Reef safe predators?

[anth245]

Hi everyone
For a while now I've had my eye on a dwarf lion fish for a 100g tang however I don't know how big a risk it is to all my medium sized fish.
If this is not feasible is there another striking predator dish that can be had?
(I know that it is never recommended to have a predator in the tank but I have been in the hobby for a while I feel it is worth the risk, just which is the least risky)
Thanks!

 

[scooter31707]

there are some smaller lionfish species out there that reach anywhere from 6-10 inches. Try www.liveaquaria.com and do some research and see what you come up with. What is your definition of "reef-safe", meaning don't eat coral or eat CUC or don't eat both?

 

[anth245]

My definition is coral friendly. You can have a group of lions over a reef with no small fish.
Has anyone got any experience with these guys?

 

[SoloChromis]

Most classical predatory fish are completely coral safe - lions, eels, groupers, sweetlips, hawks, large wrasses (for the most part). It's typically smaller fish and mobile inverts that are at risk (shrimp, crabs, snails, stars etc.). Some people tend to think of fish as being in 2 categories - reef safe and non-reef safe. The reality is however, that there's a lot of grey in between. Some genera or species of angels and butterflies are less likely to pick at sessile inverts than others, and many people (myself included) have had clowns harass a coral to death, treating it like an anemone, so some could make the argument that clowns are risky additions to a reef. It's good to see someone thinking outside of the box, instead of either running a FOWLR with brown base rock and a few large, boisterous fish, or a perfectly manicured reef with a yellow tang, a pair of clowns and a trio of anthias. Good luck :beer:

 

[Moort82]

Less limiting with regards to tankmates but still predatory sums up a marine betta well. I'd also consider something like a waspish, maybe a full machu or if I was confident I could keep it alive a radiata lion.