Nano Reef Stocking

[CrazyDuck959]

Hello,

I recently bit the bullet and rehoused my female clownfish (She was mean as could be and her mate died a little while ago). I want to go the peaceful route on my nano tank. I was just wondering if anybody can just give me some suggestions on peaceful nano fish with interesting traits to them (Color, Personality, Etc).

My tank is pretty old now and has a decent amount of corals in it. There are lots of things in the tank for new fish to graze on. It’s a Fluval Evo 13.5 Gallon.

I have also been looking into the Court Jester Goby and I was just wondering if anybody could answer a few questions about them. Do they need to be in a fine sand substrate or if they can be in aragonite (My tank has aragonite as the substrate)? Secondly will they eat pellets as well as graze on things around the tank?

Thanks again for any suggestions and if anybody can answer the court jester goby questions.

- Sam

 

[taytay_1119]

I love my neon blue goby in my 20g! He’s very peaceful and loves to ‘surf’ on the nori or other fish. He is very hardy too. We got him in September while the tank still wasn’t fully cycled and he’s survived a Salinity crash too. The only o.g. In the tank besides one of our hermits.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The court jester goby doesn't need sand, I have a Hectors goby (very similiar) and it mainly picks at rocks all day. It might try pellets but it mainly just picks at rocks

But have a look at the hectors goby side by side with the court jester goby, they are very similar, but IMO the colouration on the hector is deeper and sharper and looks slightly more colourful than court jester, but of course its just personal opinion.

Other peaceful fish that could mix are most tailspot blenny, or a royal gramma

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Watchman, wheelers, and neons. Gobies are great in a nano, firefish, a few blennies are good to go.

Hectors like mojo says, are cool little fish also.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

Do you all think it would be possible to stick some sort of dottyback (I know they can be aggressive) with some sort of shrimp goby in the tank? Or is that going a little too far? It’s a smaller tank but has a good amount of caves and hiding places. Just wondering if it would be possible.

 

[Tamberav]

Two spot Benny and green banded gobies have tons of personality!

 

[jabberwock]

Yellow clown goby, second on a blue neon, possum wrasse, pink streaked wrasse

 

[CrazyDuck959]

Yellow clown goby, second on a blue neon, possum wrasse, pink streaked wrasse

I have been debating possibly doing a wrasse but I heard they are finicky eaters, there is definitely food for them to eat throughout the rocks but that’s a limited supply, can you get ones that eat dry food? I hate frozen food cause I feel like the cubes are always too big.

 

[littlefoxx]

Do you all think it would be possible to stick some sort of dottyback (I know they can be aggressive) with some sort of shrimp goby in the tank? Or is that going a little too far? It’s a smaller tank but has a good amount of caves and hiding places. Just wondering if it would be possible.

My dottyback is peaceful to everyone but my blenny. She doesnt like my blenny and attempts to steal his barnacle. Shes actually gotten pretty long and is very active, Im not sure a 13 gallon is good for them in that respect. Shes in my 32 biocube with heavy rockwork right now

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have been debating possibly doing a wrasse but I heard they are finicky eaters, there is definitely food for them to eat throughout the rocks but that’s a limited supply, can you get ones that eat dry food? I hate frozen food cause I feel like the cubes are always too big.

I split my cubes up using a knife and disposable sauce cups.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

So right now I have decided to do some sort of shrimp goby pair, not sure what to do cause I want as many different colors as I can so I may do the Yellow Watchmen Goby and Candy Stripe Pistol Shrimp. I have also kinda decided I want to do a species of Pygmy Wrasse as well. I’m not sure how much of a bioload the tank can handle so at most possibly after the wrasse adding a firefish of some sort. But I wanted to know what you all think of this. And if it is possible what order should I introduce these fish into the tank?

(Shrimp Goby Pair, Pygmy Wrasse {Possible Firefish})

Thanks
- Sam

 

[jabberwock]

I have been debating possibly doing a wrasse but I heard they are finicky eaters, there is definitely food for them to eat throughout the rocks but that’s a limited supply, can you get ones that eat dry food? I hate frozen food cause I feel like the cubes are always too big.

Wrasse will have a high metabolism and will require variety and multiple feedings. My Carpenter's wrasse eats pellets, but prefers meaty mixture. I take two different types of frozen food and thaw, mix, portion into plastic jello shot cups then refreeze. I get 8 portions out of 2 cubes. Feed once or twice a day plus auto feeder with small pellets once a day. When I feed frozen, I immediately store the used jello shot cup in the freezer for the next use.

With a 13.5 gallon, you will only be able to accommodate a possum or a pink streaked wrasse (plus a couple other small nano fish).

 

[PR_nano]

I would skip the yellow watchman and firefish. I had both in a 20 and think it was too small long term.

Maybe a smaller goby pair with the pistol and pink streak would be nice.

 

[Fish Fan]

I have a Court Jester Goby (AKA Rainsford's goby, Koumansetta rainfordi) and I love my little dude! I got mine from Biota, which specializes in tank-bred and tank-raised fish. When I was considering my purchase, many people reported that wild-caught Court Jester Gobies were difficult to feed, but the tank-raised Court Jester Gobies from Biota seem to be a different story. My tank-raised Court Jester eats everything including frozen, pellets, and even flaked foods, plus I see him nipping at the rocks. I'm very happy with my Court Jester from Biota. if you're still considering one:

https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/court-jester

Or, if you're looking to do a small goby and pistol shrimp combo, I quite like the Yahsa Goby (Stonogobiops yasha) and Randall's or Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli).

Another peaceful nano fish to consider is the Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura).

I have a 15 gallon AIO with a Court Jester Goby, a Yasha Goby, and a Tail Spot Blenny. This has been a very peaceful community for me. The fish leave each other alone, and they don't bother inverts either.

Good luck with your Fluval 13!

 

[CrazyDuck959]

I would skip the yellow watchman and firefish. I had both in a 20 and think it was too small long term.

Maybe a smaller goby pair with the pistol and pink streak would be nice.

I’m looking for the most colorful fish, what would you say is the best smaller sized shrimp goby that has good colors? Cause I have heard mixed opinions on both firefish and yellow watchmen gobies for tank sizes from the information I have been reading.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

I have a Court Jester Goby (AKA Rainsford's goby, Koumansetta rainfordi) and I love my little dude! I got mine from Biota, which specializes in tank-bred and tank-raised fish. When I was considering my purchase, many people reported that wild-caught Court Jester Gobies were difficult to feed, but the tank-raised Court Jester Gobies from Biota seem to be a different story. My tank-raised Court Jester eats everything including frozen, pellets, and even flaked foods, plus I see him nipping at the rocks. I'm very happy with my Court Jester from Biota. if you're still considering one:

https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/court-jester

Or, if you're looking to do a small goby and pistol shrimp combo, I quite like the Yahsa Goby (Stonogobiops yasha) and Randall's or Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus randalli).

Another peaceful nano fish to consider is the Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura).

I have a 15 gallon AIO with a Court Jester Goby, a Yasha Goby, and a Tail Spot Blenny. This has been a very peaceful community for me. The fish leave each other alone, and they don't bother inverts either.

Good luck with your Fluval 13!

I was looking into the biota ones, but it seems like they are out of stock everywhere and I have no clue when they would come back in stock. Definitely would be down to get one if I see them come back in stock before I get any fish. And I’m not sure about this but can they be in the same tanks with rock flower anemones? Cause I have one that is pretty big and been growing for a while in my tank.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

Wrasse will have a high metabolism and will require variety and multiple feedings. My Carpenter's wrasse eats pellets, but prefers meaty mixture. I take two different types of frozen food and thaw, mix, portion into plastic jello shot cups then refreeze. I get 8 portions out of 2 cubes. Feed once or twice a day plus auto feeder with small pellets once a day. When I feed frozen, I immediately store the used jello shot cup in the freezer for the next use.

With a 13.5 gallon, you will only be able to accommodate a possum or a pink streaked wrasse (plus a couple other small nano fish).

Wow do the Pygmy ones eat that much? That’s good information to know, thanks!

 

[jabberwock]

Wow do the Pygmy ones eat that much? That’s good information to know, thanks!

I am feeding an entire 25 gallon tank with 6 porcelain crabs, many starfish, pistol shrimp, RFAs, corals, many snails, macro algae, an urchin, a nem and multiple corals... I feed pretty heavy.

 

[Public_anemone#1]

I’m looking for the most colorful fish, what would you say is the best smaller sized shrimp goby that has good colors? Cause I have heard mixed opinions on both firefish and yellow watchmen gobies for tank sizes from the information I have been reading.

I Also love a high color livestock my current stock list in a 13.5g is
2x mocha clowns
Helfrichi firefish
Royal gramma
6line wrasse
All very colorful great personality love different types of homes. Very happy.

 

[Fish Fan]

I Also love a high color livestock my current stock list in a 13.5g is
2x mocha clowns
Helfrichi firefish
Royal gramma
6line wrasse
All very colorful great personality love different types of homes. Very happy.

Now, to me - not that I'm any kind of expert - this seems a touch overstocked, but I've seen worse ;-) And if it's working for you, then awesome! Sounds like a very active, interesting tank.