Fish No-No's

[papagimp]

I enjoyed the thread recently posted pertaining to coral regrets, Oddly enough, I had many on those lists, And it seems my taste in fish is very similar. So, how bout you guys enlighten some of us newbies as to fish we really should avoid purchasing for a nice Reef Tank. (personal experience prefered, obviously books can be wrong)

 

[pwhitby]

DOMINO DAMSELS

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8261616#post8261616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pwhitby
DOMINO DAMSELS

Hardy Har-Har,

 

[pwhitby]

Engineer gobies. Look really cute when small but will destroy a tank in a short space of time as they get larger

 

[dugg]

Any fish with the word Damsel in it's name is a good rule to follow.

 

[dugg]

I would have to say my worst livestock purchase to date would have to be a tiger pistol shrimp. While he was very cool to watch, and did a great job stirring the sand, he destroyed atleast $250 worth of coral in his short stay. He liked to decorate his den with zoos and had to have fresh ones for each new hole he dug. He also enjoyed burrying my clams, and cut the foot off of one that he decided he didn't like it's placement. That was his last mistake.

 

[mskohl]

I'll have to second the engineer goby. When I first started, the LFS said I'd need him to stir my sand. Well, he's done that and dug out from under the rocks and covered many polyps that are at the bottom. He's fun to watch swim, but rather dangerous to balanced rocks.

 

[cmc0814]

My two engineer gobies after growing to around 6 inches decided to munch on my cleaner shrimp during feeding time. A couple of times I separated them before anything more than a leg was lost. But I went away for the weekend and never saw my cleaner shrimp again...sniff....

 

[corwise]

Dragon Wrasse (aka Rockmover Wrasse). Great fish, very cool, great color, neat to watch swim, etc. Unfortunately, that's how I learned that some LFS are lying to you when they say that "no, he's a peaceful fish." Always research your fish before you buy. He ate several corals, several shrimp, all of my crabs. Basically he had a good time at the expense of my tank. He'd be cool for the right tank (no corals, big mean fish), but not for my tank.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

While it's not a fish, nor is it one that I've kept, but the same thing can be said about Horseshoe Crabs. They are "peaceful", but get so large, dig deep holes, and turn over rocks in the blink of an eye.

 

[papagimp]

What are you're thoughts on Yellow headed jawfish? let's say a group of 4 individuals in a 150g? with lot's of open sand areas. 4 squarefeet to be exact.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

It doesn't seem to hurt, but I would worry about territory. They burrow down, but they don't seem to dig elaborate tunnels or anything. I would venture to guess if you put your rock in before your sand, you would be better off.

 

[kpk]

Big NONO on a Golden Dottyback. I had to tear my hold tank down to get that little ***** out. He killed snails, ate brissel worms, and the last straw was when it about killed my blue tang. I had every piece of rock out to get him...Sucked.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I completely forgot about Pseudochromis. They are about as bad as damsels.

 

[mdiddy7s]

The lunar wrasse is a real problem if you have shrmip and the like. He will also eat out the eyes of things like pyjama cardinals. The yswim so fast that they are hard to catch in any aquarium. I finally had to use a fishing line and mini hook with a piece of fresh shrimp to catch him and pull him out. It was successful but the wrasse did no make it.

 

[Youngsilver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8266408#post8266408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
What are you're thoughts on Yellow headed jawfish? let's say a group of 4 individuals in a 150g? with lot's of open sand areas. 4 squarefeet to be exact.

I loved the one that I had, but only get 1 as they get fairly large for a goby, and I would imagine their territories mach their size. As travis said, make sure to put rocks in then sand though, b/c he WILL cause an avalanch, as mine did. He ended up with a broken back, and swam permanently in an S shape...lesson learned

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8272757#post8272757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Youngsilver
I loved the one that I had, but only get 1 as they get fairly large for a goby, and I would imagine their territories mach their size. As travis said, make sure to put rocks in then sand though, b/c he WILL cause an avalanch, as mine did. He ended up with a broken back, and swam permanently in an S shape...lesson learned

:lmao: I think you're thinking of a different fish But with both fish, the same issue applies.

Yellow Headed Jawfish

Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8272048#post8272048 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mdiddy7s
I finally had to use a fishing line and mini hook with a piece of fresh shrimp to catch him and pull him out.

wow!, lol

 

[corwise]

I gotta agree on the Pseudochromis. He was an aggressive little jerk. Only fish I ever had that would pretty much attack the glass when I came by the tank.

 

[scott0615]

It seems increasingly poplular [at least in our store] for folks to attempt keeping "reef safe" Triggers. We try to talk people out of it...they make be cool with corals, however say goodbye to all crustaceans [no more algae grazers]. By the way - you can never tell what a "reef safe" animal may try...I had a Naso Tang that loved a Colt coral!!!