Smallest Fishes?

Aurora D. · 04/17/2009, 07:32 PM

Would anybody happen to know the smallest reef-safe fish that can be bought, and doesn't hide ALL the time? (Although I don't mind if they go back in the rocks a little bit)

RedClay · 04/17/2009, 08:39 PM

maybe a clown goby or some of the smaller blennies (tailspot etc.). The absolute smallest would probably be a goby, maybe of the genus trimma (ex. Trimma cana)
just curious, what are you planning?

DLANDINO · 04/17/2009, 08:41 PM

What corals are you keeping? I ask because Clown Gobs perch and pick at SPS coral polyps. Learned that the hard way. I had to get rid of mine.

bradbmbj · 04/17/2009, 08:48 PM

Firefish, red or purple

SarasotaDiver · 04/17/2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DLANDINO
What corals are you keeping? I ask because Clown Gobs perch and pick at SPS coral polyps. Learned that the hard way. I had to get rid of mine.

thanks for the info! I was gonna get one...

iamwhatiam52 · 04/17/2009, 08:59 PM

Trimma and Eviota gobies are the smallest, and though timid, do not hide all the time.

Reef'in Colorado · 04/17/2009, 09:30 PM

neon & red head gobies are cool and don't hide all the time...

TheORKINMan · 04/17/2009, 10:06 PM

If you're looking for a nano reef that can be kept at cooler temperatures then a Catalina Goby would be a nice small one

Aurora D. · 04/18/2009, 06:21 AM

Ok, thanks everyone. I'm looking for a small fish because I, for some wierd reason, can't stand when there is too much "fish" in the tank (For asthetic reasons, not water quality reasons), ESPECIALLY in a nano. I'm planning a 20-30 gallon cube, so I better make sure not to make that mistake.

Whys · 04/18/2009, 07:36 AM

Red-stripped goby. The thing is a mino at 1/2 to 1". Doesn't hide all the time, but doesn't venture too far from it's bolt hole either. Perches on the rock and practically never moves. Sometimes I wonder if it has a brain. Nice and vibrant color tho and otherwise trouble free.

snorvich · 04/18/2009, 08:03 AM

A pair of tiger gobies would qualify. Small, cute, good personality.

mustang51js · 04/18/2009, 08:13 AM

false percs

Capt'n T · 04/18/2009, 08:16 AM

I love my tail spot blenny. He is cute and has a lot of personality. Him and my clown fish are like partners in crime

crvz · 04/18/2009, 09:03 AM

I like the neon gobies as well, a pair would be great. Clowns would usually stay in one spot, they're not huge swimmers, so some of the smaller species may do well for you.

LobsterOfJustice · 04/18/2009, 09:52 AM

trimma/evoita are the smallest, but they will hide a good portion of the time.

I have a neon in my biocube and he is always out and about, swimming around in the water column like he's a chromis or something.

Creade · 04/18/2009, 10:37 AM

I would vote for a pair of captive bred Tiger Gobies. They have fantastic personalities. Took about a month for mine to start coming out on a regular basis.

On a side note, I have never had any problems with clown gobies and SPS polyps except for the Citron's which are known to feed on sps polyps.

HomeSlizzice · 04/18/2009, 11:45 AM

Green Banded Goby

Aurora D. · 04/18/2009, 01:52 PM

Wow, all very good sugestions. I love the neon gobies, but I have one question. Do the live by eating parasites and cleaning other fish in the wild?

LobsterOfJustice · 04/18/2009, 03:55 PM

Yes, they act as cleaners. I'm not sure to what extent it is important in the ecosystem.

However, if your worry is about taking a cleaner fish out of the wild, you should know they are available captive bred.

jbird69 · 04/18/2009, 04:35 PM

how bout a royal gramma?

Aurora D. · 04/19/2009, 08:44 AM

Ok, so I probably won't get a neon goby because I don't think it's right to deprive it of its natural behavior. I would get one only if I had a large tank with lots of fish.

04/17/2009, 07:32 PM	#1
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	Smallest Fishes? Would anybody happen to know the smallest reef-safe fish that can be bought, and doesn't hide ALL the time? (Although I don't mind if they go back in the rocks a little bit) __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!

04/17/2009, 08:41 PM	#3
DLANDINO D.L. Heritage Rings Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 5,610	What corals are you keeping? I ask because Clown Gobs perch and pick at SPS coral polyps. Learned that the hard way. I had to get rid of mine. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: JBJ 8 Nano mixed

04/17/2009, 08:48 PM	#4
bradbmbj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Orleans Posts: 554	Firefish, red or purple __________________ New tank, $1200.00, New Skimmer, $400.00, New Lighting, $800.00, Not letting the wife find out... Priceless

04/17/2009, 08:59 PM	#6
iamwhatiam52 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Freeport, NY Posts: 1,466	Trimma and Eviota gobies are the smallest, and though timid, do not hide all the time. __________________ Occupation: Need one. Will work for salt. Current Tank Info: 180 mixed up reef started April 2005. 4 small tanks on same sump.

04/18/2009, 06:21 AM	#9
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	Ok, thanks everyone. I'm looking for a small fish because I, for some wierd reason, can't stand when there is too much "fish" in the tank (For asthetic reasons, not water quality reasons), ESPECIALLY in a nano. I'm planning a 20-30 gallon cube, so I better make sure not to make that mistake. __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!

04/17/2009, 08:39 PM	#2
RedClay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 111	maybe a clown goby or some of the smaller blennies (tailspot etc.). The absolute smallest would probably be a goby, maybe of the genus trimma (ex. Trimma cana) just curious, what are you planning?

04/17/2009, 09:30 PM	#7
Reef'in Colorado Reefer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Frederick, Co. Posts: 934	neon & red head gobies are cool and don't hide all the time...

04/17/2009, 10:06 PM	#8
TheORKINMan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 423	If you're looking for a nano reef that can be kept at cooler temperatures then a Catalina Goby would be a nice small one

04/18/2009, 07:36 AM	#10
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Red-stripped goby. The thing is a mino at 1/2 to 1". Doesn't hide all the time, but doesn't venture too far from it's bolt hole either. Perches on the rock and practically never moves. Sometimes I wonder if it has a brain. Nice and vibrant color tho and otherwise trouble free.

04/18/2009, 08:03 AM	#11
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	A pair of tiger gobies would qualify. Small, cute, good personality. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/18/2009, 08:13 AM	#12
mustang51js Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: haskell, n.j. Posts: 593	false percs __________________ george 50g corner reef yellow tang Current Tank Info: temp 90g reef,2 4bulb t5 lights-

04/18/2009, 08:16 AM	#13
Capt'n T Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 170	I love my tail spot blenny. He is cute and has a lot of personality. Him and my clown fish are like partners in crime __________________ Teneele "The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Current Tank Info: 75g w/ 29g sump

04/18/2009, 09:03 AM	#14
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I like the neon gobies as well, a pair would be great. Clowns would usually stay in one spot, they're not huge swimmers, so some of the smaller species may do well for you. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

04/18/2009, 09:52 AM	#15
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	trimma/evoita are the smallest, but they will hide a good portion of the time. I have a neon in my biocube and he is always out and about, swimming around in the water column like he's a chromis or something. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/18/2009, 10:37 AM	#16
Creade Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 1,186	I would vote for a pair of captive bred Tiger Gobies. They have fantastic personalities. Took about a month for mine to start coming out on a regular basis. On a side note, I have never had any problems with clown gobies and SPS polyps except for the Citron's which are known to feed on sps polyps. Last edited by Creade; 04/18/2009 at 10:49 AM.

04/18/2009, 11:45 AM	#17
HomeSlizzice Angelfish/Wrasse Nut! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 921	Green Banded Goby __________________ Baby, I'm like that item on the top shelf that you just can't reach. Current Tank Info: 24 Gallon Aqaupod, and wanting an upgrade

04/18/2009, 01:52 PM	#18
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	Wow, all very good sugestions. I love the neon gobies, but I have one question. Do the live by eating parasites and cleaning other fish in the wild? __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!

04/18/2009, 03:55 PM	#19
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Yes, they act as cleaners. I'm not sure to what extent it is important in the ecosystem. However, if your worry is about taking a cleaner fish out of the wild, you should know they are available captive bred. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/18/2009, 04:35 PM	#20
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	how bout a royal gramma? __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

04/19/2009, 08:44 AM	#21
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	Ok, so I probably won't get a neon goby because I don't think it's right to deprive it of its natural behavior. I would get one only if I had a large tank with lots of fish. __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!