Reef safe??

[basscyn]

Internet, books and forums. Even for sale threads.
Fish are classified as "REEF SAFE"...or not.

Seems to me this classification may not be so cut and dry.

I mean...I see tanks on this site or others that seem to have butterflys and angels and even triggers swimming comfortably with corals. As if to indicate that they are not a threat to corals.

If Angels, Butterflys and triggers live on our reefs...and are not "reef safe"...seems like the reefs would be decimated.

So...who has a fish that is <u>NOT</u> reef safe...<u>in</u> thier reef tank.

Are there exceptions to this rule??

 

[jason sartain]

We have a flame angel with a clam,no problems at all.

 

[weaglereefer]

Had a flame angel with my clam for the better part of 6months, angel disappeared one day.

 

[hackman72]

dawgdude;419835 wrote: You are 100% right, its not cut and dry. The whole reef safe should (IMO) be broken down to invert safe, LPS safe, softie safe, sps safe and clam safe. Alot of fish arent "reef safe" because they will go after inverts but wont really harm corals much. Some fish will nip a LPS but not much else. It is very misleading and without a very good book to tell you what it will and will not go after, its hard to know for sure just what problems it might or might not cause.

There's you a money making project..."Charlie's Guide to Fish and Invert Compatibility"...I get 10% for coming up with the idea.

I'm with the not so cut and dry thing. I think that's why some fish are listed as "with caution". I just wish they would elaborate more. I've heard of people having a trigger and it being very docile and cohabitates well. And, others having the same species and having to get it out quick cause it tore through everything. I'm inclined to think that fish have personalities, same as dogs and humans do.

That whole thing is why I don't have a Blue Jaw trigger yet. I want one but am afraid the one I get will be the angry hungry one...lol.

 

[ichthyoid]

dawgdude;419835 wrote: You are 100% right, its not cut and dry. The whole reef safe should (IMO) be broken down to invert safe, LPS safe, softie safe, sps safe and clam safe. Alot of fish arent "reef safe" because they will go after inverts but wont really harm corals much. Some fish will nip a LPS but not much else. It is very misleading and without a very good book to tell you what it will and will not go after, its hard to know for sure just what problems it might or might not cause.

Very good point! I wonder why it isn't broken down better? This would help a lot of people that don't have time to learn it all and newb's.

 

[ichthyoid]

It's a plot, I tell ya...they sell more fish that way! lol!!!

 

[basscyn]

Can you recomend some good references that go into more detail about compatability?

 

[ichthyoid]

Well technically, they sell more inverts and corals lol.

I'm talking about the fish that got smashed on the sidewalk for eating 6 blood shrimp...lol!!!

 

[basscyn]

I guess I pose the question because I want a nice angel...or butterfly in my mixed reef tank... but dont dare because I have always assumed these would be FOWLR only inhabitants and wipe out my zoas and other corals.

I would love to have like a French Angel or an Emperor crusin my reef tank...but again a lot of the things you read indicate caution.

Isnt anyone breakin the rules????

 

[cr500_af]

Just my experience: My flame has been a model citizen for the 9 or so months I've had him. I read up on them, but apparently not at the most reliable places. I didn't know they were risky with clams and corals until he had already proven he wasn't gonna be a problem.

 

[oil_fan]

I have a flame angel and he's been...well an angel. Never nipped at any coral but he is well fed. Before my HA outbreak I fed him and my yellow tang nori. As long as I did that, I never had a problem with either one of them.

Now I am on planning on adding a butterfly fish to my 95 gallon tank which will going reef soon. Hopefully using the similar rules as to keeping them fed and such, I won't have an issue.

 

[basscyn]

Oil_Fan;419919 wrote: I have a flame angel and he's been...well an angel. Never nipped at any coral but he is well fed. Before my HA outbreak I fed him and my yellow tang nori. As long as I did that, I never had a problem with either one of them.

Now I am on planning on adding a butterfly fish to my 95 gallon tank which will going reef soon. Hopefully using the similar rules as to keeping them fed and such, I won't have an issue.

Which butterfly are you thinking about?
CBB???

 

[thanh386]

I have a lion fish lol.He doesn't mess with too much. Will eat a chromis once in a while &gt;.&lt;

 

[jennm]

Scott Michael's "A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Fishes" is a good reference. It lists "reef suitability" with each specimen described, and will detail what each specie is typically a risk with.

That is a good starting point. Some fish don't "read the books", so consider that some may behave, some that should, won't. But the book specifies what is typical - ie angels may nip at LPS and/or soft corals and/or clam mantles.

Some species of fish will eat small ornamental shrimp, but be harmless with corals, etc.

Even among the Centropyge angels (dwarfs), some are more of a risk than others... for example, by and large the flame and coral beauty are considered "safe" (although I've seen some that weren't)... but the lemonpeel, eibli I'd never trust in a reef - they are more (most) likely to nip at corals and clams.

Jenn

 

[jennm]

They are a risk with small ornamental shrimp and other crustaceans. I don't believe they'll bother corals - but fanworms and such will be gone.

If you don't keep any of those, there's no reason not to keep one.

Jenn