Tell me a little about the Harlequin Tusk

[jabari]

They always caught my attention with those teeth they have, but what i didn't like about them is that all the ones that i see seem shy. Is this the case with all of them usually, and can they be kept with aggressive fish like triggers and groupers?

 

[watertight]

I certainly wouldn't keep one with a grouper - I made that mistake once! I had to put in a divider to seperate them, and even then my grouper was like a pit bull at a fence, charging at the divider, trying to get at the HTF. The HTF was fine with smaller fish, too, I think they're much more peaceful than they look....
Now that my Lion fish has died I've got the divider back in at one end. I'd love another HTF but it would probably stress the grouper too much! I think the problem may be that the HTF is a similar shape and colour to a grouper....

 

[srfisher17]

Harlequin tusks are fantastic fish. IMO, especially the Australian variety. Although they usually don't get as tame as some fish, they lose their shyness over time. Mine can be hand fed. They should have plenty of places to hide & feel secure; but once comfortable, will spend most of their time in the open.They usually don't bother anyone and don't like to be bothered. they usally do well with most triggers; but I did have to move a big niger that kept nipping. Sargassum & blue throat triggers seem to be fine with them. I've never kept them with groupers; my experience with groupers isn't a good one--every grouper I ever had outgrew the tank or became very aggressive. IMO, they need huge tanks and equally aggressive tankmates. IMO, large angels, lions and tangs make ideal tankmates.