Fish that are NOT reef safe...

**OrionGirl** · 05-05-2004, 9:23 AM

Thought this list might be useful. Post a fish or critter that might be considered reef safe, especially if you have specific experience with the animal in question. Do list why you consider the animal a threat to a reef setup. For example, no need to list clown triggers or parrot fish, but some of the larger angels can work under some circumstances. This is for the borderline cases.

Camel shrimp--target polyps and zoanthids. Leave sponges and other motile inverts alone.

Engineer goby--digs tunnels under rock work and can easily topple live rock and corals. Tends to bury sessile invertebrates that are on the sand bed or lower portions of the tank. If live rock is on a stable platform, can be accomodated.

Large hermit crabs--tend to knock over corals and rocks, can kill a fish that's ailing.

Octopus--safe with sessile inverts, but primary predator on motile inverts and small fish.

**RothChyld** · 05-05-2004, 11:44 AM

I can sure make this a long post but here are some hilights that stand out:

Maroon clown - reef safe but loves to topple rocks and corals around its home. If I had to do it over I wouldn't get this guy as he gets too big and moves big things.

Clown Wrasse - Ate my snails when he felt like it. Left corals alone.

Fish in my reef that are good IMHO: Green Chromis, Royal Gramma, Lawnmower Blenny (a must), Sandsifting Goby (a must), blue tangs, yellow tangs, Mandarin (only in established tank), and Bar Gobies.

Mike

**liquafaction** · 07-23-2004, 4:21 PM

Hermits- Even the small ones, attack any snail in my tank they can get there little claws on.

convict blenny- Pretty harmles, but will tunnel out live sand, undtill everything caves in.

Little gold damsel (can't remember name) tormented my big naso tang untill it died. I even tried to catch it, and relocate it (damsel), but that booger figured that game out quick, and made it even more agressive.

**FISH** · 10-22-2004, 8:32 PM

My going on 7 years old Queen Angel is in my SPS tank . It will eat soft corals but it's fine with the SPS.
There are a few zoanthids in hard to reach areas that it can't reach.
Also it won't eat shrooms, which I wish it would

http://community.webtv.net/MarkPelski/INTHEWALL120GAL

**zog** · 01-07-2005, 8:18 PM

I have a maroon clownfish that moved into my pulse coral as though it were an anemone, but after several days it began to violently tear off the polyps. I have relocated the clownfish to my FOWLR tank. I have also noticed that large adult Mexican Turbo snails can be quite destructive and annoying by pushing things around and knocking corals over.

**CHIMERA26** · 01-10-2005, 8:58 AM

Solandri Puffer Made Mistake Lfs Said Would Be Ok With My Shrimp And Crustaceans Within 4 Days Had Munched Over Half The Population Of Them

**Lexus9903** · 02-11-2005, 12:33 PM

My coral beauty has a taste for polyps and also mushrooms.. Hes so territorial, he (the same as the maroon clowns discussed earlier) will destroy anything that is in "his" space.

lexi

**pumpkin** · 04-02-2005, 1:56 PM

had a maroon clown that push anything he didn't like away from his house and some of the rocks were quite large he was very persistent and my sally lites as they grow are showing a taste for my hairy shrooms

**DansMarineTank** · 12-02-2005, 6:17 AM

Hi Guys

I think we can add Lionfish to this list for a couple of reasons

1. They dont get on too well with bright lights, i think drawf lions can go blind under halides
2. They create a grate deal of waste - corals dont like poop!

Apart from this they are great fish! non aggresive majestic swimmers, very attractive

**Bigwerty** · 06-05-2006, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ray Pollett

Interesting. I have them in about 10 reef tanks and have never seen that trait. Shows how fish do not always do the same thing, kinda like people.

Ray

Hi,
I had maroon clowns and one of them killed 3 anemones in my aquarium by pulling out their tentacles. So...
chernyakvadym@hotmail.com