aussie harlequin tusk compatibility

[narkotix]

Hello,

quick q - harlequin tusk compatibility with a dwarf angel and a tomini tang (they are the smallest) and both about 3 inches along with a juvi purple 2 inch. Any risk of the tusk going rogue? Its an "adult" in that its about the same size as the dwarf angel and tomini but there are two much larger fish that are the bosses of the tank (sailfin and rabbit).

Should i expect the tomini or angel to become a target or they will likely be fine and its only smaller fish like cardinals or gobies that would be snacks?

i should add that there are a LOT of caves in this 180 so i;ve made sure that everyone has a hideyhole during the day and night..

 

[littlefoxx]

My tusk never bothered anyone other than trying to eat hermits and snails. Peaceful with all the other fish, actually shy!

 

[narkotix]

thankyou for the reply. This and the juvi purple are the last two to add after i've done a 3 week observational qt. My 75g qt has a hermit but he's huge (occupying a trochus snail shell) so worst case i`ll put him in my 180's sump so he can live a peaceful life there amongst the bacteria logs and chaeto.

There is pecking order in the tank but its mostly the sailfin being greedy with nori but i now put it at each end of the tank to avoid any aggression. I`m expecting the purple to eventually challenge the sailfin (and likely lose) but i have an acclimation box handy.

 

[littlefoxx]

thankyou for the reply. This and the juvi purple are the last two to add after i've done a 3 week observational qt. My 75g qt has a hermit but he's huge (occupying a trochus snail shell) so worst case i`ll put him in my 180's sump so he can live a peaceful life there amongst the bacteria logs and chaeto.

There is pecking order in the tank but its mostly the sailfin being greedy with nori but i now put it at each end of the tank to avoid any aggression. I`m expecting the purple to eventually challenge the sailfin (and likely lose) but i have an acclimation box handy.

My sailfin is a terror. He is 7 inches and knows he is tank boss. He doesnt mess with any other fish unless its a tang. But purples are mean fish so keep an eye on them. This is mine, his name is Francis. Big bully he is even with lots of nori

 

[narkotix]

Haha francis looks like he's giving you the side eye for even considering looking at his nori. My desjardini is a pig along with the rabbit (who acts more like a manitee in the tank eating his nori politely but follows his best bud the sailfin)

Yeah i figured by buying a juvi purple thats not a rabid maniac (yet) the sailfin would continue to establish dominance. My original plan was to go regal (then that got scratched because they are so finicky and I don't have a supply of sponges beyond frozen food), then an emperor and my lfs just kept saying he will get too big, so i figured go with a purple tang (but i dont want any paracanthrus or acanthurus as i don't have UV on this tank to manage ich). I just want to cap it to 6 fish and unfortunately the only other tang variety i would want (yellow) are a no go in australia.

 

[littlefoxx]

Haha francis looks like he's giving you the side eye for even considering looking at his nori. My desjardini is a pig along with the rabbit (who acts more like a manitee in the tank eating his nori politely but follows his best bud the sailfin)

Yeah i figured by buying a juvi purple thats not a rabid maniac (yet) the sailfin would continue to establish dominance. My original plan was to go regal (then that got scratched because they are so finicky and I don't have a supply of sponges beyond frozen food), then an emperor and my lfs just kept saying he will get too big, so i figured go with a purple tang (but i dont want any paracanthrus or acanthurus as i don't have UV on this tank to manage ich). I just want to cap it to 6 fish and unfortunately the only other tang variety i would want (yellow) are a no go in australia.

Ah! Yeah emperors get huge! Ive got one the size of a dime right now in my biocube until he gets big enough to hang with the big fish. But he is so freakin cute that I dont want him to grow up!! There he is next to my cardnial fish for size reference. Such a little cutie! Dont tell him that he is going to be a 15 inch fish with a serious attitude problem lol

 

[narkotix]

i saw one recently at the coex aquarium in seoul and he was indeed about 15". Mind you this tank was probably 5000 gallons and full of every reef fish imaginable but it just stood out! So many tangs as well but a man can dream!

I'd be interested if there are any suggestions for an alternative to the purple tang, but i feel like i`m kinda outa luck beyond one of those deep sea anthias, or a butterfly as a centerpiece fish.

 

[Largeangels]

My 1.5"-1.75" purple tang bosses my 5" Indo harlequin tusk.

 

[littlefoxx]

i saw one recently at the coex aquarium in seoul and he was indeed about 15". Mind you this tank was probably 5000 gallons and full of every reef fish imaginable but it just stood out! So many tangs as well but a man can dream!

I'd be interested if there are any suggestions for an alternative to the purple tang, but i feel like i`m kinda outa luck beyond one of those deep sea anthias, or a butterfly as a centerpiece fish.

Yeah the emperor is why I wanted a saltwater tank! And what tangs are you looking at now? All my tangs left my tusk alone. My stinkin french angelfish killed her though, realized he was a big fish and went nuts. Probably stir crazy in the 125 to be honest. Sucked because I had to re home him. And I was two weeks away from getting my 300 gallon but he was just to angry and on a murder spree so he had to go.

 

[JC1977]

My tusk is 6” and plump and doesn’t bother anyone. He actually gets bullied by most of my fish and especially the angels. I think you’ll be fine.

 

[narkotix]

Thanks - the tusk is doing well and is very active in QT. Loves cruising around unlike my DT inhabitants who sit at the bottom 1/4 of the tank and rarely venture up to the top of the tank unless im feeding.

Had to move the hermit i had into my DT sump where he is enjoying the detritus on my bacteria logs.