a ton for this suggestion :) Pretty perfect really as I would love to get a nicely planted freshwater tank too.



Which ones do you keep? Would they be suitable in a 20g? Do you have any pictures! I've just looked into jawfish a little and they seem like they could be a cool idea.



Pretty fish, but my god is that expensive.



Dwarf whitespotted filefish look really cool - I love this fish! I am super keen to keep more unique looking things. I do wonder if I'd be able to find one in Australia though. Do you think it'd be suitable for a 20g?



From the responses to my thread so far - this definitely sounds like way too many fish. Would it really be ok to keep even a leopard wrasse in a 20g by itself, let alone with other wrasses? If so, that could definitely be an option too!

I had a blue star leopard wrasse and she outgrew my 25g in about a year. She was pacing and just ready for more room. She is now in a 80g and getting very large and very in charge. That is… she is getting a bit bossy with other fish and wrasses and grown a lot. She is more active than my Yellow Tang. With proper room and food, fish can grow at a good pace.

She and my other wrasse would probably appreciate if I upgraded to a 6 foot tank tbh.

 

[Acros]

I second the pink streaked wrasse suggestion. I am waiting for the LFS to bring one in. They are extremely hard to come by, but are perfect for that sized tank. My tank is a 25 lagoon that currently has 3 PJ Cardinals.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Possum is the only commonly available wrasse I’d recommend, but pink streak are also great if you can get one.

 

[Tchung23]

I have 2 yasha and 2 jawfish. They seem to get along pretty well.

Yellow head jawfish. They spend most of the time in and out of burrow. Don’t swim very far from home. So should be ok. Maybe only think is the bioload? SUOER cool fish. Very interactive.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Dwarf whitespotted filefish look really cool - I love this fish! I am super keen to keep more unique looking things. I do wonder if I'd be able to find one in Australia though. Do you think it'd be suitable for a 20g?

It's the only filefish that I'd consider for a tank that small. They're also available as captive-bred specimens, apparently won't fight with its own kind, and can tolerate subtropical waters if you're thinking of building a room-temperature (or cooler) tank.

 

[SlugSnorter]

It does seem that while I love the idea of a mandarin, it would just be way too much effort in a tank this small and I'd end up neglecting the rest of the tank to take care of one fish.



This is actually an awesome idea - I think I might scratch that puffer itch with a pea puffer tank sometime in the future, thanks a ton for this suggestion :) Pretty perfect really as I would love to get a nicely planted freshwater tank too.



Which ones do you keep? Would they be suitable in a 20g? Do you have any pictures! I've just looked into jawfish a little and they seem like they could be a cool idea.



Pretty fish, but my god is that expensive.



Dwarf whitespotted filefish look really cool - I love this fish! I am super keen to keep more unique looking things. I do wonder if I'd be able to find one in Australia though. Do you think it'd be suitable for a 20g?



From the responses to my thread so far - this definitely sounds like way too many fish. Would it really be ok to keep even a leopard wrasse in a 20g by itself, let alone with other wrasses? If so, that could definitely be an option too!

don't forget the Sharknose goby, Firefish, and tailspot blenny

 

[i cant think]

Wow that's a pretty fish - thanks for sharing (and glad to find someone else who feels the exact same way about firefish!).

I wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has replied so far and shared all this insight, super helpful!

So my current list of still being considered:

- Neon goby
- Jawfish of some kind (keen for recommendations?)
- Tailspot blenny
- White spotted pygmy filefish
- Wrasse (would possum be the only type suitable for this size? I'd love one that burrowed in the sand if possible).

Would it be feasible to get something like a tailspot blenny and a filefish, or would that be too much? Thanks again for all the help everyone!

So, long term I only recommend Pink streak or a possum

I had a blue star leopard wrasse and she outgrew my 25g in about a year. She was pacing and just ready for more room. She is now in a 80g and getting very large and very in charge. That is… she is getting a bit bossy with other fish and wrasses and grown a lot. She is more active than my Yellow Tang. With proper room and food, fish can grow at a good pace.

She and my other wrasse would probably appreciate if I upgraded to a 6 foot tank tbh.

I agree with this, I have 5 wrasse in my 100g (4’x2’x2’) and the two Halichoeres swim the most, my leopard in my 20g doesn’t seem to actually care about space at the size she is now. I think wrasses do act differently in larger tanks, I saw it with a Naoko fairy last year. He flashed constantly (a beautiful specimen) but the one I have in my nano now almost never flashes and is a much calmer swimmer.

 

[Latte]

It's the only filefish that I'd consider for a tank that small. They're also available as captive-bred specimens, apparently won't fight with its own kind, and can tolerate subtropical waters if you're thinking of building a room-temperature (or cooler) tank.

In Australia reef temperature IS room temperature... anything colder would require a chiller, even a reef does most times hahaha

 

[Latte]

So I did some digging and I'm not able to import the pygmy file fish into Australia due to our restrictions on captive bred imports :'(

So I'm now thinking about a Possum wrasse or Pink Streaked Wrasse and a lawnmower or tailspot blenny.

Two more questions:

Are pink streaked Wrasse going to be safe with smaller shrimp?

I was wondering if tailspot blennies actually eat algae? I'm struggling to find a utilitarian fish that suits my nano.

 

[i cant think]

So I did some digging and I'm not able to import the pygmy file fish into Australia due to our restrictions on captive bred imports :'(

So I'm now thinking about a Possum wrasse or Pink Streaked Wrasse and a lawnmower or tailspot blenny.

Two more questions:

Are pink streaked Wrasse going to be safe with smaller shrimp?

I was wondering if tailspot blennies actually eat algae? I'm struggling to find a utilitarian fish that suits my nano.

Tailspot and pink streaked wrasse both are utilitarian fish but two separate jobs. 1. The wrasse will eat any form of bristle worm 2. The blenny will eat SHA and another type of algae that I forgot the name of 3. That species of Wrasse will not eat small shrimp, mine is a perfect reef fish when it comes to other inverts I actually want.

 

[EagleEye121]

I’m a huge fan of Tailspot Blennies. Lots of personality and one of the few utilitarian fish you can have in a nano.
I have a pistol shrimp/watchman goby pair in my 40g now and they are entertaining as ever. Just don’t plan on having any loose frags on your sand bed

 

[Latte]

Tailspot and pink streaked wrasse both are utilitarian fish but two separate jobs. 1. The wrasse will eat any form of bristle worm 2. The blenny will eat SHA and another type of algae that I forgot the name of 3. That species of Wrasse will not eat small shrimp, mine is a perfect reef fish when it comes to other inverts I actually want.

Thanks this is super useful, I might try get a tailspot blenny and the pinkstreaked wrasse :)

I’m a huge fan of Tailspot Blennies. Lots of personality and one of the few utilitarian fish you can have in a nano.
I have a pistol shrimp/watchman goby pair in my 40g now and they are entertaining as ever. Just don’t plan on having any loose frags on your sand bed

I'm super keen to get a pair. May have to relocate one of my zoa frags though!