Harlequin Tusk and Squirrel Fish

[aquasalt]

We just bought a harlequin tuskfish and a squirrelfish. They are currently in QT, however as I am reading more and more I'm starting to think that these fish were not a good choice.

The tank is a 90 gallon FOWLR housing 1 Hippo Tang, 1 Maroon Clown, 2 Banggaii cardinal, 1 blood shrimp, 1 skunk shrimp, and snails.

The intention is to go reef in the future. Can anybody give me some advice on these? I'm finding mixed things online.

Thank in advance!

[aquasalt]

Just for fun...

Harlequin Tusk Fish


Squirrel Fish

[Loverotties]

Tusk will eat crustations like shrimp, crabs etc.

[aquasalt]

So, he's definitely got to go back. What about the Squirrel?

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by aquasalt

So, he's definitely got to go back. What about the Squirrel?

Will eat a variety of motile invertebrates, such as worms, crustaceans, snails and serpent stars.

That is a quote from my Marine Fishes book. So, if you want a reef tank, he has to go back. Or, set up a non-reef tank just for them.

[Twitterbait]

take them both back, the squirrel will be a problem too IMO.

[aquasalt]

The LFS recommended these fishes based on the tank size and that my tank was more of an aggressive tank. Maybe I'm being stupid here, but how does my stocking list to data (1 Hippo Tang, 1 Maroon Clown, 2 Banggaii cardinal, 1 blood shrimp, 1 skunk shrimp, and snails) add up to an "aggressive tank".

These fish are going to have to go back...we enjoy watching our shrimp too much to sacrifice them.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by aquasalt

The LFS recommended these fishes based on the tank size and that my tank was more of an aggressive tank. Maybe I'm being stupid here, but how does my stocking list to data (1 Hippo Tang, 1 Maroon Clown, 2 Banggaii cardinal, 1 blood shrimp, 1 skunk shrimp, and snails) add up to an "aggressive tank".

These fish are going to have to go back...we enjoy watching our shrimp too much to sacrifice them.

If your LFS says that the two new fish are going to be "safe" with the critters (shrimp) that you have now, it is time to hunt a new LFS. Sad but true. The books that I have are Marine Fishes and Reef Aquarium Fishes, both by Scott W. Michael. Try to pick up at least one of them and then before you buy a fish you can look it up and see how it is going to do. The two books have duplicates in them where fish are in both books but I have never compared them directly to see how much duplication there is.

[aquasalt]

They're going back come Saturday. I just called the LFS, seems like we had some miscommunication. Thanks for the input folks!

[aquasalt]

So, now I have a week to decide on what to add next! Any suggestions?

Once again, current tenants are 1 Hippo Tang, 1 Maroon Clown, 2 Banggaii cardinal, 1 blood shrimp, 1 skunk shrimp, and snails. No corals as of yet, but definitely soon.

[OneDummHikk]

Mandarin Goby, I think they are cool. They look like something people would have dreamed about during a psychadelic trip during the 60's.

[jwm32068]

Perhaps the maroon clown is what led them to believe you had an aggressive tank. Some of these can be quite nasty as an adult. Very terretorial to say the least. Wade

[aquasalt]

I made the mistake of buying the maroon as one of our first fish. I like him a lot but it seems like he is limiting us quite a bit. I might trade him in. The LFS said that the hippo tang can also become rather rambunctious. Is that true?

Love the mandarins also, just keep hearing that they need a very mature aquarium to do well.

I'm thinking about a pair of firefish, but according to LFS that would not be a good choice.

Bloody frustrating...Either the 90 gallon tank is too small or my fish are considered too aggressive! Maybe it's time to upgrade to a 220 or bigger???

[lOsTx3iiT]

I heard that mardarins are very sensitive to changes and stuff. But I have two now. &&they eat well and stuff all the time. My tank's crashing &&they*re some of the few that are still doing well.