Harlequin Tusk?

[Brian r. s.]

How reefsafe are they? Will they bother clams? Can you have smaller fish with them?Pic's and advice are welcome?

 

[TAZ316]

I would use caution on the reefsafe. they will eat clams and snails. and will eat smaller fish. what size tank are you planning on putting it in, cause they can grow preety big.
James.

 

[woodywoo]

James Is Right From a person who has had lots of them. Safe with Corals, NOT WITH INVERTS. OR FISH that will fit in its mouth. I had one eat Anthias. Acclimate slowly, Will hide for a few hours and should eat most meaty frozen foods.

 

[jjcrim]

They are awesome fish.

 

[TAZ316]

yes acclimate slowly. the first one I got I messed up and did to fast and it died before I even got it into the tank. talk about being pis**d off. after that I did a whole lot of reading and learned that they need to acclimate for a while before going into the tank.

 

[orgetorix]

Mine is about 7" long and doesn't bother my cleaner shrimp, coral banded shrimp, hermits, snails or small fish like damsels, chromis, lawnmower blenny or royal gramma. He did take a liking to emerald crabs though.

 

[zemuron114]

shoot for a small one. you may have to settle for an indo small because australian smalls are rare. For some reason the ones from australia (they look much better then the indo ones) are always big!

 

[Patchy]

thats cause we get all the smalls....like you guys get all the small clown triggers....

 

[zemuron114]

lol.. that is true

 

[cartouche]

Years ago I had an established tank with a powder brown and a juvenile emperor that had become good buddies and kept together alot of the time, there were some other bits in there etc (fish only). I wanted a splash of orange so my aquatic shop ordered me a Harlequin Tuskfish, I had never seen one in a shop before.
It was exactly the right size and fitted in perfectly, although the powder brown & emperor gave it a slightly hard time to start with it soon got established in its own right.
What a fabulous specimen it was, always grazing, always peaceful and to this day remains as my favourite fish.

 

[marrone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7003620#post7003620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
shoot for a small one. you may have to settle for an indo small because australian smalls are rare. For some reason the ones from australia (they look much better then the indo ones) are always big!

Don't settle for an Indo HTusk as they're not in the best of shape, very shy, have problems eating and a lot of them die. Get a Austrialian one, look around and you'll find a small one but don't settle for an Indo one.

 

[Mad Scientist]

I would not trust them at all with clams.

 

[Brian r. s.]

what do you have for a clean up crew?

 

[Steve_B]

I don't have a reef tank, but all I can say is, that in my experience the tusk is very peaceful. I have one now with a Dragon and a Corris (sp?) wrasse and all is good, and has been for a long while. The Tusk is awesome with the big teeth that looks like it could wipe out anything, but they just mind their own business.