Harlequin Tusk in a Reef wiht other wrasses?

[wickedfish]

I have another question if you don't mind, How can you distinguish a Philippine small juv versus an Australian small juv.
<Probably the price. Shipping out of Australia is nuts, so it adds significantly to the price. The Philippines has very regular cargo flights heading into LA so it's much cheaper - up here in Massachusetts, an Aussie tusk might run you $150-200 or more, where the Philippine tusk would be no more than $100. Juveniles would be just a little less.>
My local fish store insists that he carries only the Australian version, but how do I know for sure? He wants 75 for the small 3 - 3 1/2" juv (supposedly Australian) tusk. <Well many people talk about the coloration as a clue, and typically the orange of an Aussie tusk is very deep and bold. That being said, I've also seen this same orange on non-Aussie tusks. The same is true with the blue that occurs on the back and near the caudal fin. Aussie tusks typically have more blue, or are darker. But again, this can also lighten and darken with mood, and my own non-Aussie tusk has a good deal of blue on its back. Color may not be your best guide. I would use price - I paid $75 for my Indo-Pacific juvenile tusk (3in), and I live in Massachusetts. If you live in or close to LA, you might get a small shipping break but not that small.>
Any tips on identifying the young?
<Again, I think price - they don't cost any less to ship because they're smaller. The smallest of small tusks aren't nearly as handsome as their full-grown-selves and look more like a big eyeball with fins - ok, maybe not that bad, but certainly not easy to distinguish at that size. Do check out Bob's page on these - he has pictures of both: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/choerodon/faciata.htm>
Thank you again,
Ali Atapour

 

[jc16]

lol look at what else came in with the fish

 

[jason77777]

I had a tusk for close to 3yrs. He was fine with existing wrasses but any new wrasse additions were killed quickly. Don't plan on adding any wrasses after the tusk (although 3" is pretty small, they grow reasonalby quick). Not at all aggressive with any of my existing fish, inluding a few he probably could have eaten. Emerald crab held his own but i think he would have got him eventually if i hadn't removed the crab. He definitely danced around a bit with him. A had a couple acro crabs stupid enough to leave their perches during feeding time and they were gobbled up by the tusk before i could intervene. Mine did not eat my cleaner shrimp, however, the cleaner shrimp pre-dated him. Snails also were left alone.

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I wish I had read this last week. I suffered a loss this week. I've had my Harlequin tusk for about 2 years. He never bothers any new residents any more than a couple quick darts in their direction until this Sunday. I brought home a good size (still smaller than the tusk) 6 line wrasse. The tusk was obsessed with him. I thought it was just a quick initiation, but when I got home on Tuesday the 6 line was dead.

I bought a foxface 3 weeks ago and they get along just fine. Maybe an hour of standoffish behavior, followed by 3-4 days of foxface hiding. Now they swim by each other without issue. That's why this is surprising.

I think it's because it was another wrasse. If I had brought home a kole tang (or if I want to in the future) would I have the same issue? Did you have this issue? Believe me, I am heartbroken that this fish got killed and it was completely my fault.

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