Surprise Attack - The fish you never excpected to bite

[Beardo]

So we know some fish are notorious for biting when your hand is in the tank, clown fish for example. My clown used to bite when I got to close to her territory but she gave up in pretty short order and now just bluffs. My desjardini tang got me a few times but was just mistaking my arm hair for algae and was having a taste.

The one fish I never expected the attacks from though is my starry blenny. He is relentless and continues to strike over and over whenever I have my hand in the tank. Besides that, he drops sand on some of my coarls, probably just so I have to stick my hand in the tank so he can have another shot at me . Had another starry blenny in the past and it never paid any attention to me.

So I'm curious, what fish do you have that bite you that you never expected?

 

[motortrendz]

My blue hippo gets me.

 

[Corey Baker]

haha my Starry Blenny is the same. He will swim and even sit in the middle of my cupped palm and just go to town biting my fingers.

 

[ScottB]

My starry blennies are all too fat and lazy to bother.

My cleaner wrasse nibbles & tickles. My giant orange shoulder tang has spiked me a couple times. That hurts. Worst bite was from a clown trigger in a fish only.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Ha! Never woulda thought some of those!

 

[Musovski]

Ive had a couple come up and bite me. Heres the list
1) Yellow Eyed Kole Tang
2) Engineer goby
3) Zebra Barred Dartfish
4) Both Black Ice SnowflakeClown and GoldStripe Maroon

 

[radiata]

Third vote for a Starry Blenny (a.k.a. Lawnmower Blenny). I get nipped any time my hand is within 5" of his/her cave. And, doh, I never seem to learn...

 

[mtfish]

Third vote for a Starry Blenny (a.k.a. Lawnmower Blenny). I get nipped any time my hand is within 5" of his/her cave. And, doh, I never seem to learn...

Same Genus, but different species. Starry is Salarius ramosus. Lawnmower is S. faciatus. Never had my starry mess with me although he follows me around the tank. Royal gramma on the other hand is like a chihuahua!

 

[Beardo]

Same Genus, but different species. Starry is Salarius ramosus. Lawnmower is S. faciatus. Never had my starry mess with me although he follows me around the tank. Royal gramma on the other hand is like a chihuahua!

LOL, chihuahua is perfect description, never had a royal gramma act like that.

 

[Scott.h]

It’s odd, but all my fish I’ve gotten tiny tiny. So since babies they’ve been used to me messing with the tank. Most are tame enough to hand feed as full grown adults, but none have ever bit or showed hostility towards me. Triggers, puffers, clowns,
multiple tangs, rabbit fish, eels, wrasses

 

[Crimsonphoenix]

My male clown likes to bite me when I do water changes; he’s sneaky!

 

[Jacked Reefer]

When I curl my hand my clown gets in the hole and goes to town. It tickles most of the time but recently he leaves little red marks. Honestly making me consider trading him in for a shyer fish

 

[vetteguy53081]

Maroon clown. . . well I get it but a Percula??

 

[TracyLynn]

My female Snowflake clown has recently started attacking me, regardless of where my hand/arm is in the tank. She used to only dart or nip me if I got too close to her territory. I’m watching for signs of egg laying, in the meantime I’m getting beat up by a 3” fish! She hasn’t broke the skin yet, but there are visible marks on my arms.

 

[Katrina71]

Pike Blenny. Not kidding.

 

[LadyMac]

Does this really look like a face that could bite?

Ok yes, yes it does. So far she hasn’t tried. But now I’m worried!

 

[icomplii]

My clown trigger accidentally bit me when I was hand feeding it shrimp. It wasn't fun

 

[Steelheader09]

My clarkiis bite so bad I have to wear shoulder length gloves. They have drawn blood multiple times. Sometimes if I need finger dexterity, I have my wife guard my hands with a net. The even attack the scraper on occasion!

 

[halfdoz]

My starry blenny, Cosmo, is exactly the same way. I swear he does it to me on purpose. Bites me everytime I put my hand in and everytime I think I have made it without him biting he gets me again!

 

[Katrina71]

Does this really look like a face that could bite?

Ok yes, yes it does. So far she hasn’t tried. But now I’m worried!

That's an awesome pic!