When I started off in this hobby, I was interesting in all the little creatures that I was able to keep in my aquarium (and I still am). I think it would be very helpful for beginners if we made a list of small inverts and fish and their care requirements for all the newbies who are starting off with pico or nano tanks. I'll start off with the basics but please fill me in with everything I forget :D :D
Fish-
I know that are are TONS of other small fish and inverts out there but here is a start. Please add any other fish or invert that you can think of so we can have a beginners guide to stocking a pico or nano tank :) :D
Fish-
- Flaming Prawn Gobies- These gobies are very shy and do best in picos or nanos. From what I have heard, they take frozen foods very easily but like all gobies they will jump if startled
- Yellow Clown Gobies- These are bright yellow little gobies that usually take frozen foods easily but they will jump. There have also been cases of them picking at SPS polyps.
- Green Clown Gobies- ^^See yellow clown gobies^^
- Black Clown Gobies- ^^See yellow clown gobies^^
- Neon Blue Stripped Gobies- These little guys are popular because of there bright blue stripe on their back. They are very peaceful and they take frozen foods easily. They will jump though
- Fire Fish- There are multiple different types of fire fish including orange fire fish, purple fire fish, exquisite fire fish, and helfrichi fire fish. There are a couple other ones but they are very rare and expensive. These fish are escape artists. I have kept 2 and they both jumped. They are very peaceful and will easily take frozen foods. If you decide to get one, make sure to have a tight fitting lid before you buy it
- Clown Fish- Of course I couldn't leave clown fish out. They can be aggressive when defending their territory. Clown fish enjoying darting in and out of their anemone or coral host but remember only certain types of anemone will host them. They are pigs when it comes to eating frozen foods and they are very hardy. They will jump but they aren't as likely to jump as gobies.
- Possum Wrasses- There are a couple different types of possum wrasses, yellow banded possum wrasses, white banded possum wrasses and and tanaka's pygmy wrasses. I don't have any experience with these fish but from what I have heard, they stay very small and they are peaceful. They will also jump when startled like most wrasses.
- Anemone Shrimp- There are many different types of anemone shrimp but the most common are sexy anemone shrimp and pederson anemone shrimp. They are very easy to take care of and they will often be found in anemones or corals for protection.
- Feather Dusters- These guys are very interesting creatures that are actually worms. They filter very small particles out of the water and the tank should be dosed with smaller foods including phyto plankton.
- Hermit crabs- Hermit crabs make a great CUC but they will kill each other over shells
- Snails- There are many different types of snails that are all good for different things and they make a great CUC too
- Cleaner shrimp- These shrimp are very popular and they can be found cleaning parasites off of fish. They will even set up a "cleaning station" in the tank. They will eating pretty much all the foods offered to them
- Peppermint shrimp- These guys will take all foods offered to them but there have been many cases of them eating corals. These shrimp are also known for eating aptasia
- Yellow pygmy cucumber- These little sea cucumbers are bright yellow. I have never kept one but I think they are very interesting. They will find a moderate/high flow area in your tank and stay there. They filter out small foods similar to feather dusters. I have heard that stirring up your sand bed just a little bit can supply them with that smaller food they need. If these guys are unhappy, they will let go of whatever they are attached to and if they get sucked into a powerhead, they can pollute your whole tank, possible killing everything so make sure to have some sort of cover on your powerbeads. When these cucumbers aren't getting enough food, they will shrivel up and loose legs. If you see this, starting phyto plankton and other small foods for regularly. I have also heard that these cucumbers will split into two.
I know that are are TONS of other small fish and inverts out there but here is a start. Please add any other fish or invert that you can think of so we can have a beginners guide to stocking a pico or nano tank :) :D
