Banggai Cardinal fish. Reef safe or not reef safe?

[StephLionfish]

I've heard that they are reef safe, and I've read that they eat shrimp and small fish when they are bigger. I have a very small banggai in my reef, and he isn't paying attention to the shrimp.. but then again the shrimp are bigger than him.. So, reef safe or not?:bounce3:

 

[MelloW33]

Completely reef safe IME. I have abreeding pair and even they don't mess with anything, including shrimp.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Yes

 

[Wolverine]

Reef safe.

 

[IFbettas]

Definately reef safe.

 

[SushiGirl]

If you get tiny shrimp, any cardinals will try to eat them. They love pods and consider the tiny shrimp to be food. I have 2 orbic cardinals & they tried to eat my tiny pistol I put in at the same time as them LOL. As long as the shrimp are large (I have 5 large ones), they should be fine. Never heard of them eating small fish, but then I haven't heard everything. I would guess any fry would be fair game, including baby fish (except their own).

 

[small alien]

They'll eat your face right off.

But reef safe? Yes.

 

[SushiGirl]

You're ok as long as you don't stick your face in the tank

 

[AquaticFins]

In that they will not eat corals? Completely reef-safe.

I have personally seen many individuals eat small shrimp (including cleaner shrimp) as adults. I've seen a few take small fish, but that seems to be a little less common - more a matter of opportunity than hunting behaviour.

They get quite a bit larger than most people seem to think and they definitely will eat anything that fits in that (rather large!) mouth.

 

[StephLionfish]

Hm..I will keep an eye on the little fart then. I've got lionfish, so I know all about deceiving mouth sizes. Thanks everybody.