Fish-proof corals

[zachfishman]

Did you ever have a super-unpalatable coral that big fish just wouldn't touch? I'm trying to add coral to a large display with numerous coral pickers (triggers, puffers large and small, large angels).

These corals have been eaten so far:
Xenia
Cabbage coral
Zoanthids
Palythoa
Caulastrea (trumpet/candy coral)
Rhodactis mushrooms (orange)
Discosoma mushrooms (red)
GBTA (if a fish could ever show a "sour face," this puffer did. Still ate the nem though)

Safe so far:
GSP
Rhodactis mushrooms (green)
Discosoma mushrooms (green)

The system is essentially FOWLR, so no SPS. But I'd still really like some coral in there, even if it's ugly :hmm4:

 

[Tremelle]

Have tried any leathers?

 

[Empty Bottles]

There's a cabbage on the list, but I was wondering the same thing. I can't see anything willingly eating a devil's hand coral. Just doesn't seem like they would be appetizing.

 

[triggreef]

Colt (kenya tree) coral. SAFE

I bought a green sinularia I was going to try but I woosied out and put it in my reef instead.

I have the same issue/plan, and a similar list of eaten pieces of test frags from my other tank. I will add a hollywood stunner chalice to your list of "eaten". (I removed that after most of the flesh was gone and it came right back in a few weeks). Also Anthelia I tried. For some reason he (dogface) tried it and never went back for a month. Then it disappeared over night one night.

Nice to know about the GSP though I will give that a try.

 

[triggreef]

Interesting on the mushrooms. I tried metallic orange and he ate that, as well as a fresh cut blue ric.

I tried a monti cap, which did not get eaten, but I have too crappy water quality to support it in that tank.

 

[zachfishman]

I have some Kenya tree I can try. I'm only adding "junk" corals that are over growing other systems. Devil's hand would be interesting.

Oddly, many of the corals were fine for days or weeks only to then disappear overnight.

 

[Beandawg]

I had a puffer that ate mushrooms like they were cookies. That puffer would not touch cabbage leather though.

 

[HumbleFish]

Following. Would love to someday have a FOWLR w/crap corals.

 

[Empty Bottles]

I've also read somewhere that frogspawns aren't a coral fish pick at too often. I've also read about hammers getting eaten. Of course the majority of my info comes from the internet so I don't believe any of it lol.

 

[zachfishman]

I've also read somewhere that frogspawns aren't a coral fish pick at too often. I've also read about hammers getting eaten. Of course the majority of my info comes from the internet so I don't believe any of it lol.

As unlikely as it is to survive, I'm going to try a torch. Given how aggressive they are, you never see really big colonies in our reefs. I'd happily let a big torch take over a third of that system!

 

[anbosu]

I would try some encrusting gorgonians too.

 

[triggreef]

Following. Would love to someday have a FOWLR w/crap corals.

lmao

I've also read somewhere that frogspawns aren't a coral fish pick at too often. I've also read about hammers getting eaten. Of course the majority of my info comes from the internet so I don't believe any of it lol.

Now I'm thinking about it I had a frogspawn in there with the dogface and he never touched it. I only took it out because I wanted it in my other tank. I may try this again if I find a cheap frag or when I can just break off a head, which ever comes first.

 

[HumbleFish]

I've also read somewhere that frogspawns aren't a coral fish pick at too often. I've also read about hammers getting eaten. Of course the majority of my info comes from the internet so I don't believe any of it lol.

My Lemonpeel was picking at my frogspawn pretty regularly, but has since backed off. I don't know if she decided she didn't like the taste of it, or if my increasing the frequency of her feedings caused her to stop picking.

 

[Empty Bottles]

My Lemonpeel was picking at my frogspawn pretty regularly, but has since backed off. I don't know if she decided she didn't like the taste of it, or if my increasing the frequency of her feedings caused her to stop picking.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really interested in this thread and I don't think that I'm alone in trying to make a tank with puffers and the like a semi-reef. I'm basically throwing crap and ideas against the wall trying to see what sticks.

 

[triggreef]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really interested in this thread and I don't think that I'm alone in trying to make a tank with puffers and the like a semi-reef. I'm basically throwing crap and ideas against the wall trying to see what sticks.

Not alone. :wavehand:

Anyone try yellow colonial polyps by the way? I have a ton of these and they grow so fast... It would be an easy one if they are noxious enough to be left alone. I'm gonna try this weekend I'll advise.

 

[HumbleFish]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really interested in this thread and I don't think that I'm alone in trying to make a tank with puffers and the like a semi-reef. I'm basically throwing crap and ideas against the wall trying to see what sticks.

Btw, I love 60" 100 gallons. Do you have the Ocean View? Such a great tank to grow corals and so easy to work on. I currently have a 60" 150 gal, which has the same footprint as the 100 gal, but it's 24" tall. Basically it's just like a 180 gal, except 5 ft instead of 6.

 

[sandwi54]

List of corals my dogface and golden puffer ate:
1. frogspawn (dogface)
2. sun coral (dogface)
3. tyree toadstool (golden)
4. kenya tree (golden) -- yes my golden puffer chewed up all my kenya trees
5. hairy mushroom (golden)

I thnk in genenral, there is no "absolutely" safe corals with puffers, and each different individual may have different preferences for coral types.

 

[zachfishman]

UPDATE:

I tried a decent-sized kenya tree frag, and it lived for a week! The dogface ignored it, but it disappeared soon after the large Arothron puffer returned from quarantine.

At least the GSP seems to be growing

 

[snorvich]

Safe so far:
GSP
Rhodactis mushrooms (green) However, these eat fish so be careful.
Discosoma mushrooms (green)

The system is essentially FOWLR, so no SPS. But I'd still really like some coral in there, even if it's ugly :hmm4: