- Reef safe
Reef safe is a distinction used in the
saltwater aquarium hobby to indicate that a fish orinvertebrate is safe to add to areef aquarium . There is no fish that is completely reef safe. Every fish that is commonly listed as reef safe are species that usually do not readily consume small fish or invertebrates. Fish listed as reef safe also do not bother fellow fish unless in some cases, for instance tangs, they do not get along withconspecific s and sometimes fish with similar color or body shape. Every fish has a personality, is different, and, in some cases, are opportunistic feeders. Tangs, which by most accounts are reef safe, may in adulthood eat somecrustaceans shortly after they molt. Many largerpredatory fish, for instanceeel s andpufferfish , will adapt very well to a reef tank and will be problem-free as long as they have sizable tankmates and no crustaceans. Some aquarists have also had success in keeping smaller fish with predatory ones in reef tanks by adding the smaller fish at night, sometimes with newly rearranged rockwork.Reef safe fish
;
Anthia s;Basslet s; Blennies: Excludes fang blennies. A few species will nip at polyps andgiant clam mantles.;Cardinalfish ;Chromis ;Clownfish : Excludes the maroon clown which can grow very aggressive and territorial.; Damsels: Excludes larger, more aggressive Dascyllus varieties.;Dwarf angelfish : Dwarf angelfish in a reef setting has been heavily debated.;Dottyback s: They may consume small shrimp and can be highly aggressive.;Dragonet s;Foxface : Foxface and rabbitfish will occasionally eat certain corals if underfed.; Gobies;Jawfish ;Pipefish : They can be killed by stinging corals and anemones.;Pseudochromis : They may consume small shrimp and can be highly aggressive.;Seahorse s: They can be killed by stinging corals and anemones.; Tangs;Wrasse : There are both reef safe wrasses and ones that are notorious for killing small fish and invertebrates.; PlanktivorousTriggerfish : With caution.: "Melichthys " spp.: "Xanthichthys" spp.: "Odonus " spp.Reef safe invertebrates
;
Coral s (Class Anthozoa): There are aggressive types of coral which have sweeper tenticles that can burn other corals. These may require specific placement in an aquarium.;Crab s: Specifically smallhermit crab s,anemone crab s, emerald mithrax crabs andstrawberry crab s.;Fan worm s (Suborder Sabellida);Giant clam s;Scallop s;Sea anemone s (Order Actiniaria): Anemones, especiallycarpet anemone s can eat fish and burn corals to death requiring specific placement for specimens in an aquarium.;Sea cucumber s;Sea fan s;Sea slug s;Sea squirt s; Starfish / Sea stars: There are many starfish which are not reef safe likecrown-of-thorns starfish andchocolate chip sea star .;Shrimp s:Peppermint shrimp s,cleaner shrimps (Lysmata amboinensis) ,pistol shrimp s,anemone shrimp s andblood red fire shrimp s are better choices since the commonly available banded coral shrimp can kill fish, and themantis shrimp will kill and eat most animals in a tank.;Snail s: Some snails are parasitic but are rarely, if ever, offered in the saltwater aquaria trade.;Sponge s;Tunicate sUnsafe fish
; Non-dwarf
Angelfish : This includes any of the larger angelfish.; Non-planktivorousTriggerfish : This includes most triggerfish. Most triggerfish are highly aggressive carnivores that will eat many smaller fish and invertibrates in an aquarium. They also grow to be quite large.Unsafe invertebrates
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Sea apple s: Currently short-lived in aquaria. They release a highy-toxic substance at death, decimating the aquarium.References
* cite web
last = Beattie
first = Lynden
title = Have You Overlooked These Fish?, Think twice before crossing these guys off your list
date =2007-04-06
url = http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=78c05266230a99448c4a1eb719481f52&showtopic=189240&st=0&p=1566386&#entry1566386
accessdate = 2008-10-09
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