Cetoscarus...Anyone have one of these?

[mtlreeffreak]

Anyone have one? Know where to buy one?

Are they reef safe?

 

[ALH]

They get very large and are coral munchers

 

[Recty]

No parrotfish is reef safe.

 

[mtlreeffreak]

name : Quoy's Parrotfish
scientific nae :Scarus quoyi


had the wrong name for it..
did some research seems to be ok for reef..

 

[Recty]

Parrotfish are possibly one of the least reef safe fish there is.

 

[aquaph8]

Ive heard a few stories about people keeping Scarus quoyi in a reef but believe it didn't work out in the long run. Im not sure if it was a coral issue or if it was just an issue with the hardiness of the fish. Ill see if I can find anything.

 

[aquaph8]

Here is one of the threads I remember reading. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1902346&highlight=scarus+quoyi

 

[jd474]

Sorry DP

 

[jd474]

I have 3 of them, and they are totally reef safe; as are at least 1 or 2 other species of parrotfish. They are algae grazers, and not coral eaters. Without first hand experience, I would say it unfair to blanket the entire family as totally not reef compatible. You will need a decent sized aquarium for them, but they do not get huge, especially compared to other parrotfish. I would not keep multiples unless you have a very large aquarium (i.e. thousands of gallons).

 

[aquaph8]

How big would you say they get? Temperment? Foods, just algae?

 

[Monkeyfish]

I've been searching for a Quoy's for awhile. I've only seen 2 on-line at bluezoo and have never seen one at a LFS.

 

[small alien]

That is an incredibly beautiful fish. What is the mature size?

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Max size is 90 cm (yes, 40 inches). This species actually unfortunately does appear in the aquarium trade regularly. The juvenile is pretty and more recognizable, here is one (not my photo):

 

[AlexS95]

Hard to believe that comes from that! :lol:

 

[Recty]

I've only seen two of these in person, both in a LFS display tank. One was owned for about two years, from a 4" juvi up to about 10" when it started destroying all the rock work.

As stated above, they dont target corals but the scrape everything hard trying to harvest algae. This one I saw be so destructive was in "only" a 600g tank.

I would label them as totally not reef safe. Sure, they arent actively trying to kill corals, but in their search for food they will do it. At least that has been my experience.

The other Qouy they had only lived about 3 months in a smaller reef tank, I think it was a standard 210, and died for no reason they could tell.

Cute when small, but they get big and imo totally dont belong in an aquarium unless you're pushing 2000lbs+ of live rock.

 

[jd474]

Luiz, I think we are talking about 2 different fish. The OP mentions Cetoscarus bicolor, but meant to refer to Scarus quoyi, I believe. Pretty big size difference betwen the two.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Oh, I see his 2nd post now, but the photo he posted in the first message is of an adult C. bicolor, not S. quoyi...

 

[mtlreeffreak]

YA i meant the Quoy's Parrotfish

Thats the one most ppl seem to have in a reef tank

 

[jd474]

As far as their demeanor goes, they are hardly more destructive than any Ctenochaetus sp. surgeonfish. Yes they have a beak, and they rasp for most of the day, but I've yet to see any damage to rock, let alone full blown destruction. And yes they still get decent sized, but are still smaller than any Naso sp. tang...

I would not hesitate to add one to an appropriately sized reef, they are a gorgeous fish.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Anyone know where/how to get one?