So many cool fish that are reef safe "with caution"

[Jongalt26]

I had a flame angel and a porcupine puffer, both were model citizens for many months, then they weren't. The flame angle started nipping at polyps and acans. The puffer started nipping at everything including some small crabs. Now they can only be in my FOWLR. I will no longer put 'reef safe with caution' fish in my reef tank. Catching the puffer was easy, catching the flame angel wasn't.

 

[jd371]

I've always wanted a melonaris wrasse but I need my inverts :/

I have one and he doesn't bother with any of my CUC, I have Nassarius, Turbos, Conch snail, Cleaner and Fire shrimp. He did make a snack of some small Peppermints I added to take care of some Aptasia, but the rest of the CUC he pays no mind to.

 

[TrentN]

For a bunch of wrasses what makes them "with caution" or "not reef safe" us the fact that they will tear your corals and rockwork up to get to a "bug". I've seen them take chalis and flip them over and frag a 15 head hammer just to get to a tasty treat. But most of the damage was always the coral on coral war that happened when one landed on another.

 

[eatbreakfast]

For a bunch of wrasses what makes them "with caution" or "not reef safe" us the fact that they will tear your corals and rockwork up to get to a "bug". I've seen them take chalis and flip them over and frag a 15 head hammer just to get to a tasty treat. But most of the damage was always the coral on coral war that happened when one landed on another.

That's part of it, but more often it is because they will hunt motile inverts, like snails, crabs, shrimp, etc.

 

[rstrann]

I've had luck with canthigasters and soft coral, no experience with them and sps, though. My spotted puffer and valentini puffer always have MUCH interest in the CUC, but the inverts tend to go nocturnal after only a few days anyways. But, if a crab or snail falls on its back, the puffers will hover over them for an hour just waiting for an opportunity to take a leg, antennae, etc lol. But again, IME no problems with puffers and xenia, leathers, zoas, cyphastrea, gorgonia, etc.

 

[roberthu526]

I had a flame angel and a porcupine puffer, both were model citizens for many months, then they weren't. The flame angle started nipping at polyps and acans. The puffer started nipping at everything including some small crabs. Now they can only be in my FOWLR. I will no longer put 'reef safe with caution' fish in my reef tank. Catching the puffer was easy, catching the flame angel wasn't.

Do you mind share how big was your tank and how many times a day and what did you feed? I think these factors can make a difference.