Suprise 30g Stocking Ideas

[littlefoxx]

Good to know, I’ve ordered from Eric before, he’s actually where I got my garden eels from. Second set of fish in the 150 started over 6 months ago and still strong and healthy.

So potentially a pair of wasps as the main predatory fish, at least one hawk (would rather a pair if they’ll fit) couple Pom poms, hermits, few snails, maybe a star, and either a pink streak, purple firefish pair, or watchman pair with a shrimp…? Out of the last 3, what would be the best combo? I know 2 of those are sand dwellers.

While I’d be fine with a solo angler, this allows a couple extra fish. And in the event of someone not getting along, they can go to the 150 if they’re getting bullied, or the 60 if they are the bully.

The angler will eat the other fish in the tank… those dudes eat everything! Even eachother

 

[JumboShrimp]

@littlefoxx , they list it as a "Forktail Blenny" on LiveAquaria, which is where I got mine about 2-3 years ago. Only about $25, but currently out-of-stock. You'll just have to check periodically to make your move.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

The angler will eat the other fish in the tank… those dudes eat everything! Even eachother

I know, if I went angler he'd be solo. It sounds like the wasps in place of an angler will give me more wiggle room, while still qualifying as a weird or uncommon fish. I want the most variety between my tanks possible. It's hard having a tank I wasn't already planning for, I'm up at 3 in the morning analyzing every potential stocking option to maximize this tank and my collection safely. We all know the excitement of creating a brand new tank...

 

[littlefoxx]

I know, if I went angler he'd be solo. It sounds like the wasps in place of an angler will give me more wiggle room, while still qualifying as a weird or uncommon fish. I want the most variety between my tanks possible. It's hard having a tank I wasn't already planning for, I'm up at 3 in the morning analyzing every potential stocking option to maximize this tank and my collection safely. We all know the excitement of creating a brand new tank...

Oh for sure!

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Oh for sure!

Would a pistol be dangerous to anything in the tank? I’ve read that larger pistols are sometimes safe from small predatory fish, but may also go after other inverts or even small fish. I don’t mind the tunnels, I can scape for that, but if it’ll turn on it’s tankmates and hurt them I don’t want it, even if the interaction between the 2 is super cool to watch.

 

[littlefoxx]

Would a pistol be dangerous to anything in the tank? I’ve read that larger pistols are sometimes safe from small predatory fish, but may also go after other inverts or even small fish. I don’t mind the tunnels, I can scape for that, but if it’ll turn on it’s tankmates and hurt them I don’t want it, even if the interaction between the 2 is super cool to watch.

My pistol shrimps were chill. I always had a goby with them. I had a fire fish who would dart into the hole and the shrimp would “shoot” him and he always came lout looking dazed and confused (led zep anyone??). But it never harmed anyone and the fire fish was always fine after a minute or so.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

My pistol shrimps were chill. I always had a goby with them. I had a fire fish who would dart into the hole and the shrimp would “shoot” him and he always came lout looking dazed and confused (led zep anyone??). But it never harmed anyone and the fire fish was always fine after a minute or so.

Hmm, might err on the side of caution then and use something else. It’s a small tank so it’d be harder for the other fish to give him space. Maybe I’ll set up a separate nano with just a pair of watchman’s and a pair of pistols.

So maybe the pair of firefish instead? I’d do a pair of clown gobies but since I can’t see what I’m ordering for sure, I can’t guarantee they’ll be big enough to not get eaten. Could still do a pair of watchman’s just without the shrimp I guess. If the hawkfish are perching and the waspfish are at least somewhat perching, then I need a sand dweller, or some lower-water cave dweller. I don’t think it’s big enough for any open water swimmer. A rock hugger maybe, that pink line was is good looking fish, but if I can get something smaller that pairs, that’d be even better. I don’t think it’s big enough to pair or trio the wrasse either. I’m thinking a blenny would cause territory issues.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hmm, might err on the side of caution then and use something else. It’s a small tank so it’d be harder for the other fish to give him space. Maybe I’ll set up a separate nano with just a pair of watchman’s and a pair of pistols.

So maybe the pair of firefish instead? I’d do a pair of clown gobies but since I can’t see what I’m ordering for sure, I can’t guarantee they’ll be big enough to not get eaten. Could still do a pair of watchman’s just without the shrimp I guess. If the hawkfish are perching and the waspfish are at least somewhat perching, then I need a sand dweller, or some lower-water cave dweller. I don’t think it’s big enough for any open water swimmer. A rock hugger maybe, that pink line was is good looking fish, but if I can get something smaller that pairs, that’d be even better. I don’t think it’s big enough to pair or trio the wrasse either. I’m thinking a blenny would cause territory issues.

I think the shrimp and watchman would be fine as far as territory since wasps perch not burrow. I dont think the shrimp would hurt the wasp if thats what youre worried about

 

[littlefoxx]

Ive not kept wasps, just all kinds of lions. Im not allowed to have a wasp because Im dealthy allergic to lionfish venom sooo thats an issue lol. But my none of my lions ever ate another fish, I kept them well fed. I had a watchmen/shimp pair in with the lion, I had firefish, and other smaller fish like that

 

[sgdnycct]

I’ve always liked bed the idea of an slow eater tank. Pipefish, seahorses, mandarins. If you’re up for the work to keep them well fed it might be a nice variety from the usual.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Ive not kept wasps, just all kinds of lions. Im not allowed to have a wasp because Im dealthy allergic to lionfish venom sooo thats an issue lol. But my none of my lions ever ate another fish, I kept them well fed. I had a watchmen/shimp pair in with the lion, I had firefish, and other smaller fish like that

Awesome as that is, I can’t risk my reef on a lion, if not in a specimen tank, he’ll wait for a larger ‘thug fish’ system. I still want one though.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I’ve always liked bed the idea of an slow eater tank. Pipefish, seahorses, mandarins. If you’re up for the work to keep them well fed it might be a nice variety from the usual.

I have 6 mandarins in my reef already, need at least 1 more green spot because I ordered a male/female and got 2 males, ordered a single female and was sent yet another male. Made it clear it was important to get a female, but it was a bust. As it stands, I have 3 male green spotted mandarins, and 2 females and 1 male classic mandarins. They all will eat frozen now if they can catch it, and I think the larger 2 greens will pick pellets off the sand.

I know only dwarf seahorses would fit in this tank, are any pipefish small enough?

 

[sgdnycct]

I’ve always liked bed the idea of an slow eater tank. Pipefish, seahorses, mandarins. If you’re up for the work to keep them well fed it might be a nice variety from the usual.

I have 6 mandarins in my reef already, need at least 1 more green spot because I ordered a male/female and got 2 males, ordered a single female and was sent yet another male. Made it clear it was important to get a female, but it was a bust. As it stands, I have 3 male green spotted mandarins, and 2 females and 1 male classic mandarins. They all will eat frozen now if they can catch it, and I think the larger 2 greens will pick pellets off the sand.

I know only dwarf seahorses would fit in this tank, are any pipefish small enough?

As far as I know they don’t need a very large tank size wise. Especially if they aren’t kept with a species that will outcompete them for food. I’m no expert though.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

What about a couple barnacle blennies with the hawks and wasps? They’re listed as sometimes communal.