Fish for 20g

[DonW]

My 12yr old daughter has a 20g FO. No live rock just a few dead corals. Each time we get her a fish it dies within a few days. I assume that the two damsel that have been in there for months are evil. I've never seen them picking on the new fish so, I assume its happening at night.
She's very proud of her tank and takes very good care of it, but is becomming discouraged.
The damsel are going as soon as I get home tonight. I need to get her some new fish and need recomendations.

Thanks
Don

 

[bradreef]

for a 12 year old daughter a boring clownfish is probably the way to go. They are easy to keep and good looking. I would possibly add a six line wrasse or a gobie but also I would add at least some live rock.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Don,
Years ago I got a small octopuss in a Sea Clear Sm Hex. It was less than 20 gallons. My kids loved it. They were fasinated by how he moved in the tank and the way he would hide. I had it for a long time.

 

[mfsolecki]

if your sand is deep enough (if not pick-up a 5lb bag of "live sand" @ "pet-co/smart" or one of the other petsupermarkets most smaller fish/reef stores don't carry the smaller bags)a neon gobie is usually fairly cheap (I also found that 2 is better especially if you buy them both together from the same tank)and will fair well even w/the damsel also or if you can pick up a macroalgae (seagrass or feather'lerpa somthing w/allot of surface area per leaf) already attached to a live rock they are usually ~$20. or so...that will help w/the NO2 balance since the tank is fairly small most smaller species are pretty senstv to --also check your pH & nitrite, damsels are famous for the low pH fecaldropping and are more tolrnt of pH chngs...the 6line that bradreef mentioned is OK as well since they are pretty quick, but they still like a place to hide...w/the goby or the 6line w/the hiding/relelief spots, she can keep the damsels...

 

[DonW]

Thanks for all the replys. Honestly she hates damsels. I have never stocked such a small tank. Of course she wants a huge blue tang and a clown. I would like to give her some options other than damsels.
Right now she is very aware of maintenance. Watches temp, sg, ph and so on, when she says no ammonia shes usually right. Her little skimmer is clean and working top notch.
Maybe its just time to make it a nano reef.

Thanks
Don

 

[Ray Pollett]

Depending on the type of Clown - you could try :

Orchard Dottyback

Splendid Dottyback

Small Blenny

Small Goby if you have sand ( like one of the Hi-fins)

Royal Gramma

Blood Red (Fire) Shrimp

Goby and Pistol Shrimp iF you have the correct substrater

Ray

 

[Alice]

True, tons of gobies and small blennies to choose from; the high fin is a very interesting one...and will pair up with a pistol shrimp.

Clownfish, firefish, clown gobies, sixline, pygmy arrowhead wrasse (there's one you don't see every day!), jawfish, pink-spotted watchman...I've had all of those in small tanks and liked them all.