harlequin tusk in a reef

reefermatt13 · Dec 1, 2015

any one every have any success keeping a tusk in a mixed reef, mostly sps and lps. i know theyll go after small fish and inverts but my big question is will they mess with the coral. i love this fish and have missed it since i broke down my fowler.

knukles55 · Dec 1, 2015

I maintain a 500g lps/softy tank and none of the corals are bothered by the harlequin the owner has. But between all the maintaince jobs I've worked I haven't heard of harlequins bothering corals just small fish and inverts

reefermatt13 · Dec 1, 2015

I didn't think so I just kind of wanted a consensus before I bit the bullet. Thanks

Waters · Dec 1, 2015

They definitely won't bother coral.....snails and hermits on the other hand are quickly decimated. Mine leaves everything alone (including Coral Banded Shrimp, Cowries, and Urchins) but quickly destroys the rest of my CUC. Also leaves all of my other fish alone with the exception of my Leopard Wrasse which he pesters every so often.

haninja · Dec 1, 2015

I have one in a mixed reef for years. He hasn't touched any corals. CUC on the other hand are a quick snack.... You won't be able to keep your sand clean.

Kyuss414 · Dec 5, 2015

Mine paid no mind to the softies & LPS in my tank. Everything else in the tank though he was all up in their business, including mine when I was doing maintenance in the tank. Awesome fish otherwise, and I too miss mine after having to re-home him because of his aggressiveness towards everything but coral.

Gwitness · Dec 5, 2015

I had one for a good bit and was worded that with corals and anemones but destroyed my clean up crew and shrimp!

dragonfish · Dec 5, 2015

following

BradB · Dec 6, 2015

Had a harlequin tusk in my reef just over 2 years. He does eat snails, but I have the "mini conchs" that reproduce faster than he eats them. Snails in first were mostly okay, but adding anything now, even the largest turbos, is impossible. He doesn't eat coral, but will flip it looking for food. I have some of the smallest damselsand he leaves them alone. I can’t keep clownfish, I think he sees white and orange vertical stripes as a rival.

Jp978 · Dec 6, 2015

I have one great fish but can be very aggressive towards certain fish...

knukles55 · Dec 8, 2015

Were you iffy on putting him with the clam jp?

Jp978 · Dec 8, 2015

Nope not at all @knukles55 i don't believe in a cuc so it really wasn't a hard decision.

miyags · Dec 8, 2015

Mine at all my stomatella snails. But leaves my cleaner shrimp alone? He could eat it in a heart beat,if it wanted to. Leaves my perc clown fish alone,but goes after my copper banded butterfly every now and then. Nothing serious thou.