Ruby Red Dragonet in a 32g?

[ReefPup]

Hello I have a fluval flex marine that I have ripped out the AIO area and plumbed it into a 10 gallon sump. I have had the tank set up for about 4 months. I got an initial pod population from my live rock from the gulf. I have since added 2 jars of assorted benthic species of pods. I am feeding 25 drops of Phyto-Feast Live daily, Is this enough to sustain a Ruby Red? I want one so badly but I don't want to watch a fish starve to death either. I will be ordering a pre-quarantined fish offline so I wont be able to see if it eats frozen like i would if i bought from an LFS. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tamberav]

Do you want one bad enough to turn the tank into macro algae dominant instead of corals?

Heavy planted tank and feeding the pods.. makes for a large pod population.

 

[Liquid361]

Def plan on it NOT eating anything but pods. A tank that size you’ll have a tough time maintaining sufficient pod population. I’d turn the sump into a fug with chaeto, live rock, and add lots of pods… plan to do this at least biweekly for at least a couple months or more before adding a RRD. That’s what I’d do anyways. Obviously you’ll have to feed the pods a bit more as well. Perhaps it’s overkill, but I hate seeing any animal starve.

 

[ReefPup]

Def plan on it NOT eating anything but pods. A tank that size you’ll have a tough time maintaining sufficient pod population. I’d turn the sump into a fug with chaeto, live rock, and add lots of pods… plan to do this at least biweekly for at least a couple months or more before adding a RRD. That’s what I’d do anyways. Obviously you’ll have to feed the pods a bit more as well. Perhaps it’s overkill, but I hate seeing any animal starve.

There is a fuge with chaeto. So there is a chance I could produce enough to sustain a RRD?

 

[Tamberav]

I kept 6 of them in a 30g macro dominant tank for 5 years before moving with a 20g fuge, huge skimmers and feeding the pods like crazy.

If you are just doing a typical reef, there is certainly a good chance it could starve if it never takes prepared. Scooters do take prepared easier than mandarins though.

Dosing phyto doesn’t mean you will have enough pods for the 10-15 years this fish lives. These fish do starve often in nano reefs (and sometimes in large tanks) and there isn’t an easy solution like x amount of phyto and you are good.

 

[ReefPup]

I kept 6 of them in a 30g macro dominant tank for 5 years before moving with a 20g fuge, huge skimmers and feeding the pods like crazy.

If you are just doing a typical reef, there is certainly a good chance it could starve if it never takes prepared. Scooters do take prepared easier than mandarins though.

Dosing phyto doesn’t mean you will have enough pods for the 10-15 years this fish lives. These fish do starve often in nano reefs (and sometimes in large tanks) and there isn’t an easy solution like x amount of phyto and you are good.

Ok maybe I won't get one then. Is there any sort of fish similar that I could get. I'm wanting a fish that is attractive and will skim across the rockwork.

 

[Tamberav]

Ok maybe I won't get one then. Is there any sort of fish similar that I could get. I'm wanting a fish that is attractive and will skim across the rockwork.

Other fish don’t really behave in such a way as far as scooting around the rock. Lots of perching options but not really the belly crawler types.

They are truly beautiful fish and I am sure every tank would have one if it wasn’t for their specific diet requirements.

 

[Liquid361]

Closest bet is like a lawnmower blenny… maybe a Midas blenny. Be sure you have a lid.

 

[ReefPup]

Oooo I actually think the lawnmower blenny's face is so cute. Maybe I'll get one of those instead. Do you think it would work with the rest I'm planning to stock with. I currently have an exquisite firefish. The planned stocking is the firefish, goby/shrimp pair, pair of clowns, springeri damsel. Would the lawnmower blenny be compatible with all of these do you know?

 

[Liquid361]

Yeah those are all VERY peaceful fish. Shouldn’t be any problems at all. I’d stop there for a tank that size..

 

[ReefPup]

Yeah those are all VERY peaceful fish. Shouldn’t be any problems at all. I’d stop there for a tank that size..

Ok yeah I will just swap the RRD with the lawnmower blenny in my stocking list. Problem solved thanks! I have an option for a cute fish that will hang out on the rocks and it won't starve. Win/Win

 

[W31Olds]

ReefPup, keep on thing in mind when getting a lawnmower Blenny that they get pretty large. I have one in my 150 gallon tank that's about 5" and only eats algae so I never have fed him. Probably one of my favorite fish as they have a lot of personality.

 

[ReefPup]

ReefPup, keep on thing in mind when getting a lawnmower Blenny that they get pretty large. I have one in my 150 gallon tank that's about 5" and only eats algae so I never have fed him. Probably one of my favorite fish as they have a lot of personality.

The worry with that is that somehow so far I have not really had any ugly stage I got some hair algae for a bit but I got some emerald crabs for a few spots of bubble and they have eaten it all. there is no actual algae in my tank except for a bit on the glass. will the lawnmower eat nori or hikari pellets?

 

[Liquid361]

The worry with that is that somehow so far I have not really had any ugly stage I got some hair algae for a bit but I got some emerald crabs for a few spots of bubble and they have eaten it all. there is no actual algae in my tank except for a bit on the glass. will the lawnmower eat nori or hikari pellets?

the blenny’s I’ve had eat anything… not at all picky..

 

[niebz77]

Ok maybe I won't get one then. Is there any sort of fish similar that I could get. I'm wanting a fish that is attractive and will skim across the rockwork.

Biota captive bread

 

[W31Olds]

My wild caught will eat only algae and is picky about what type. Won't eat hair algae and likes short film type, grazes most of the day, and has a little belly,

 

[edsbeaker]

A Starry Blenny is another option. It also has a cute face. Kind of looks like a grumpy old man.

 

[Liquid361]

A Starry Blenny is another option. It also has a cute face. Kind of looks like a grumpy old man.

Yeah forgot about them! They’re greet fish to have!!

 

[ReefPup]

A Starry Blenny is another option. It also has a cute face. Kind of looks like a grumpy old man.

Would it be ok with the other fish i plan on having?

 

[edsbeaker]

Would it be ok with the other fish i plan on having?

I think you’d be fine. Other than a darker color they are very similar in behavior and care as a Lawn Mower Blenny. Basically just go with the one that looks cuter to you.