One and Done: Is there a fish you will never keep again?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

There are lots of reasons to love certain fish, and there are also lots of reasons not to love certain fish... Whether it be aggressive behavior, annoying habits, or general health concerns, there are just some things that aren't worth dealing with in our home reefs.

Is there a fish that you never keep again?
What was it, and what led to the decision not to keep that type of fish again?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Blue Chromis
Beautiful fish, but mean little buggers

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Honestly I thought I would never want to keep clowns again, but here I am, empty tanks and wishing I had clowns again, haha

 

[Biokabe]

Golden Japanese hawkfish - and probably extended to every hawkfish.

I had one in my tank, and one day it decided to make a meal out of my Springeri damsel while my wife was watching. Proceeded to slowly rip the damsel in half over the next 4-5 hours while I was at work. He went back to the LFS store that week.

I don't much care for fish attacking other fish... and my wife would never forgive me if I brought another one in.

 

[becca10]

I always wanted a Moorish Idol....as much as I love Gil, he's a butthead. Already getting aggressive and chasing all the other fish around. Who woulda thought....

 

[RoanokeReef]

Six line .... was such a jerk face

 

[littlefoxx]

Lionfish…. I want to keep them again but Im deathly allergic to them so I cant keep them again

 

[Fish Fan]

Lionfish…. I want to keep them again but Im deathly allergic to them so I cant keep them again

How on Earth did you figure that out, did one get you??

 

[CBonito]

I thought my midas blenny was the most stupid fish I've ever seen. Man that thing was stupid!

All it did was knock everything over get sand all over everything and annoy the entire tank.
One day I couldn't find him and not long after that a puff of fish scales came blowing out of the return line.
That was the end of his dumb crap. Stupid fish!

 

[Guigo Novaes]

Bimac anthias. They are very prone to disease. Got three and after 2 months there is only one left! And to make matters worse the one that lived is bullying my pencil wrasse!

 

[Pridedcloth3]

Clown fish are out of my tank and never again will I get one. Most overrated fish in the hobby.

 

[littlefoxx]

Also probably wont keep a grouper again as beautiful as Bonnie is she is a royal pain in my butt. Shes not an aggressive eater so sometimes shes hard to feed but at the same time shes eaten more fish than my 5 moray eels combined!! Other times shes good at eating. Guess it depends on her mood. Little monster she is! Got her because of her colors and I have a more predatory tank and was like well a grouper would fit! I was also curious if she would develop a relationship with any of my eels since they can in the wild. She does hang out with them which is cool.

I feel like if she was a more aggressive eater when I drop food literally right in front of her face she wouldnt be as much of a pain but she will just watch it for a little and of course other fish in the tank just swoop in and eat it before she can decide if she wants to go for it

But shes my little monster and I do love her even when she frustrates me!

 

[OrchidMiss]

I will never own another hawkfish. Little beasts that will kill anything they don't think belongs.
I moved my Falco from my 55g into my 110g predator tank after beating up several fish.
After the move, I lost a lineatus wrasse (one I had saved up for) within 8 hours of adding it to the tank.
Never again.

 

[rtparty]

No clowns of any kind

No dottybacks

No anthias ever again. No matter what a ton die in shipping. If you order 10, expect 2-4 deaths. Meaning the wholesaler likely had 15-20 shipped in so you can get 6 in your tank. Just stupid to keep trying them and killing them

 

[littlefoxx]

I will never own another hawkfish. Little beasts that will kill anything they don't think belongs.
I moved my Falco from my 55g into my 110g predator tank after beating up several fish.
After the move, I lost a lineatus wrasse (one I had saved up for) within 8 hours of adding it to the tank.
Never again.

I find it crazy how mean hawkfish can be. I have one in my predator tank and boy does he like to get involved in any and all scraps between fish!

I actually got him for free, one LFS just begged me to take him cause he had been returned SIX times for murdering fish in people’s tanks

I honestly dont know what kind of hawkfish he is either

 

[littlefoxx]

How on Earth did you figure that out, did you one get you??

Oh yeah my volitian got me! I was like holy S that hurt then I was like oh wait I cant breathe whats going on. Yep BF called for medical and I got transported and everything. Was scary. It got me a second time a few months later and my BF was like nope done no more lions at all. I rehomed them all except for Nala (the one in my profile picture). Loved her too much. Lost her due to those death noodles (cucumbers). He wont let me get another fuzzy

 

[playboateralex]

Princess damsel. I don’t think I’ll do any damsel ever again.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I will never own another hawkfish. Little beasts that will kill anything they don't think belongs.
I moved my Falco from my 55g into my 110g predator tank after beating up several fish.
After the move, I lost a lineatus wrasse (one I had saved up for) within 8 hours of adding it to the tank.
Never again.

Mine killed two melanarus wrasses for which I paid extra to have them quarantined and waited for over a month for each. Then I just got a sixline. Problem solved

 

[Fish Fan]

No anthias ever again. No matter what a ton die in shipping. If you order 10, expect 2-4 deaths. Meaning the wholesaler likely had 15-20 shipped in so you can get 6 in your tank. Just stupid to keep trying them and killing them

110% agreed!

Oh yeah my volitian got me! I was like holy S that hurt then I was like oh wait I cant breathe whats going on. Yep BF called for medical and I got transported and everything. Was scary. It got me a second time a few months later and my BF was like nope done no more lions at all. I rehomed them all except for Nala (the one in my profile picture). Loved her too much. Lost her due to those death noodles (cucumbers). He wont let me get another fuzzy

Oh wow, that's awful! I think it's a good idea for you to stay away from Lionfish. I'm glad your BF was there to call someone too!

 

[ZC aquatics]

Lionfish…. I want to keep them again but Im deathly allergic to them so I cant keep them again

Awww I used to have one!