Stocking List 25G

[Sinkers]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to come up with a plan for stocking my 25G Waterbox. So far the plan is as follows.

2x Percula Clownfish
1x Pistol Shrimp & Goby
1x Royal Gramma Basslet
1x Cleaner Shrimp

Could I skip on something with the possiblity of adding a Dragonet or Blenny in future?

Do you need to take your clean up crew into consideration when coming up with a stock list, or are they generally accounted for separately? I'd only have snails most likely, few different types.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Well, I'm pretty conservative when it comes to stocking smaller tanks, so I'd say yay to the clown pair plus one of your other choices. The RC and Goby/Shrimp combo are borderline with your 25 but possible. Those clowns will need to go in last tho. With the blenny, it delends on which one youre interested in. And I'd say no to the dragonet. Those fish require a mature, stable tank. And smaller tanks are not known for their comparitive stability.

 

[rishma]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to come up with a plan for stocking my 25G Waterbox. So far the plan is as follows.

2x Percula Clownfish
1x Pistol Shrimp & Goby
1x Royal Gramma Basslet
1x Cleaner Shrimp

Could I skip on something with the possiblity of adding a Dragonet or Blenny in future?

Do you need to take your clean up crew into consideration when coming up with a stock list, or are they generally accounted for separately? I'd only have snails most likely, few different types.

I have a 25 gallon water box. My last tank was RSR 170.

After 2 pairs of percs and a current pair orange skunk clowns, I’m not doing a pair of clowns in a small tank again. They just get too aggressive in that small territory. Once established I have been unable to add another fish, and they eventually become intolerant to fish who were in the tank before them.

I know they are very popular and commonly recommended for small tanks, but my experience in tanks smaller than 60 gallons has not been good after a year or two. I’ll be rehoming my clowns soon.

 

[Sinkers]

Well, I'm pretty conservative when it comes to stocking smaller tanks, so I'd say yay to the clown pair plus one of your other choices. The RC and Goby/Shrimp combo are borderline with your 25 but possible. Those clowns will need to go in last tho. With the blenny, it delends on which one youre interested in. And I'd say no to the dragonet. Those fish require a mature, stable tank. And smaller tanks are not known for their comparitive stability.

When you say RC are you referring to the Gramma? Also by borderline do you mean tank to small for them or too much other livestock?

 

[Sinkers]

I have a 25 gallon water box. My last tank was RSR 170.

After 2 pairs of percs and a current pair orange skunk clowns, I’m not doing a pair of clowns in a small tank again. They just get too aggressive in that small territory. Once established I have been unable to add another fish, and they eventually become intolerant to fish who were in the tank before them.

I know they are very popular and commonly recommended for small tanks, but my experience in tanks smaller than 60 gallons has not been good after a year or two. I’ll be rehoming my clowns soon.

That's unfortunate. Can this be pretty common? As I've seen a lot of information suggesting that they are more likely to be pretty chill.

 

[rishma]

That's unfortunate. Can this be pretty common? As I've seen a lot of information suggesting that they are more likely to be pretty chill.

I suspect much of the advice is not based on long term experience. I am not an expert but I am pretty experienced.

My first pair was with me for 6 years, when they moved down to a 34 gallon they became bullies after about a year.

My second pair was with me for 3 years in that 34 gallon and were bullies after 2 years and would attack my hand when I was in that tank.

I have had my current pair for 3 years. Last year they killed my 2 pajama cardinals that proceeded them in the tank. I tried to add a large azure damsel and they harassed it incessantly. They chase my royal gramma who has been in the tank longer than them. He’s fast and uses the rock work to avoid them but this week his tail is damaged.

I suspect this is common for those keeping clowns in small tanks long term. I am sure not everyone has this problem, but I doubt it’s rare. I suggest asking in the clown/anemone forum.

Sorry to bum you out. I kept thinking I’d have a different outcome, and even changed species, but clowns are in the damsel family and they do get aggressive.

I am not saying don’t get clowns. They are great especially with an anemone. But if you have more docile tank mates it may become a problem.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I think your list looks good, maybe even room for one more small peaceful fish. Personally, instead of a mandarin, I would add maybe 2 or 3 clown gobies, different color of course. I have 3 in my 15 and really liking these fish together (I consider 3 clown gobies to be the bioload of one fish, but thats just me)

Clean up crew and inverts and corals don't really have much bioload, I only count fish as 'bioload'.

 

[Sinkers]

Personally I think your list looks good, maybe even room for one more small peaceful fish. Personally, instead of a mandarin, I would add maybe 2 or 3 clown gobies, different color of course. I have 3 in my 15 and really liking these fish together (I consider 3 clown gobies to be the bioload of one fish, but thats just me)

Clean up crew and inverts and corals don't really have much bioload, I only count fish as 'bioload'.

Do you have any pictures of them?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you have any pictures of them?

Not together, I'm not much of a picture taker. This one is the black one.

 

[fish farmer]

I have a pair of 18 year old percula clowns. They got downsized to my current 29 gallon in 2010. Tank mates over the years have been a mandarin, or sixline wrasse or a royal gramma. I've never seen aggression toward new additions, but when they were still new to this tank the female would bite me. They may flare gills at the sixline, but the sixline just cruises by.

One thing I noticed was when I did a reaquascape, removing their home rock that they spawn on, the female became extremely aggressive to the male clown. I felt I was going to lose him, he was hiding and having difficulty coming out to feed.

Luckily after a week or two they settled into a different spot.

 

[rishma]

I have a pair of 18 year old percula clowns. They got downsized to my current 29 gallon in 2010. Tank mates over the years have been a mandarin, or sixline wrasse or a royal gramma. I've never seen aggression toward new additions, but when they were still new to this tank the female would bite me. They may flare gills at the sixline, but the sixline just cruises by.

One thing I noticed was when I did a reaquascape, removing their home rock that they spawn on, the female became extremely aggressive to the male clown. I felt I was going to lose him, he was hiding and having difficulty coming out to feed.

Luckily after a week or two they settled into a different spot.

Great! I love stories of fish kept so long and good to hear they don’t always turn into jerks. My experience has been model citizens in 60 gallons and larger, jerks in 34 gallons and smaller, but no surprise it’s not a one-size fits all experience.