Has Anyone Kept "Non-Reef Safe" Fish In A Reef?

[SoloChromis]

Puffers, triggers (outside of the Xanthichthys genus), jacks, lions, groupers, snappers, eels, files, butterflies, large angels etc. etc... The list goes on and on of the fish we as reef keepers are advised to steer clear of, whether it's because they munch coral, eat smaller fish, or just get too large and messy for the average reef tank. Despite this, I know some people (myself included), like to push the envelope on what they can get to peacefully coexist in their tank, and wanted to know what you guys here on RC have tried to keep in a reef that are on the blacklist, and what the results were. I personally keep a large zebra moray in my 120g reef, and despite the rumors, I have found this species to be totally and completely safe around the smallest of fish and shrimp. The only animal I believe to have fallen prey to "Lionel" was my pair of emerald crabs that mysteriously vanished after he was introduced to the tank. Other than that, I will also note that he *is* clumsy, and has caused several rock tumbles, as well as shifting corals around and knocking my tree sponge over all the time. In a tank with primarily SPS, I would imagine he'd be making plenty of frags for you He just kinda hangs out in his cave with Dexter the blood shrimp, and comes out in the evening, as well as when I feed of course. I keep him with small fish, all kinds of coral, pincushion urchins, sponges, hermits, snails etc. I wouldn't keep a zebra with any of the more aggressive morays, as they are docile, somewhat cryptic and have very poor eyesight.

 

[fishhuman]

I keep a marine betta, klien butterfly and filefish in mine

 

[lhm nole]

Marine betta melanarus wrasse and yellow coris in mine with cleaner shrimp

 

[eatbreakfast]

Spanish and lyretail hogs, dwarf lionfish, golden dwarf moray, waspfish, and marine betta.

 

[Moort82]

I guess it depends on your definition. I also keep a marine betta which I'm surprised has been thrown out their as a risk tbh. Yes very very small fish or shrimps would be on the menu but that can be said with plenty of species which aren't really considered a risk. I'm also more inclined to consider reef safe as to whether they go for corals rather than fish or motile inverts as afterall, not all these would be found on an actually reef and its more down to not researching matchups.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I kept Klein's butterflyfish and Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) in my sps-only tank. Both fishes started to nip at my Acroporas shortly after their introduction, especially Acropora aspera. However, both ate aiptasia. Eventually, they had to go.