Facts first –
- I added a 5” Harlequin Tusk to a 5 year old reef tank last week.
- I tried to QT this fish in a 10g tank (I am an advocate of QT and always do it) and it freaked out. It was bashing into the glass and PVC pipes I had in there for it to hide in. I tried to let it calm down for 24hrs (no lights), but it never did. The QT tank was way too small, I aborted QT and acclimated the Tusk to my Reef ASAP.
- I obtained this fish from a club member, Thanks reefbuilder!
I just wanted to share how much I like this fish in my reef and why. First of all let me predicate this post by stating that I have heard a lot of people comment on the “reef safeness” of the Harlequin Tusk. I have heard everything from it will eat all your inverts, it will kill you small fish, and it will file its teeth on your SPS.
My experience is a massive improvement to the activity in my reef. All positive! no negative. This fish has served as a bellwether if you will. Ever since it has been in my tank all the other fish have be out and swimming around more and there is just so much more activity to watch. I had a Desjardinii Tang that would hide in the rocks unless there was seaweed in the tank. He is now out swimming around all the time and so are all the other fish. It is amazing how the addition of one key element like this can make the tank seem so much more natural and alive.
To dispel the other myths I have heard, I have a fair amount of snail, hermits, Mithrax crabs, and a serpent star in the tank. The Harlequin Tusk has not bothered any of them. I have seen him eyeing down the live rock as if he was about to attack something, but I have never witnessed an attack on something I added to the tank as a cleanup crew. I also have several tiny fish that could easily fit in the Tusk’s mouth. They all swim together and I can not detect any additional stress from the little fish. All in all the addition of this Harlequin Tusk actually seems like it has reduced the stress levels for the fish in my tank, like I said before they are all out swimming about and behaving in a much more natural way.
I know it has only been in there a week, but it acclimated very fast since it was already in reefbuilder’s tank. I don’t think I have to wait the typical month or so to witness its natural behavior like I would a fish that had just been shipped ( I mean it already eats out of my hand). Anyway if for some reason it does change behaviors I will post it here. But for now I am extremely pleased with this addition to my reef and just wanted to share that.
- I added a 5” Harlequin Tusk to a 5 year old reef tank last week.
- I tried to QT this fish in a 10g tank (I am an advocate of QT and always do it) and it freaked out. It was bashing into the glass and PVC pipes I had in there for it to hide in. I tried to let it calm down for 24hrs (no lights), but it never did. The QT tank was way too small, I aborted QT and acclimated the Tusk to my Reef ASAP.
- I obtained this fish from a club member, Thanks reefbuilder!
I just wanted to share how much I like this fish in my reef and why. First of all let me predicate this post by stating that I have heard a lot of people comment on the “reef safeness” of the Harlequin Tusk. I have heard everything from it will eat all your inverts, it will kill you small fish, and it will file its teeth on your SPS.
My experience is a massive improvement to the activity in my reef. All positive! no negative. This fish has served as a bellwether if you will. Ever since it has been in my tank all the other fish have be out and swimming around more and there is just so much more activity to watch. I had a Desjardinii Tang that would hide in the rocks unless there was seaweed in the tank. He is now out swimming around all the time and so are all the other fish. It is amazing how the addition of one key element like this can make the tank seem so much more natural and alive.
To dispel the other myths I have heard, I have a fair amount of snail, hermits, Mithrax crabs, and a serpent star in the tank. The Harlequin Tusk has not bothered any of them. I have seen him eyeing down the live rock as if he was about to attack something, but I have never witnessed an attack on something I added to the tank as a cleanup crew. I also have several tiny fish that could easily fit in the Tusk’s mouth. They all swim together and I can not detect any additional stress from the little fish. All in all the addition of this Harlequin Tusk actually seems like it has reduced the stress levels for the fish in my tank, like I said before they are all out swimming about and behaving in a much more natural way.
I know it has only been in there a week, but it acclimated very fast since it was already in reefbuilder’s tank. I don’t think I have to wait the typical month or so to witness its natural behavior like I would a fish that had just been shipped ( I mean it already eats out of my hand). Anyway if for some reason it does change behaviors I will post it here. But for now I am extremely pleased with this addition to my reef and just wanted to share that.
