Nano tanks are popular for beginners but they do limit livestock options. Alex picks out his favourite reef safe nano fish that will do well in these small aquariums.
Entering the marine hobby can be an expensive journey. So, it is no wonder many new reefers opt for tanks at the smaller end of the spectrum while they learn the ropes.
Extremely small pico aquariums are generally not suitable for fish livestock, but nano aquariums have some great options. Many of these species hail from the Gobiidae family. Their smaller sizes and more sedentary lifestyle suiting smaller aquariums perfectly.
However, not all gobies stay small. Therefore, it is important to research each species before buying to ensure you are actually getting a small fish. We would recommend starting with at least a 45x30x30cm (18x12x12") tank holding 40 litres (9 gal).
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Great gobies for small reef aquariums
As a fan of nano freshwater species, it may not shock you that I enjoy a nano fish in the marine world as well. When visiting marine stores, or indeed wholesalers like TMC during the Reef Summit, it is the little gobies I spend the most time watching.
All photos by Shutterstock unless otherwise stated
The incredible flaming prawn goby is one such species that I admired from afar during my reefing days. The price tag of this fish, also called the spikefin goby, was a little too high for my part-time salary to cover. However, there are plenty of more budget friendly options that have just as much colour and character.
Let's dive deeper on some of my favourites. Some of which I have kept before, others that are at the top of the stocking list for when I finally get a reef tank again.
Related article: Characterful blennies for your reef tank.
Greenbanded goby
Sometimes also known as the Christmas goby thanks to their festive colouration, Tigrigobius multifasciatus is a great nano option. Reaching a maximum of 5cm (2") in length, you are unlikely to see much of them in a busy, large reef. However, give them a peaceful home in a nano tank and you'll fall in love with them just as I did.
They rarely venture far from the substrate or live rock structures. In the wild they inhabit shallow tide pools around the Caribbean reefs. They can be territorial, so opt for just one and maintain them with peaceful invertebrates and dissimilar nano species.
Photo by Neil Hepworth
In larger displays you can keep pairs or groups as the largest individual will become male. Buy them small and immature, to prevent the risk of obtaining two males, though.
Yellow clown goby
This is another vibrant species that also has a second common name. Gobiodon Okinawa spend much of their time perching on Acropora corals in the wild. Hence their other name, the yellow coral goby.
Luckily, you don't have to venture into SPS coral care to keep this beautiful goby happy. They'll just as happily perch on the rocky structures around the aquarium. Mine used to sit amongst the long polyps of a leather toadstool coral, the care of which is much simpler than that of Acroproa.
Hailing from the Western Pacific, these fish reach just 3.5cm (1.4") and don't spend much of their lives swimming around. They can be gregarious in nature, sharing their coral colonies with conspecifics happily. However in the confines of a nano tank, keep just one specimen as they will likely bicker. This often results in the smaller, or weaker, goby slowly dying.
There are reports that they may nibble at Acropora corals, but the damage is usually not enough to cause serious problems to a healthy colony.
Related article: Quick guide to hard corals.
Hi-fin banded goby
This species lives out its life in burrows that it shares with a pistol shrimp partner. In fact, you may even be luckily enough to source a male and female pair that will coexist with their shrimp buddy happily. Stonogobiops nematodes, the scientific name for this goby, usually cohabits with the red and white Alpheus randalli shrimp. They make a stunning combination.
Given their burrowing requirements, a deeper sand bed is a must for their tank. Dedicate your nano aquarium to this shrimp goby trio and sit back and enjoy their natural behaviours on display. As you need to allocate a lot of the tank for substrate it will limit your options for the rest of the tank, but it is worth it.
They are an Indo-Pacific species and typically reach a manageable 6cm (2.4") in length. As they never swim far from their burrow, you may need to target feed them with a pipette or turkey baster. Frozen Mysis, Artemia and small krill will work well.
Firecracker goby
Trimma rubromaculatum is a classic nano goby option, reaching just 3.5cm (1.4"). They are slightly more active, spending plenty of time hovering above the substrate. This means they are a great option should you wish to see your goby out more often than not.
Photo by Alex Bell
Buy a group of juveniles and let them grow up together to see them at their best. As with all these gobies, they do not mix well with large or boisterous tank mates. A nano reef that they can call their own is the perfect home for this colourful, characterful fish.
Caring for tiny gobies
The small size of these fish can cause problems with feeding though as they need similarly small sized foods. A mature tank with plenty of copepods will help them settle into life in your care. Small frozen foods like brine shrimp and calanus can work well. Small prepared granules that will sink relatively quickly can also work once they are settle into the aquarium.
Many of these species are prone to jumping out of open topped tanks. While net jump guards can be useful, you must ensure the mesh size is small enough that they will not squeeze though the gaps.
Photo by Red Sea
While predatory fish are an obvious no go, you must also avoid fish hungry inverts. Anemones will happily consume a small goby that happens to perch on their colourful fleshy tentacles. Hungry crabs, whether hitchhikers or not, may grab at a small goby should they get hungry too.
Related article: Gobies for the reef aquarium.