Squirrelfish... good bad n ugly

[NameThatTuna]

Hi reefers, I’m looking for info from people who have had them in a reef tank. My boyfriend JUST surprised me with one....never thought I’d be the type of gal who says “I hate surprises”, but if the flipper fits...Anyway, in an attempt to get this guy/gal outta the bag or returned/homed ASAP

I have 90G reef w a Berlin style sump and protein skimmer, VHO light hood with no glass between

I have lots of soft coral, mushrooms, snails, brittle stars, and non-coral eating tiny white-ish starfish. I have 1 large sand sifting star.

2 clowns that do the dance and nothing more, ever. Both 3”

1 diamond goby that’s 5-6”

A starry blenny that’s probably 3”

1 mildly aggressive green chromis 2.5”

* I’ve been planning to add a dot dash fairy wrasse, yellow tang, and a mandarin before the end of the year.


Additionally: I have a 3’ bowfront that I use as a frag tank but I don’t have a hood/lid. I’m reading that it may additionally be too small and lack hiding spaces.. besides 3 small rocks, it’s full of egg crate.

What to do, what to do.. ? anyone have fishtales of coral nipping/eating, aggression towards fish, entire CUCs getting killed?

This is beyond nerve racking for me, I appreciate any intel [emoji173]️

 

[Mjrenz]

Do you know @Frtdrmrose7?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I don’t have any experience with these fish. I’m sorry. Maybe @HotRocks or @4FordFamily does.

Do you know @Frtdrmrose7?

 

[steelwrap]

Live aquaria has them as reef safe with caution. Also says nocturnal. Had a big eye soldierfish when I had a 75 dont recall having any problems from it.

 

[HotRocks]

They are 100% nocturnal. Very shy fish. I don't see aggression being an issue, however I cannot attest to the reef safe or not. I have only ever QTd one and it was slated for a FOWLR.

 

[Pbh-reef]

I would worry about a squirrel fish eating smaller fish, crustaceans and even seastars. They also do need hiding places to feel comfortable - they spend all day under overhangs and in caves. I’ve never kept one but I would wonder if they’d be hard to get eating (live food fed at lights out might help). I’m sorry but I do think you’ll want to rehome the fish, maybe keep him in the frag tank with some big pvc pipes until you can get him back to the store or another person?

Edit - they are super cool fish though so I guess I get why the bad got you one!

 

[Hemmdog]

I’ve always wanted one, I think they are awesome.

 

[rayyou94]

My friend has one in a 125 gallon Lps mixed reef. Don’t bother nobody no one. He’s a model citizen

 

[scchase]

I have had them before and after a few weeks they seem to adapt to being out during the day, mainly a threat to shrimp and small fish otherwise reef safe and not aggresive.

 

[NameThatTuna]

Thank u all for your input. We exchanged the fish before the store closed for the night. I give my man an A for effort, but I don’t think he’ll be doing that again. I would like to get another squirrelfish but it’ll be a long time before I rope myself into setting up yet another tank. Thanks again everyone, so so much

 

[LArifleMAN]

My Big Eye is a model citizen in my 100g cube. He does eat whatever fits in his mouth though, small fish included.

 

[wesman42]

My Big Eye is a model citizen in my 100g cube. He does eat whatever fits in his mouth though, small fish included.

Sounds like OP dodged a bullet.