Editing Reef safe

{{Refimprove|date=March 2011}}
'''Reef safe''' is a distinction used in the [[saltwater aquarium]] hobby to indicate that a fish or [[invertebrate]] is safe to add to a [[reef aquarium]]. There is no fish that is completely reef safe. Every fish that is commonly listed as reef safe are species that usually do not readily consume small fish or invertebrates. Fish listed as reef safe also do not bother fellow fish unless in some cases, for instance tangs, they do not get along with [[conspecific]]s and sometimes fish with similar color or body shape. Every fish has a personality, is different, and, in some cases, are opportunistic feeders. Tangs, which by most accounts are reef safe, may in adulthood eat some [[crustaceans]] shortly after they molt. Many larger [[predatory]] fish, for instance [[eel]]s and [[pufferfish]], will adapt very well to a reef tank and will be problem-free as long as they have sizable tank-mates and no crustaceans. Some aquarists have also had success in keeping smaller fish with predatory ones in reef tanks by adding the smaller fish at night, sometimes with newly rearranged rockwork.

== Reef safe ==
=== Fish ===
; [[Anthiinae|Anthias]]
; [[Grammatidae|Basslets]]
; [[Blenny|Blennies]]: Excludes fang blennies. A few species will nip at polyps and [[giant clam]] mantles.
; [[Cardinalfish]]
; [[Chromis]]
; [[Clownfish]]: Excludes the maroon clown which can grow very aggressive and territorial.
; [[Pomacentridae|Damsel]]s: Excludes larger, more aggressive Dascyllus varieties.
; [[Centropyge|Dwarf angelfish]]: Dwarf angelfish in a reef setting has been heavily debated.
; [[Dottyback]]s: They may consume small shrimp and can be highly aggressive.
; [[Dragonet]]s
; [[Rabbitfish|Foxface]]: Foxface and rabbitfish will occasionally eat certain corals if underfed.
; [[Goby|Gobies]]
; [[Jawfish]]
; [[Pipefish]]: They can be killed by stinging corals and anemones.
; [[Pseudochromis]]: They may consume small shrimp and can be highly aggressive.
; [[Seahorse]]s: They can be killed by stinging corals and anemones.
; [[Tang (fish)|Tangs]]
; [[Wrasse]]: There are both reef safe wrasses and ones that are notorious for killing small fish and invertebrates.
; Planktivorous [[Triggerfish]]: With caution.
: ''[[Melichthys]]'' spp.
: ''Xanthichthys'' spp.
: ''[[Odonus]]'' spp.

=== Invertebrates ===
; [[Coral]]s (Class Anthozoa): There are aggressive types of coral which have sweeper tentacles that can burn other corals. These may require specific placement in an aquarium.
; [[Crab]]s: Specifically small [[hermit crab]]s, [[Lybia|anemone crabs]], [[Mithraculus sculptus|emerald mithrax crabs]], and [[strawberry crab]]s.
; [[Fan worm]]s (Suborder Sabellida)
; [[Giant clam]]s
; [[Scallop]]s
; [[Sea anemone]]s (Order Actiniaria): Anemones, especially [[carpet anemone]]s can eat fish and burn corals to death requiring specific placement for specimens in an aquarium.
; [[Holothuroidea|Sea cucumber]]s
; [[Sea fan]]s
; [[Nudibranch|Sea slug]]s
; [[Starfish|Starfish / Sea stars]]: There are many starfish which are not reef safe like [[crown-of-thorns starfish]] and [[Protoreaster nodosus|chocolate chip sea star]].
; [[Shrimp]]s: [[Peppermint shrimp]]s, [[Lysmata amboinensis|cleaner shrimps]],  [[pistol shrimp]]s, [[anemone shrimp]]s and [[Lysmata debelius|blood red fire shrimp]]s are better choices since the commonly available [[Stenopus hispidus|banded coral shrimp]] can kill fish, and the [[mantis shrimp]] will kill and eat most animals in a tank.
; [[Snail]]s: Some snails are parasitic but are rarely, if ever, offered in the saltwater aquaria trade.
; [[Sponge]]s
; [[Tunicate]]s (sea squirts)

== Reef unsafe ==
=== Fish ===
; Non-dwarf [[Pomacanthidae|Angelfish]]: This includes any of the larger angelfish.
; Non-planktivorous [[Butterflyfish]]: Eat mainly or exclusively coral polyps
; Non-planktivorous [[Triggerfish]]: This includes most triggerfish. Most triggerfish are highly aggressive carnivores that will eat many smaller fish and invertebrates in an aquarium. They also grow to be quite large.

=== Invertebrates ===
; [[Sea apple]]s: Currently short-lived in aquaria. They release a highly-toxic substance at death, decimating the aquarium.

== References ==
* {{cite web
| last = Beattie
| first = Lynden
| title = Have You Overlooked These Fish?, Think twice before crossing these guys off your list
| date = 2007-04-06
| url = http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=78c05266230a99448c4a1eb719481f52&showtopic=189240&st=0&p=1566386&#entry1566386
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}

{{Aquarium}}

[[Category:Fishkeeping]]