Fish recommendation needed

[jepoy]

So far I have clowns that stay in a corner, a royal gramma that pretty much stays in her cave, and a yasha goby that only comes out to eat. So my tank look pretty lifeless. Can you guys recommend fish that are:

1. active middle tank swimmers
2. peaceful and reef safe of course
3. not too big (3-4 inches max) since i only have a 55 gallon tank
4. and that will do well in a school (3-5 depending on size).

 

[VacavilleFC]

pajama or banggai cardinals

 

[Kensington Reefer]

get the shrimp for that goby!

bangaii pair
Pseudocheilinops ataenia
Ptereleotris zebra
Wetmorella sp

 

[jepoy]

pajama or banggai cardinals

Not too excited by either as they just float in place most of the time. But thanks for the reco.

 

[jepoy]

get the shrimp for that goby!

bangaii pair
Pseudocheilinops ataenia
Ptereleotris zebra
Wetmorella sp

I know, I'm always on the hunt for a pistol shrimp. Also thanks the reco, after a quick research, the dartfish interests me. Need to watch about 10 more youtube videos about it lol.

 

[VacavilleFC]

Not too excited by either as they just float in place most of the time. But thanks for the reco.

unless you want damsels or chromis there arent a lot of options for smaller schooling fish. maybe one of the smaller anthias?

 

[CaseyP]

Dartfish, like the zebra or scissortail, are mid water swimmers and constantly on the move once they're comfortable. They do have a tendancy to jump so a tight lid is a must.

 

[jepoy]

unless you want damsels or chromis there arent a lot of options for smaller schooling fish. maybe one of the smaller anthias?

Damsels are definitely on my list, but they have a reputation of becoming jerks and are very hard to catch when they do lol. But i guess you cant have the perfect fish. I guess I'd be open to banggais.. i don't personally like the look of the pajamas.

 

[jepoy]

Dartfish, like the zebra or scissortail, are mid water swimmers and constantly on the move once they're comfortable. They do have a tendancy to jump so a tight lid is a must.

I'm really liking the blue gudgeon dartfish, do you have thoughts on them?

 

[CaseyP]

I've never seen blue gudegons in person so can't say. I think High Tide has a couple if you want to observe them in the store.

There's also some of the smaller fairy wrasses. They tend to be on the move most of the time.

Also between the pajamas and bangaiis I have. The pajamas tend to be higher in the water column and out in the open more than the bangaiis.

 

[jepoy]

I've never seen blue gudegons in person so can't say. I think High Tide has a couple if you want to observe them in the store.

There's also some of the smaller fairy wrasses. They tend to be on the move most of the time.

Also between the pajamas and bangaiis I have. The pajamas tend to be higher in the water column and out in the open more than the bangaiis.

I've heard so much good stuff about High Tide but I've actually never been, only because I'm so far from oakland. But I think it's time for me to make that trip.

I'll do more research on the fairy wrasses. Also the banggai (and pajamas) are kind of growing on me, will need to do more research on them. Thanks for all the tips!

 

[Darkxerox]

Kenny has some threadfin cardinals (Zoramia leptacantha) too, they're really cool, don't fight, and constantly school. The zebra dart fish I got stay almost at the surface all day and are big jumpers as mentioned before.

If you want color and single fish, a Halichoeres chrysus is really active and has bright pop. Love pink streak that @Kensington Reefer mentioned. Or a royal gramma (Gramma loreto).

 

[spuri87]

Get a mix of utility and showpiece fish.. my 55g list would be something like this:

1. lawnmower blenny (algae eater)
2. Yellow Coris wrasse or radiant wrasse (beautiful and active, takes care of some pests)
3. Flame Angel or bicolor angel (beautiful active colorful fish, don’t get too big)
4. Tomini tang (excellent algae eater, doesn’t get too big).. everyone needs that tang energy in their tanks
5. Copperband which will keep Aiptasia in check (may get big, but 55g is enough space for CBB IMO, of course you must already know its expert only)
6. Another fairy wrasse for color and active nature

Get your clowns an anemone or other soft corals they can potentially host.. mine stayed in the corner for 4 months until I added a nem.. of course, keep an eye and don’t let nems multiply and take over the tank

 

[jepoy]

threadfin cardinals

Kenny has some threadfin cardinals (Zoramia leptacantha) too, they're really cool, don't fight, and constantly school. The zebra dart fish I got stay almost at the surface all day and are big jumpers as mentioned before.

View attachment 80813



If you want color and single fish, a Halichoeres chrysus is really active and has bright pop. Love pink streak that @Kensington Reefer mentioned. Or a royal gramma (Gramma loreto).

Wow, after checking out some video, I've really fallen in love with those blue eyed threadfin cardinals! No I just need to find where to get them.

 

[jepoy]

Get a mix of utility and showpiece fish.. my 55g list would be something like this:

1. lawnmower blenny (algae eater)
2. Yellow Coris wrasse or radiant wrasse (beautiful and active, takes care of some pests)
3. Flame Angel or bicolor angel (beautiful active colorful fish, don’t get too big)
4. Tomini tang (excellent algae eater, doesn’t get too big).. everyone needs that tang energy in their tanks
5. Copperband which will keep Aiptasia in check (may get big, but 55g is enough space for CBB IMO, of course you must already know its expert only)
6. Another fairy wrasse for color and active nature

Get your clowns an anemone or other soft corals they can potentially host.. mine stayed in the corner for 4 months until I added a nem.. of course, keep an eye and don’t let nems multiply and take over the tank

I've been going back and forth with getting a nem, I like the look of bubble tips but I know they're not guaranteed to stay that way and they often stretch out their tentacles (which Im not a fan of). Also, as you've mentioned, I don't like the thought of them overtaking my small tank. Has your nem split before? How hard are they to remove from the rocks when they do?

 

[fishy408]

I've been going back and forth with getting a nem, I like the look of bubble tips but I know they're not guaranteed to stay that way and they often stretch out their tentacles (which Im not a fan of). Also, as you've mentioned, I don't like the thought of them overtaking my small tank. Has your nem split before? How hard are they to remove from the rocks when they do?

My clowns were my least favorite fishes when they were hosting the back corner of the tank. One day as the tank matured, the garden in the front of the tanks became their new spot. They are now one of my favs.

I rehomed my cardinal fish because they didn’t eat dry foods.
I rehimed my flame angel because it picked at my corals.
My yellow coris wrasse swims but nowbthat is is bigger is starting to kill the snails.
Watching the thread for ideas also.

Clowns early morning.

 

[VacavilleFC]

chalk bass is one of my favorites. hes very outgoing but chill. hangs out with my banggai

 

[Coral reefer]

pajama or banggai cardinals

I disagree with Bangai. I only ever wind up with a pair

 

[jepoy]

My clowns were my least favorite fishes when they were hosting the back corner of the tank. One day as the tank matured, the garden in the front of the tanks became their new spot. They are now one of my favs.

I rehomed my cardinal fish because they didn’t eat dry foods.
I rehimed my flame angel because it picked at my corals.
My yellow coris wrasse swims but nowbthat is is bigger is starting to kill the snails.
Watching the thread for ideas also.

Clowns early morning.

That's also my hope, that once my euphillias and other corals mature that they'll come out of their back corners.

 

[jepoy]

chalk bass is one of my favorites. hes very outgoing but chill. hangs out with my banggai

I like the chalk bass, unfortunately they are currently out of stock at ora.