Hello i've been thinking for awhile to put a harlequin tusk in my 350g reef. I know they aren't safe with inverts but has anyone atleast had one that did not bother the shrimps and the snails at all? well the one i am looking is only 2-3 inches from australia, beautiful little fish i wouldn't mind it eating my crabs though but just the cleaner shrimp and the snails i want to keep lol! and also i have a bunch of fairy wrasses as well would the tusk bother them? i would also be adding other wrasses in the future too!
Harlequin Tusk in a Reef wiht other wrasses?
- Thread starter jc16
- Start date
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
I did a poll a while back and most ate cleaner shrimp...
AquaKnight
Active member
The snails and other wrasses should be fine. At that size, the cleaner shrimp might be fine, but it's just one of those things one day you walk out to find only some antenna left of the cleaner.
Though the beauty of a Harlequin, far, far outweighs a cleaner shrimp IMO, and the occasional cleaning you might see. I hope you're not justifying the falsehood of the "need" of a cleaner shrimp, based on disease control. Cleaner shrimp do very little to nothing for diseases.
Though the beauty of a Harlequin, far, far outweighs a cleaner shrimp IMO, and the occasional cleaning you might see. I hope you're not justifying the falsehood of the "need" of a cleaner shrimp, based on disease control. Cleaner shrimp do very little to nothing for diseases.
yea i guess so i would also pick the tusk over the shrimp anyday but it just a diversity thing you know you got the whole ecosystem going. also i want to be sure on the other wrasses cause i got alot of them in there don't want this guy to bully all of them, heard they are really peaceful fish anyone have any experience? but yea hes quite small now should be okay thanks alot boys
Sardaukar
Premium Member
I don't think tuskfish are especially aggressive. Its just that your shrimp are part of its natural diet and a big/hungry/bored tuskfish is likely to take them out at some point.
wickedfish
New member
Agreed with above. G-luck on getting a aus. tusk 2-3. The smallest i ever scene is 4 inch. I have one in my 120 gallon. Going to upgrade the tank next month. Any shrimp well be taking out by the tusk. Crabs are a big maybe. Snails are fine. Any other wrasses is fine. But make sure there not that agg. Tusk are not agg. The ony time i see my tusk agg is when he is fighting for food. G-Luck.
tylorarm
Premium Member
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.
Sardaukar
Premium Member
Its that way with many fish groups. There are tang and angel species that you want to add after any other tangs or angels, just like you want to add a tuskfish last among your wrasses. It just requires some planning on what you want to add. Figure out which other wrasses you want, get them added and established, and then add the tusk
AquaKnight
Active member
That in itself is a consideration. I just don't see a 2" Tusk being aggressive to newcomers, even other wrasses. I've had 3 Tusks, a 5.5", a 4.5", and a 2", granted all Indos. I had the big boy established for 2 months, then added a 3.5" Cuban Hogfish, the Tusk didn't even notice him. The 2" was in a reef with a leopard wrasse.
Granted I would say a large Tusk could be a problem, and I was definitely worried when I added the Hog, but a 2" Tusk, no way. Depending on the size of the other wrasses, I maybe concerned with some of the aggression the other way, towards the Tusk....
That is perhaps another concern. Every juvi Tusk I have seen, has been Indo. Australian Tusks are caught using baited hooks (rod/reel). For this reason, small Aussie Tusks are almost none existent. I would definitely study the fish very well before spending Aussie $$ on a Indo...
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that an interesting point to look into but this one is not actually juvi and has adult markings definitely look alot more orange than some of the indo ones i have seen, i think it is more 3 inches but i have actually seen one come in from a shipment of Australian fish that was 2 inch or less but did not make the next day, beautiful fish still thinking about it leaning towards grabbing her tmr!! lol
streetjudge79
Active member
He will eat snails, crabs,shrimp. I have a large australian tusk, I bought 150 snails and he went through all of them in 2 days. My cleaner shrimp were also nabbed by him and I was also swimming around with my emerald crabs in his mouth. So NO , they aren't safe for any inverts.
wickedfish
New member
I have a 120 gallon with a 5 inch aus. tusk, P-Tang and a pair of mystery wrasses with no problems. Snails and other wrasses will be o.k But shrimps etc are going to be its meal sooner or later. Thats a fact. If you find a Aus.Tusk 2-3 inches let me know. Good luck. No it wouldnt bother your fairy wrasses. Keep in mind i seen some real nice indo- tusks as well. It depends on what you feed it. The healthier they the more colorfull.
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wickedfish
New member
That is wierd that a 3inch tusk would make 2 yellow tail damsels disappear.
wickedfish
New member
Nope, not true. I seen some nice looking indo's with red tails. Depends if there fed good also it may indicate that there stressed. Espcially at a LFS. Here is a link for what to look for Go down to the third heading Harlequin Tusk
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tuskidfaqs.htm just read around.
I guess its more of the pricing. But the colors are way more brighter the green and bluiesh on it are intense on mine. My Aust. Tusk 4 inches cost me $120 thats here in CA. Lowest price i could find in the L.A and Ventura County Area. Real hard to find anything smaller then 4inches. I have been told by many, many LFS stores around. Except for indo's. But like i said. I seen some real nice indo's with bright colors. Depends what you feed it. Word of advice if you get an indo make sure your lFS store hold it or it have been there for awile like a month or so and eating like a champ and colors not faded.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tuskidfaqs.htm just read around.
I guess its more of the pricing. But the colors are way more brighter the green and bluiesh on it are intense on mine. My Aust. Tusk 4 inches cost me $120 thats here in CA. Lowest price i could find in the L.A and Ventura County Area. Real hard to find anything smaller then 4inches. I have been told by many, many LFS stores around. Except for indo's. But like i said. I seen some real nice indo's with bright colors. Depends what you feed it. Word of advice if you get an indo make sure your lFS store hold it or it have been there for awile like a month or so and eating like a champ and colors not faded.
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