Fish for nano

[TimH07]

what are suitable fish for nano tanks (i've heard up to 30 is considered nano, mine is 26 gallon)

i was going to have it be reef only no fish, but i wouldn't mind a swimmer maybe one.

suggestions?

i've previously had percula's chromis, 6 line wrasse (found out it was a jumper after i found it on the floor) and royal gramma basslet. they all went the way of the toilet when my tank crashed and now that its comming around im considering a fish.

[Ninong]

This question is really a lot more difficult than it seems on the surface because a 26-gal tank is sort of the minimum recommended size for a lot of smaller fish but that assumes that you don't have more than two or three fish in the tank, total. Then there are other people who will tell you it's okay to keep a dozen small fish in that size tank.

It's a decent minimum size for a pair of Amphiprion ocellaris or A. percula clownfish. It's a litte small for any of the host anmeones, including a BTA (Entacmaea quadricolor). You could get a small BTA assuming you had adequate lighting but it may outgrow the tank and it may clone itself. Might be better to get a frilly mushroom or something like that for the clownfish to play around in.

I think it's really too small for a Royal Gramma or any of the dwarf angelfish or any of the dottybacks. A 40-gal tank is a better minimum size for them. I definitely wouldn't put any wrasses in a 26-gal tank. Maybe a small gobie of some sort. Certainly those tiny neon gobies would be fine.

You will have to search around. Just remember that you can't go by what the online vendors say on their websites. Some of them will tell you it's okay to put a tang in a 30-gal tank.

[TimH07]

target mandarins?

Spotted Green Mandarin Fish - Synchiropus picturatus

would one fair well solo in a 26?

[denhay14]

I would say get a pair of clown fish, since they are fairly hardy fish and aren't to boring. That was my first fish and it does great. Only problem I had was it kept jumping into the filters, but once I put another fish in there that problem stopped really quick.

[denhay14]

As for your Mandarin I don't think it's to good of an idea unless your tank is 6-12 months old and has a deep sand bed. These fish are very picky eaters and sometimes won't eat the frozen brine shrimp that you give them. They prefer to eat the copepods and amphipods from the LR and live sand.

[TimH07]

i dont have one yet, if at all. the tank is 1 year 4 months old with 3 inch sand bed.

[denhay14]

From what i've read about these creatures I hear about 60% bad things and 40% good things. If you do decide to get one make sure you have a limited amount of "scavengers" at the bottom. Some say they are great and some say they have one of the highest death rates. They are pretty cool looking, and dont think you can really go wrong either way. If he does die, and you didn't like him just go with the clown fish. Mandarins arent to expensive.

[Miquel]

Ive had an ocellaris clown in my nano for four years now and its still doing great. Tried a six line wrasse but he proved a bit bold especially when I was target feeding my corals so I took him back to the LFS. I added a small coris wrasse a few months ago and its been a model citizen and adds a nice splash of color. The clown pretty much hangs out in one area so the wrasse adds some life to the rest of the tank. One coral banded shrimp which I rarely see unfortunately as he hangs out behind the rock pile. Finally, I just put in a lawnmower blenny who has turned out to be awesome and is now great friends with my clown. Dont know if its the similar swimming style or that my clown just appreciates the blennys housekeeping skills. Its been cleaning up the rocks at the clowns fav spot and its the first time Ive seen my clown share its hangout.

[Ninong]

A mandarinfish would not be a good choice for a 26-gal tank. Their natural diet is about 95% live copepods. They do best in established tanks with lots and lots of live rock. Most people think that each specimen requires at least 60-75 lbs of live rock to thrive. They can sometimes be taught to accept commercial foods but the jury is out as to whether such fish will live a normal lifespan.

They naturally feed among live rock rubble beds where they can find lots and lots of copepods. A good tank for mandarins -- or any of the dragonets -- one be one that is at least 75 gallons with a nice deep sand bed and lots of live rock, plus some areas of the sand bed where rubble pieces are strewn. For a pair of mandarins, figure a minimum of 120-gal tank with at least 120 lbs of very good live rock loaded with copepods.

One of the main reasons for waiting at least six months before adding a fish like this is to allow the populations of copepods to increase without predation. That's one of the reasons most people will start out with herbivorous fish before adding any fish that feed on benthic microcrustaceans. And if you want to keep mandarins, you should avoid competitors unless you have a really large tank. Competitors would be copperbanded butterflyfish, most wrasses, dottybacks, etc. Anything that feeds on benthic fauna (life found on the surface of the substrate).

Six-line wrasses have been reported to attack mandarins by blinding them. Apparently their eyes are not protected by their noxious slime coating. Their brilliant colors and patterns are a warning to other fish that they are not safe to eat. In the case of mandarins, it is the coating on their scaleless bodies that is noxious. Once a fish takes a taste of that, they will never touch one again.

[Seige]

Ninong.... Why do they prefer areas with "sand bed where rubble pieces are strewn"?

Just wondering because I may get one for my 55g after I've had a chance to seed the DSB and let the tank age for a lot more months.

[Ninong]

Ninong.... Why do they prefer areas with "sand bed where rubble pieces are strewn"?

Because that is what is closest to their natural habitat.

Just wondering because I may get one for my 55g after I've had a chance to seed the DSB and let the tank age for a lot more months.

The primary natural food item for mandarins is live copepods. They have tiny mouths. They live among live rock rubble in their natural habitat. That's why people talk in terms of the amount (in pounds) of live rock per mandarin. A live sand bed is just part of a healthy ecosystem for mandarins and other fish that feed on benthic microcrustaceans.

Some mandarins can be taught to eat commercial foods but that doesn't mean that these foods are as healthy for them as their natural diet. A mandarinfish may be able to survive in a 55-gal tank with a live sand bed and at least 60 lbs of very good live rock loaded with copepods but the larger the tank, the better the sand bed and the more live rock, the better their chances of really thriving.

Mandarins are in a category of fish that are very popular in the hobby but that really only thrive when their natural diet is replicated.

[Seige]

Because that is what is closest to their natural habitat.

Thanks. Just wanted to know if it facilitated a particular behaviour or need. Like a flat rock does for clowns to reproduce. I have a bit of rubble but I'll certainly need to add to it. Still not certain if I'll get a Mandarin. It's just on the list of possibles.

[Doodaa]

Here's an idea that I find quite intriguing...

Melevsreef.com - Melev's Mandarin Diner

There is a 5 meg video you can download at the bottom. If your Mandarin Dragonete will accept non-live food, this looks like a good idea.

This is a prelude to the above and he recommends 75 lbs of live rock and a refugium to supplement with live copepods.

Melevsreef.com - Mandarin Care

Good read if nothing else...check out the rest of the site

[TimH07]

So i decided on a black "mis-bar" percula (from O.R.A.!). i dont have anything for him to host in as of yet but im eyeing a frogspawn or hammerhead. im not going to route of anemone again.

edit, i realize it is a toss of a coin weather or not a clown will host anything, i've wanted a green hammerhead for some time so hosting will be a bonus.