Harlequin Tusk in Reef?

[SoloChromis]

Those Aussie harlequin tusks have long been one of my favorite fish, but I have always been told they would obliterate my CUC. After discovering the relative reef-safeness of several other fish I have always been warned about (but always wanted), including my zebra moray eel, quoyi parrotfish and marine betta, I am curious to know if anyone has kept a Harley in their reef tank, what they managed to keep successfully with him, and what got chewed on. I'm not totally against tossing my hermits into the refugium (they'd probably be happier there anyways, actually), and other than a few fighting conchs, I don't have any snails in the tank. However, I would like to keep my pincushion urchins and large blood shrimp. So anyone here give into the off-beat beauty of the harlequin tusk?

 

[slief]

Here is a good read on them. I too considered one for my reef but I passed due to the fact that they will eat hermit crabs, snails and shrimp.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2432278&highlight=harlequin

 

[goreef170]

Hi, I currently have a 6" Aussi Harlequin Tusk. I have had him for 2 months now. He is hands down my favorite fish. I feed him pieces of Krill and Squid. He eats everything I put into the tank including pellets and Algae sheets. I keep him well fed, and I haven't seen him go after any of my CUC. I'm not saying he won't at some point, but I do think it helps to keep him well fed. He has great personality, friendly and just cruises around the tank, usually always in the front. If you want one, I say go for it ! you won't be disappointed.

 

[SoloChromis]

Here is a good read on them. I too considered one for my reef but I passed due to the fact that they will eat hermit crabs, snails and shrimp.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2432278&highlight=harlequin

Thanks for the link. After reading through that thread and several others, I have pretty much come to terms with the fact that an AHT probably wouldn't mingle well in my current tank. I love shrimp and large communities of small fish, and I feel it *may* be too big of a risk. I guess I'll chalk this guy up with the saddleback butterfly and porcupine puffer, realizing they'd all be better off in a designated FOWLR. Good excuse for another tank I guess :bum:

 

[SoloChromis]

Hi, I currently have a 6" Aussi Harlequin Tusk. I have had him for 2 months now. He is hands down my favorite fish. I feed him pieces of Krill and Squid. He eats everything I put into the tank including pellets and Algae sheets. I keep him well fed, and I haven't seen him go after any of my CUC. I'm not saying he won't at some point, but I do think it helps to keep him well fed. He has great personality, friendly and just cruises around the tank, usually always in the front. If you want one, I say go for it ! you won't be disappointed.

Well thanks a lot, now I'm back up on the fence :lolspin: What kind of fish do you keep with him?

 

[goreef170]

Here is a pic I just took...

I keep some tangs, Some anthias, mellamarus wrasse, hawk fish, trigger, ect. The only aggression is the PBT. He briefly brushes him once in a while, but really rare, he gets along with every body.

 

[kichimark]

I have had one for a while and he did destroy my stomatella population in a matter of days.

 

[SoloChromis]

Here is a pic I just took...

I keep some tangs, Some anthias, mellamarus wrasse, hawk fish, trigger, ect. The only aggression is the PBT. He briefly brushes him once in a while, but really rare, he gets along with every body.

I like fish like possum wrasses, assessors, blennies, neon gobies etc. I'm thinking they'd be easy snacks for a tusk if he felt so inclined. Tangs, triggers etc. I wouldn't be worried about.

 

[goreef170]

You can have smaller fish, just have them in first. I have small fish without any issues. If I tried now to add a small fish, he might see it as food and go after it. That would be my fault and not harleys

 

[lonzoencho]

I have one in a 150 Gallon with shrimp, crabs, and snails and he/she won't touch a thing (1 year). Each animal is different though.

 

[SoloChromis]

I have one in a 150 Gallon with shrimp, crabs, and snails and he/she won't touch a thing (1 year). Each animal is different though.

Well crap, looks like I'm adding a poll to the thread now... If only they weren't so pretty

 

[anbosu]

I had no issues for well over a year

 

[SoloChromis]

I had no issues for well over a year

What fish and inverts did you keep with him?

 

[anbosu]

Nassarius snails, hermit crabs, turbos. I had mostly bigger fish - I have heard they will eat smaller fish like anthias given the opportunity. I would never chance a shrimp with one but mine didn't eat many crabs.

 

[SoloChromis]

Nassarius snails, hermit crabs, turbos. I had mostly bigger fish - I have heard they will eat smaller fish like anthias given the opportunity. I would never chance a shrimp with one but mine didn't eat many crabs.

Damn, so you think my blood shrimp would be toast? :hmm2:

 

[anbosu]

Damn, so you think my blood shrimp would be toast? :hmm2:

Probably but I think a tusk is cooler than any shrimp personally

 

[rogersb]

I had a large one for over a year with no issues with shrimp or any other clean up crew but after that year he decided he wanted only live food. He caught every slower small fish I had and ate them. He stopped eating prepared foods and before I could find someone who would take him he wasted away.

 

[Spartan]

I have an old thread on this somewhere, but here's the nutshell. I had one that I absolutely loved. It is a strikingly beautiful fish. But you have to know that he will eat any fish he can fit in his mouth - no matter how fat and happy you think he is. He never bullied anyone, but when he could eat them he did. Clownfish, anthias etc. Small inverts do eventually get picked off, it's not an instant massacre, it's more like serial killing. Tusks dont bother corals at all. So you can do it, but dont deceive yourself about what the reality will be. Be judicious about what you put in there with it.

 

[cakemanPA]

I loved mine. I had him for 18 months and not a problem. One day my Squamosa clam looked tasty to him. He went into my FOWLR very quickly. I love looking at them, but I like my clams too.

 

[albano]

HT is one of my 'must have' fish... Had 1 in almost every tank, including reefs, for over 40 yrs...