Reef-Safe Fishes

[leebca]

It's human nature to push the envelope and the aquarists in this hobby are no exception. We know the fishes that are 'reef safe' but we want to keep other fishes too. So the question keep popping up everywhere. . ."Is [this fish] reef safe?"

What is 'reef safe?' We've designated things that are reef safe which don't have an adverse affect on the inhabitants of a reef aquarium. In an ideal world this would be the perfect answer. Except, not all products or fishes have been tested against every known possible captive marine life form. There at best can only be made generalities on what is reef safe.

Steven Pro did some tests with pulsating Xenia against some 'reef safe' medications and products. Not very promising results. His article captured some of his experience: The Effects of Various "Reef-Safe" Treatments on Xenia sp. in a Controlled Setting, Continued by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com

I don't maintain a reef tank. Never had. I keep Marine Fishes with live rock. However, I have observed the following which may help in deciding if a particular fish is reef safe:

1. What does the fish eat in the wild? Is that in your reef?
2. What is the habit of the fish in the wild -- For instance, the coveted Emperor Angelfish has been recorded to nibble 3 to 5 times per minute while on the reef. It will tend to do that in your tank. Can nibbling affect your reef? Choose the corals that won't die or be killed by nibblers.
3. Mother Nature has a way to 'clean out' the sick and unhealthy without their nutrients going to waste. Many 'reef safe' fishes will eat corals that are unhealthy. So, if there is any problems with your husbandry of corals, the fishes that were reef safe may 'turn' on the corals and eat them up. If you can't keep healthy corals on a regular basis, best to avoid the marginal reef safe fishes.
4. Lastly, some marine fishes have different habits and personalities. Out of 10 of the same species, 4 may be reported to be totally reef safe; 5 may be reported to nibble; and 1 is reported as being totally not reef safe. There's always a gamble.

Have you experiences with the marginal or reported reef safe fishes you can share? Just post your reply and let us know what fishes were reef safe and which to avoid, in your experience.

[vaporize]

Reef-safe is a very general and board definition. First of all, what most hobbist refer to Reef-safe is more like "coral-safe, fish-safe, shrimp-safe, snail-safe, anemone-safe, invert-safe etc.." So does the term encompass the whole reef makeup organisms? In that case, of course nothing is reef-safe.

It's really hard to nail it down to a specific definition, most of us would not like to see our $45 blood shrimp get eaten by a Hawk fish.

In terms of coralsafe, I would say that clownfish and damsel are pretty much on the front of the list as I never seen any of my 200+ clownfish eat any of my corals.

However, for some 'reef-safe' fish such as tangs, recently my blue tang developed a taste for my prized zoos, it decided to eat zoo to rid of ich (yeah use poison against other poison), so there it goes my 4 polyp US$100 each zoo has become 'reef-safe medication' for blue tang.

Okay... I know I do not have a point, but it is just Easter ranting

[leebca]

Happy Easter, Vaporize.

One of the real problems is number 1. on my first post. Marine fish in captivity often (and usually, IMHO) act different they they do in the wild. A prime example is how schools of Tangs travel together around the reef for foods, yet how two of the same Tangs in the aquarium can create havoc. Even the notable exceptions like the Blue Tang and Yellow Tang can sometimes not always be counted upon to get along.

So a fish in captivity that, in the wild, would not eat a particular coral, may do so. Maybe it's boredom? Or maybe it's more tied to 2.

[vaporize]

Happy Easter to you too, Lee.

I think you hit it right on about boredom Aside from my clownfish that fight and maintains for the family hierarchy sometimes, all of the other fish spend most of their time look at the glass waiting to be fed. Especially the blue tang, when I put my face close to the glass, it will just come up to the glass (inside the aquarium) and put its eyes where my eyes are.... so I think it's boredom in such small space and environment.

[wozza]

so I think it's boredom in such small space and environment.

Yet we still keep them in these small glass boxes!