Little hunters: What are the top small predator fish?

[Sharkbait19]

@lion king
Would a Pygmy rooster be a threat to a cleaner shrimp? Just want to know so I don’t throw $50 down the drain.

 

[BigSkyRich]

Little hunters: What are the top small predator fish?

Often when we think about predator fish, we think about tank busters and huge mouths, but what about the smaller predators that could do well in a 55-gallon tank or even in a nano tank? There are some little ones that are hunters so today let’s talk about them. What small predators have you kept or are familiar with? Can they be kept with corals? What about tank mates? Maybe you're not familiar with some of the fish in the poll - I encourage you to take the time to use the R2R search feature and explore these small predators. Please share your opinions and experiences with small predator fish in the comments that follow!

Photo by @Anarcha0s

Great topic!. I have been building my FOWLR 130 gallon tank dedicated to aggressive/predator fish. So far its been a blast. Just added my second lion (first one dwarf fuzzy - new one antennata, who, by the way, is a stunner). I also have 2 triggers (humu/pineapple), a blue headed wrasse, coral beauty and just added a brown powder tang. Also have a blue dot puffer. Everyone gets along fine - all are voracious eaters which makes feeding time with live food fun.

 

[lion king]

@lion king
Would a Pygmy rooster be a threat to a cleaner shrimp? Just want to know so I don’t throw $50 down the drain.

Doubtful, cleaner shrimp will likely be at least the same size, and the little wasp do have very small mouths. If you miscalculate the sizing maybe, they need to get in down whole they do not take it in pieces.

 

[KrisReef]

Little hunters: What are the top small predator fish?

Often when we think about predator fish, we think about tank busters and huge mouths, but what about the smaller predators that could do well in a 55-gallon tank or even in a nano tank? There are some little ones that are hunters so today let’s talk about them. What small predators have you kept or are familiar with? Can they be kept with corals? What about tank mates? Maybe you're not familiar with some of the fish in the poll - I encourage you to take the time to use the R2R search feature and explore these small predators. Please share your opinions and experiences with small predator fish in the comments that follow!

Photo by @Anarcha0s

The title would cause Ms. Steinmetz (High School English Compostion teacher who wore short skirts and sat on her desk flashing her legs like that movie 'Basic Instinct') to fly off of her desk and ask; "

"What are the top small predator fish? Shouldn't that be @Peace River ; 'What are some Small Top Predator Fishes?'"​

It's a great question and the answer could focus upon utility of the fish for removing pests or the pure enjoyment of watching the lionfish engulph its prey.

I just got two damsels to hunt flatworms, so currently those two fishes are my small top predators. I also have a copperband butterfly that I was given (it appeared to be on deaths door) as a rescue and that fish cleared out a tank I have been neglecting of aiptasia in short order. The copperband is my favorite small top predator of aiptasia, it has not been nipping lps like many filefish and peppermint shrimp have done.

(Thanks Reef Builders

& LiveAquaria for lovely images!)

And there are many predators of copepods that are favorite fishes for beauty and small sizes, gobies, mandarines, anthias, too name a few.

Thank a teacher.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Doubtful, cleaner shrimp will likely be at least the same size, and the little wasp do have very small mouths. If you miscalculate the sizing maybe, they need to get in down whole they do not take it in pieces.

Agree. I have no issues with my spotted scorps and cleaners or my wasps and cleaners.

Just be sure you do not have a full grown wasp and a tiny (what I have seen at LFS recently) cleaners. That may end up as food.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Frogfish for me are undeniably the most cute and characterful chubby wubby predators and they are also reef safe…..just not ‘if it moves and fits in its humongous mouth I’ll eat it safe! ‘ Lol

 

[lion king]

Oh yeah forgot about the small frogfish, the warty. they can be kept in tanks as small as a 20g alone, in a 55g there would many fish that could live with this littler predator, as long as they did not have the temperament to pick on him.

 

[lion king]

My flame hawk hunts with a leaf fish and the little waspfish trio. This is my wheel house so anyone interested in the care and housing of ambush predators click my name and "find all threads", I have more.

 

[bnord]

Here’s a unique one….

Rhino blennie….

 

[wes84]

Anybody know where to get a red rooster pygmy waspfish? Ive been trying for a while but nobody seems to be able to get them.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Anybody know where to get a red rooster pygmy waspfish? Ive been trying for a while but nobody seems to be able to get them.

It’s all a matter of luck if your lfs gets them in. I’d ask if they can special order some. Given the increase in popularity, they should become more available.

 

[wes84]

It’s all a matter of luck if your lfs gets them in. I’d ask if they can special order some. Given the increase in popularity, they should become more available.

Ive asked a few and they have not been able to get them. They are cool looking fish im surprised they are so rare to find!

 

[lion king]

Ive asked a few and they have not been able to get them. They are cool looking fish im surprised they are so rare to find!

In the wild they are nocturnal, small, live within cracks and crevices so are hard to collect. Once collected they are treated shabby and don't survive long. Once they arrive at a wholesaler or lfs if they are not gotten into the hands of someone that cares enough to care for them properly, they die rather quickly. So you usually don't find lfs that just bring them in. So as you can see the chances of actually finding a healthy one available is very challenging. If you have a relationship with a lfs, they should put them on a wishlist and check their sources before each order. In reality their are only a few sources that most lfs use across the entire country. Some lfs are just too lazy.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Anybody know where to get a red rooster pygmy waspfish? Ive been trying for a while but nobody seems to be able to get them.

Top shelf aquatics has 3 pairs posted on their website right now

 

[lion king]

Top shelf aquatics has 3 pairs posted on their website right now

Did you happen to see the price, way out of line by about x2. These fish live solitary in the wild so a pair wouldn't be as a bonded pair.

 

[wes84]

Top shelf aquatics has 3 pairs posted on their website right now

Do they get more red as they get bigger? Just checked the TSA ones out and they seem to be more white than red

 

[HankstankXXL750]

Oh yeah forgot about the small frogfish, the warty. they can be kept in tanks as small as a 20g alone, in a 55g there would many fish that could live with this littler predator, as long as they did not have the temperament to pick on him.

yes that is my other vote. Have one and love him.

 

[Tired]

Waspfish aren't the most spectacular on this list, but they gotta earn some points for getting along well in an average reef tank. Without devouring everything else, even! Assuming you don't have any pico gobies.

(For rooster waspfish, at least. They max out at about 3". Not sure if other waspfish get larger, but they don't have huge mouths for their size, so even one slightly bigger wouldn't threaten much.)

 

[Eagle_Steve]

About forgot this guy. He has his own biocube lol.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Do they get more red as they get bigger? Just checked the TSA ones out and they seem to be more white than red

I’m pretty sure it varies by the individual - mine is very red but others at the store were more white.
Mine also goes more white at night, so there is likely a camouflage element to it.