When to take the plunge?!

[Briko03]

One of my biggest frustrations with running a reef is what seems like the limited number of fish that I can safely keep without having my coral destroyed.

Having said that, I always see photos of fish that I have been told are not reef safe, in photos thriving in other peoples reef tanks.

Some examples,
Butterflies, triggers, most dwarf angles so forth

As I am aware, it really comes down to the particular fish and its personality. My real question is, when do you decide a particular fish is worth the risk of trying in a tank? Are there things you can look for in an LFS that will give you an idea as to how the fish will act? Any other rules of thumb such as younger fish vs older fish etc?

Thanks in advance.

 

[steelheader.262]

I've been wanting a Clown Trigger for a long time.

 

[abecker]

I'm following along because I have been wanting a Flame Angel, but its mixed for people having issues

 

[3dees]

which is more important to you? if I had high priced coral I wouldn't any fish not reef safe. my coral beauty doesn't bother any coral in my tank, but if it does it wouldn't be a great loss. I have mostly cheap, common softies and lps. some fish, like most angels and butterflies are known coral eaters. keeping them well fed might help, but it's just in their nature. it's usually our fault, not the fish. if you want that must have fish that isn't reef safe, then you take your chances.

 

[Briko03]

Yeah I realize it will always be a chance. Just looking for advice from those who have done it before.

 

[FarmerTy]

There's no tell-tale sign you can look for... it's just luck of the draw. Please also don't think you can keep it well fed and they won't try to take a nibble of a coral... I puroosely overfeed my tank, 4-5 times a day and my emperor angel still eats any zoas/lps and my old flame angel still nipped at SPS polyps.

You just need either a tank large enough that the nipping can be spread out or like the poster above mentioned... not to be too much in love with a particular coral if you're going with a fish that might eat it. I currently have only grandis palys and nuclear greens in my tank as its the only zoas/palys the emperor chose not to eat. The rest were slowly removed as he tried to eat each one... I think I removed and sold about 15 varieties of zoas and LPS he thought were tasty and I don't regret him one bit.

 

[Paul B]

I don't have that problem. There are about 28 fish in my reef and some have been in there over 20 years. Very few fish actually kill coral or even nip at them. There are so many gobies, bleenies, cardinals, wrasses, dragonets and even butterflies you can keep without thinking about them harming corals.

 

[Ahruk]

This is probably a totally crazy suggestion but what about putting it in a smaller for tank with some cheap coral for a little bit before sticking it in the display tank? This would never be a hundred percent as I've heard of tons of people with good luck for a year before the fish goes rouge but it might relieve some of the anxiety.

 

[Briko03]

Paul,
What butterflies you have?

 

[Paul B]

I find butterflies boreing except for copperbands and long nose butterflies. But I have probably had almost every butterfly available at one time or another.