Which "reef-safe" fish do you trust the least?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

“Reef-safe” doesn’t always mean reef-trustworthy.

Some fish behave perfectly for years… until one day they decide a coral, clam, shrimp, or cleanup crew member looks like lunch. Others seem to come with an invisible asterisk beside the words “reef-safe.” In my experience, that last bit always applies to sandsifters that love to bury EVERYTHING in sand...

So which reef-safe fish do you trust the least? Is there a species you would never add to your reef—or one you keep but watch very closely? Tell us which fish earned your suspicion and what it did!

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Peppermint/Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. (I know it's not a fish but close enough)

I had one that was a model citizen for the most part until I reckon I let it get too hungry or something and it developed a taste for my Green Nepthea Leather. Nearly every day I would come home and its little mouth would be glowing green and my leather coral would be missing a little bit. It got to the point where I ended up fragging the entire colony and giving it away.

3 months later the shrimp died, either from a lack of sustenance only the leather could provide or the toxins in the Leather Coral finally caught up to it. Either way one of the strangest things I've ever had happen in my reefing career involving a critter most of us would consider perfectly reef safe.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Peppermint/Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. (I know it's not a fish but close enough)

I had one that was a model citizen for the most part until I reckon I let it get too hungry or something and it developed a taste for my Green Nepthea Leather. Nearly every day I would come home and its little mouth would be glowing green and my leather coral would be missing a little bit. It got to the point where I ended up fragging the entire colony and giving it away.

3 months later the shrimp died, either from a lack of sustenance only the leather could provide or the toxins in the Leather Coral finally caught up to it. Either way one of the strangest things I've ever had happen in my reefing career involving a critter most of us would consider perfectly reef safe.

Yep. Same on those shrimp. I'll never own another

 

[Pseudodiego]

Tailspot Blenny.

Reef safe my butt, they eat montis.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Tailspot Blenny.

Reef safe my butt, they eat montis.

I've seen tangs eat polyps, but monti-eating blennies are a new one to me for sure. That sucks