Australian Harlequin Tusk

[chudly]

So i picked up one of these fish a couple of weeks ago and i must say.
WHAT A PIG. He is about 4" and absolutely stunning. A great addition to my reef tank (IMO). The only problem is he has an appetite for shrimp. I knew going into this that it was a chance i was willing to take but since my shrimp were very large(1 Cleaner/1 Coral Banded) i didn't feel too concerned. Well i was wrong. He has consumed both these shrimp and one of my large Green Emerald crabs as well. I am also finding my snails on the sand bed upside down but still alive. My turbos snails are very large. I think he still attempts to eat them tho.

I will grab a pic ASAP to show u guys but just wanted to share my experience with this fish. I do enjoy watching him and I feel he has brought some excitement to the reef in my house.

R.I.P. 1 CLEANER SHRIMP, 1 CORAL BANDED SHRIMP, 1 GREEN EMERALD CRAB, A
FEW NASSARIOUS SNAILS, 1 RED LEGGED HERMIT, AND I'M GUESSING
I MIGHT AS WELL AD MY PEPERMINT SHRIMP TO THE LIST AS WELL.

:oops:

[UWL]

ive heard that it is hit or miss with these guys...

some say they dont touch anything,, others cant even keep them in reef tanks at all....

I thought the australian species were supposed to be less "likely" to go after inverts... can anyone chime in on that> or was i just mis informed...

either way,, looking forward to a pic of him.. or her....

[kghowe]

Nothing beats that emerald crab story Chad...nothing :hihi: . Not to laugh at his or your misfortune mind you... It's just a visual that's hard not to snicker away at!

[River]

I've always wanted one of those fish but everything I've read says its not reef safe as you have found out. I guess its just a matter of what you want more the fish or inverts.
Since I have a lot of shrimp, crabs and snails and a starfish it would be just to much to lose. I've also read they will eat zoos. It was this that stopped me from getting one the most as I knew that I was going to have zoos and did not want to chance not being able to have them. But what a beautiful fish. :fish2:

Rick

[chudly]

Just waiting for my camera to charge. Of all the research i read on these guys Rick i didn't find anything on them eating zoo's or any coral in specific. Inverts yes but there is lots of reading on the subject.
The one thing that was mentioned a few times was that the Australian variety was hardier and alittle more colourful but that was it.

Pics coming soon.

The story that Kevin (crayolia) is refering to as i might as well tell it since it is kinda funny.

I picked up my fish from RR and got him home quickly to acclimitize him since he had been in the car for 2hrs.(great packaging by RR by the way) It only took me about 45mins to balance things out with my water and RR's since they were so close. I put
him in and watched him swim and it was glorious. The first few mins were awesome watching him. The colours, the interaction with the other fish. He wasn't going to be bullied he made that known quite well. So i walked off and started to make my lunch and took a quick peak at my tank while i was doing this only to notice he had something in his mouth. I walked over and saw the best pic(if only my camera was charged). My Green Emerald crab( about the size of a loonie) being carried around face first in his mouth for a swim in the jaws of the Tusk while the claws of the crab
were firmly ahold in the tusks eyes holding on for dear life i must say. I watched and thought i would let nature take it's course but when my wife saw this it was a hole different story. I was told to immeditely rescue this little fella soooo to please the wife i rescued him from a for sure death. Needless to say i think he bought it a couple of days ago anyway.

PHEWWW THAT WAS LONG............SRY.:thumbsup:

[viesia]

Well at least you can say you're feeding him a varied diet. I've got a couple of hermits for you when I see you next.

[chudly]

Well at least you can say you're feeding him a varied diet. I've got a couple of hermits for you when I see you next.


Ahh geez Seth sorry i dont eat hermit. But my Tusk will I'm sure...............:hysterica

[Darryl_V]

I love the tusk......maybe one day I will be brave enough to by one too!

[Syndrome]

I love the tusk......maybe one day I will be brave enough to by one too!

Don't be a whooz!:laugh: I have one in "Reef Heaven", surrounded by SPS, LPS and Zoanthids and does not even touch any of my Clams either, just don't keep shrimps and star fishes that's all. Definitely one of my favourite fish and most attractive! The only bad thing he does is lift up some rubbles or frags to look for pods to eat. Otherwise, the most unique fish ever!:lol2:

[Mikee]

Pics :d

[reefer madness]

:ttiwwop:

Get that camera out Chad!! Oh yea and congrats on the new fish! Now go get that camera!!!

[ChemLife]

First off: I HATE you. This fish has been on my wishlist for years. One day...

Keep an eye out for articles by Terry Siegel. He'd kept a Tusk for many years in his various reef set-ups and it was always a model citizen. I even think he wrote an article specifically about his Tusk in an issue of Advanced Aquarist Online (check the Editorials).

Not that you'd want to train him to eat crabs and shrimp, but you certainly could add some variety and excitement to his feeding by getting pest crabs from other reefers or the LFS when they get live rock shipments. Just don't feed with the wife around.

ChemLife

[Dr. Zoos]

Hey Chad if it does happen to get a liking to zoas ( :pray: ) I could prob take care of a few of them for you just so they dont all get wiped out, cuz you know, thats what friends are for. :wink-grin
Shane

[chudly]

Allright all here's some photo's for u. Enjoy......he or she is about 4"


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/chudly/008.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/chudly/006.jpg


Here is one of my Sargassum Trigger as well. Just thought i would throw this pic in since i was doing it.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/chudly/002.jpg


Thanks all. Now that the camera is charged up I'm sure he will present some pretty cool pics if I'm quick enough.

:thanks: