Do Corals eat Fish?

[Raibaru]

Kind of odd topic maybe, but I thought I read a ways back about people advising not getting certain types of Leather corals because they may eat fish? I'm thinking I may get a leather coral for my tank because they look somewhat like carpet anemones and maybe my clowns will host. But I don't want my clowns eaten.

Also, anyone care to share some pics of their Leathers? I'm not exactly sure of which type it was I saw in another thread and I can't find it now, of course!.

 

[drummereef]

Elephant Ear mushrooms can. Never heard of a leather eating a fish.

 

[vijaym85]

Maybe the giant cup mushroom, no softies i know of will.

 

[ACBlinky]

A leather couldn't possibly eat a fish, they don't have the inclination or the mouth(s) for it. Softies like leathers tend to eat things like microplankton, phytoplankton, bacteria -- microscopic bits floating in the water column, not chunks of meaty foods.

I can imagine a large LPS coral maybe eating a small dead or dying fish, but a healthy fish could probably avoid anything but an elephant ear mushroom.

You mentioned getting a leather because they look like carpet anemones -- sounds like maybe you mean a toadstool leather or maybe Sarcophyton elegans (Fiji Yellow leather), neither of which pose any risk to fish.

 

[Raibaru]

Thanks for the heads up. Will my lighting be enough for either leather? I was told Fiji Leathers have high light needs? I have 130w PC in a 20" tall tank. 36g

 

[gflat65]

Hmmmm. Not sure I know what a 'high light' softie looks like. Many of mine will do fine close to MH, but they pretty much all seem to do as well or better under very little light. I think you'd be fine with PC's and a leather.

 

[wickeddroptop]

My rics eat whole pieces of krill, does that count?

 

[Chad Vossen]

carpet anemones will eat healthy fish. neon gobys can fall victim to LPS corals and anemones. some mushrooms are known fish eaters.

 

[johnnybravo234]

That light will be fine.