Stocking suggestions for 33 gallon

[Kongo]

I’ve set up a 33-gallon tank (Red Sea Max Nano G2 XL) and I’m planning to stock 2–3 fish.


I’m specifically looking for fish that are bold, out in the open, and very food-motivated — the kind that rush out when food hits the water, rather than hiding. I once kept a blue sapphire devil, and it was by far the greediest fish I’ve ever owned — absolutely fearless at feeding time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly a team player, so it’s not an option for this setup.


The tank has a lot of live rock with caves and tunnels, so there are plenty of territories and broken sight lines. Ideally, I’m thinking of two active roamers patrolling the tank, plus a watchman goby to pick up leftovers on the sandbed.


Any suggestions? (Not clownfish.)

 

[steveschuerger]

Well sixline wrasses are known to be a standard in assertive. You could get a a damsel or two-springers being fairly decent players . Fire fish are bright and out and about.

 

[StartingATank]

Royal Grammas, Firefish, six lines. What about clowns do you not want?

 

[Kongo]

Royal Grammas, Firefish, six lines. What about clowns do you not want?

I don’t mind clownfish. It’s just that I already have a pair in another tank

 

[steveschuerger]

I don’t mind clownfish. It’s just that I already have a pair in another tank

I hear ya. I love em (most of the time) . I’m still debating having a pair again however since I’m putting together a new tank after being out for about half a year. My reticence is that I love Gonis and frogspawn/hammers and the idiots I had kept trying to use various corals as hosts instead of my 2 nems. Even when they recognized the nems they bounced around to different hosts with end result that they irritated or contributed to the deaths of 7 corals by my count . Most being Gonis . So I may or may not do a clown free tank.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If you want fish patrolling the tank and only want 2-3 fish then damsels sound about right. A pair of damsels and a watchman should work.

 

[vlangel]

I would like a ywg, a midas blenny and a royal gramma in a 33g tank. 2 Borneo cardinalfish might be nice also.

 

[brittlestar]

Sounds like Chrysiptera damsels would be perfect. I have three in a 20 long and I love them

 

[Kongo]

I would like a ywg, a midas blenny and a royal gramma in a 33g tank. 2 Borneo cardinalfish might be nice also.

A blenny would be really nice. Thinking about the Molly Miller. Some say Royal Grammas can get really big though?

 

[Kongo]

Sounds like Chrysiptera damsels would be perfect. I have three in a 20 long and I love them

Three of them? And they get along just fine? I'm definitely thinking of getting the Chrysiptera.

 

[rcasa]

I’ve set up a 33-gallon tank (Red Sea Max Nano G2 XL) and I’m planning to stock 2–3 fish.


I’m specifically looking for fish that are bold, out in the open, and very food-motivated — the kind that rush out when food hits the water, rather than hiding. I once kept a blue sapphire devil, and it was by far the greediest fish I’ve ever owned — absolutely fearless at feeding time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly a team player, so it’s not an option for this setup.


The tank has a lot of live rock with caves and tunnels, so there are plenty of territories and broken sight lines. Ideally, I’m thinking of two active roamers patrolling the tank, plus a watchman goby to pick up leftovers on the sandbed.


Any suggestions? (Not clownfish.)

Go with something unique like a ribbon eel if your tank has a top or maybe a snowflake eel, if not to be a maroon clown wouldn’t be too bad but maybe hold off for a bigger tank

 

[Kongo]

Go with something unique like a ribbon eel if your tank has a top or maybe a snowflake eel, if not to be a maroon clown wouldn’t be too bad but maybe hold off for a bigger tank

Eels are really cool, but from what I’ve seen they’re usually not very out in the open, and often require a lot of live feeding.

 

[rcasa]

Go with something unique like a ribbon eel if your tank has a top or maybe a snowflake eel, if not to be a maroon clown wouldn’t be too bad but maybe hold off for a bigger tank

Eels are really cool, but from what I’ve seen they’re usually not very out in the open, and often require a lot of live feeding.

I feed mine about once everything 3 days a good size piece of food. Also in my experience so in my opinion, the ones I’ve had and have right now love coming out, honestly it’s bipolar. They’ll come out here and there and stay where they make there home here and there.

With a 33g you could honestly through a decent sized maroon clown in their, honestly I’m not to big on clowns but the maroon gives a different feeling and vibe then basic clowns.

Some others I would throw in personally:
Coral beauty angel
Diamond goby
Cardinal fish
(which are really nice in my opinion)

 

[brittlestar]

Three of them? And they get along just fine? I'm definitely thinking of getting the Chrysiptera.

They do! They're so much more peaceful than other damsels, and they're a lot more confident in groups than they are on their own. I was following the advice of my (exceptionally trustworthy) LFS. They've been thriving together with no real issues for a while now - they get a little cranky around feeding time but never actually harm each other. Just make sure you get an odd number and add them all at once if you go that route.

 

[MushroomMan101]

Maybe a Midas Blenny? They are beautiful and interesting swimmers with an “eel” like body which is cool to watch.

 

[Kongo]

Maybe a Midas Blenny? They are beautiful and interesting swimmers with an “eel” like body which is cool to watch.

That's a great suggestion. Either that or a Miller who are hard workers.