Show me your bestest smallest fish (current or future)

[strich]

Something I've seen little of in the marine side of this hobby are good schools of the small fishes. For example the absolutely classic neon tetra is hard to beat in fresh water.

Is there a comparable marine fish?

What are the shiniest best small schooling fish in your opinion?

 

[i cant think]

Schooling wise, you won’t see that often in the hobby as many “schooling” fish need huge tanks to be kept in groups. But there’s some that are compatible with each other and look gorgeous.

Marines are more so the showy fish when kept singularly or in pairs.

 

[JoJosReef]

Something I've seen little of in the marine side of this hobby are good schools of the small fishes. For example the absolutely classic neon tetra is hard to beat in fresh water.

Is there a comparable marine fish?

What are the shiniest best small schooling fish in your opinion?

Look up trimma gobies on the Biota page.

 

[strich]

Schooling wise, you won’t see that often in the hobby as many “schooling” fish need huge tanks to be kept in groups. But there’s some that are compatible with each other and look gorgeous.

Marines are more so the showy fish when kept singularly or in pairs.

There have got to be some though surely!

Look up trimma gobies on the Biota page.

If your they're kind of interesting - do many different colors. They last only 6 months average though hah.

 

[i cant think]

There have got to be some though surely!


If your they're kind of interesting - do many different colors. They last only 6 months average though hah.

Trimma gobies I’ve had last 2 years previously but I did get them incredibly small.

 

[PotatoPig]

A lot of small reef fish are surprisingly territorial and don’t play well in groups.

Even tiny things like neon gobies demand comparatively enormous territory before they’ll accept a second one in the tank that’s not part of a mated pair.

Then there’s a few where either males or females will tolerate multiple of the same sex, but of those species many will spontaneously change sex into the sex that does NOT tolerate competition.

You can kinda manage “harem” type deals with some of these, where Conspecific aggression is distributed enough it shouldn’t kill fish as often, but that’s not great and doesn’t always work.

Leaving you, basically, with mollies, which can be had in freshwater, and chromis, which can be raging *******s to everything else in the tank and still might start killing each other off anyway.

 

[Matt2939]

I like my little barnacle blennies. Lots of personality. And their little buggy eyes follow you anytime you walk past. They are the most excited at feeding time. They come out of their hiding spots and kind of bounce excitedly where the food usually falls. Edit: not a schooling fish though, just saw that part...

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Future - For 10g Drop Off desk top. Pygmy coral Croucher Golby. Grows to a little over 1"

 

[strich]

A lot of small reef fish are surprisingly territorial and don’t play well in groups.

Even tiny things like neon gobies demand comparatively enormous territory before they’ll accept a second one in the tank that’s not part of a mated pair.

Then there’s a few where either males or females will tolerate multiple of the same sex, but of those species many will spontaneously change sex into the sex that does NOT tolerate competition.

You can kinda manage “harem” type deals with some of these, where Conspecific aggression is distributed enough it shouldn’t kill fish as often, but that’s not great and doesn’t always work.

Leaving you, basically, with mollies, which can be had in freshwater, and chromis, which can be raging *******s to everything else in the tank and still might start killing each other off anyway.

Really nice info thanks. I was wondering when someone would meant mollies, but I was hoping to get better options before we got there haha.

I like my little barnacle blennies. Lots of personality. And their little buggy eyes follow you anytime you walk past. They are the most excited at feeding time. They come out of their hiding spots and kind of bounce excitedly where the food usually falls. Edit: not a schooling fish though, just saw that part...

Yeah they're cool! Lol at this little **** head haha!

 

[Waters]

Something I've seen little of in the marine side of this hobby are good schools of the small fishes. For example the absolutely classic neon tetra is hard to beat in fresh water.

Is there a comparable marine fish?

What are the shiniest best small schooling fish in your opinion?

You might be shocked to hear that those aren't neon tetras...they are actually Cardinal tetras :-) I have them in one of my planted tanks. Neons the red only covers half the body. Yes, I realize this adds nothing to your post lol.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Another Future - Pygmy Hawkfish Under 2"

 

[i cant think]

Why has nobody said these guys yet?

Not my smallest fish but one of my smallest fish in my main display. Clownfish!

 

[Aaron75]

Love this guy, such a dopey looking fish. Sorry, missed the schooling part.
View attachment 3606773

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I know he will not STAY small, but I just love my little yellow watchman goby who is about 2 inches.

 

[i cant think]

I know he will not STAY small, but I just love my little yellow watchman goby who is about 2 inches.

I love mine, if they didn’t get 4 inches they’d be perfect for any tank!
I love my Yasha Goby too.

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[lil sumpin]

He’s the size of a quarter lol

 

[RandomReefer420]

Red Spot Cardinals are the closest but they don't ship well or seem to survive for very long.

 

[kevgib67]

My tailspot blenny.

 

[Katrina71]

Most of the little salty guys are not schooling. In fact, they are usually very territorial. You get lucky to even have a peaceful mated pair.