Best Nano Tank Fish
Nano reef keeping proves that great things come in small packages. These species thrive in tanks of 30 gallons or less, making them ideal for desktop aquariums, office setups, and hobbyists with limited space.
304 species suitable for nano tanks (30 gallons or under).
Nano Tank Tips
- Smaller water volumes are less stable -- stay on top of water changes and parameter testing.
- Stock conservatively. Even if a fish fits in a nano tank, fewer fish means more stable water quality.
- Choose species with peaceful temperaments to reduce territorial stress in tight quarters.
Aiptasia-Eating Filefish
Acreichthys tomentosus
Allen's Damselfish
Pomacentrus alleni
Arabian Damselfish
Neopomacentrus xanthurus
Arc-Eye Hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatus
Arrow Blenny
Lucayablennius zingaro
Aurora Goby
Amblyeleotris aurora
Australian Clownfish
Amphiprion rubrocinctus
Azure Damselfish
Chrysiptera hemicyanea
Banded Damselfish
Dascyllus abudafur
Banded Jawfish
Opistognathus macrognathus
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
Barber Goby
Elacatinus figaro
Barbour's Seahorse
Hippocampus barbouri
Barnacle Blenny
Acanthemblemaria spinosa
Barred Hamlet
Hypoplectrus puella
Barrier Reef Chromis
Chromis nitida
Barrier Reef Clownfish
Amphiprion akindynos
Barspot Cardinalfish
Apogon retrosella
Bella Goby
Valenciennea bella
Bennett Toby
Canthigaster bennetti
Bicolor Basslet
Lipogramma klayi
Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor
Bicolor Damselfish
Stegastes partitus
Bicolor Dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae
Black Cap Jawfish
Opistognathus randalli
Black Clown Goby
Gobiodon atrangulatus
Black Combtooth Blenny
Ecsenius namiyei
Black Ray Goby
Stonogobiops xanthorhinica
Black Ray Shrimp Goby
Stonogobiops nematodes
Black-Bar Chromis
Chromis retrofasciata
Blackbelt Cardinalfish
Apogon nigrofasciatus
Blackcap Basslet
Gramma melacara
Blackline Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
Blackspot Blenny
Ecsenius stictus
Blackstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus
Blind Goby
Typhlogobius californiensis
Blue Assessor
Assessor macneilli
Blue Devil Damsel
Chrysiptera cyanea
Blue Green Chromis
Chromis viridis
Blue Gudgeon Dartfish
Ptereleotris heteroptera
Blue Hamlet
Hypoplectrus gemma
Blue Spotted Jawfish
Opistognathus rosenblatti
Blue Spotted Puffer
Canthigaster solandri
Blue Stripe Pipefish
Doryrhamphus excisus
Blue-eyed Cardinalfish
Apogon compressus
Bluelined Dottyback
Cypho purpurascens
Bluespotted Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus pavoninoides
Brahm Eviota
Eviota brahmi
Brazilian Basslet
Gramma brasiliensis
Bridle Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus semicinctus
Bristletail Filefish
Acreichthys radiatus
Broadstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus angustatus
Broadstripe Goby
Elacatinus prochilos
Browncheek Blenny
Acanthemblemaria crockeri
Buan Sand Goby
Amblygobius buanensis
Bundoon Blenny
Ecsenius bundoon
Canary Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis
Candy Basslet
Liopropoma carmabi
Carberryi Anthias
Nemanthias carberryi
Catalina Goby
Lythrypnus dalli
Chagos Clownfish
Amphiprion chagosensis
Chalk Bass Goby
Serranus tortugarum
Cherub Angelfish
Centropyge argi
Cinnamon Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus
Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
Cloudy Damselfish
Dascyllus carneus
Clown Goby (Citrinus)
Gobiodon citrinus
Cooktown Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cookii
Copper Cardinalfish
Apogon aureus
Court Jester Goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
Diadem Dottyback
Pictichromis diadema
Diadema Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema
Disco Blenny
Meiacanthus smithi
Divided Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus evanidus
Doederlein Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus doederleini
Doublebar Cardinalfish
Apogon taeniophorus
Dracula Goby
Stonogobiops dracula
Dragon Goby
Amblygobius phalaena
Dragon Pipefish
Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus
Dragon-faced Pipefish
Corythoichthys haematopterus
Dusky Cardinalfish
Phaeoptyx pigmentaria
Dusky Jawfish
Opistognathus whitehursti
Dwarf Lionfish
Dendrochirus zebra
Dwarf Moray Eel
Gymnothorax melatremus
Dwarf Seahorse
Hippocampus zosterae
Eight-Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
Elongate Dottyback
Pseudochromis elongatus
Ember Blenny
Ecsenius ember
Eyelash Blenny
Cirripectes chelomatus
Eyeshadow Cardinalfish
Apogon perlitus
Fairy Wrasse (Filamented)
Paracheilinus filamentosus
Falco Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys falco
Figure Eight Puffer
Dichotomyctere ocellatus
Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish
Chrysiptera taupou
Firecracker Goby
Trimma cana
Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica
Five Lined Cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus
Flame Cardinalfish
Apogon maculatus
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus
Flameback Angelfish
Centropyge acanthops
Flaming Blenny
Cirripectes castaneus
Four Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus melanurus
Four-Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia
Fowleria Cardinalfish
Fowleria isostigma
Frostfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus hoevenii
Gold-specs Jawfish
Opistognathus sp.
Goldbelly Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus apogonides
Golden Domino Damselfish
Dascyllus auripinnis
Green Clown Goby
Gobiodon histrio
Green Silk Gudgeon Dartfish
Ptereleotris microlepis
Half & Half Chromis
Chromis dimidiata
Half-and-Half Chromis
Chromis iomelas
Halimeda Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus halimeda
Harlequin Bass
Serranus tigrinus
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
Canthigaster jactator
Hector's Goby
Koumansetta hectori
Helfrichi Firefish
Nemateleotris helfrichi
Highfin Blenny
Atrosalarias fuscus
Honeycomb Toby
Canthigaster janthinoptera
Horned Blenny
Parablennius intermedius
Horned Rockskipper
Andamia tetradactyla
Indigo Dottyback
Pseudochromis cyanotaenia
Indigo Hamlet
Hypoplectrus indigo
Iridescent Cardinalfish
Siphamia versicolor
Janss' Pipefish
Doryrhamphus janssi
Kamohara Blenny
Meiacanthus kamoharai
Kuda Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
Lachdebere Eviota
Eviota lachdeberei
Lagoon Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia
Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus
Leaf Scorpionfish
Taenianotus triacanthus
Lemon Damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis
Leopard Puffer
Canthigaster leoparda
Linear Blenny
Ecsenius lineatus
Lined Seahorse
Hippocampus erectus
Link Goby
Amblygobius linki
Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus
Longspine Cardinalfish
Zoramia leptacantha
LSD Mandarin
Synchiropus morrisoni
Luther Prawn Goby
Cryptocentrus lutheri
Madagascar Clownfish
Amphiprion latifasciatus
Magnus Goby
Amblyeleotris sungami
Maldive Clownfish
Amphiprion nigripes
Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus splendidus
Marginate Damselfish
Dascyllus marginatus
Maroon Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatus
McCulloch's Clownfish
Amphiprion mccullochi
Melanurus Dottyback
Pseudochromis melanurus
Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
Meteor Cardinalfish
Archamia zosterophora
Midas Blenny
Ecsenius midas
Molly Miller Blenny
Scartella cristata
Moluccan Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus moluccensis
Mottled Jawfish
Opistognathus maxillosus
Multibanded Pipefish
Dunckerocampus multiannulatus
Mystery Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
Naoko's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus naokoae
Narrowbar Damselfish
Plectroglyphidodon dickii
Neon Damsel
Pomacentrus coelestis
Neon Dottyback
Pseudochromis aldabraensis
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops
Neon Pygmy Goby
Eviota pellucida
Oblique-banded Cardinalfish
Archamia bleekeri
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Ocellate Cardinalfish
Apogon notatus
Ocellated Damselfish
Pomacentrus vaiuli
One Spot Blenny
Crossosalarias macrospilus
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos
Orangespotted Blenny
Blenniella chrysospilos
Orangethroat Cardinalfish
Apogon cyanosoma
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia orbicularis
Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani
Painted Frogfish
Antennarius pictus
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
Papuan Toby
Canthigaster papua
Peacock Blenny
Salarias pavo
Pearly Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fleurieu
Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Pictilis Dottyback
Pseudochromis pictilis
Pink Cardinalfish
Apogon porphyreus
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion
Pink-Speckled Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus
Pixy Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Possum Wrasse
Wetmorella nigropinnata
Pretty-Fin Cardinalfish
Pristiapogon kallopterus
Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora
Pygmy Filefish
Stephanolepis diaspros
Rainford's Basslet
Liopropoma mitratum
Randall's Goby
Amblyeleotris randalli
Red Belted Cardinalfish
Apogon townsendi
Red Margin Shrimp Goby
Amblyeleotris rubrimarginata
Red Neon Eviota
Eviota nigriventris
Red Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion ephippium
Red Scooter Blenny
Synchiropus moyeri
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Ecsenius gravieri
Red Stop Light Cardinalfish
Apogonichthys hyalinus
Red Velvet Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis
Redlip Blenny
Ophioblennius atlanticus
Redspotted Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus pinos
Reef Filefish
Oxymonacanthus halli
Reidi Seahorse
Hippocampus reidi
Reticulated Dascyllus
Dascyllus reticulatus
Ring-tailed Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus aureus
Ringed Pipefish
Doryrhamphus melanopleura
Rolland's Damsel
Chrysiptera rollandi
Rose-band Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus roseafascia
Roughsnout Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paegnius
Royal Basslet
Lipogramma regium
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto
Ruby Red Dragonet
Synchiropus sycorax
Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
Sailfin Blenny
Emblemaria pandionis
Sankey Dottyback
Pseudochromis sankeyi
Sargassum Frogfish
Histrio histrio
Sawcheek Cardinalfish
Apogon quadrisquamatus
Scarface Blenny
Cirripectes stigmaticus
Scissortail Dartfish
Ptereleotris evides
Scooter Dragonet
Synchiropus ocellatus
Scribbled Pipefish
Corythoichthys intestinalis
Seale's Cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides sealei
Seaweed Blenny
Parablennius marmoreus
Sebae Clownfish
Amphiprion sebae
Secretary Blenny
Acanthemblemaria maria
Segmented Sailfin Blenny
Salarias segmentatus
Sharknose Goby
Elacatinus evelynae
Sharpnose Puffer
Canthigaster rostrata
Shortstripe Goby
Elacatinus chancei
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion akallopisos
Slender Filefish
Monacanthus tuckeri
Splendid Dottyback
Manonichthys splendens
Spot-tail Dartfish
Ptereleotris uroditaenia
Spotfin Cardinalfish
Jaydia striata
Spotfin Dottyback
Pseudochromis jamesi
Spotfin Jawfish
Opistognathus punctatus
Spotlight Goby
Elacatinus louisae
Spotted Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys aprinus
Spotted Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus picturatus
Spotted Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris guttata
Spotted Sharpnose Puffer
Canthigaster punctatissima
Springer's Damselfish
Chrysiptera springeri
Springeri Dottyback
Pseudochromis springeri
Staghorn Damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon curacao
Starcki Damsel
Chrysiptera starcki
Starry Blenny
Salarias ramosus
Starry Dragonet
Synchiropus stellatus
Starry Goby
Asterropteryx semipunctata
Steene's Dottyback
Pseudochromis steenei
Steinitz Goby
Amblyeleotris steinitzi
Storthynx Eviota
Eviota storthynx
Strawberry Dottyback
Pseudochromis porphyreus
Striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fasciatus
Striped Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes
Sulfur Damselfish
Pomacentrus sulfureus
Sunrise Dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex
Surge Damselfish
Chrysiptera brownriggii
Swallowtail Hawkfish
Cyprinocirrhites polyactis
Swissguard Basslet
Liopropoma rubre
Tailspot Blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura
Talbot's Damselfish
Chrysiptera talboti
Tangaroa Goby
Ctenogobiops tangaroai
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Apogon leptacanthus
Three Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus aruanus
Three-band Clownfish
Amphiprion tricinctus
Tiger Tail Seahorse
Hippocampus comes
Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus
Transparent Cardinalfish
Rhabdamia gracilis
Two Band Clownfish
Amphiprion bicinctus
Two Spot Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus bimacula
Two-Spot Goby
Signigobius biocellatus
Twobelt Cardinalfish
Archamia fucata
Twospot Cardinalfish
Archamia biguttata
Twotone Chromis
Chromis margaritifer
Tyler Toby
Canthigaster tyleri
Valentini Puffer
Canthigaster valentini
Vanderbilt's Chromis
Chromis vanderbilti
Wartskin Frogfish
Antennarius maculatus
Wheeler's Goby
Amblyeleotris wheeleri
White Bonnet Clownfish
Amphiprion leucokranos
Whitecap Goby
Lotilia klausewitzi
Whitespotted Pygmy Filefish
Rudarius ercodes
Whitestar Cardinalfish
Apogon lachneri
Wide-band Clownfish
Amphiprion latezonatus
Y-Bar Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus fasciatus
Yasha Goby
Stonogobiops yasha
Yellow Assessor
Assessor flavissimus
Yellow Basslet
Lipogramma flavescens
Yellow Blenny
Ecsenius flavipes
Yellow Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus luteus
Yellow Clown Goby
Gobiodon okinawae
Yellow Coris Blenny
Ecsenius ops
Yellow Damsel
Amblyglyphidodon aureus
Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Yellow-banded Pipefish
Dunckerocampus pessuliferus
Yellow-striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
Yellowbelly Damselfish
Pomacentrus auriventris
Yellowface Pikeblenny
Chaenopsis limbaughi
Yellowfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus chrysopomus
Yellowfin Damselfish
Chrysiptera flavipinnis
Yellowfin Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis
Yellowhead Jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
Yellowtail Damselfish
Chrysiptera parasema
Yellowtail Hamlet
Hypoplectrus chlorurus
Zebra Dartfish
Ptereleotris zebra
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