fish expertise needed

jlscrug · 08-23-2005, 09:20 PM

I am wondering if there is any such thing as a fish that will eat flake algae and does not get bigger than about 1 to 1.5 inches. I have a neat little 6 gal that I am thinking of adding a small fish to but only if I can find something that meets these criteria. Any ideas?

mufret · 08-23-2005, 09:27 PM

Pygmy angel!

SShindell · 08-23-2005, 09:34 PM

I would go with a goby or blenny -they would do much better in a small tank. A watchman goby with a shrimp companion would be great.

Steve

McReef · 08-24-2005, 08:12 AM

6 line wrasse would work

sitnlowdown · 08-24-2005, 08:33 AM

neon goby, catalina goby, ahh there is a few others citron goby, thats about the only small finsh i would put in a tank that size sixline is err not sure about that one the eat pods mostly and i dont think a tank that size would help them much now ive seen some that eat flake but not many you would be better off with a shrimp or two and a very very small goby or some crabs.but be very carful in a tank that size of over feeding

sitnlowdown · 08-24-2005, 08:34 AM

and yeah some of the smaller blennys would be ok two i would read on some first on size

Ray1214 · 08-24-2005, 08:54 AM

My favorites are: Red Headed Goby, Yashi Goby, Hi-Fin Banded Goby, Bumblebee Goby along with some of the ones mentioned above.

A Honey Damsel is a good choice though. they eat flake and are mildly tempered. Bobby at CBA is the only one I know in town that has em.

Also a bangaii cardinal is one that is good for smaller tanks. However I have never fed mine flake they tend to prefer meatier foods.

I had 5-6 red headed gobies in a 10 gal tank. They were awesome to watch play with no predators around. It takes a while for them get used to not having to hide but it is well worth it. Not sure if they eat flake, I believe they do but again I don't typically feed flake foods to saltwater fish.

Ray

Melissa · 08-24-2005, 09:09 AM

How about a Pseudochromis? They are very colorful and most stay small.

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/straw...dottyback.html

wildemon · 08-24-2005, 09:36 AM

As beautiful as the Catalina goby is, it is strickly a cold water fish from the California Pacific and not suitable to our standard reef setup.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...fm?pCatId=1850

No one mentioned the yellow clown goby, by far the smallest common fish kept in the reef aquarium.

As far as food, just as convient as flake and extremely well received by my fish is New Life Spectrum marine pellets. Really, try it...

jlscrug · 08-24-2005, 09:40 AM

I have a six-line, a rusty goby, and had a yellow watchman. Except for the rusty goby, most of the others suggested get too big for a 6 gallon. I may wind up taking the rusty goby out of my other tank. Anything that gets over 1.5" would require me to put in too more nutrients than the 6g could handle and subsequently foul the water too quickly. (this is also the reason I wanted to try to find domething that eats flake algae) ...I wish there were some sort of 'mini-tang' or something along those lines. Anyone know for sure of any fish that will not exceed 1.5"??? I am researching all of your previous suggestions and I thank you for them.

jlscrug · 08-24-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildemon

No one mentioned the yellow clown goby, by far the smallest common fish kept in the reef aquarium.

Although it is a carnivore, this one is at the top of my list. Thanks!

sitnlowdown · 08-24-2005, 12:37 PM

thats right william i forgot about the catlina being a cold water fish

jlscrug · 08-26-2005, 03:22 PM

The reason I would like for it to be an algae eater is that I would like to keep my pod population if possible. Anyone???

Pamsreef · 08-26-2005, 03:38 PM

My clown gobies do not eat algae. I've only had one, but I didn't think pseudochromis ate algae either. My citron goby would eat algae. Most blennys eat algae and if you could find a really small one, I see them from time to time, it may last a while in a small tank.

Good luck,

Pam