What fish look better in pairs or sometimes groups?

[Zionas]

Aesthetically, and / or in terms of behavior and interactions, what fish, given the bioload, do you find much better in a pair or sometimes a group?

We know the obvious Clowns, what else? What are pairs, trios or groups you’ve successfully had in your setup / s?

 

[PharmrJohn]

Besides clowns?! Damsels of varying types. I'm a sucker for Damsels.

 

[Zionas]

@PharmrJohn Which ones do you have and do they stick together like a pair the way Clowns do? I agree they add a lot of color and movement and have a worse reputation than they always deserve. They’re one of the engines of the reef and every time on a dive they’re the most numerous.

 

[StartingATank]

Damsels would work, but they are very aggressive. It had killed/made me have to move 3 fish out of my system. Killed 2 gobies and I had to move another damsel from my system back to the store. You could also try cardinalfish, but I personally don't like them because they don't have much movement, they just zip around the tank, their body doesn't move much. Other than those, if you had a big enough tank, you could have a school of yellow tangs.

 

[Savage Henry]

I have had small groups of yellow assessors together. They spread out about the tank and will breed.

 

[Featherweight]

I have
3 springeri damsels
3 bangai cardinals
6 anthias
3 different tangs
3 different wrasses

I like 3s

 

[PharmrJohn]

@PharmrJohn Which ones do you have and do they stick together like a pair the way Clowns do? I agree they add a lot of color and movement and have a worse reputation than they always deserve. They’re one of the engines of the reef and every time on a dive they’re the most numerous.

It was past tense unfortunately. I'm in planning stage right now and CANNOT WAIT!!!! But back in the day, I had a four stripe, two yellow tails, a domino, a velvet and one or two more I cannot remember (in a 90g standard). They pretty much kept to themselves so schooling was not a thing with them. Except they had the left side of the tank while my Maroon Clown had the right hand side. Don't mess with a Maroon!! I mainly liked the diversity in coloration and design.

 

[LaloJ]

A group of Nemateleotris may look very nice, but apparently at some point they can become very aggressive with each other.

 

[Zionas]

@Savage Henry I see. I like them and do you find that they’re out more in a group? How many did you have and any fighting or posing, hanging out much?

 

[Savage Henry]

@Savage Henry I see. I like them and do you find that they’re out more in a group? How many did you have and any fighting or posing, hanging out much?

I had four in a 70 gallon or so. Yes, when there’s more than one they spend more time out in open water. In my current tank, which is about 35 gallon or so, I had two that lived together fine and thet were out a lot. At the moment I only have one and I have a royal gramma. The yellow assessor dominates over the royal gramma. The royal gramma is in open water almost all the time, while the yellow assessor is out maybe 30-50% of the time. When there’s yellow assessor is hiding it’s usually inside a hole with its head poking out watching the action. But, without another yellow assessor, my single yellow assessor is out in open water far less.

 

[Zionas]

@Savage Henry Thanks for sharing. It looks like it’s better to get at least 2. What happened to your other one and what else is in your 35? They’re nice fish for sure. Do they live a long time?

 

[Zionas]

@LaloJ I think they only pair and are monogamous once they’re older and can’t be sexed. Congrats is your tank now a 150?

 

[Savage Henry]

The other one died, along with a flameback angelfish and a bicolour blenny when I was trying to rescue them from a tank crash back in March.

I don’t know how long they live. The previous ones I had that bred I sold on when I changed direction.

My tank know is a Waterbox Marine X 60.2. It has about 35 gallon display tank. I have a pair of Ocellaris clowns, one yellow assessor and a royal gramma. The clowns are peaceful towards the yellow assessor and royal gramma. I am looking for another fish and am considering another flameback angelfish or possibly a sunburst anthias. I might also get either a small blenny or a pink pinstriped wrasse. Unfortunately, I am in Australia and we don’t get a huge choice.

I don’t think the assessors pair off. Could be wrong. But, if you have a larger tank with plenty of rock work, I think half a dozen would look good together. They eat NLS pellets too and are tough and undemanding. The only issue with them is if you ever take some of your live rock out of the tank, they tend to hide inside the rock so you have to be really careful.

 

[ninjamyst]

My two yellow and one purple tangs school together all the time.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Chalk Bass.

 

[painter1982]

I have 13 green chromis that livened up my tank. None have been killed like you hear. I feed them 4 times a day. Plenty of pods too. Lots of rock work.

 

[ninjamyst]

I have 13 green chromis that livened up my tank. None have been killed like you hear. I feed them 4 times a day. Plenty of pods too. Lots of rock work.

How long you had them?

 

[painter1982]

I have 13 green chromis that livened up my tank. None have been killed like you hear. I feed them 4 times a day. Plenty of pods too. Lots of rock work.

How long you had them?

About 7 months now.

 

[Flame2hawk]

latest collection in 800g includes Pr of kingi tiger, scribbled and flame angels as well as A trio of Biota YT’s. Fingers crossed but so far so good!

 

[serval]

Chalk Bass.

Definitely chalk bass.