20gal stocking ideas with clownfish and YWG

[scraop]

This is my second ever saltwater tank, so I’m not exactly very confident in my experience. I’ve recently started up a 20gal FOWLR tank (not planning on coral, but i’m looking into some cool macroalgaes). Currently it only has a YWG/randall’s pistol shrimp pair and a bunch of snails.

I’m planning on getting a small clownfish, maybe an ocellaris or snowflake or something, but from what i’ve seen their temperament is dodgy and I don’t know what’s compatible with them. plus, that makes just two low dwelling fish and nothing else. Is there some more schooling or just free-swimming fish, mid or high in the water column, that will get along fine in my tank? maybe a couple bangaiis or different cardinal or something? i don’t want to overstock it. What do you recommend?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

You could put 3 fish in a 20g, and 4 with a skimmer. A clownfish would work, I have one in my nano and it's always at the top right corner of my tank. So far it's been peaceful everything, except my hand. I also have a firefish, which is a great choice but it's very timid. Mine has just now started to swum around after about 4 1/2 months. A royal gramma also would work, but again they're cave dwellers so not much of a swimmer. A bangaii cardinalfish may work, but that depends on if you have a cube tank, or a 20g long. A cube is a definite no, and a long is a maybe. They're not well suited to being in captivity so dropping them into a small tank isn't necessarily the best choice. If you're going to upgrade later on though, then go for it.

 

[scraop]

You could put 3 fish in a 20g, and 4 with a skimmer. A clownfish would work, I have one in my nano and it's always at the top right corner of my tank. So far it's been peaceful everything, except my hand. I also have a firefish, which is a great choice but it's very timid. Mine has just now started to swum around after about 4 1/2 months. A royal gramma also would work, but again they're cave dwellers so not much of a swimmer. A bangaii cardinalfish may work, but that depends on if you have a cube tank, or a 20g long. A cube is a definite no, and a long is a maybe. They're not well suited to being in captivity so dropping them into a small tank isn't necessarily the best choice. If you're going to upgrade later on though, then go for it.

i’ve actually had a firefish and a royal gramma before! lovely little fish. named them Guy Fieri and Prince, respectively :] i do remember them both being pretty timid.

it’s a long tank, 12”x24”x16”in. though if two bangaiis is too many fish, i don’t know if a single bangaii would be a good idea anyway. don’t they need at least a partner to school with? i don’t have plans to upgrade either, so i should probably give up on them…

would a couple pajama cardinals be a bad idea? i should probably just go back to the gramma, haha.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I like the pink streaked wrasse, hard to find sometimes though.

They are pigs and take to feeding really well. Definitely have to be fed at least twice a day though.

 

[jabberwock]

Don't get a clownfish. Your life with a 20 gallon tank will be so much better without a clownfish...

 

[scraop]

Don't get a clownfish. Your life with a 20 gallon tank will be so much better without a clownfish...

really? i usually really like them. they’re temperamental sometimes but in my experience they make up for it in personality and color. do you have a better recommendation?

 

[scraop]

I like the pink streaked wrasse, hard to find sometimes though.

They are pigs and take to feeding really well. Definitely have to be fed at least twice a day though.

ooo, i’ve never seen them before! very pretty! ive never found one at my LFS, ill ask about it. thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Tamale]

Take this opinion as such. My clowns are great. For the first year or so the female was not chill with my hand. Now she ignores it. They can be bad tank mates in a 20g as they are territorial. However, they never bothered my goby while he was in the tank.

really? i usually really like them. they’re temperamental sometimes but in my experience they make up for it in personality and color. do you have a better recommendation

 

[jabberwock]

really? i usually really like them. they’re temperamental sometimes but in my experience they make up for it in personality and color. do you have a better recommendation?

pink streaked wrasse or possum wrasse

 

[scraop]

pink streaked wrasse or possum wrasse

ohh, last time i went to my LFS they really wanted to sell me a possum wrasse in one of their little displays with a pair of saddleback clowns, haha! it seemed very reclusive. would the possum and the YWG take two of my fish spots up with cave dwellers that won’t really be seen?

im kinda stuck between some combo of the clown, pink streaked, firefish, or pajama cardinal pair….

 

[scraop]

Take this opinion as such. My clowns are great. For the first year or so the female was not chill with my hand. Now she ignores it. They can be bad tank mates in a 20g as they are territorial. However, they never bothered my goby while he was in the tank.

makes sense. maybe since i’m only getting the male i won’t have too bad of an aggression issue

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

There's plenty of small, peaceful fish you can add to a 20 gallon. Take a look at a Tail Sport Blenny or Court Jester Goby.

Good luck!

 

[Justfebreezeit]

ohh, last time i went to my LFS they really wanted to sell me a possum wrasse in one of their little displays with a pair of saddleback clowns, haha! it seemed very reclusive. would the possum and the YWG take two of my fish spots up with cave dwellers that won’t really be seen?

im kinda stuck between some combo of the clown, pink streaked, firefish, or pajama cardinal pair….

Pink streaked are fairly timid as well. Both them and the possum wrasse take awhile to get comfortable, but as long as no one is bullying them they do swim around the tank hunting for pods.

Both excellent choices, just in my experience the pink streaked is hardier

 

[NanoNana]

Pink streak and possum are great suggestions.

 

[OrchidMiss]

Don't get a clownfish. Your life with a 20 gallon tank will be so much better without a clownfish...

I agree with this. I have a single maroon clown in a 20g and she is very territorial. She bites with the intent to draw blood. I have a pair of pistols in there with her now, as she eventually killed a yasha goby and firefish.

I have a pair of black mochas in my 55g that have started to bite and have taken chunks out of the coral beauty's tail.
They be home very territorial as they age; moreso, in my experience, if they have an anemone or establish their host area of the tank.

 

[OrchidMiss]

Blennies are a fun choice! Tons of personality

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm not the biggest fan of Clowns due to their aggression, and I haven't had one in many years, but I think one of the problems is that when you first buy one or two as a 3/4" peanut, they are relatively harmless to other tank mates and keeper's hands. But when they grow and get to that 3" or so, they can be downright mean. Of course, all fish are individuals, and there's exceptions, but I would personally steer clear of the Clowns in a small tank.

 

[scraop]

I'm not the biggest fan of Clowns due to their aggression, and I haven't had one in many years, but I think one of the problems is that when you first buy one or two as a 3/4" peanut, they are relatively harmless to other tank mates and keeper's hands. But when they grow and get to that 3" or so, they can be downright mean. Of course, all fish are individuals, and there's exceptions, but I would personally steer clear of the Clowns in a small tank.

maaaan so many people in this thread warned me against the clowns, and I came to the conclusion I was gonna go for the pink streak you guys recommended and maybe an exquisite firefish. Then I went back to the LFS. My friend and favorite person working there excitedly showcased a big new shipment of gorgeous picasso and da vinci clowns and I fell in love again.

I’m maybe being repetitive and a bit stubborn, but do you think a pink streak and a single one of those clowns would be the end of the world? If I introduce the clown last. Maybe an anemone would help? (edit: that would probably do the opposite, mb) I have plenty of hiding space….

sorry i might be delulu

 

[Fish Fan]

maaaan so many people in this thread warned me against the clowns, and I came to the conclusion I was gonna go for the pink streak you guys recommended and maybe an exquisite firefish. Then I went back to the LFS. My friend and favorite person working there excitedly showcased a big new shipment of gorgeous picasso and da vinci clowns and I fell in love again.

I’m maybe being repetitive and a bit stubborn, but do you think a pink streak and a single one of those clowns would be the end of the world? If I introduce the clown last. Maybe an anemone would help? I have plenty of hiding space….

sorry i might be delulu

I'm not an expert on fish behavior, but Clownfish, like anything, are individuals, and your milage may vary. You can try the Clowns if you really like them, many people do.

If you do want to try Clowns with other less aggressive fish, it is definitely a good idea to introduce the Clowns to the tank last. This gives the other, shier fish a chance to stake out their territory and have the confidence to defend it. Conversely, if you add the Clowns first there is a good chance that they may decide the entire aquarium is their territory, and will aggressively attack any newly added fish.

Good luck!

 

[Budman93]

maaaan so many people in this thread warned me against the clowns, and I came to the conclusion I was gonna go for the pink streak you guys recommended and maybe an exquisite firefish. Then I went back to the LFS. My friend and favorite person working there excitedly showcased a big new shipment of gorgeous picasso and da vinci clowns and I fell in love again.

I’m maybe being repetitive and a bit stubborn, but do you think a pink streak and a single one of those clowns would be the end of the world? If I introduce the clown last. Maybe an anemone would help? (edit: that would probably do the opposite, mb) I have plenty of hiding space….

sorry i might be delulu

I have a pair of clowns in my 40 and they dont bother a soul. They just keep to themselves. I think it would be fine. Also I don’t think percula or ocellaris clowns naturally host rbta anemones your lfs is probably selling. So don’t expect them to host that unless you get really lucky