Orchid dottyback in 20 gallon? (1 Viewer)

[Fiver]

Can an orchid dottyback live in an IM 20 gallon AIO tank?

I want a pair of ocellaris clowns and an orchid dottyback if possible. I've kept this combo before, but in a 4-foot long 33 gallon.

How many small fish could fit in a tank that size? Other fish I've considered are:

- banggai cardinal
- yellow watchman goby
- tailspot goby
- neon goby
- tessellated goby

 

[ichthyogeek]

The 24"x11"x13" IM Nuvo tank? Or is it a different tank?

I can't really see a pair of clowns AND an orchid dottyback working in that size (20 long IM Nuvo) tank. It's too short and almost the size of a standard 10 gallon (20"x10"x12"), and the extra 4" in length and 1" in depth doesn't feel like a lot to me. I could maybe see a pair of clownfish working long term in that tank, but not much else. As a grow out tank maybe. But not for the full lifespans of all the fish without them getting aggressive with each other.

 

[Crum]

In terms of bioload/space it's probably fine, but they can be quite aggressive and territorial which could be problematic in a small area.

You could try a strawberry dottyback, they are supposedly less aggressive and look about the same.

Gobies and other more chill fish would be ok.

 

[mrbill]

Dottybacks can be real stinkers. How about a Royal Gramma instead?

 

[Fiver]

The 24"x11"x13" IM Nuvo tank? Or is it a different tank?

I can't really see a pair of clowns AND an orchid dottyback working in that size (20 long IM Nuvo) tank. It's too short and almost the size of a standard 10 gallon (20"x10"x12"), and the extra 4" in length and 1" in depth doesn't feel like a lot to me. I could maybe see a pair of clownfish working long term in that tank, but not much else. As a grow out tank maybe. But not for the full lifespans of all the fish without them getting aggressive with each other.

Yes, that's the tank I'm thinking of. Do you think it's full with a pair of clowns? Is there room for any other fish?

 

[Fiver]

In terms of bioload/space it's probably fine, but they can be quite aggressive and territorial which could be problematic in a small area.

You could try a strawberry dottyback, they are supposedly less aggressive and look about the same.

Gobies and other more chill fish would be ok.

I'll take a look. The one I kept years ago was never an issue, but it was a long tank.

 

[Fiver]

Dottybacks can be real stinkers. How about a Royal Gramma instead?

Yeah, I like royal grammas, too. I had an orchid dottyback years ago that never caused any issues, but it was in a long tank.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Yes, that's the tank I'm thinking of. Do you think it's full with a pair of clowns? Is there room for any other fish?

I think it’ll be full with a pair of clowns, yes. There are some very impressive ocellaris/percula clownfish out there, and they can get quite large. Bill Capman’s lab has a number of mature fish, and they make me rethink the “pair of clowns in a 10 gallon” idea.

Is the goal of the fish for nutrient input (for corals)? For fish swimming? Or bdcause you just like clownfish?

 

[Fiver]

I think it’ll be full with a pair of clowns, yes. There are some very impressive ocellaris/percula clownfish out there, and they can get quite large. Bill Capman’s lab has a number of mature fish, and they make me rethink the “pair of clowns in a 10 gallon” idea.

Is the goal of the fish for nutrient input (for corals)? For fish swimming? Or bdcause you just like clownfish?

I just like clownfish. I eventually want to get an anemone and some soft corals. I've kept them all in the past. But I'm mostly into fish rather than corals.