Who owns a harlequin tusk?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I saw this video on IG and it made me want to buy one of these guys! (I can't because I own a clam...)

www.instagram.com/reel/CRUX07pFAgg/

Here's a screenshot:


How many of you have one? What have been your experiences?

 

[jdiefenbaugh]

Have had several. They will not bother clams, but will eat all shrimp, no matter how big or how small the fish is.

 

[nereefpat]

@OrionN is a tusk guy

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Bump for more discussion!

 

[Dolphins18]

They will absolutely decimate snails, hermits, pretty much any invert that crawls around and eats detritus.
I may get another (not since fish only) one eventually, but I think the snails play a role, and the eel eats them very slowly and does the nutrient uptake job for me.

 

[albano]

‘Must have’ fish for me… always had 1 in my tanks since1973… never touched a clam.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

You guys are making me think maybe I should get one in my next reef!

 

[Kevin_Mac]

I though these were very hard to keep alive for any length of time . Is this true? What size tank do you need for them to live a long time? They are very costly to have them die in a couple of months

 

[Mike weymers]

I have one now grown from a baby….. will destroy invertebrates shrimp crab snail

 

[crny1]

has never touched our clam. We have had ours for 2 years now and its approaching 5"-6" long.

 

[vetteguy53081]

An all time favorite of mine. Big mistake many make is too small of a tank as they can get large. No less than 55g to start with but ultimately- 125 or larger is best. Although they will not bother corals, they will eat any small inverts such as snails or crabs. The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, frill, clam, shrimp and other vitamin enriched frozen foods like plankton and brine shrimp, in addition to good quality marine flake and marine pellets.
They are highly carnivorous eaters. They also get along well with other fish.

 

[Huff747]

I’ve had my Tusk since April 2019. Have had a clam since December 2018 and never seen the tusk pay any attention.

Did start out with 3 shrimp. Had read if the shrimp were in before they don’t get eaten. Well now the only remaining one is a coral banded shrimp. Never seen him pick off snails either but doesn’t mean he hasn’t.

 

[Pauley]

I’ve had one for years, and he’s now my favorite. He has the typical wrasse personality. However, he’s grown much larger and stronger than any of my other labrids. Absolute pig that eats everything from nori to pellets. He’s an active swimmer and explores everything. Gets along well with others, and doesn’t bother coral. However, he‘s destroyed my population of small snails and shrimp. Never bothered fans, Xmas worms, or small fish. Like most wrasses I’ve had, he started out finicky and timid, but once acclimated and adjusted to feeding, became bulletproof. If you want to keep them happy, I’d recommend a tank with lots of swimming space and live rock, a varied diet, and tank mates that aren’t overly aggressive (especially if the tusk is small). Just plan on restocking your CUC periodically.

 

[jasonrusso]

I got mine as a juvenile 2 years ago. As juveniles, you can't tell if they are Aussie or Indo. Personally, I think it's BS. I don't believe that the coloration is location based, but the name is assigned to a specimen. I also think that it is nutrition based.

I have had 3. The first one was a 5-6" adult. I quickly realized that he was blind. He died after he bit my lionfish's spine while going after food. My second one was doing well until a velvet outbreak that took 80% of my fish.

My third one is doing EXTREMELY well. I got him young, so I can make sure he gets the proper food and space. I throw in fresh clams daily for my puffer and tusk (all the fish peck at them). That's important. They WILL kill all your snails and crabs. Between the puffer and tusk, it's a constant replacement, lol. I do not mind because it's good for them.

I love him. His juvenile spots are almost gone after 2 years. They are slow growers. They look amazing under the actinics (mine is an "Aussie"). They are comical as well. They swim sideways, lol.

Here is a juvenile video. They are skiddish and it's REALLY hard to get a picture.

I also got a blurry Pic because he is FAST!

 

[czynot]

I have one. Don’t bother clams or other fish but will eat small fish (small wrasse).

 

[clownman99]

I have a pair for a number of years never been a problem will eat anything they can fit in their mouth no luck in breeding them

 

[Jase4224]

This fish is the reason I was ever interested in keeping fish. I’m on my third.. the first one jumped when I was at work so I would recommend to cover your tank. The second one I gave away with all my fish when a previous tank stand began to fail.

Im on my third and can honestly say these are amazing fish but have some requirements. First of is no less than 6x2x2 tank. They are not flat out swimmers like other wrasses but do need space and hiding places. They grow slow but get big, mine is 6-7 inches.

They are fairly peaceful but I have seen mine let other small wrasses ‘know’ who’s boss and they WILL get bolder and more assertive after a few months in your tank. I had an oblique lined dottyback once that would bully my first tusk.. until the tusk had decided enough was enough so yeah they will use their teeth should they feel bothered.

I do have a Majestic Angel that is half the mass of my tusk and he bosses my tusk over territory but the tusk kind of ‘lets‘ him have his way but could easily kill the angel. I feel like tusks avoid confrontation if it’s not necessary but can and will defend themselves. My tusk does dominate the Angel at feeding time so they have an understanding it seems.

Never had clams and others report clams are fine but I would not add a smaller clam to a tank with an established tusk. Crabs get literally smashed on rocks and I bet the same fate for shrimp. Snails get messed with too, however my solution to this is large 1.5-2” base trochus snails which the tusk will get bored of after realising they are just too big after a few days of flipping them. The snails learn to only feed during the night. If you can get really big trochus you will have a clean tank and won’t need to replace them. Zombie snails seem to be ok too as they learn to stay in the sand during the day and they have very solid shells.

As for feeding they are not fussy and aggressive feeders. They need meaty foods. I would not be keen on adding small fish once this fish is in your tank. Once they get established they will start to assert themselves more.

 

[jasonrusso]

They are fairly peaceful but I have seen mine let other small wrasses ‘know’ who’s boss and they WILL get bolder and more assertive after a few months in your tank.

Once established, they won't allow another wrasse. I have added several other species and the tusk paid no attention, but he went homicidal over a six line and a melanarus until I realized what was going on.

 

[Waters]

I have had two and had to remove them both.....they both got more and more aggressive the more they matured. Would not allow me to add any new fish, especially wrasses.

 

[albano]

I’ve never had problems adding fairy, flasher and/or leopard wrasses