Finding a new fish or two to add, ideas please

[JohnK]

So the time comes that I would like to add something more for fish in addition to my pair of clowns. Attached is a pic of the current display.

My limitations are as follows;
-Space, it's only a 57G so no tangs or other big fish
-compatibility, I've had these clowns a long time, I am not willing to take chances by adding a potentially aggressive fish
-Food availability, the tank is well established so there is a good supply of natural foods, but I feed very little.
-Probably no jumpers, tank is rimless and I have no intention of covering it.

Perferences;
-Anything that might show some breeding/spawning behavior (yes, I would have to start feeding more, but I would consider it to see spawing)
-Personality, I love fish that show some, be it breeding behavior, funny day to day antics, anything but swimming back and forth all day.
-I love social and or schooling behavior.
-Hardiness is a plus, I'm not on a mission to prove I can keep a moorish idol in a fishbowl. Common and durable appeals to me more than super unique but with a low chance of long term survival.

Ideas;
Not many right now.
I've thought of a few yellow clown gobies in the hopes that they would find a happy home in the branches of my yellowish sinularia, but I'm not sure that would happen?
I'd love another CBB or heniocous butterfly, but I doubt that the space would be adequate (and again I would have to setp up feeding a lot to keep either happy)
Mandarins are very cool, but if I got one I don't know how often I would see it considering how full the tank is.
Anthais are out, I an not going to be able to feed them enough and I don't even like them all that much.
Interesting wrasses are an option assuming they don't jump or get aggressive with my clowns.



So what's everyone think? I've been doing this long enough that it's easy to get into tunnelvision mode and miss the obvious good options.

Throw anything out there. What's the normally underapprecitated fish that you think is the coolest thing since flake food?

Thanks in advance for anything, and don't hold back if you are kind of new to this. Sometimes the new guy is the only one with any fresh ideas

 

[Privateer]

I know it's pretty common but I really like my Royal Gramma. Nice looking, cool personality, docile, and relatively small.
Another option that I think is really neat, but I don't know much about it in terms of requirements, is a box or cow fish.

 

[newenglandreef]

a banded pipefish is pretty cool.

 

[newenglandreef]

John, I guess you don't agree with the theory that leathers and sps can't be kept in the same tank... ?

 

[arch85]

how about Firefish? they're pretty cool … kind of same personality as the clowns -- they choose a spot in the tank, and just float there ...

 

[Acan Sam]

Bangaii Cardinals? sorry if it was posted already i skimmed XD

 

[JohnK]

John, I guess you don't agree with the theory that leathers and sps can't be kept in the same tank... ?

Some things just aren't suppposed to work together. Sometimes that's wrong

 

[Pat02026]

I'm a fan of the basslets. A chalk bass would be a nice addition, they stay reasonably small and aren't aggressive toward other species. I really like the tobacco bass, they get much larger and more aggressive than the chalk's but look a lot cooler; potential aggression obviously is not an option though.
Blue reef chromis are nice looking fish as well, however I have heard they don't last long in an aquarium environment for some reason..... (not the typical 4$ green chromis)

 

[dcforester1]

I was going to say a RG as well. I have had mine for about three years, and he's a great fish. He swims, he minds his own business. and adds a lot of color.
BTW the tank looks great.

 

[Kungfukid]

4-5 blue small blue chromis should be great to your tank

 

[beelezebubba]

flame hawkfish? not sure how much you like crustaceans

for personality, any kind of blenny.

tanks looks great

 

[stewball]

Yellow tail damsel, mine gets along great with my clown. aside from the first few days (he was there first) entertaining to watch eat and if i put anything in the tank swims really fast then stops dead still.

 

[mnavick]

You mentioned another CBB, which are my favorite (getting one to flourish is another bonus, which I finally have). How about a Pakistani Butterfly?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+25+268&pcatid=268
Another favorite is a Flame Angel. Mine does well with corals and other tank mates.
Either species is not unique or shows funny behavior nor breeding but are beautiful specimens to compliment that GORGEOUS tank!!

 

[newenglandreef]

One of those filefish are pretty cool too. Unique Aquaria has one in stock as of Friday.

 

[dannyp02908]

Jawfish? I always liked them a lot. Agree with bangaiis too. Tangs you say out of question and I agree but maybe a tomini? They stay pretty small, no?

Newenglandreef - what's wrong with SPS and leathers? I have them mixed as well as some LPS?

 

[newenglandreef]

Google leather and sps. Some say leather excrete a chemical that slows the growth of sps.

 

[jdeb101]

I had a royal gramma that turned aggressive after a while. I would say a small school of chromis, fire fish, and if u don't keep sps a lemon peel angel is still one of my fav fish.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks much for all the ideas.

Jawfish are out as they tend to be jumpers and my display is rimless. All tangs are out as IMO/IME a 3' tank is just too small for any tang. Same for any butterfly, they are less active swimmers but I would still feel irresponsible trying to keep one in my 57g (I really do miss the CBB I had for 4+ yrs ).

The rolyal garama sounds like a definate option. I also like the idea of a small school of chromis, but I'm hesitant as all I hear is that their schools tend to whittle themselves down to one or two individuals.

Does anyone have any exp with the little clown gobies?

Firefish could be an option, but honestly I'm not that into them for whatever reasons..

The banded pipefish sounds very cool, but I doubt I would be able to keep up with it's needs.

Basslets seem cool. Anyone got any pics or stories to sell me on these fish



As for the leathers and stonies together, well, I get away with some montis but have never had long term success mixing in acros. I have two acro frags now that are in my connected frag tank and they have been doing fine for a few months, but time will tell. I do generally run a moderate amount of activated carbon that might be taking out some of the toxins??

 

[mchartier]

How about a rainfordi goby?

 

[The Reef Pit]

Well I can't help with picking a fish, but Nice tank John, growth every where:.