Reef safe 1158957 218071070 2008-06-09T00:52:20Z Shoombooly 4611098 /* Reef safe invertebrates */ emerald crab '''Reef safe''' is a distinction used in the [[saltwater aquarium]] hobby to indicate that a fish or [[invertebrate]] is safe to add to a [[reef 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 with [[conspecific]]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 some [[crustaceans]] shortly after they molt. Many larger [[predatory]] fish, for instance [[eel]]s and [[pufferfish]], 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 * [[Blenny|Blennies]] (excluding fang blennies, a few species will nip at polyps and [[giant clam]] mantles) * [[Cardinalfish]] * [[Chromis]] * [[Clownfish]] (sometimes excluding the maroon clown which can grow very aggressive and territorial) * [[Pomacentridae|Damsel]]s (sometimes excluding larger, more aggressive Dascyllus varieties) * [[Dwarf angel]]s (dwarf angels in a reef setting has been heavily debated) * [[Dottyback]]s (will consume small shrimps; can be highly aggressive) * [[Dragonet]]s * [[Foxface]] (foxface and rabbitfish will occasionally eat certain corals if underfed) * [[Goby|Gobies]] * [[Jawfish]] * [[Pipefish]] (can be killed by stinging corals and anemones) * [[Pseudochromis]] (will consume small shrimps; can be highly aggressive) * [[Seahorse]] (can be killed by stinging corals and anemones) * [[Tang (fish)|Tangs]] * [[Wrasse]] (there are both reef safe wrasse and ones that are notorious for killing small fish and invertebrates) * Planktonivorous [[ Trigger fish]] == Reef safe invertebrates == * [[Anemones]] (anemones, especially [[carpet anemone]]s can eat fish and burn corals to death requiring specific placement for specimens in an aquarium) * [[Coral]] (there are aggressive types of coral which have sweeper tenticles that can burn other corals; these may require specific placement in an aquarium) * [[Crabs]] (specifically small [[hermit crab]]s, [[anemone crab]]s, [[Emerald Crab|emerald mithrax crab]]s and [[strawberry crab]]s) * [[Fan worm]]s * [[Giant clam]]s * [[Scallop]]s * [[Sea cucumber]]s * [[Sea fan]]s * [[Sea slug]]s * [[Starfish]] (there are many starfish which are not reef safe like [[crown-of-thorns starfish]] and [[chocolate chip sea star]]) * [[Sea squirts]] * [[Shrimp]]s ([[peppermint shrimp]]s, [[cleaner shrimps (Lysmata amboinensis)]], [[pistol shrimp]]s, [[anemone shrimp]]s and [[blood red fire shrimp]]s are better choices since the commonly available [[Stenopus hispidus|banded coral shrimp]] can kill fish, and the [[mantis 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) * [[Sea sponge]]s * [[Tunicate]]s {{Aquarium}} [[Category:Fishkeeping]]