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]

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 clown in my nano like I said before with peaceful fish. Like I said, it's been evry peaceful. When I went to pick one out, here's what I did:

1. Added it last to my tank

2. I picked the smallest one. In the tank where I got mine there were about 1 inch clowns, all the way up to maybe 2.5 in clowns. Your LFS may not have that, though, so at that point just pick the one you like best. But anyways, I did this so it has been bullied already, so it is used to being the victim of bullying rather than being the bully.

 

[scraop]

thank you everyone! I think I’ll try the wrasse out for now and then maybe add the clown later. maybe after i have some macros established to add a little more interest and places for them all to hide (side note, this is a bit of a random experiment, but i’ve heard of clowns getting confused and hosting some random other thing besides a nem, and i’m really curious if one will try hosting a similar macro haha)

thanks everyone for the advice! i’ll let you know how it goes or if there’s an issue.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

thank you everyone! I think I’ll try the wrasse out for now and then maybe add the clown later. maybe after i have some macros established to add a little more interest and places for them all to hide (side note, this is a bit of a random experiment, but i’ve heard of clowns getting confused and hosting some random other thing besides a nem, and i’m really curious if one will try hosting a similar macro haha)

thanks everyone for the advice! i’ll let you know how it goes or if there’s an issue.

I have seen clowns host macro before. Good luck.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I'm a fan of a mates pair of O. Clowns (or one of the genetic variants). Only thing is, I wouldn't have any other fish in the tank. I'd throw in an anemone and some corals to round everything out.