Over-rated Fish in the Hobby

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Do you have a fish that you feel is overrated in the saltwater hobby? For me personally I feel it is Blue Devil damsels. They are super aggressive, and super hardy so a lot of people will use them to cycle their tanks, but in the long run this tends to limit their options on what they can add in as the devil damsels will kill most newcomers that aren't also aggressive they can hold their own against them. They are super common in most fish stores and affordable so you'll see them in a lot of setups. A similar species that I think is underrated are the Springer damsels. They are less aggressive, will eat pest flat worms in a tank, and still have a vibrant blue color without being menaces to other fish. They can still be territorial as they are damsels, but in my experience they are much less aggressive then blue devil damsels. Do you have a fish that you have similar qualms about and feel is overrated in this hobby?

 

[Baldyreef]

a lot of people would disagree with my most likely but for me six line wrasses cute and adorable at first but they get so mean and end up in peaceful tanks and bully other tank mates

 

[Reefer Matt]

Emperor angel. Sike! One of my favorite fish. These guys are not for every tank though. They get big, are very territorial, and strikingly beautiful! You can hear them grunt from across the room, there’s no mistaking that “I’m the boss” sound!

 

[hatfielj]

Do you have a fish that you feel is overrated in the saltwater hobby? For me personally I feel it is Blue Devil damsels. They are super aggressive, and super hardy so a lot of people will use them to cycle their tanks, but in the long run this tends to limit their options on what they can add in as the devil damsels will kill most newcomers that aren't also aggressive they can hold their own against them. They are super common in most fish stores and affordable so you'll see them in a lot of setups. A similar species that I think is underrated are the Springer damsels. They are less aggressive, will eat pest flat worms in a tank, and still have a vibrant blue color without being menaces to other fish. They can still be territorial as they are damsels, but in my experience they are much less aggressive then blue devil damsels. Do you have a fish that you have similar qualms about and feel is overrated in this hobby?

All designer clownfish. I personally think they all look silly/unnatural. I prefer the wild version myself and have never spent the money on the designer versions.

 

[StartingATank]

For me, I would say royal Grammas. Mine never really did anything except for dart around like a freshwater fish. Didn't move a lot to me

 

[commod0re]

a lot of people would disagree with my most likely but for me six line wrasses cute and adorable at first but they get so mean and end up in peaceful tanks and bully other tank mates

pink streaks are the nice ones and imo underrated as well

I'm not sure I have an answer for overrated yet

 

[SaltyWalty]

Koi tangs. While unique and interesting, they are just not for me.

 

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Emperor angel. Sike! One of my favorite fish. These guys are not for every tank though. They get big, are very territorial, and strikingly beautiful! You can hear them grunt from across the room, there’s no mistaking that “I’m the boss” sound!

I agree 100% they aren't for everybody but in the right tank they are a show stopper.

 

[Redbird5]

Clown fish. They are aggressive, but everyone seems to have to have them. They are beautiful but psychotic.

 

[exnisstech]

Clown fish. Probably some of the most boring fish I've kept.

 

[cryingrn]

I generally have a soft spot for the mean fish. No fish asks to be plucked from the ocean and put into a crowded glass box... that being said i have never had a good time with any dottybacks lol.

I recently picked up two fish, a yellowtail damsel and a strawberry dottyback, that were causing problems and added them to my 180g. The damselfish, so far, has been fine. This small dottyback has an entire 180g with a good amount of rock and has still managed to cause some squabbling problems lol. If I catch him, he might go to sump jail.

 

[BobTheBlenney]

Any kind of tang. Not that I necessarily dislike them, but I know many people consider them to be the epitome of reef fish keeping but none them are "must have" for me. The only one I find really striking is a black tang, but the extreme price tag still makes it overrated.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Clown fish. Probably some of the most boring fish I've kept.

Until they bite the hands that feed them, lol!

 

[Baldyreef]

Until they bite the hands that feed them, lol!

especially tomato clowns

 

[exnisstech]

especially tomato clowns

A nice big maroon is fun too. In addition to biting me I would glue coral down to rocks in her territory and she would rip them off and toss them to the sand. She claimed almost half of a 6ft tank.

 

[Baldyreef]

A nice big maroon is fun too. In addition to biting me I would glue coral down to rocks in her territory and she would rip them off and toss them to the sand. She claimed almost half of a 6ft tank.

my old lfs had two tomato clowns in a display a mated pair and when I was in there one time i was talking to the owner and he rested his hand on the rim and the female came up and bit him, even managed to draw blood, such cool fish but those two were just outright evil lol

 

[KrisReef]

All fish are sacred!

You got to protect those little swimmers.

 

[hatfielj]

Koi tangs. While unique and interesting, they are just not for me.

The only thing I don't like about koi tangs is what people charge for them. If I could get a small one (like 2-3") with a nice bright blue face or other unique color pattern, I'd definitely be interested in one. But, I don't pay crazy prices for fish or coral in this hobby because if I do, that will be the one fish or coral that suddenly dies for no reason at all, lol.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

Copperband butterfly

Picky eater, unreliable performance in aipstasia elimination, questionably reef safe, and if comes in with a disease it’s almost impossible to revive

 

[SaltyWalty]

The only thing I don't like about koi tangs is what people charge for them. If I could get a small one (like 2-3") with a nice bright blue face or other unique color pattern, I'd definitely be interested in one. But, I don't pay crazy prices for fish or coral in this hobby because if I do, that will be the one fish or coral that suddenly dies for no reason at all, lol.

I’ve also seen people charging outrageous prices for a fish they call a koi tang but is a slightly muddled scopas tang. I will admit there are some beautiful one of a kind specimens that are deserving of the price but the majority I’ve seen are just not.