Harlequin Tusk in a reef?

Jakemac · Nov 21, 2013

Starting my new tank im looking for that one show fish... Anyone have a Harlequin Tusk in a mixed reef? CUC and cleaner shrimp (XL about 4 in long) will be in there long before the tusk if i were to get one. Anyone have any thoughts of adding one, if you do have one what steps did you take to make it survive the trip from the LFS to your DT (assuming you QT'd it). For $100+ fish that is known for not aclimating well, does anyone know if they are bred in captivity? Maybe that would make the investment much better.

evolved · Nov 21, 2013

It can be done in a reef and I've seen it done, but don't expect any of your CUC to last. Regular replacements will be necessary there.

As for captive breeding, no. There is much unknown about rearing most broadcast spawners (all Labridae).

revhtree · Nov 21, 2013

If you do it, keep us updated!

Jakemac · Nov 21, 2013

evolved said:
It can be done in a reef and I've seen it done, but don't expect any of your CUC to last. Regular replacements will be necessary there.

As for captive breeding, no. There is much unknown about rearing most broadcast spawners (all Labridae).

How regular is regular lol

ghostman · Nov 21, 2013

I've had a large harlequin tusk in my tank for over a year. He is very docile, and actually gets bullied a bit by my tangs. He hasn't touched my clean up crew...yet. I have a large cleaner shrimp in with him as well as a harlequin shrimp to get rid of asterinas. So far, he is a model citizen. I also have a Niger trigger that is a big baby as well they are well fed though. I'm reminded of how much they eat every time I do a nitrate test.

hlem · Nov 21, 2013

have had one in my 265, all inverts say bye... fish and corals should be fine

Jakemac · Nov 21, 2013

ghostman said:
I've had a large harlequin tusk in my tank for over a year. He is very docile, and actually gets bullied a bit by my tangs. He hasn't touched my clean up crew...yet. I have a large cleaner shrimp in with him as well as a harlequin shrimp to get rid of asterinas. So far, he is a model citizen. I also have a Niger trigger that is a big baby as well they are well fed though. I'm reminded of how much they eat every time I do a nitrate test.

Whats your feeding? How many times what kinda food, a lot of food or small amounts?