Any WEIRD reef safe fish?

[forddna]

Are there any unique or weird looking fish that are reef safe?

 

[reefergeorge]

Frogfish... I know they are coral, and large fish safe. The others ??

 

[Moonstream]

well, if by reef safe you mean wont eat hermits, corals and snails, but will/ might eat fish and shrimps, then IMO dwarf lions and frogfish are cool, the frogfish needs a species only tank, and the dwarf lions need a tank with larger fish, or fish that are small enough to be eaten and wont be missed if they are.

 

[forddna]

Exactly how small? Can you give an example of a fish that would be the minimum size? I'd LOVE a lionfish!

 

[BangkokMatt]

Dendrochirus brachypterus can be kept in a reef. There is still a chance they will munch on some smaller fish though (goby sized)
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=249

 

[forddna]

Well.......I have a 4" Goby and about a 2-2.5" Goby, so which Goby is "Goby Sized" ??

The little guy rarely comes out of his rock cave, though. I rarely see him.

 

[forddna]

What about the Dendro. Zebra?

 

[Cantonesefish]

Flying Gurnards are reef safe, but you need a large sandy area.

 

[BangkokMatt]

Ok - fish less than 2 inches

 

[michael_cb_125]

A 2 inch lion or frog would try to eat a 4 inch goby. Length is not the only dimension to consider. Girth is just as important. A skinny 4 inch fish is easier to eat than a 2 inch fat fish.
~Michael

 

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13329500#post13329500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michael_cb_125
A 2 inch lion or frog would try to eat a 4 inch goby. Length is not the only dimension to consider. Girth is just as important. A skinny 4 inch fish is easier to eat than a 2 inch fat fish.
~Michael

This is true but...Dendrochirus brachypterus (the fish I am referring to) is unlikely to go after larger prey. Of course there are exceptions to the rule but in general....

 

[forddna]

Matt, would you say the fuzzy dwarf is more reef safe than the dwarf zebra? Less likely to try to eat my adult diamond goby?

I have 4 Cleaner Shrimp, too, so I need to consider them as well. Sounds like they would eat the shrimp, right?

 

[tangers]

Dwarf zebras are very difficult to get eating. I had one for about 2 months in my 125. I think he was eating pods or something because I only got him to eat once! I have heard better success stories out of fuzzy's. Either way I would highly recommend a qt to make sure that they are accepting food VERY well before you throw them in the reef. (Once you throw them in a tank that big they are n their own!)

 

[forddna]

well, poop. I've already lost two fish renowned for not being good eaters, and even though I saw them eat, I lost them anyway..so I'm scared.

Oh well. Guess no weird fish for me, besides my goofy Hippo..

 

[tangers]

just giving you a heads up on the zebra, I am sure there are plenty of others out there.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Here are a few fish that are "reef safe" and kind of "weird:. I really like them

Banded Longfin Basslet

Marine Betta

High Fin Perchlet

Coral Croucher

~Michael

 

[forddna]

Woah..cool! Thanks! I really like that first one!

 

[michael_cb_125]

That first fish has always been my favorite. The only other fish that comes close to it IMO is the orange back basslet. I have never had the banded long fin basslet, but I have had the orange back. They are very cool fish. You dont see them very often, but whenever I do see them, I have to reset getting them (as I am out of room).
Here is the orangeback:

 

[michael_cb_125]

~Michael

 

[Untamed12]

"reefsafe" is such a strange term. This guy doesn't eat my reef...or my shrimp...or eat my clam...so I suppose he is reefsafe.

He has certainly been trying to eat my coral gobies. I suspect he may have been successful in eating a couple of them....

I think he qualifies as weird.