Fish you would not recommend most people keeping

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There are certain species of fish that are labeled for experts only for a reason, usually being that they are picky eaters, are very shy, or need specialized tank setups in order to thrive in captivity. Some examples of these would be things like mini dart gobies, urchin clingfish, femininus wrasses, moorish idols, or orange spotted filefish. What are some species you would definitely not recommend to most reef keepers?

 

[sofiab]

There are certain species of fish that are labeled for experts only for a reason, usually being that they are picky eaters, are very shy, or need specialized tank setups in order to thrive in captivity. Some examples of these would be things like mini dart gobies, urchin clingfish, femininus wrasses, moorish idols, or orange spotted filefish. What are some species you would definitely not recommend to most reef keepers?

Unless kept with larger schooling fish or more aggressive species i would not recommend Lantern Basslets. They have a Patrolling behavior that can often stress out other tank mates. In my case when added last to my system he pushed my fire fish out of its normal cave area and basically made an entire rock area about 12inx12in his domain. He would patrol the entire tank making sure the fire fish was not near his area, while ignoring a clown fish pair, inverts, and coral. it was time for him to go back to my LFS when i found the fire fish dead in my tank one morning with no signs of agression on his corpse, and stable tank parameters we chopped his loss to constant bullying from the Lantern Basslet. I know a few other basslet species exhibit this behavior, have you ever had a bullying experience in your tank? rip homie

 

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Unless kept with larger schooling fish or more aggressive species i would not recommend Lantern Basslets. They have a Patrolling behavior that can often stress out other tank mates. In my case when added last to my system he pushed my fire fish out of its normal cave area and basically made an entire rock area about 12inx12in his domain. He would patrol the entire tank making sure the fire fish was not near his area, while ignoring a clown fish pair, inverts, and coral. it was time for him to go back to my LFS when i found the fire fish dead in my tank one morning with no signs of agression on his corpse, and stable tank parameters we chopped his loss to constant bullying from the Lantern Basslet. I know a few other basslet species exhibit this behavior, have you ever had a bullying experience in your tank? rip homie

I have a cave basslet in my tank and while he does do patrols she does not mind sharing his cave with other fish thankfully. That being said she is a smaller species so I think it helps, I'm sorry about your purple firefish though, may he swim in peace.

 

[Baldyreef]

I don't recommend gumdrop coral croucher gobies to anyone, they're extremely shy fish who require spot feeding with mysis and other meaty foods, when I owned one it would never come out even after being settled into the tank I would have to search for a while everyday just to feed it

 

[christinna77]

Tilefish. From what I've seen, I believe 90% of people don't have a lid secure and heavy enough to keep them from jumping out. Some species especially, like purples and skunks, I'm convinced are half dolphins. They're always poking their heads out and looking for a way to escape. Orenis and yellows are somewhat calmer.

 

[kevgib67]

Orange tail damsel, most aggressive serial killer I ever owned. That was decades ago, I was glad to see that they aren’t around anymore like they used to be.

 

[Baldyreef]

Orange tail damsel, most aggressive serial killer I ever owned. That was decades ago, I was glad to see that they aren’t around anymore like they used to be.

a buddy the owner of my lfs got in one for his tank a week ago and after a day took it into the store to isolate due to aggression

 

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I don't recommend gumdrop coral croucher gobies to anyone, they're extremely shy fish who require spot feeding with mysis and other meaty foods, when I owned one it would never come out even after being settled into the tank I would have to search for a while everyday just to feed it

I agree with this one, but it is one I want to try keeping in the future as I already have another fish that has the same needs. My pygmy rooster waspfish only eats live food and she only comes out after midnight when all the lights are off. I've had her for almost 2 years now though so I consider it one of my proudest achievements.

 

[sjfishguy]

I would have said orange spot file fish, but you already said that. Dottyback would be my number 2. NASTY fish. Go with royal gramma or something else.

 

[DmitryB]

Not a fish, but I regret getting a Coral Banded Shrimp for my 40 gallon. He snaps at any fish that comes near his spot and he will not tolerate other shrimp. I added a Peppermint that actually started dealing with Aiptasia and the Coral Banded killed it. Now Aiptasia is back again. I hate him!!! (Yes he even attacked me one time when I was moving frags around.)

 

[exnisstech]

Not a fish, but I regret getting a Coral Banded Shrimp for my 40 gallon. He snaps at any fish that comes near his spot and he will not tolerate other shrimp. I added a Peppermint that actually started dealing with Aiptasia and the Coral Banded killed it. Now Aiptasia is back again. I hate him!!! (Yes he even attacked me one time when I was moving frags around.)

I believe the snapping at fish is a defensive posture. I kept a medium one in with peppermints and have a large one in with a blood red fire shrimp. Just another example of you just don't know how each individual is going to behave.

 

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Not a fish, but I regret getting a Coral Banded Shrimp for my 40 gallon. He snaps at any fish that comes near his spot and he will not tolerate other shrimp. I added a Peppermint that actually started dealing with Aiptasia and the Coral Banded killed it. Now Aiptasia is back again. I hate him!!! (Yes he even attacked me one time when I was moving frags around.)

I relate to that I used to have one in my main tank. Now I have a Zanzibar Coral banded, much smaller and cuter. Their face reminds me of a rubber ducky, and they are a lot shyer so they don't go after any of my other fish or inverts, even during feeding time. I mainly see him out at night after everyone goes to bed.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tangs: sohal and Powder Blue
Triggers: undulated and Pineapple
Angels: passer
Wrasse: red coris

 

[NeedAReef]

ouch I read this fast as would fish recommend keeping people....and in NO WAY would they recommend keeping me lol..as for what not to keep....anything outside your budget to lose and outside your level of expertise.

 

[DmitryB]

I would have said orange spot file fish, but you already said that. Dottyback would be my number 2. NASTY fish. Go with royal gramma or something else.

I have a Springeri Dottyback and it is apparently one of the friendly Dottybacks. It's pretty cool in my 170.

 

[DmitryB]

Not a fish, but I regret getting a Coral Banded Shrimp for my 40 gallon. He snaps at any fish that comes near his spot and he will not tolerate other shrimp. I added a Peppermint that actually started dealing with Aiptasia and the Coral Banded killed it. Now Aiptasia is back again. I hate him!!! (Yes he even attacked me one time when I was moving frags around.)

I relate to that I used to have one in my main tank. Now I have a Zanzibar Coral banded, much smaller and cuter. Their face reminds me of a rubber ducky, and they are a lot shyer so they don't go after any of my other fish or inverts, even during feeding time. I mainly see him out at night after everyone goes to bed.

I'll have to look into the Zanzibar version. I'm hoping someone says the regular one I currently have. But none of my fish in this tank are that aggressive.

 

[EtxReefer]

I have a Springeri Dottyback and it is apparently one of the friendly Dottybacks. It's pretty cool in my 170.

Have to agree here, on my second orchid dottyback and both have been model citizens.

 

[winzig]

I have a Springeri Dottyback and it is apparently one of the friendly Dottybacks. It's pretty cool in my 170.

I have the same fish with very docile temperament in a 100 gal

 

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I feel with dottybacks you tend to get a mixed bag on personality depending on the species. Aggression can also be linked to just not having enough territory as they do like their space but are more well behaved in larger tanks.