Harlequin tusk
- Thread starter Jrambo88
- Start date
DamonG
New member
I have one in my 180 now and had one in my previous 110..
The main thing is getting a good, steering specimen that cab take the initial acclimating.. Once they are past that, they actually are pretty tough fish.. If you can afford it, the Aussie tusks are regarded as better coloration, though, my lfs has gotten pretty amazing colored Indo guys(my current one really looks close to an Aussie) that are pretty darn tough.. But it takes them a while to get to that point. Up and until that point, they are pretty skittish as far as other fish being aggressive with them..
But they really, really like to eat a lot, and are pretty aggressive eaters(at least the two I have had, have been), and will devour inverts, it seems just for the fun of it(especially small hermit crabs). Like my current one just like to suck in the cream in the shell and spit it out repeatedly, sort of like a sport..
And they love swimming, both in the open and among the reef structure.. And they do goofy and weird things(like barrel rolls while swimming sometimes), so don't be surprised.. They really are nutty and interesting fish.. As long as you remember that essentially it is a wrasse, and does wrasse type of antics(sometimes to the extreme), then you will understand them..
DamonG
New member
Honestly, I would say if it's still a juvenile and small, maybe a 4 foot tank, because they do enjoy roming around a ton.. And if it's a fairly decent sized one, as to where it's losing it's dots and becoming mature, a 6 foot tank or larger..
Keep in mind though, that I am basing this off the largest tusk I have had(which is my current one at about 4.5 to 5 inches I am approximating).. I am not really good at sizing my fish because they are not to thrilled about me putting a ruler up to the glass.. But it's not a small tusk, and he's fat!
Keep in mind though, that I am basing this off the largest tusk I have had(which is my current one at about 4.5 to 5 inches I am approximating).. I am not really good at sizing my fish because they are not to thrilled about me putting a ruler up to the glass.. But it's not a small tusk, and he's fat!
How'd they do in a 75? Would you recommend against it?
scooter31707
New member
Yes. They require a min 6ft, 180 gallon, IMO. They can get huge. My buddy has one in a 8ft, 240 with a couple Angels, Triggers, Butterflies, and Tangs. The Tusk is about 7-8 inches and fat. Very big fish.
Treasure Coast
Platinum Member
Very cool fish, they respond to you. We have 2 Australians with blue teeth, they do need a pretty long acclimation period to keep the initial stress down. Like above poster said, not extremely fast growers, but eventually will outgrow smaller tanks. Won't bother coral but will eat inverts when bored. Our larger Turbos and Conchs seem to be safe, but no guarantee in the future. One is 8" the other 6". Different tanks.
Emphasis added!
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Wow, ninja Tusk lol
Yeah, Texas Tusks are like that!
OrionN
Moved on
HT is my must have fish also. Right now I have a 7 incher Autralian. Very beautiful. He does not bother any fish. My cleaner shrimp is fine with him in the tank as long as I feed him well. I afraid for the shrimp if I don't feed the tank for 3 or 4 days.
He will absolutely wipe out the hordes of small snails (sub mm) I have in the tank. Before I have him in the tank there are literally thousand of these snails on the rock in the AM. Now I can looks for 1/2 an hours and not see one. Sometime I still see these tiny but not very often. My Turbo breed in the tank so I don't think I will get any more baby turbo from now on.
Love my Tusk
He will absolutely wipe out the hordes of small snails (sub mm) I have in the tank. Before I have him in the tank there are literally thousand of these snails on the rock in the AM. Now I can looks for 1/2 an hours and not see one. Sometime I still see these tiny but not very often. My Turbo breed in the tank so I don't think I will get any more baby turbo from now on.
Love my Tusk
