Reef safe fish

[tnias]

So I notice that a lot of people have fish in their tanks that are labelled as "reef with caution." So assuming that most of the people are quarantining their fish what do you do if it starts to eat your corals? At this point you have spent a lot of time just to get the fish in your DT and to trade it back to the LFS to start over seems like a terrible waste of time.

There are a lot of fish I would like to have in my DT but I am concerned to take the risk, but without taking that risk the options are limited and the less colorful varieties.

 

[gone fishin]

A couple of my fish have the "reef with caution" label. It is not that they will eat coral but that they may nip at clams or go after shrimp or snails. For me I chose not to keep any shrimp and just replenish snails as needed.

 

[apcoleman]

As mentioned above, non reef safe may apply to inverts besides corals. There are lots of fish that are perfectly reef safe that arent boring and have plenty of color. What fish are you eyeing?

 

[ezerasurfr]

I've always kept fish that potentially (and have) nipped at my corals. With the larger established corals, it's not really a problem. But with frags, they could do some damage. I always tried to grow any new frags out a little before placing them in the tank. It's really the inverts most reef-caution fish will go after. I had a trigger that loved shrimp and snails so much that she didn't eat anything but. And I had a nice butterfly and morish idol that were perfect aptasia hunters and never touched anything else in the tank.

 

[tnias]

Some of the species I like:
Angels
Butterfly (may be a challenge to feed so not sure about them)
Foxface
Hawkfish
Moorish Idol

I just put in a pygmy dwarf angle and he ate one of my corals so I had to catch him and put him in my home tank which doesn't have any corals at the moment. It was a pain to catch him too so preferably would like to avoid it.

 

[JohnnyHildo]

Some of the species I like:
Angels
Butterfly (may be a challenge to feed so not sure about them)
Foxface
Hawkfish
Moorish Idol

I just put in a pygmy dwarf angle and he ate one of my corals so I had to catch him and put him in my home tank which doesn't have any corals at the moment. It was a pain to catch him too so preferably would like to avoid it.

is your hawkfish a jerk? i've been planning my stock list and want to make one part of it but keep reading about how they can be with others in the tank.

 

[mpderksen]

Your profile says you have a 75g. Most of those are too large for that. Did you get a bigger tank and not change you profile? In my 75 I have both a one spot Foxface and a dwarf flame angel. Moorish Idol would especially need a much larger tank. I have to agree that the list above looks like my personal dream list for when I upgrade.

 

[tnias]

Yes I did. I now have an in-wall 180 gallon tank in the office.

 

[ca1ore]

There are a lot of fish I would like to have in my DT but I am concerned to take the risk, but without taking that risk the options are limited and the less colorful varieties.

Ultimately, it's about priorities. I have a trio of dwarf angels in my mixed reef, and if they were to start to do more than just occasional damage so be it. Also remember that fish are individuals, so one person's experience may be very different than another's.

 

[MondoBongo]

it's all about calculated risk. my CBB likes to nip at acans. that sucks, i love my acans, but i enjoy the fish more. i've got one colony that is receding, two more that no longer inflate, but i can live with it.

i steer away from angels because of my clams.

if any of my fish started doing more serious damage i would have to see. depends on what they're picking, and if i like that particular coral or corals more than the fish.

i know for a lot of people it is all about the corals, others, all about the fish. for me, i like a good balance the most. so i usually just attempt to make the best informed decision i can, then try something, and if it doesn't work, do what i have to do.

 

[reefbroao]

There are a few ways to avoid it. like angels for instance are not reef safe, BUT swallowtail angels are, and to me are much more beautiful. My melanurus destroys hermits and i just don't care hes my favorite. I've caught him with an electric blue hermit which was like $25 ripping it apart.