Need an active fish recommendation

[ScottR]

I second 6 line wrasse. They’ll fit in a 20 and stay quite busy going through the rocks.

 

[nickenayat]

Flame hawk are awesome to watch and tons of a character. Next I would say I love my blenny. Fun to watch and help with algae cleaning.

 

[ReGinn]

I would personally say plus 1 to the fire fish. Always out and about in my tank. Especially nice if you go with the more exotic like the purple ones!

 

[IndyMatt]

Midas Blenny tons of personality!

 

[jeffchapok]

I would personally say plus 1 to the fire fish. Always out and about in my tank. Especially nice if you go with the more exotic like the purple ones!

My firefish was quite timid and hid in a hole most of the time. Even when out, he was never very active. I like the 6-line wrasse suggestion. It a useful fish and never stops swimming. Mine swims in and out of the rocks constantly.

I also have a flame hawk, which is a beautiful fish and definitely has a lot of personality. Mine is a camera hog -- I can hardly take a photo without him in it. He'll stop to sit on the rocks for a bit, so not constantly in motion. But he never stays in any one spot for long.

 

[Bob Lauson]

Flame Hawkfish

 

[kruler]

Lubbock’s wrasse or Midas Blenny would get my vote.

 

[jvswan]

I agree with the orchid dottyback and a neon dottyback. Both are pretty and active swimmers. Neither are timid, so the clowns won’t be able to bully them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Firefish, dartfish, gramma, and many blennies

 

[code4]

My firefish is timid. My clowns became territorial as they aged. Now they have a 65 gallon mostly to themselves. They mostly leave timid fish alone. A pair of mandarins and a purple firefish. They have left blennies alone also. But they would fight non stop with any fish even remotely aggressive towards them. Just my experience with them. They are over 8 years old now. And they pay eggs regularly. I have a 140 gallon also.

Shelley

 

[JLynn]

It depends a little bit on whether you want a fish swimming around the open water (in which case I would 100% recommend Orchid Dottyback (or a dottyback of similar temperament)) or if one that swims around a lot but mostly in and around the rockwork would be fine (in which case I heartily recommend a Tailspot Blenny or a close relative of it). Both orchid dottybacks I have had were constantly zooming around the tank. And IRL, their purple scales seemed almost neon under my LEDs. So they would be my number one recommendation for you, with tailspot blenny as a close second.

Fang blennies (Meiacanthus sp.) are also active open water swimmers and most every species of them in the trade is available captive bred, which is a nice bonus.

Midas blennies are another option, but they get pretty big (5" long) and personally I wasn't comfortable putting one in my Lagoon 25 for that reason. But idk, that's your judgement call.

The pygmy wrasses (six-lined, pink streaked, Tanaka, Possum, etc) are all very active swimmers that love to zoom around tanks. I've heard some of them can get really aggressive though, so just do your research on the species if you decide to go that route. As far as other wrasses go, I would never recommend a non-pygmy wrasse for a nano, although they do have the activity level you are looking for.

Firefish are a bad idea IMO because yes, they are always swimming, but they are swimming in place. They like to pick a spot in the tank, and just hover there for a while.

 

[mkwarner77]

blue chromis, mine always swim near the top and middle of the tank and my 2 clowns have never been aggressive with them. I added the chromis about 8 mos after the clowns. I've got 4 in a 46 gl, so 1 or 2 should be good for you

 

[Eva Rose]

You asked for peaceful active fish. Important to know that any fish with a tendency to get aggressive is going to have a much greater chance to be to so in a smaller tank.
Six line wrasse - definitely avoid. Just do a search
Midas Blenny - needs bigger tank
I like 1 of these suggestions already given:
Possum wrasse
Fang Blenny
Scissor tail Goby

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I'd go with a royal gramma or either a midas or starry blenny. Blennies have lots of personality.

 

[JoeJoesonoma]

I would recommended a falco hawkfish. They have great personality and are very active

 

[JRAD]

I have 3 Kamohara Blennies that are tank raised. They are awesome. Always out. No aggression at all. I have a tank raised neon dottyback. He\she is like a little eel swimming through the rock work looking for food. So far (2 years) no significant aggression to other fish, but can hold his\her own against a rather bossy occelaris clown that is bigger and 10 years old!

 

[Reef-Man]

Tile fish

 

[murphy357]

Lubbock’s wrasse or Midas Blenny would get my vote.

Lubbock wrasse would be too big for a 20 in my opinion. Something like fire fish, blennies, or one of the wrasse that stay small would be ideal.

 

[MrLargo]

Yellow Corris Wrasse is perfect. Always on the move, a stunning pop of yellow, and can handle the aggression of those clowns, by way of speed and hiding, etc.