Harlequin Tusk in an SPS reef?

[nbd13]

Hey guys what do you think of a harlequin tusk in a SPS reef?

i am thinking of getting 1 for my 180 SPS reef, i mean all SPS reef.

heres the list of tank mates,

2 ocellaris clowns
1 lineatus fairy wrasse
1 lubbocks fairy wrasse
1 flame fairy wrasse
1 labouti fairy wrasse
1 Rhomboid fairy wrasse
1 tang (either a purple, PBT, powder brown tang, or anchilles, still haev to decide and find a healthy tang)

then my Harlequin Tusk, but why are they not consider reef safe? i mean will it get along with me other fish? i hear they eat snails or what about cleaner shrimp?

do you think i could add one to my list?

thanks!

Nick

 

[Detritivore]

pm Tagareef. he has one

 

[nbd13]

PM sent!

thanks!

anyone else?

Nick

 

[floridajhawk]

shrimp=lunch, small fish =lunch, crabs and snails=lunch, other than that you should be fine haha

 

[nbd13]

i guess the main thing is will the HT get along with the other fairy wrasses?

thanks!

Nick

 

[John Brancheau]

Nick,

I had one in my other tank, no problems with the other wrasses, it will be the boss.....

No shrimp, crabs or any other types of shelled creatures will be safe though, when I tor down my other tank, there was a really nice pile of empty crushed up shells......


Keep in mind they get pretty large.....

John

 

[nbd13]

yeah thanks John, i think i need to weigh out my optitions on this one.

i just dont want it to eat my 2 little clowns

thanks again!

Nick

 

[Treg]

NO Shrimp or Snails?? Not even large shrimp like blood reds or large turbo snails? I've always really liked this fish too but have been afraid to try one. Crabs I can do without...

 

[nbd13]

i am more afraid of it eating smaller fish, like my tiny ocellaris clowns.

Nick

 

[Big E]

I had one that would see his reflection on the acrylic panels when the lights were on & he would constantly attack it. He scratched the heck out of my front window. I had to get rid of him. Weird thing is I had him for a couple years before this started.

These guys get LARGE so some of your wrasses may be potential meals also. They also eat a lot & are large waste producers.

I always had mine in large fish displays but have read them being good & bad citizens as far as eating snails & small fish.

 

[JDS]

I think the only reason people don't want them in the reef tank is because they will eat crustaceans and very small fish. I had several at different times in my reef tank and never had a problem with him bothering the fish. But he did like to bother the snails.

 

[Tagareef]

Nick,

I've had mine for over 6 years now and he is a great fish. I think the key to my success is that I feed my reef heavily. I found that when the feedings were reduced, Mr. Tusk suddenly became interested in snails and hermits. He never bothered any of the other 20 fish in the tank.

When I say that I feed heavily...I mean 3 frozen cubes a day (of which he steals at least one for himself), various pellets and flakes throughout the day and he even indulges himself on the nori sheet that I feed my 5 tangs daily.

So just because of the feeding requirements alone...I probably wouldn't recommend a tusk in your low nutrient Zeo tank. This guy is definitely a poop factory!

Sorry for the late response,

Luis

 

[sschafer]

I have one in my 120g. Upgrade coming soon I hope. He hasn't touched any of my fire and cleaner shrimp. Unfortunately he hasn't gotten any of my pistols, I was kind of hoping he'd help me get rid of them. Hermits and snails all seem to be fine as well. I have numerous other wrasses in the tank and they all get along fine. He did eat a damsel, but that was one slated for the scorpionfish. I would get another Harlequin Tusk in a second. I'll post some pictures in a week or so.

-Steve

 

[nbd13]

yeah i am still debating on the final fish list, its so hard to decide, i just dont want this HT to eat my other fish.

thanks evryone i guess i need to really think this through!

Nick

 

[Vili_Shark]

Nick,
There's nothing to think about, your clowns will be Tusk food.
I have a Tusk in my other tank which is FWLR, whenit arrived, it didnt bother any fish, actually some of the angels were bothering him.
He ate or killed all the Turbos, Astreas and most of the Nassarius, the only snails he didnt eat were big Mexican Turbos, he tried to flip them over but they have a strong hold on the glass or rock.

The main problem is that in the last 6-8 weeks, it started to get agressive towards the fish as well.

I'd never trust it with snails, crabs, shrimps, small fish.

He got a huge appetite and buidlding up his confidence with time.

 

[nbd13]

alright thats ruled out. i will have to find another fish.

thanks!

Nick

 

[edwadd]

Have one in a 180 sps tank. Also have a mandarin and 2 small ocellaris and he never bothers them. Also have a cleaner shrimp that he ignores. I keep him well fed. Have never seen him eat a hermit or snail but their populations seem to have dwindled. He really is an awsome fish, he eats any food I have ever put in the tank. The only possible negative is that over time he is getting big and with this comes the bioload issue.

 

[SPStoner]

I've been contemplating adding a Tusk for a while now to my 120 cube SPS tank. I searched and found this old thread. Any updates from any of you who posted here, or any one else? I've been doing this long enough to know that there are no concrete rules when it comes to fish. You can take 10 Clown Triggers and put them in reef tanks and 9 of them may be cool towards other fish, but that 10th one may be Satan.... So I realize it is a role of the dice. I don't have any crabs or shrimp, but do have a few dozen snails, which I know will probably be lunch. I'm mostly concerned about other fish. I have mostly Wrasse, a damsel, Sailfin Tang, and a Flame Hawk.

Any comments, suggestions are appreciated.

TIA

 

[JDS]

The Harlequin tusks I've had have never bothered any fish in my tank at all. They really are pretty peaceful even though their fierce looks might lead you to believe otherwise.

 

[Big E]

Hi Tony,

These guys are active swimmers & need room to roam. I don't think one would be very comfortable in your packed reef. It's hard to get them small, so your looking at a 6-7 inch fish.

If you do get one, hold out for the Australian version. Their colors are twice as bright as the normal Indonesian ones. They're worth the extra price, plus you have a better chance of it not being cyanide caught.