Reeeeally peaceful fish?

cstonge72 · 09/08/2014, 05:09 AM

I just went through mayhem in my tank. Removed a couple of bullies and all I have now is a pajama cardinal and a Pygmy angel. I'd like to get two more fish, but I want to make sure they'll be peaceful. I also have a long tentacled anemone I've had for about a year and a coral-banded shrimp I've had for a few months. Any ideas what to get?

Sugar Magnolia · 09/08/2014, 05:37 AM

How big is the tank?

cstonge72 · 09/08/2014, 05:37 AM

Small. Just 30 gals.

cmantis · 09/08/2014, 05:37 AM

Get rid of the coral banded or it might get rid of your really peaceful fish. Look into hi fin perchlet.

Mark9 · 09/08/2014, 05:47 AM

Gold Assessor Basslet
Firefish
Watchman Goby
Yellow Clown goby

Check out liveaquaria.com

billdogg · 09/08/2014, 05:48 AM

In a tank like a 30, you'll almost certainly have to get rid of the pygmy angel before you can add anything. I have had several over the years and at least IME, they are consistently one of the most territorial fish in the sea, especially considering their size.

toothybugs · 09/08/2014, 05:49 AM

I like clown gobies (surprisingly fun and interesting), tailspot (or similar) blennies, firefish, chalk basslets, and shrimp/ watchman gobies (territorial but only to their burrow) for tanks about 30 gallons. If you look around LiveAquaria and some other sites, you may find listings for "nano fish" which are typically all very peaceful.

cstonge72 · 09/08/2014, 05:52 AM

Thanks Mark9. I like the yellows! Had a firefish. But I think my coral banded shrimp may have gotten him. ...either that or he jumped the tank and my cat or dog ate him. Not sure....he just disappeared and No one's talking. :-)

cstonge72 · 09/08/2014, 05:56 AM

Thanks toothybugs.
Billdogg...noooooo! The Pygmy is small and adorable! Lol. Just got it, so I want to add a couple more fish quickly before it becomes territorial.

...I'm thinking maybe a goby and a blennie of some sort. My favorite fish was a horse-faced blennie. He was really cool.

vette.tech · 09/08/2014, 06:16 AM

Tailspot blenny for sure

snorvich · 09/08/2014, 06:43 AM

The Coral Banded Shrimp can take fish. When you put an aggressive fish, such as a the pygmy angelfish, with a territorial imperative in a tank that is too small, it will be aggressive. As such, peaceful fish introduced later are likely to be bullied, especially if they are in the same ecological niche.

Xavibear · 09/08/2014, 07:14 AM

Get rid of the angel & get a Escenius blennys.

cstonge72 · 09/08/2014, 07:41 AM

Come on! I love the angel! Never had one before!
What will be peaceful but hold its own against it? Royal gramma? Clown maybe?

Sugar Magnolia · 09/08/2014, 07:47 AM

There are no "ifs" about the aggression with the pygmy angel. They get more and more aggressive as they age and will turn on tankmates that have been in there with it long term. It's just their nature. If you truely want a peaceful tank, the angel will have to go.

As Steve mentioned, coral banded shrimp are also known fish snatchers, the bigger they get the more aggressive they become.

09/08/2014, 05:09 AM	#1
cstonge72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	Reeeeally peaceful fish? I just went through mayhem in my tank. Removed a couple of bullies and all I have now is a pajama cardinal and a Pygmy angel. I'd like to get two more fish, but I want to make sure they'll be peaceful. I also have a long tentacled anemone I've had for about a year and a coral-banded shrimp I've had for a few months. Any ideas what to get?

09/08/2014, 05:37 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	How big is the tank? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/08/2014, 05:48 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	In a tank like a 30, you'll almost certainly have to get rid of the pygmy angel before you can add anything. I have had several over the years and at least IME, they are consistently one of the most territorial fish in the sea, especially considering their size. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/08/2014, 06:43 AM	#11
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	The Coral Banded Shrimp can take fish. When you put an aggressive fish, such as a the pygmy angelfish, with a territorial imperative in a tank that is too small, it will be aggressive. As such, peaceful fish introduced later are likely to be bullied, especially if they are in the same ecological niche. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

09/08/2014, 07:14 AM	#12
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	Get rid of the angel & get a Escenius blennys. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

09/08/2014, 05:37 AM	#4
cmantis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NYC / Philly Posts: 227	Get rid of the coral banded or it might get rid of your really peaceful fish. Look into hi fin perchlet.

09/08/2014, 05:47 AM	#5
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Gold Assessor Basslet Firefish Watchman Goby Yellow Clown goby Check out liveaquaria.com

09/08/2014, 05:49 AM	#7
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I like clown gobies (surprisingly fun and interesting), tailspot (or similar) blennies, firefish, chalk basslets, and shrimp/ watchman gobies (territorial but only to their burrow) for tanks about 30 gallons. If you look around LiveAquaria and some other sites, you may find listings for "nano fish" which are typically all very peaceful.

09/08/2014, 05:52 AM	#8
cstonge72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	Thanks Mark9. I like the yellows! Had a firefish. But I think my coral banded shrimp may have gotten him. ...either that or he jumped the tank and my cat or dog ate him. Not sure....he just disappeared and No one's talking. :-)

09/08/2014, 05:56 AM	#9
cstonge72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	Thanks toothybugs. Billdogg...noooooo! The Pygmy is small and adorable! Lol. Just got it, so I want to add a couple more fish quickly before it becomes territorial. ...I'm thinking maybe a goby and a blennie of some sort. My favorite fish was a horse-faced blennie. He was really cool.

09/08/2014, 06:16 AM	#10
vette.tech Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 367	Tailspot blenny for sure

09/08/2014, 07:41 AM	#13
cstonge72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	Come on! I love the angel! Never had one before! What will be peaceful but hold its own against it? Royal gramma? Clown maybe?

09/08/2014, 07:47 AM	#14
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	There are no "ifs" about the aggression with the pygmy angel. They get more and more aggressive as they age and will turn on tankmates that have been in there with it long term. It's just their nature. If you truely want a peaceful tank, the angel will have to go. As Steve mentioned, coral banded shrimp are also known fish snatchers, the bigger they get the more aggressive they become. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.