Harliquin Tuskfish-compatabililty

[ashtree68]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this already but just wanted to see if maybe people have had other experiences with them. Are they urchin safe or will the eat the spines off of them? From what I've read they'll eat snails/crabs, and probably urchins but wanted to ask and see. Also would they be safe with lions, or pick off the spines like triggers?

 

[bucky1168]

Can't speak for urchins but I have one with my lion and he is fine with him

Jim

 

[Pallobi]

Harlequin tusks imo, are some of the most relaxed and chill fish there are, though their looks can be a bit misleading lol... I don't think you will have any problems at all... one of my favorites... GL

 

[Ethan Music]

+1 on the lionfish as for the urchin no clue but if I had to guess it would end up as lunch.

 

[bucky1168]

Harlequin tusks imo, are some of the most relaxed and chill fish there are, though their looks can be a bit misleading lol... I don't think you will have any problems at all... one of my favorites... GL

Totally agree with this. I love this fish. I do believe they can become aggressive if they are kept in pairs.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Harlequin tusks imo, are some of the most relaxed and chill fish there are, though their looks can be a bit misleading lol... I don't think you will have any problems at all... one of my favorites... GL

I agree. I have no idea about the urchin, but they will eat any invert they can. IMO & IME, they are ideal tankmates for larger lions. I have 3 tusks now (separate tanks) and had 2 before moving about 6 years ago. I have never seen a a HT attack a fish it couldn't eat. 2 of the 3 I have are finger tame; its great to watch them scare little kids as they approach my feeding fingers with those big, blue teeth. The ideal "big fish", IMO.

 

[albano]

I do believe they can become aggressive if they are kept in pairs.

I think the general information is that 2 HT together (not necessarily a pair) will attack each other.

 

[bucky1168]

I think the general information is that 2 HT together (not necessarily a pair) will attack each other.

Correct. I should have said "more than one" together. At least that was what I was thinking when I was typing. Lol

Jim

 

[ashtree68]

So fine with lionfish, but the urchins and inverts are dead?

Darn.

 

[JSeymour]

Now I've only had my harliquin tusk about nine months, but he is in a 90 with lots of inverts, an arrow crab, two emerald crabs, seven peppermint shrimp, half dozen hermit species totalling a couple dozen, lots of snails, and two starfish, an orange fromia star and a unidentified white spotted starfish. Never a problem. I do feed this tank 6+ times a day and it's still a juvie. Of course we'll see if this behavior continues in the future. I wouldn't trust it with anthing real expensive.

 

[aday2remmbr]

i dont know what your saying about triggers biting lions IME both tuskfish and triggers make great tankmates to lions.

 

[Gill_bucket]

My LFS has a 400 gallon display with a tusk fish and big black urchin.

 

[psykokid]

i dont know what your saying about triggers biting lions IME both tuskfish and triggers make great tankmates to lions.

The tusks I'll agree with but the triggers I have to disagree. In your experience the trigger and lions may have gotten on fabulously, but the general consensus around here is that triggers will nip at lions spines breaking them off and generally harass them to death..

 

[aday2remmbr]

i have kept at least 4 tanks with them and never even heard of anyone having a problem

 

[MrTuskfish]

i dont know what your saying about triggers biting lions IME both tuskfish and triggers make great tankmates to lions.

I doubt that you could find any SW author, book, blog, magazine article, or anything else by a recognized SW expert that would agree. Tusks are great with lions; triggers (IMO) are among the worst possible tankmates for lions. Sooner or later, the triggers will find the lions fins irresistible. here's some good stuff:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1542493

 

[aday2remmbr]

i am sure that this is correct, i just have never even heard of the two having problems in a tank. i have kept them for years at a time together. must just get lucky.haha

 

[MrTuskfish]

i am sure that this is correct, i just have never even heard of the two having problems in a tank. i have kept them for years at a time together. must just get lucky.haha

I think so. Someone, somewhere, has done everything imaginable with some degree of success. I also think a lot of folks look for that 1 in 100 to justify doing something that they've already decided to do anyhow.

 

[vamaro]

I have had two tusks. They are nice fish. They will eat clams and an occasional clam.

 

[AlexS95]

They will eat clams and an occasional clam.

Lol? :spin1:

 

[Pallobi]

so does that mean they eat 2 clams in one sitting? lmao