"Reef Safe" fish

[daveverdo]

I am looking to add some fish to my tank. I have what most would call a "mixed reef" with a variety of corals. It is a mix of mostly soft and LPS corals. I do have a few SPS but nothing spectacular.

When I read about fish that are "not reef safe" only a few places are specific regarding LPS, SPS, zoos and so on.

I was wondering if any knows of more comprehesive list of what eats what.

Or if anyone has experience keeping "not reef safe" fish with soft and LPS corals.

Wrasses, triggers, butterflies, angles. Anything that would go in a 90g.

Just for your information here is what I have (or want to get) that I would not want eatern.

LPS
Candy Canes
Frogspawn
Maze brain
Blasto
Fungia

Soft corals
Green Nepthea
leathers
Sarco
zoas (only a few and could be removed)
palys (only a few and could be removed)
gorgonia
mushrooms (only a few and could be removed)

SPS (all are only frag size except the cap)
Purple Cap
encrusting montis
pocillipora
chalice


Thanks,
Dave

 

[jaybfresh]

I think a lot of fish tagged "not reef safe" on commercial sites are because they will bother inverts rather than coral.

I'm not sure if there's a readily available angel that doesnt have at least a chance to nip at coral. For Centropyge (dwarf) angels, Coral Beauty's and Flames are often thought to have the highest chance of being reefsafe, but I've had both nip at LPS.

Triggers from the genus Xanthichthys are open water plankton feeders and wont eat coral, but may go after snails and small shrimp. These include bluejaw triggers, the rarer Sargassum and Crosshatch triggers, and the super-ultra rare goldenbacked trigger. Niger triggers and Pinktail triggers are also thought to be mostly 'reef-safe' but more prone to bother inverts.

I think the same goes for a lot of wrasses, but I'm not sure of a whole lot of specifics. If there are coral eating wrasses, I do believe they are in the minority.

And I was never interested in butterflys, so I never really researched them!

 

[DEEP BLUE SIX]

A lot or most of the "dwarf" wrasses are reef safe. Atleast coral wise. Many will still go after snails, crabs and shrimps though. Depending on their size.
But your ok with corals.

Dwarf Angels such as Coral Beauty and Flame(Amongst quite a few others), could be kept... But there is always an "individual" chance of nipping.

Sometimes these don't harm corals in particular if with occasional nips.

Buttterflys- there are a couple that people try in reefs. Some even try the "banner fish" a butterfly that looks like a moorish idol but is not. Must be careful because their is a species of one that IS more reef safe and one similar that is NOT.

Probably the best of the butterflys is the Copperband butterfly.
However, with "individuality" there is still some risk with things like brain coral and Zoas etc.. One may like to pick off the feeding tentacles.
Or you may get one that leaves everything alone.

Less of a risk with SPS & butterflys.

Triggers:
Pink-Tail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)
Hawaiian Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger)niger trigger
& BLUE JAW Triggers(?)

are the most kept "Reef Triggers". OK with Corals.
But they WILL still go after Shrimps, crabs, snails.

Other Triggers are best off limits for reefs.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

suggestion:

suggestion:

rather than take a shotgun approach research the compatibilty of specific species.

This is what I do.

 

[daveverdo]

rather than take a shotgun approach research the compatibilty of specific species.

Typically that is also what I do. That is why I asked if anyone know of a more detailed comprehesive list of what eats what.

I am just tired of saying "Oh this looks like a nice fish but it says "not reef safe"" when it doesn't say what that means. Some places do say things like "will pick at LPS and clam mantles" or "will nip at SPS" but most just say "not reef safe".

I also do not really want to bother people on here with every fish I come across. Once again that is why I initially asked for a reference.

I listed what I have just for information so people understood what I was looking for.

Sorry if my original post was not clear.

Dave

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I can help with specifics and I think it's the best approach.

Comprehensive lists are beyond the timeframe I have to work with but I can make generalizations... although I strongly feel that generalizations should be avoided if at all possible.

Research specific species

 

[magdelan]

Well, on this topic... I am very interested in a Male Blue Jaw Triggerfish. I have a regal tank and a sailfin tang, one rabitfish, a pair of clowns, 12 damselfish, and a flame hawkfish.

Any generalizations you may be interested in sharing, Gary?

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I think blue jaw triggers are great fish, but can be very shy at first; you might have trouble getting it settled in, because of the rowdy tank mates it would have in your tank.

 

[superkat]

Damsels?

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I think one might find a dozen Damselfish intimidating, or perhaps a pair of clowns intent on defending their territory; all the fish in the tank can hold their own. I think a Xanthichthys sp. might be a great choice of fish, but my impression of them has been that they aren't a very self confident fish when first placed in a new school, so to speak.