Harlequin Tusk in a Reef Tank?

[DragonWarriorPo]

Does anyone have an Australian Harlequin Tusk in their reef tank. I have a mixed reef tank and I want to know if the Harlequin tusk will munch on any of my LPS corals. I know some of my shelled creatures will be lunch, but I'm more concerned about my corals.
Also, will they munch on a bubble tip anemone?

 

[Andrew]

He won't bother any of your corals. Just snails, hermits, shrimp, ect are at risk. Some people have good luck and can keep their snails and others are gone pretty quick.

 

[nitro4kthompson]

I have had an AHT for about a year in a tank with a closed brain,duncans,torch coral,mushrooms, maximini anemones, toadstool and finger leathers, and some assorted zoas without ever seeing it touch any of them. The Tusk does on occasion pull pieces of meaty food out of the duncans and maximinis if it gets the chance right after I feed them. I love this fish and feel it isn't much threat to any corals in my tank.

 

[DarthSimon]

I have a 6 Inch Plus Aussi in my 220 Reef, with LPS, and softies... NO issues... he picks up shells from time to time, but doesn't kill any snails... My cleaner shrimp are all still alive... I did have an Arrow Crab go missing.... Can't prove it was the tusk....

 

[TheGodParticle]

I have an AHT in my mixed reef that contains mostly LPS with quit a few XL fleshy brains. He's been a model citizen in my tank since day 1. Has never touched anything. As stated above these are typically reef safe (Corals) but may chow down on your crustaceans... In my opinion that's a small price to pay for one of the best looking fish out there.

 

[Alex T.]

I had one in my last reef tank. Beautiful fish. My cleanup crew (snails, hermits, shrimp) slowly disappeared though, and the tusk was very, very full. Most of them are shy, but once acclimated he became a pig at feeding time. He would never pick at the Nori off the clip. He would simply grab the clip off the glass and drag it behind the rockwork where he would hord the entire sheet to himself, and I'd wait until my Vortech pumps pushed the clip toward the front of the tank to retrieve it.

I swore sometimes that he was going to eat the clip too.

 

[ejdustin]

I'm also curious because I have thought of adding one... wouldnt he bother some of the fish though? I wouldnt worry about the clean-up as I already have a zebra eel and a giant haddons carpet who eats snails.

 

[TheGodParticle]

I'm also curious because I have thought of adding one... wouldnt he bother some of the fish though?

If you read up on AHT and ask other people most will tell you that they are very docile fish (at least mine is!) for the most part. Typically it's other fish that are the aggressor towards them, i.e. Butterflies, Groupers, Triggers which typically aren't in a reef tank anyhow... I have mine in a Tang dominate tank all from the Zebrasoma family and he's more peaceful then all of them (My purple Tangs dominate the tank). AHT in my opinion are low risk, high reward fish, I think you'll be good.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

They are docile aggression-wise, but they are still a large somewhat predatory fish. Mine was not aggressive, but ate a small (1") leopard wrasse.

 

[ejdustin]

Good to know they are incredible looking I have always wanted to add one. Tank mates would all be pretty docile so I will just have to keep him well fed.

 

[cakemanPA]

Mine was 7" long and very well fed. He was a model citizen for 6 months, and then one day decided that my clams looked like something to eat. He wiped out all small snails. He went into my fowlr before he damaged any clams.


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[ejdustin]

Good thing I don't have clams if I decide to add one though I do like clams too.... decisions decisions

 

[JeF4y]

I've always wanted an AHT as well as they are an absolutely gorgeous fish. I'm in the process of upgrading to a 150 which would give plenty of room for swimming/hiding/etc, but had the same questions as everyone else here.

I can live with a disappearing CUC and tend to replenish mine about twice a year anyhow since they die off or the crabs get hungry and much the snails, etc.

I guess I will have to decide whether I want the AHT or the Crocea clam I just picked up though as the clam may not stand much chance if I bring in a tusk.

 

[indyjaco]

Would anyone chance a small 3 to 4" Tusk in a 75? LA is having a sale right now on them.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Would anyone chance a small 3 to 4" Tusk in a 75? LA is having a sale right now on them.

I love these fish and have kept them for years and have 3 large ones now. I have kept one in a mixed reef for many years; no inverts of small fish though. But, I'd never keep one in a 75. Like tangs, they need swimming room and a bored tusk can be very destructive. They are slow growers, but even a 3' tusk is a big, active, robust fish. A smallish tusk is likely to eat many of the fish that are appropriate for a 75 reef. BTW, the 3-4 1/2 inch tusks at LA are the biggest 3-4 1/2" fish I've ever seen; if that makes sense. My good friend & helper has a 4" HT in his 240 and I can't imagine this fish in a 4' tank. This fish's first meal, after the QT, was a 1 1/2" longnose hawkfish. I warned him, those blue teeth aren't just for inverts. HTs are usually very well behaved; but nothing can bring out aggression in an active fish like being cramped. LA suggests 125 gal as the minimum tank size, and I think that's a bit small.

 

[indyjaco]

Thanks. I would be worried about my YWG and shrimp.

I do understand what you mean with their sizing. Hopefully I'll have room for one in a couple of years with a nice upgrade. They are amazing fish.

 

[johnfallon135]

If they eat snails and shrimps how do people keep their tanks clean?

 

[OrionN]

my fish list is in my sig line. I aways have a tusk in my arger reef. No problem. My cleaner shrimps are fine. Small snails are dinner. Any snails up to about 3 mm are fare game. My Turbo used to breed in my tank, no more (rare that I see a baby turbo these days.

 

[Waters40]

I had mine for almost a year and just recently had to get rid of him due to aggression towards other wrasses. He ate all of my snails and hermits from the very beginning. I have never had another fish eat as much as him. He would follow my turkey baster around attacking it as I was trying to feed the coral.