risky reef fish?

[reefNewbie]

what risky fish have people had success with keeping in their reef tank? I was considering a niger trigger and possibly some of the larger angels.

 

[teevee]

Do a search, should be lots of previous threads on this...

 

[Len]

I've kept various large angels with success, but oddly enough, all the dwarf species I've tried didn't work out. NKT had a Tinkeri butterfly that was well behaved if it was fed enough and I've seen a few other butterflyfish of the subgenus Roa (Tinker's, Mitratus, Declevis) in reef tanks as well. Other questionable fish are Harlequin Tusks (ask Sharkky ) if you don't mind having no small mobile critters.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Snooti Maori wrasse that is doing great. Although admittedly he was only ever a danger to shrimp and such anyway.
I also have had a juvenile emperor angel for over a year now in my reef. He's doing great, and lots of other folks have had good luck with them too. I have clams, sps, euphylia and zooanthids. He doesn't bother a thing.
The dangers that some large angels pose is overstaded in the extreme with some species, while it's perfectly justified with others.
Majestic (P. navarchus) as well as regal angels seem to do well. What other large angel species have you had good luck with Len?

Jim

 

[SpecialK]

I have seen a few nigers in a reef also a blue jaw trigger in a reef.
I am risky and have a tassled file in my reef & not a problem yet, but I feed 3 x's a day and if I put pellets it will pick at them for hours.

kaye

 

[reefNewbie]

This is kind of what I had an idea getting, correct me if I cannot mix some of these, this is just what i want and will probably not be able to doit.

-Imperator
-3 lyretail femails 1 lmale
-Niger trigger
-My current yellow tang

 

[reefNewbie]

btw I have some sps some softies and few LPS in my tank along with just snails and few hermits.

 

[Anonymous]

This is kind of what I had an idea getting, correct me if I cannot mix some of these, this is just what i want and will probably not be able to doit.

-Imperator
-3 lyretail femails 1 lmale
-Niger trigger
-My current yellow tang

Emperators are generaly safe with SPS and clams, assuming you get a young individual and acclimate him to prepared foods. Keeping him with softies? That I don't know about. I never really got into the softies myself. Mine doesn't bother anything in my tank, SPS, clams, various Euphylia, and zooanthids. He HAS taken exploratory nips at one of the clams, twice that I've seen in over a year.
Niger triggers are reef safe, but get big and can overwhelm a tank. Figure 200 gallons at least to keep one long term.

Jim

 

[SpecialK]

I just checked them out here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishe ... iggers.htm and they say to 18 inches!

Kaye

 

[reefNewbie]

what about the athias, how many would be an adequate amount for schooling of the lyretails? This is for a 90 gallon tank, thats why im going to get the smallest angel/trigger i can find.

 

[ereefic1]

I'd go with the blue jaw trigger over the niger. A prettier fish IMO. We have one and he's a model citizen.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm still waiting for the LFS to get ahold of a juvi tusk for me, so I can have one again. Last one was too big for my system; I had to sell him.

 

[Anonymous]

How big did your last one get John?
Tusks are not risky unless you're worried about shrimp and crabs. I'd add one if I had the room.

Jim

 

[reefNewbie]

too bad they cant kill mantis shrimps thatd be nice.

 

[Anonymous]

They can. As long as the mantis isn't too big in relation to the tusk.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

How big did your last one get John?
Tusks are not risky unless you're worried about shrimp and crabs. I'd add one if I had the room.

Jim

The last one I had was about 9" or so. Australian. Beautiful fish, just way too big for my system. Couldn't keep the water quality in check. I'm waiting for a nice little juvi. Speaking of which, it's shipment day at the LFS. Road trip time!

 

[Anonymous]

newb,
Squamipinnis anthias are one of the most aggressive anthias species. Never kept one, but all the recommendations I've seen suggest at least 8 females and 1 male, in a 180 gallon tank minimum. Probably best to keep a single one if you have your heart set on it.

 

[Anonymous]

How big did your last one get John?
Tusks are not risky unless you're worried about shrimp and crabs. I'd add one if I had the room.

Jim

The last one I had was about 9" or so. Australian. Beautiful fish, just way too big for my system. Couldn't keep the water quality in check. I'm waiting for a nice little juvi. Speaking of which, it's shipment day at the LFS. Road trip time!

Good luck! :wink:

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

BAhhh, another week of nothin but clownfish and damsels. :-| I did pick up a royal gramma though. Haven't had one of these guys in years.

 

[Mogo]

I have a picasso trigger in my reef. He has alway behaved very well (so far). The main problem is that he sifts sand which ends up on the corals. So I have to do the turkey baster thing regularly. He is a hold-over from when I changed from a FOWLR to reef. I can't bear to give the little bugger up.