Fish with lots of personality for 40G

DrewWoodside · 10/07/2011, 06:53 PM

Hi all,

Just curious to find out what fish have a lot of personality or interest in the owner that can fit in a 40 gallon tank.

My freshwater angel fish and bolivian ram used to follow me around the room and eat out of my hand, so I would love a saltwater fish with a similar dog-like personality. Also, any fish that exhibits cool behavior even if it doesn't acknowledge the owner.

Thanks for any info!

DrSalty · 10/07/2011, 07:56 PM

I've always been a big fan of my starry blenny. He will always come up to the front of the glass, sits up on the top of my rock work like he is a king, and is friendly enough that he will eat out of my hand. He can also change colors like a chameleon. A great fish that I highly recommend.

mjhall85 · 10/07/2011, 08:16 PM

In my opinion a lot of salt water fish have personality go check out a local store and see what one catches your eye. Also check to see how big they will get so they won't outgrow it too fast.

DrewWoodside · 10/07/2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSalty

I've always been a big fan of my starry blenny. He will always come up to the front of the glass, sits up on the top of my rock work like he is a king, and is friendly enough that he will eat out of my hand. He can also change colors like a chameleon. A great fish that I highly recommend.

Oooh a starry blenny, I'll definitely check that out.

Lazcar45 · 10/07/2011, 08:39 PM

Flame Hawk would be a good addition to a 40 gal, they have a lot of personality, They will sit perched on a rock and watch Everything with their big ol' eyes

johnc99 · 10/08/2011, 01:27 AM

I second the Blenny suggestion. Only word to describe them is "cheeky". Starry and Lawnmower blennies, however, are not exactly conspicuous. Bicolor and Tailspot are more colorful.

Dwarf angels also get to recognize their owner - or rather the person who feeds - and are constantly active.

No fish though can compare personality-wise to my cleaner shrimp. As soon as I go near the tank - he's out and begging for food. As soon as my hand is in the tank - he tries to clean it.

Voodoodauley · 10/08/2011, 05:05 AM

If you want a species only tank... The Green Spotted Puffers have great personalities. They need a minimum of 30 gallons.

DrewWoodside · 10/08/2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazcar45

Flame Hawk would be a good addition to a 40 gal, they have a lot of personality, They will sit perched on a rock and watch Everything with their big ol' eyes

The flame hawk are really cool fish. Can you have them with starfish and shrimp?

aragonite55 · 10/08/2011, 08:19 AM

Another vote for the Lawnmower Blenny. Midas Blenny is also worth considering.

aragonite55 · 10/08/2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewWoodside

The flame hawk are really cool fish. Can you have them with starfish and shrimp?

Will eat small shrimps.

Reefing Newbie · 10/08/2011, 08:37 AM

I like the pygmy/possum wrasses. In my opinion every fish has its own personality. Some fish have it show through more than others but you just have to watch a little be closer on those that don't. That is what makes watching the tank interesting!

rovster · 10/08/2011, 09:13 AM

Another vote for a starry blenny. Mine has a lot of personality. Right now he's cramped in my 14BC, but he came in as a hitch hiker and I'm upgrading soon. Whenever you walk in front of the tank he comes out begging for food. He gets a bit aggressive wiht the other fish, but that has more to do with the tight quarters. We named him Benny, my wife calls him Benny Castro because she says he's a communist and wants to run the tank, LOL. Definitely a fun fish to watch. Looks cool when he perches vertically on rocks. Very Batman-esque

mdeleon1 · 10/08/2011, 09:19 AM

+1 on Starry Blenny

These fish move around the tank like and between LR no other. We call ours the "house" fish. He goes where ever he wants without being aggressive.

acrohead500ppm · 10/08/2011, 09:21 AM

they are jumpers but Blue spot jawfish...... best personality by far!

Ferguson1977 · 10/08/2011, 11:04 AM

I love watching my Blue Spot Jawfish!

blennielove · 10/08/2011, 07:42 PM

Blenny, blenny, and more blenny!
My first lawnmower blenny would come and sit in my hand while I feed him nori sheets. Then he would "kiss" the sheets and then kiss my hand. He was really sweet but then died a couple of years later. I had just purchased another baby one recently and he has a very similar personality to the first. Would swim up to the glass and beg for food and eat off a fork! I also have a starry blenny in my 225 and he is adorable too, but less personable because of all the activity in the larger tank with the larger fish. I have a orange spotted blenny in by 55 and he is too cute too, always watching you and following you from one end of the tank to the other. I have a bi-colour blenny in my 28 and he is fun too. The cuttest was when I had my flame hawk in there and he would buddy hug the bi-colour blenny while they both sit there looking at me. Flame hawks are very puppy like too, he used to sit and flipper wave at me to get food, but now he is in the 225...there is just too much fishie interaction in there for him to pay too much personal attention to me. They are both very easy and interesting fish in my experience!
Another thought is the goby family. Pink spotted and yellow gobies are neat too!

sporto0 · 10/08/2011, 09:10 PM

This is an easy one, Longnose Hawkfish, way more personable than a blenny, in my opinion.

10/07/2011, 06:53 PM	#1
DrewWoodside Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 23	Fish with lots of personality for 40G Hi all, Just curious to find out what fish have a lot of personality or interest in the owner that can fit in a 40 gallon tank. My freshwater angel fish and bolivian ram used to follow me around the room and eat out of my hand, so I would love a saltwater fish with a similar dog-like personality. Also, any fish that exhibits cool behavior even if it doesn't acknowledge the owner. Thanks for any info!

10/08/2011, 01:27 AM	#6
johnc99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Gatos, CA Posts: 224	I second the Blenny suggestion. Only word to describe them is "cheeky". Starry and Lawnmower blennies, however, are not exactly conspicuous. Bicolor and Tailspot are more colorful. Dwarf angels also get to recognize their owner - or rather the person who feeds - and are constantly active. No fish though can compare personality-wise to my cleaner shrimp. As soon as I go near the tank - he's out and begging for food. As soon as my hand is in the tank - he tries to clean it. __________________ We must recognize the dignity which all creatures possess, and we must respect it for as long as we have them in our charge. - "Coldwater Fish" by Roy Pinks Current Tank Info: 40B FOWLR w/ Eshopps R-100, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1, Eheim 3000+ return, AquaticLife 4x39w HO T5s Last edited by johnc99; 10/08/2011 at 01:29 AM. Reason: Extra word

10/08/2011, 05:05 AM	#7
Voodoodauley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Roy, Wa Posts: 30	If you want a species only tank... The Green Spotted Puffers have great personalities. They need a minimum of 30 gallons. __________________ 46g Bow Front FOWLR. 2 Black Spiny Urchins, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Choc. Chip Star, 2 Clowns, 1 PJ Cardinal, 1 Banggai Cardinal, 1 Blue Damsel, 2 B/G Chromis, 1 6-line Wrasse, 2 Pep. Shrimps. Current Tank Info: We have about 5 Aquariums, with our largest being a 46 gallon bow front FOWLR. The rest are freshwater.

10/08/2011, 09:19 AM	#13
mdeleon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 424	+1 on Starry Blenny These fish move around the tank like and between LR no other. We call ours the "house" fish. He goes where ever he wants without being aggressive. __________________ Starting over!

10/08/2011, 07:42 PM	#16
blennielove Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United States Posts: 325	Blenny, blenny, and more blenny! My first lawnmower blenny would come and sit in my hand while I feed him nori sheets. Then he would "kiss" the sheets and then kiss my hand. He was really sweet but then died a couple of years later. I had just purchased another baby one recently and he has a very similar personality to the first. Would swim up to the glass and beg for food and eat off a fork! I also have a starry blenny in my 225 and he is adorable too, but less personable because of all the activity in the larger tank with the larger fish. I have a orange spotted blenny in by 55 and he is too cute too, always watching you and following you from one end of the tank to the other. I have a bi-colour blenny in my 28 and he is fun too. The cuttest was when I had my flame hawk in there and he would buddy hug the bi-colour blenny while they both sit there looking at me. Flame hawks are very puppy like too, he used to sit and flipper wave at me to get food, but now he is in the 225...there is just too much fishie interaction in there for him to pay too much personal attention to me. They are both very easy and interesting fish in my experience! Another thought is the goby family. Pink spotted and yellow gobies are neat too! Last edited by blennielove; 10/08/2011 at 07:43 PM. Reason: spelling error

10/07/2011, 07:56 PM	#2
DrSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 170	I've always been a big fan of my starry blenny. He will always come up to the front of the glass, sits up on the top of my rock work like he is a king, and is friendly enough that he will eat out of my hand. He can also change colors like a chameleon. A great fish that I highly recommend.

10/07/2011, 08:16 PM	#3
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	In my opinion a lot of salt water fish have personality go check out a local store and see what one catches your eye. Also check to see how big they will get so they won't outgrow it too fast.

10/07/2011, 08:39 PM	#5
Lazcar45 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Enoch, Utah Posts: 63	Flame Hawk would be a good addition to a 40 gal, they have a lot of personality, They will sit perched on a rock and watch Everything with their big ol' eyes

10/08/2011, 08:19 AM	#9
aragonite55 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 78	Another vote for the Lawnmower Blenny. Midas Blenny is also worth considering.

10/08/2011, 08:37 AM	#11
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	I like the pygmy/possum wrasses. In my opinion every fish has its own personality. Some fish have it show through more than others but you just have to watch a little be closer on those that don't. That is what makes watching the tank interesting!

10/08/2011, 09:13 AM	#12
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	Another vote for a starry blenny. Mine has a lot of personality. Right now he's cramped in my 14BC, but he came in as a hitch hiker and I'm upgrading soon. Whenever you walk in front of the tank he comes out begging for food. He gets a bit aggressive wiht the other fish, but that has more to do with the tight quarters. We named him Benny, my wife calls him Benny Castro because she says he's a communist and wants to run the tank, LOL. Definitely a fun fish to watch. Looks cool when he perches vertically on rocks. Very Batman-esque

10/08/2011, 09:21 AM	#14
acrohead500ppm Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: No,never,never Posts: 723	they are jumpers but Blue spot jawfish...... best personality by far!

10/08/2011, 11:04 AM	#15
Ferguson1977 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 240	I love watching my Blue Spot Jawfish!

10/08/2011, 09:10 PM	#17
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	This is an easy one, Longnose Hawkfish, way more personable than a blenny, in my opinion.

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