Harlequin tusk?

[epidemic]

What are the concers of keeping a Harlequin Tusk in a reef tank? I know they eat inverts (crabs and snails), but do they harm coral?
Has any one had one (that didn't go carpet surfing...Josh) ?

Thanks
Derek

[theplatypus]

From what I've read on wetweb they don't bother corals but may decimate inverts. I've been thinking about adding one to my new tank as well. Just can't decide if I feel like replacing the inverts every few months.

[epidemic]

I have a very limited cleaning crew. Less than ten snails and probably the same for crabs, a few cleaner shrimp and a few emerald crabs.

I wonder how fast they eat them?

[oyam123]

It will jump out if you dont have a top!

[epidemic]

and...?

[David Grigor]

They get big....... Better fit for fish only with lots of room. Reef tanks tend to get crowded and not much open space.

[epidemic]

David- I saw you something fishy on saturday. I was going to say hi, but I felt kind of wierd as I don't know you that well.

[David Grigor]

Yep, I was hoping to find a Virigate Rabbitfish but no luck.

[epidemic]

They had the coolest filefish, I was going to aks how much they wanted, but then remembered that I have two pairs of clownfish in my tank and a low fish like a file would probably get harassed to no end

[smeese]

What happened to your Vigrate....They may have one at pet expo....want me to check? Are you coming to the meeting? Steve

[David Grigor]

I had one for about a year, no explanation what happen just belly up one day. I really missed it. The LR that was in that 58g, several years ago was in a refugium type tank just full of macro aglae mostly that grape stuff. No sign of macro algae on the rock for about a year. I thought it was all gone. 6 weeks after the rabbitfish was gone the macro algae was out of control. Needless to say he must have been keeping it in check. I manually cleaned the rock before moving it to the 125g but left unchecked will probably come back. Virgate is my favorite of the Rabbitfish.

I don't plan to attend because of the drive and the recent meeting.

[jekelin]

I have had a harlequin tusk in my reef tank for over three years now and he has been perfectly fine as long as you don't mind not having inverts. Once he got big enough he pretty much decimated the snails that I had in the tank one by one, although I do still have one snail hanging on. I accidentally put a peppermint shrimp into the tank one time will moving live rock from one tank to another and he was a snack within a couple of minutes. I have never had a problem with the tusk going after any corals or clams. I haven't had any problems with the tusk jumping or making any sudden movements towards the top of the tank either, but he is pretty much the king of the tank. There are not any other overly aggressive fish to spook him. The tusk does get large but is a pretty slow grower. Mine started at around 3" when I bought him 3 years ago and now he is about 6". Overall they are fantastic fish IMO.

Jordan

[epidemic]

How fast do they go through snail/hermits? Better yet, how often would they need to be replenished?

[otolith]

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=55074

[epidemic]

Good in fo, thanks derek