Hide Your Coral: Are you keeping non-reef safe fish in a mixed reef?

[EGorman]

I had a hippo tang that started consuming red colored Zoas; nearly cleaned them out. Finally rehomed the hippo. In retrospect I don’t think I fed the hippo sufficient amounts of nori. New hippo gets plenty of nori this time…

 

[woejillis]

I have a trachy that seems to convert reef-safe fish to eating coral. I had a blue tang that I had to rehome when it developed a taste.

A few months ago I purchased a Pyramid Butterfly. It's been a model citizen but I noticed last week that my trachy didn't look well. I kept a careful eye out and noticed the butterfly picking at it.

I have a 3d printed feeding cage that I place around corals needing a little protection, so it's currently on the trachy.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have a trachy that seems to convert reef-safe fish to eating coral. I had a blue tang that I had to rehome when it developed a taste.

A few months ago I purchased a Pyramid Butterfly and noticed a couple weeks ago that my trachy didn't look well. I kept a careful eye out and noticed the butterfly picking at it.

I have a 3d printed feeding cage that I place around corals needing a little protection, so it's currently on the trachy.

Some great looking coral!

 

[woejillis]

Some great looking coral!

Thanks! I love my LPS.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

Why did you choose those over a Klein’s?

I'm interested in the answer to this question too. I'm getting a Kleini soon and have a huge aiptasia problem.

 

[JayM]

I have a couple that are "reef safe with caution".
A Lemonpeel angel and a Flame angel. Both are model citizens. No eating coral, and no bullying fish.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I really want a Butterfly Fish for my 120 Reef tank. Haven’t had any luck with Hemitaurichtys, surviving Quarantine. And haven’t seen any Heniochus that were in good shape at the fish stores. Also I have just missed many shipments of them.

 

[flashsmith]

Why did you choose those over a Klein’s?

Couldn't find one at the time. Not even online vendors I normally use had them. I'm more a fish guy anyway. If coral gets munched I don't lose sleep over it.

 

[flashsmith]

I'm interested in the answer to this question too. I'm getting a Kleini soon and have a huge aiptasia problem.

Couldn't find one at the time. Not even from online vendors I usually use. Mine was so bad I'm talking thousands in a 180g. At that point I no longer cared about the coral.

 

[shakacuz]

firm no from me. corals hold a higher value than the fish, although both important to a reef ecosystem!

 

[OrionN]

Keep him well fed. Add little fish and shrimp after he went to bed only. He is really lazt and want to be fed instead of hunting for food.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I have an aptasia eating File fish who has actually munched his way through my colonies of aptasia. I have kept a close eye on him and I have not seen him eating anything he shouldn't have. He is a good character and I would be reticent to evict him/her.

Having said that all my Acans, Trachys and Leathers are withdrawn and not looking too good. I am not sure if that is the File fish or something completely different?

File fish for sure. Ill never buy another one. They love acans

 

[monica HHF]

Great topic. Yes, I have a Trigger and I had a butterfly. Yes, I would never recommend them for a small tank with hard coral that you like.
I have softes and have no problems. I used all the advice.
1. Have the correctly sized tank. Large.
2. Arrange your scape. So, they have huge hiding spaces.
3. Give them Other food to eat. And lots.
4. Get the smallest fish. So, they will grow IN your tank.
Trigger is approx 10 yrs, tank 300 gal, softes include torch, mushrooms, polyps, sponge, 1 cup coral and 1 leather.
He owns the tank and spits at people. My mother will not feed him anymore since he bites.
I have seen both my tangs and trigger rearrange the landscape. so, Trigger maybe eating crabs and snails. Again, the tank was well stocked. I have not needed to restock.

Know you may have losses and unforeseen injuries.

 

[chip shop]

Moorish idol in sps dominant tank is a model citizen also had porcupine puffer in there tat was same but flame angel turned it into his personal snack feast and was a nightmare to catch