Pushing the envelope with Reef-safish fish

[amc23]

I have a reef aquarium but haven't put a whole lot of money into my corals, and while I love some of my simple larger pieces (hammer coral, sun coral, Duncan, some nice zoas and a big colt coral), I have found that I derive more enjoyment from watching my fish. I have therefore decided to push the envelope on reef-safe fish and if I lose a few corals or a few inverts, I am willing to accept the losses and try to incorporate coral and invert types that the offending fish will not or cannot eat. With that in mind, I am deciding which risky (Reef Safe With Caution) fish to add to my system. Can anybody give me any suggestions about the fish I have mentioned below or give different suggestions. Also, any tips on coral that these fish would be most likely eat or not eat would be helpful. Of course every fish has its own personality and taste, I am just talking about "general" observations. Thanks!

Alex

 

MajesticAngel

Regal Angel

Queen Angel

Emperor Angel

Lemonpeel Angel

Dwarf Lionfish

Spanish Hogfish

Copperband Butterfly or Margined Coralfish (Chelmon marginalis)

[WaterDog]

I don't think lionfish eat coral at all to the best of my knowledge.

[L8 2 RISE]

I have a reef aquarium but haven't put a whole lot of money into my corals, and while I love some of my simple larger pieces (hammer coral, sun coral, Duncan, some nice zoas and a big colt coral), I have found that I derive more enjoyment from watching my fish. I have therefore decided to push the envelope on reef-safe fish and if I lose a few corals or a few inverts, I am willing to accept the losses and try to incorporate coral and invert types that the offending fish will not or cannot eat. With that in mind, I am deciding which risky (Reef Safe With Caution) fish to add to my system. Can anybody give me any suggestions about the fish I have mentioned below or give different suggestions. Also, any tips on coral that these fish would be most likely eat or not eat would be helpful. Of course every fish has its own personality and taste, I am just talking about "general" observations. Thanks!

Alex

 

MajesticAngel

Regal Angel

Queen Angel

Emperor Angel

Lemonpeel Angel

Dwarf Lionfish

Spanish Hogfish

Copperband Butterfly or Margined Coralfish (Chelmon marginalis)

 

What size tank? Copperband is fine, so is margined.

Lionfish don't eat coral, they are semi-reef safe though because they'll eat inverts and fish if small enough. Same with hogfish for the most part.

Lemonpeel, as with other centropyge are always touchy... it depends on the individual.

You should be alright with harder corals with the regal.

As for the rest, you just have to find out what each individual doesn't have a taste for. You may get lucky.

[davidm]

copperband butterflies I have had, and currently have, are generally ok with corals (knock on wood).

[dbartco]

are the margined cooler water inhabitants?

[amc23]

Thanks for all the help everyone--when I meant reef-safe my concern was both with the corals I have as well as the hermits and snails. I realize the lion is a danger to the inverts and not the coral, I was just wondering if anybody had opinion about dwarf lionfish being small enough to generally leave the hermits and snails and larger shrimp (3 inches) alone.

 

Also, I will add one to the list-Newton's wrasse-this one is also more for inverts but I wondered if anybody has had one that decimated his/her cleanup crew.

 

Thanks again everyone, I figured this would be a good weekend to post because everyone would be home :0)

Alex

[L8 2 RISE]

are the margined cooler water inhabitants?

 

Depends which one you're talking about. Chelmon marginalis, the one in the OP is not. Prognathodes basabei, on the other hand, is, however I doubt amc23 is planning on buying one of those given the $6k price tag...

Edited February 6, 2010 by L8 2 RISE

[khalid]

i have a dwarf lion fish in my 40 breeder and love him! he doesn't touch corals, any of my snails, hermits, or any of the emralds hiding out in the rock. He will eat any fish that will fit in his mouth and he only will eat feeders but definitely a cool fish that will come to the front of the tsank when you are around.

[DDiver]

I have a candy Hog and he's been a good citizen...

[watson_barrett]

i have kept majestics and emerors up to 6" with no problems. they will pick at dying coral...