Rabbitfish -yes or no?

[corkyGramma]

Ive got 2 rabbit fish im my Reef tank. I think they are great, hardy algae eaters and calerpa eaters. I have some calerpa that grows with my chaeto they they will suck up like spagetti. Ive never had an issue with them in my 120. But then again, i have 6 tangs in this tank and they all seem to get along. Here's a picture to prove my theory. LOL

I second that oppinion, mine schools with 4 tang as well. They are like sea goats, they tend to steer clear of you (unless its feeding time), and would never Poison the whole tank like a box fish.

[Paraletho]

The Scribbled RF like zoas also. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Oh yea they are perfectly reef safe won't touch a thing. 3 colonies later I was still trying to catch it.

[allan]

I had a regular fox head of face rabbit fish... maybe it was horse head rabbit... yellow with a snout definitely a rabbit fish. Did real good until he developed a taste for zoas. Bent over backwards catching him, traumatized the entire tank trying to get him. Finally cornered him and was able to reach in and gently lift him out. Real skittish fish. I learned later about the tines on its back.

Save for the fact that they tend to have a negative reputation I would recommend the cow fish as mine eats calupra both grape and razor. I think all he has to do is someone else eating it and he's good to go... much easier to catch. I routinely catch mine in a cup while feeding. Just dip the cup with some food in it and when he swims in gently pull it out of the water. He will continue to eat until there's no more and then actaully looks a little surprised that he's in a cup. But he does it again just a few moments later.

[Europhyllia]

I'd love a cowfish. But I only have a 125g tank. :(
I am getting better with my tweezers though. Guess I'm my own best herbivore...

[allan]

Guess I'm my own best herbivore...

I don't know about that Karin... doesn't being a herbivore imply that you are injesting that which you pick?

[Europhyllia]

I haven't thought about this yet! I certainly harvest enough of it on a regular basis to make a meal of it! >:(

[allan]

Oh wow, just threw up a little bit. Thinking of over cooked spinich. Ugh!

[carong]

I have a rabbit in my tank and he is reef safe, he does eat everything i offer him, but becareful, they tend to have ich when water temp changes constant

[allan]

Here's the deal. You can have a really good run with any number of fish that claim to be either safe or not reef safe. In the end you're left holding the spoon of responsibility.

If what you put in there turns out not to be reef safe, well either you continue to feed it the zoas and clams or you will have to pull it out which is a pain in the fourth point of contact for sure.

It's a gamble either way. I bought my rabbit fish because it was in the section labled "reefsafe", and later watched it pick at and eat my zoas.