9 replies to this topic

[Peixe11]

Hi everyone. I'm thinking about setting up a 30-40 gallon FOWLR aquarium over the summer. Not really sure what I want to stock it with yet but the ideal would be smaller hardy species that are not too aggressive. The reason I'm here is because I was wondering if there are any good native species for this setup. I've been looking escpecially at the idea of keeping a small school of either Rainwater Killifish or Sheepshead Minnows with some kind of tropical Goby or Blenny.

 

So main question is does anybody have any experience with a setup like this? I've been researching Sheepsheads and it seems like they might be to agressive for it.

[Kanus]

I kept 4 or 5 sheepshead minnows in a reef tank a few years back. They were scrappy with each other but I never really saw them pay anyone else much mind, but it was heavily stocked with live rock too, so everyone could find refuge whenever.

[Cu455]

Pipe fish and puffers are cool. If you want color Catalina gobies will be great.

[lilyea]

Peixe11 - you may also want to consider a brackish tank of natives instead of a full-salt FOWLR system.  Either way - best of luck with your native SW efforts!

[zooxanthellae]

Hi everyone. I'm thinking about setting up a 30-40 gallon FOWLR aquarium over the summer. Not really sure what I want to stock it with yet but the ideal would be smaller hardy species that are not too aggressive. The reason I'm here is because I was wondering if there are any good native species for this setup. I've been looking escpecially at the idea of keeping a small school of either Rainwater Killifish or Sheepshead Minnows with some kind of tropical Goby or Blenny.

 

So main question is does anybody have any experience with a setup like this? I've been researching Sheepsheads and it seems like they might be to agressive for it.

I unfortunately had a tank collapse last year, but until that point I kept a 90g marine tank of natives. I agree with kanus on the sheepshead minnows, they are mean towards each other, but I've never had problems with them otherwise. My favorites have always been blennies, specifically crested blennies. They too may chase conspecifics, but nothing violent, and no aggressiveness to other species. Pipefishes would be hard to feed and are outside of my aquarist abilities, but you probably know more than me!

 

Currently I keep a small brackish tank with rainwater killifish, a freshwater goby, and a spinycheek sleeper. The sleeper is my favorite, but I have to keep him very well fed or he will eat anything that moves. 

[Peixe11]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

 

@lilyea I did consider a brackish aquarium but I'm curious to try out saltwater. The invertabrates like hermit crabs seem kind of like a bonus appeal to go with the fish.

[Betta132]

Catalina gobies are coldwater and die quickly in freshwater. 

Try a shrimpgoby/watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. Great little symbiotic pair to observe. 

Blennies are weird-looking but very cool. 

A warning: If you see a crested oyster goby available for sale, add him last. They can be a bit jerk-ish towards smaller things.

[gerald]

Diamond killies?

[Betta132]

I meant warm water, not freshwater. Catalina gobies need cold tanks, which means you'll probably need a chiller to keep them. 

[Cu455]

Catalina gobies are subtropical to cool water species. I guess the need of a chiller depends on location. My saltwater pond in my basement doesn't get above the low 70's. In the winter I need heaters to keep it at 65f.