Breams...

[Irish1983]

In particular Monocle Breams...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+46+2627&pcatid=2627

What makes them not reef safe? Are they similar to lion fish being "not safe" because they eat other fish that fit in their mouths? Haven't found anything solid on why yet.

 

[minhvu]

Probably eat your inverts and shrimp

 

[Irish1983]

Are they dangerous to corals? Or just shrimp/crabs?

 

[Matt_Wandell]

Not sure why it's listed as not reef safe. Waikiki Aquarium has one in their 5000g reef tank. It has a very small mouth so it's not going to be eating fish unless they are tiny. They spend most of their time near the substrate looking for small worms and crustaceans. Shouldn't bother corals at all.

The other Nempiterids that do well in aquariums are the Pentapodus spp., although they get quite large and need a lot of swimming space. Likewise, they are mostly harmless in a reef except to some small inverts. Joe Yaiullo has a few adults in the 20,000g reef at Atlantis, and we have a few as well although ours are just juveniles. There is one on the LA DD right now actually...

 

[Irish1983]

Interesting...so no one knows why it has that rep? I have seen multipul posts and warnings from other online fish sellers. No one says "why" they have it labeled that way. Does anyone have one in their tanks thats full grown or close to it?

EDIT: I messaged Fosters & Smiths asking for more info. Hopefully I will get some answers.

 

[Irish1983]

Matt thank you for the info. I really want one for my 75 gal when I set it up....just hoping if it eats other fish none of my fish I want or am transferring over are small enough to be dinner.

 

[Matt_Wandell]

It should be fine with small fish, unless you have small gobies or something. Keep in mind this fish gets pretty big and when full grown will need a tank bigger than 75g.

 

[AquaKnight]

Breams are very cool fish. I actually had both types mentioned. Pentapodus spp., Whiptails, are pretty different from Scolopsis, Monocle Breams. Whiptails are far more active and grow to a larger size. They are more like Fusilers and Jacks really. They have pretty strong appetite and need a larger tank. Even as juveniles, they were already tight in my 125gal.

The Monocle would be a great choice though. They only get to around 6"-7", and don't have the activity level of the Whiptails. They are pretty similar to a Damsel, but lack the aggression. They too will definitely not miss a meal. I had some very hungry mouths to feed, and not of the Breams missed a meal.

Here's one of my feeding videos, I had 2 Whiptails, a Monocle, and several other fish. My Monocle was a fairly large one too.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl155%2FSoFloShawn%2FMOV00456.flv">

 

[AquaKnight]

Matt, is there any way you can get a pic up of an adult Pentapodus? The images on google seem to be lacking, I've never really seen a "good" picture of one.

 

[Irish1983]

AquaKnight thats awesome thank you . Do you have a juvenile leopard grouper in there O.O! Hope you have a nice home for him when he gets big or a nice home for the fish he will see as snacks when he gets big.

 

[Irish1983]

Here is the response I got back from Foster's & Smith's:

"Dear Brandon,

Thank you for your email. The Two-line Monocle Bream is not considered reef safe because these fish will eat smaller fish and crustaceans.

Thank you for choosing Drs. Foster & Smith LiveAquaria for your live aquatic needs. You are a valued customer and we look forward to hearing from you in the future."

So if I keep to the one I want he only get 8" max (ant that a big one from what i have seen/heard). You guys say they have small mouths? So no citron Gobies or anything near that size obviously. About what size is off the menu for my Two-line Monocle Bream? Are dart fish to slender?

 

[Matt_Wandell]

Matt, is there any way you can get a pic up of an adult Pentapodus? The images on google seem to be lacking, I've never really seen a "good" picture of one.

I used to have a photo of one of the adults in Joe's tank but can't find it. Anyway, they look like this:

There are also a few pics in Scott Michael's book "Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes" including a large adult on the back cover.

 

[velvetelvis]

This thread made me do a double-take. I grew up catching fish out of drainage ditches and ponds, so to me "bream" means a small FW sunfish.

 

[007Bond]

Any updates for this thread,...I see DRFS has one today,...anyone tried these guys? I read Kevin's reply about them but I'm wondering if proper feeding would steer them away from my cleaner shrimps,...I have seen plenty of reef keepers here on RC that keep so called unsafe reef fish in their full blown reef tanks.
I like the look of these guys so just thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance,---Rick

 

[d-man]

I have a 3" banana bream who is a model citizen for 6 months now. It seems as if he never sleeps either. Always out swimming no matter when it is. I have a fire shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. All good t
His far. When he gets bigger though he will find a new home I suppose

 

[007Bond]

Thanks d-man,...as pointed out earlier they look to have a small mouth,so if you keep them fed I would hope they stay away from live food ie. my shrimp ect.

Anyone else have any Two-line Monocle Bream experience?

 

[Ashbowlmech]

my 2 line

my 2 line

I added this guy to my reef tank last October when he was about 1.5 inches. now he's about 2 5. I've had no problem with him, but he likes to stir up the substrate to get more food than I regularly feed.