Harlequin Tusk or Flame Angel?

el Presidente · 12/05/2006, 08:48 PM

Two out of my fav three fish are reef risky. Boo Hoo. After six years of lamenting I'm thinking about giving it a go. Which do you think would be friendlier to my mixed reef? The Flamer or the Tusk? Or should I just forget the whole thing?

SDguy · 12/05/2006, 08:52 PM

A tusk has pretty limited things he'll go after in a reef (ie shrimp). The flame COULD develop a taste for any number of corals, or maybe none.

boy, wasn't I a lot of help

el Presidente · 12/05/2006, 09:23 PM

Will the tusk go after snails too?

JamesJR · 12/05/2006, 11:13 PM

I think they might.

rmougey · 12/06/2006, 01:23 AM

My Tusk enjoys escargot...... he waits for the snail to fall to the bottom (i have observed him knocking snails off rocks, facilitating this event). As the snail extends its foot to turn over, the Tusk grabs the fleshy part and proceeds to beat the snail against the nearest rock. After several forceful whacks, the snail becomes a treat for the Tusk, the shell left as a home for a future hermit.

I've learned that he prefers Turbos, followed by astrea.... but doesn't bother many of the smaller snail varieties.

I periodically restock the snail population.... he slowly weeds it down. Given that he's pushing 7"+, I'd say he was doing quite well... must be the supplemental feedings.

So... will a Tusk eat your snails, shrimp and crabs? Absolutely. Will it bother your corals? Not at all.

-Rob

el Presidente · 12/06/2006, 07:14 AM

Thanks, just as I thought, I just wonder if it's worth it. It's a viscious cycle. LOL.

bblumberg · 12/06/2006, 07:27 AM

It is unpredictable whether the flame will go after corals or not. I have a flame and coral beauty in a mixed reef. Neither bothers any of the corals and both do a decent job of getting rid of the occasional spots of algae.

My lime wrasse (which I was told was reef safe) has eaten virtually all of the snails and hermit crabs. but no corals at least....

rmougey · 12/06/2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by el Presidente
Thanks, just as I thought, I just wonder if it's worth it. It's a vicious cycle. LOL.

Given that I like Tusks.... and that his colors are magnificent (Coral Sea)... I think it's a fair trade..... well.... maybe not from the snails point of view!

-Rob

el Presidente · 12/06/2006, 06:34 PM

I agree it may be worth it, however what methods for algae control?

ThaNgBOm321 · 12/06/2006, 07:58 PM

tusk are awsome!!! they are my fav. fish back when i had a fowlr and was converting it to a fowlr/reef ( had shrooms,gsp and a flowerpot ) he dint nother the corals at all other then chomping on a rock once in a blue moon. i think he was just fileing down his teeth but it would always grow back. he LOVES snails.. those poor nassaris ( sp? ) where dead quick. i added about 30 one night and found about 20 shells in the morning... but the 10 or so that lived got smart and only come out afther light out and roamed the tank. i have read online that you could add clean up crews prior to adding a tusk so that have safespots or something so the tusk cant eat them.

joyski58 · 12/07/2006, 10:48 AM

Guess you could look at this size-wise. The Tusk will get huge; the angel won't.

thor32766 · 12/07/2006, 11:14 AM

anyone have a tusk with cleaner shrimp?

rmougey · 12/07/2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thor32766
anyone have a tusk with cleaner shrimp?

Only briefly........ ate a Sally too!

-Rob

bignick · 12/08/2006, 08:07 AM

I use to have a flame angel and he used to nip at my xenia and clams. But other than that he was a decent fish.

ct_vol · 12/08/2006, 08:11 AM

I have a flame angel in my reef tank... Doesn't bother any zoos or xenia... I haven't taken the risk with SPS or Clams yet though... Don't plan to either... But I have a Multicolor angel in with SPS and Clams and she does great... Depends on the speciman...

bignick · 12/08/2006, 08:30 AM

Mine did fine with SPS at least i never saw it nip at them like i did the xenia and clams. They are known for doing it though.

benf · 12/08/2006, 01:17 PM

I like the coloring of the Tusk better...here is a pic of mine

saltycreefer · 12/08/2006, 01:19 PM

Get a Flame Angel. Tusks eat everything but urchins.

12/05/2006, 08:48 PM	#1
el Presidente Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wilmot WI Posts: 162	Harlequin Tusk or Flame Angel? Two out of my fav three fish are reef risky. Boo Hoo. After six years of lamenting I'm thinking about giving it a go. Which do you think would be friendlier to my mixed reef? The Flamer or the Tusk? Or should I just forget the whole thing?

12/05/2006, 08:52 PM	#2
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	A tusk has pretty limited things he'll go after in a reef (ie shrimp). The flame COULD develop a taste for any number of corals, or maybe none. boy, wasn't I a lot of help __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

12/05/2006, 11:13 PM	#4
JamesJR Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,733	I think they might. __________________ Just when I thought you couldn't be any dumber you go and do something like this....And totally redeem yourself! Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

12/06/2006, 01:23 AM	#5
rmougey Chair, MACNA 2014 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 1,341	My Tusk enjoys escargot...... he waits for the snail to fall to the bottom (i have observed him knocking snails off rocks, facilitating this event). As the snail extends its foot to turn over, the Tusk grabs the fleshy part and proceeds to beat the snail against the nearest rock. After several forceful whacks, the snail becomes a treat for the Tusk, the shell left as a home for a future hermit. I've learned that he prefers Turbos, followed by astrea.... but doesn't bother many of the smaller snail varieties. I periodically restock the snail population.... he slowly weeds it down. Given that he's pushing 7"+, I'd say he was doing quite well... must be the supplemental feedings. So... will a Tusk eat your snails, shrimp and crabs? Absolutely. Will it bother your corals? Not at all. -Rob __________________ If at first you don't succeed, you didn't quarantine long enough!

12/06/2006, 07:27 AM	#7
bblumberg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 606	It is unpredictable whether the flame will go after corals or not. I have a flame and coral beauty in a mixed reef. Neither bothers any of the corals and both do a decent job of getting rid of the occasional spots of algae. My lime wrasse (which I was told was reef safe) has eaten virtually all of the snails and hermit crabs. but no corals at least.... __________________ Bruce Current Tank Info: 150G mixed reef (6x Blue Acro 20K Pro COB LEDs, 4x 80W T5 supplement), 150g fw discus (T5 lighting), 110G fw Angelfish (DIY LED lighting), 4 x 40 g frag tanks (DIY LED).

12/05/2006, 09:23 PM	#3
el Presidente Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wilmot WI Posts: 162	Will the tusk go after snails too?

12/06/2006, 07:14 AM	#6
el Presidente Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wilmot WI Posts: 162	Thanks, just as I thought, I just wonder if it's worth it. It's a viscious cycle. LOL.

12/06/2006, 06:34 PM	#9
el Presidente Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wilmot WI Posts: 162	I agree it may be worth it, however what methods for algae control?

12/06/2006, 07:58 PM	#10
ThaNgBOm321 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tx, houston Posts: 792	tusk are awsome!!! they are my fav. fish back when i had a fowlr and was converting it to a fowlr/reef ( had shrooms,gsp and a flowerpot ) he dint nother the corals at all other then chomping on a rock once in a blue moon. i think he was just fileing down his teeth but it would always grow back. he LOVES snails.. those poor nassaris ( sp? ) where dead quick. i added about 30 one night and found about 20 shells in the morning... but the 10 or so that lived got smart and only come out afther light out and roamed the tank. i have read online that you could add clean up crews prior to adding a tusk so that have safespots or something so the tusk cant eat them. __________________ YzGyz = Wise Guys ohhh and cows go MOOO!!! 2nd best way is to learn from ones own mistakes but the best way to learn is from others... thx to Randy and so many other for making reefing that much easier

12/07/2006, 10:48 AM	#11
joyski58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Albans, WV Posts: 278	Guess you could look at this size-wise. The Tusk will get huge; the angel won't. __________________ JKJ Current Tank Info: 72 bowfront w/hang-on refuge and 20 gal plumbed-in frag tank, 2 skimmers, 2 Coralife tank-mount metal halides w/strip actinic

12/07/2006, 11:14 AM	#12
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	anyone have a tusk with cleaner shrimp? __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

12/08/2006, 08:07 AM	#14
bignick Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 1,426	I use to have a flame angel and he used to nip at my xenia and clams. But other than that he was a decent fish. __________________ 210 SPS & 42 Hex LPS mixed reef Just because they say you can't do it doesn't mean you can't prove them wrong. Current Tank Info: 210 SPS & 42 Hex LPS/Soft Coral reef

12/08/2006, 08:11 AM	#15
ct_vol Reefing On My Mind Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kempton, IL Posts: 8,083	I have a flame angel in my reef tank... Doesn't bother any zoos or xenia... I haven't taken the risk with SPS or Clams yet though... Don't plan to either... But I have a Multicolor angel in with SPS and Clams and she does great... Depends on the speciman... __________________ Randy Volunteers, Blackhawks, Titans, Cubs!!!! Current Tank Info: 185g waiting to be built, 120g SPS/Anemone Reef, 120g SCA in the works, 58g mixed reef w/ 6x39w T5, 125g grow out w/ Reef Breeders

12/08/2006, 08:30 AM	#16
bignick Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 1,426	Mine did fine with SPS at least i never saw it nip at them like i did the xenia and clams. They are known for doing it though. __________________ 210 SPS & 42 Hex LPS mixed reef Just because they say you can't do it doesn't mean you can't prove them wrong. Current Tank Info: 210 SPS & 42 Hex LPS/Soft Coral reef

12/08/2006, 01:17 PM	#17
benf Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wesley chapel, florida Posts: 4,031	I like the coloring of the Tusk better...here is a pic of mine __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: None :(

12/08/2006, 01:19 PM	#18
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,696	Get a Flame Angel. Tusks eat everything but urchins. __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.