"reef safe"

Megaloptera · 10/22/2012, 07:16 PM

I am finding new meaning for the term reef safe. In the past two times of scrubbing the tank of my first reef, I was attacked by its inhabitants. First time I felt a very funny "feathery" feeling on my arm with slight pokes now and then. I looked away from the algae to find two peppermint shrimp on my arm "cleaning" me. Tonight, my ocellarus clowns attacked my hand and the sponge I was using to scrub the side. I must have crossed into their territory. The reef is only safe for those who call it home. Anyone else have similar experiences?

WillM · 10/22/2012, 07:24 PM

Hahah.... I used to own a big maroon clown that would attack me whenever my hand was in the tank too. He started becoming an unwelcome guest with coral that were unwilling to host him and I had to trade him. Now I kind of miss it. My peppermint shrimp cleans my arms too. The worst was a bee sting like feeling from my torch coral in a small cut on my finger.

biocube14g · 10/22/2012, 07:25 PM

Ha.... Lions and scorpions are usually pretty chill, but when u get into their home, they get ****ed

Fryman · 10/22/2012, 07:26 PM

My clowns & damsel "attack" my arm sometimes by flicking their tails at me when I reach into the tank. That's about it though. They've never tried to bite me.

rrasco · 10/22/2012, 07:26 PM

My old cleaner would clean me, my new one is a *****. My female occy (RIP) used to attack the **** out of me.

Reef264 · 10/22/2012, 07:29 PM

Certain fish are territorial towards there owners just as much as they are to the tank inhabitants.Ive had Clowns that Bite, Tangs that Strike, and urchins that spike.

-Ray

SushiGirl · 10/22/2012, 08:17 PM

I have a burn mark above my wrist from 2000 when I was cleaning the tank & the cleaner shrimp crawled up the inside of my forearm while I wasn't looking. Jerked my hand up & hit the MH bulb LOL. MH bulbs aren't arm safe!

Misled · 10/22/2012, 08:19 PM

I guess what you're saying is, you're not reef safe.

biocube14g · 10/22/2012, 08:25 PM

I got burnt on my metal halide as well.... HOTT glass

SushiGirl · 10/22/2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

I guess what you're saying is, you're not reef safe.

That was actually almost what I typed instead!

hossa81 · 10/22/2012, 08:59 PM

My Picasso trigger bit my finger when I wasn't looking LOL. I had to put him in the container while I finished aquascaping. Now he bites anything that moves inside the tank, which includes my hand and the algae scraper

adamross · 10/22/2012, 09:21 PM

My clown bites my finger every time , Idk how but he made me bleed one time , i dont see how LOL

biocube14g · 10/22/2012, 09:29 PM

I get bit by things that don't bite!

SushiGirl · 10/22/2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamross

My clown bites my finger every time , Idk how but he made me bleed one time , i dont see how LOL

They have teeth!

rcemanon · 10/22/2012, 10:10 PM

Yes.... Clowns sure do have teeth.

Mine has drawn blood from me more than once. Usually gets me in the connecting skin between my thumb and index finger.

biocube14g · 10/22/2012, 10:16 PM

I knew clownfish have teeth, but they can really draw blood?!?!?! Just one day, the ocean will be dominated by clownfish, and you will no longer hear of a shark attack, but rather a clown attack!

slapshot · 10/22/2012, 10:22 PM

My arms look like I have chicken poxs when I work on my maroons side of the tank. The female draws blood with every bite. I have learned to take as I destroyed many an acro jerking my hand away. Lol

reefer_mon · 10/22/2012, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

I guess what you're saying is, you're not reef safe.

Lol ? that's what I was thinking.

But yes i Mainteance several tank with anything from clowns, to eels that come up to say, AYE! Back the F*ck up!

Currently:
125G 6 ft. GLASS + 55G LONG SUMP/REFUGIUM

Sent from my iPhone

Timfish · 10/23/2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamross

My clown bites my finger every time , Idk how but he made me bleed one time , i dont see how LOL

Yeah, I've got a old female perc that knows the skin is thinnist between my fingers and has drawn blood several times.

rrasco · 10/23/2012, 08:28 AM

I'm just really hoping I never have an experience with my coral cat shark. She's very docile but you never know.

dannyp02908 · 10/23/2012, 09:04 AM

I have to use a step ladder to work on my tank. My femal black/white occy will jump out of the water and bit my face while her little bf bites my fingers to draw my attention. They have calmed a bit since i stopped jerking away. Its just a little nip.

Jon_Hewett_85 · 10/23/2012, 12:08 PM

One of my female occellaris is truly vicious. She bites, and she goes for the little web of skin between my pinkie and ring fingers. The she holds on and shakes back and forth.

Don't take it personally, they're just doing what comes naturally and defending their territory against a foreign invader. Especially once they learn the invader doesn't fight back and tweaks out at the slightest provocation, it's game on.

10/22/2012, 07:16 PM	#1
Megaloptera Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 34	"reef safe" I am finding new meaning for the term reef safe. In the past two times of scrubbing the tank of my first reef, I was attacked by its inhabitants. First time I felt a very funny "feathery" feeling on my arm with slight pokes now and then. I looked away from the algae to find two peppermint shrimp on my arm "cleaning" me. Tonight, my ocellarus clowns attacked my hand and the sponge I was using to scrub the side. I must have crossed into their territory. The reef is only safe for those who call it home. Anyone else have similar experiences?

10/22/2012, 07:26 PM	#5
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	My old cleaner would clean me, my new one is a ***. My female occy (RIP) used to attack the ** out of me. __________________ -You had me at PWM

10/22/2012, 07:29 PM	#6
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	Certain fish are territorial towards there owners just as much as they are to the tank inhabitants.Ive had Clowns that Bite, Tangs that Strike, and urchins that spike. -Ray __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

10/22/2012, 08:17 PM	#7
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	I have a burn mark above my wrist from 2000 when I was cleaning the tank & the cleaner shrimp crawled up the inside of my forearm while I wasn't looking. Jerked my hand up & hit the MH bulb LOL. MH bulbs aren't arm safe! __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

10/22/2012, 08:19 PM	#8
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	I guess what you're saying is, you're not reef safe. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

10/22/2012, 07:24 PM	#2
WillM Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 663	Hahah.... I used to own a big maroon clown that would attack me whenever my hand was in the tank too. He started becoming an unwelcome guest with coral that were unwilling to host him and I had to trade him. Now I kind of miss it. My peppermint shrimp cleans my arms too. The worst was a bee sting like feeling from my torch coral in a small cut on my finger.

10/22/2012, 07:25 PM	#3
biocube14g Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Templeton, CA Posts: 240	Ha.... Lions and scorpions are usually pretty chill, but when u get into their home, they get ****ed

10/22/2012, 07:26 PM	#4
Fryman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 337	My clowns & damsel "attack" my arm sometimes by flicking their tails at me when I reach into the tank. That's about it though. They've never tried to bite me.

10/22/2012, 08:25 PM	#9
biocube14g Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Templeton, CA Posts: 240	I got burnt on my metal halide as well.... HOTT glass

10/22/2012, 08:59 PM	#11
hossa81 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Geneva,IL Posts: 900	My Picasso trigger bit my finger when I wasn't looking LOL. I had to put him in the container while I finished aquascaping. Now he bites anything that moves inside the tank, which includes my hand and the algae scraper

10/22/2012, 09:21 PM	#12
adamross Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 30	My clown bites my finger every time , Idk how but he made me bleed one time , i dont see how LOL

10/22/2012, 09:29 PM	#13
biocube14g Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Templeton, CA Posts: 240	I get bit by things that don't bite!

10/22/2012, 10:10 PM	#15
rcemanon Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 12	Yes.... Clowns sure do have teeth. Mine has drawn blood from me more than once. Usually gets me in the connecting skin between my thumb and index finger.

10/22/2012, 10:16 PM	#16
biocube14g Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Templeton, CA Posts: 240	I knew clownfish have teeth, but they can really draw blood?!?!?! Just one day, the ocean will be dominated by clownfish, and you will no longer hear of a shark attack, but rather a clown attack! __________________ "Just one day, the ocean will be dominated by clownfish, and you will no longer hear of a shark attack, but rather a clown attack!"- MYSELF Current Tank Info: JBJ 28 Nano Cube, 14k Metal Halides, UV Sterilizer, HOB Protein Skimmer, 30 Lbs LR Main display; 30 Lbs rubble in sump, 10 Gallon Sump, 2 Hydor Koralia 240's, RIO 2100 Return Pump

10/22/2012, 10:22 PM	#17
slapshot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan Posts: 1,791	My arms look like I have chicken poxs when I work on my maroons side of the tank. The female draws blood with every bite. I have learned to take as I destroyed many an acro jerking my hand away. Lol

10/23/2012, 08:28 AM	#20
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	I'm just really hoping I never have an experience with my coral cat shark. She's very docile but you never know. __________________ -You had me at PWM

10/23/2012, 09:04 AM	#21
dannyp02908 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 190	I have to use a step ladder to work on my tank. My femal black/white occy will jump out of the water and bit my face while her little bf bites my fingers to draw my attention. They have calmed a bit since i stopped jerking away. Its just a little nip. __________________ Dan 110 Gallon Aquarium Numerous corals and some fish Current Tank Info: 110 SW various corals and a few fish.

10/23/2012, 12:08 PM	#22
Jon_Hewett_85 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 415	One of my female occellaris is truly vicious. She bites, and she goes for the little web of skin between my pinkie and ring fingers. The she holds on and shakes back and forth. Don't take it personally, they're just doing what comes naturally and defending their territory against a foreign invader. Especially once they learn the invader doesn't fight back and tweaks out at the slightest provocation, it's game on. __________________ There is no life after reef... Current Tank Info: 20 gallon display, 40 gallon display, 15ish gallons in common sump.