Share your Guard Dogs [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

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MUCHO REEF

04/26/2009, 12:12 PM

Do you have a pic of the fishe(s) that guard your polyps and your reef, keeping them free from any predators and algae? If so, take a moment and share a pic. I will be purchasing a few new ones soon myself and will share them when I find them.

Mucho Reef

650-IS350

04/26/2009, 12:38 PM

Dammit, you beat me to this thread. I've been thinking of adding a thread like this for a while now. just don't have the time and hard to get my guys to stay still enough. Don't have a DSLR either to make them look a lot better. LOL.

Now I really got to spend time to get the to stay still.

Engine8ff

04/26/2009, 06:31 PM

I have a 6 line wrasse that keeps mine pretty clean, looking for something to help with the algae. Along for the ride.

jbob

04/27/2009, 12:47 PM

i think this is the best pic i have of my yellow wrasse. i'm gonna hafta try and get some better ones
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn314/jbob_bucket/DSC00983.jpg

roxy25

04/27/2009, 12:56 PM

I have a 6 line that does not do anything lol I bought a green coris and the darn thing die 3 days later... :(

Skeptic_07

04/27/2009, 02:19 PM

I've a target mandy as my guard dog. Not nearly as good of a guard dog as a wrasse IMO but still has alot of personality and my wife loves it. Believe it or not, it eats bloodworms but completely ignores mysis and cyclops. Go figure. It still keeps the pods at bay though. Bad picture:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/sam12345678/REBEL026.jpg

I used to have a melanurus wrasse which made a great guard dog. Amazing colors on that fish and was always hunting and eating things out of the polyps. I wish i had a picture of it. I think wrasses of the genus Halichoeres and also Pseudocheilinus make the best guard dogs.

Shrimps can be guard dogs too. My peppermint shrimp not only eats aiptasia but also various worms and vermetid snails esp when the shrimp is young because its arms are small enough to stick down the tubes.

DurTBear

04/27/2009, 04:01 PM

No pics yet but I have a 6-line wrasse in my display and a yellow coris wrasse in my frag tank.

Fishindude88

04/27/2009, 07:49 PM

Here is a picture of one my guards. This is the male. Him and the female keep my zoas clean and clear of pests like bristleworms.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/196206DSC03353.jpg

bandsaw2

04/27/2009, 08:55 PM

Here's my wrasse
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq126/curt_090/DSC04019-1-1.jpg

SIR PATRICK

04/27/2009, 09:29 PM

I dont have any wrasses (yet) but The closest thing to a guad dog of my zoas is my PJ cardinal.

I have had him (It) for months, and wont touch anything that I feed my tank, other than cycloseze (which is very rarely fed) and is healthy and happy. Its gotta be eating somthing other than pods. I have no refuge/sump or ather areas that food can be protected from predation. Pretty sure, at night, it eats whatever it can find in my tank.

natan

04/28/2009, 02:01 PM

blue mandarin is my guard against animal pests (isopods in particular are bad boys in my tank, and that mandy does a good job on them), but i definetly am intrested 2 see what people keep to remove ALGAE.

natan

04/28/2009, 02:01 PM

sorry, duble post

650-IS350

04/28/2009, 02:29 PM

When you mention algae, what kinda algae are you talking about.
Film, hair, byprosis, bubble etc....?

tobey

04/28/2009, 05:02 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14909116#post14909116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bandsaw2
Here's my wrasse
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq126/curt_090/DSC04019-1-1.jpg

how big is your wrasse?

bandsaw2

04/28/2009, 09:04 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14914563#post14914563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tobey
how big is your wrasse?
it's about 4"

tobey

04/28/2009, 09:23 PM

i love your wrasse. it may be my guard dog if i can find one. (:

stoneroller

04/28/2009, 09:52 PM

Hoeven's

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r10/stoneroller/fish/XMAS2.jpg

natan

04/29/2009, 03:59 AM

>When you mention algae, what kinda algae are you talking about.
Film, hair, byprosis, bubble etc....?

Byprosis is my pain these days. Tangs are a bit too large for my 65g, but i am considering geting a temporary resident if i can figure out what species is right for the job (have no problem returning it to the LFS any time). I am scared of foxes, as they are known zoo eaters, so totally reef safe options PLS.

650-IS350

04/29/2009, 08:43 AM

Lettuce nudi's are what eat byprosis. Research it prior to buying but from what I've read all over. they are the natural predator of that algae species.

Atarax

04/29/2009, 09:18 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14918386#post14918386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
Lettuce nudi's are what eat byprosis. Research it prior to buying but from what I've read all over. they are the natural predator of that algae species.
+1

tobey

04/29/2009, 10:11 PM

picking up my new guard dog tomorrow cant wait

650-IS350

04/30/2009, 12:09 AM

Here are my pittbulls, ( only shot with a point and shoot ) bastards kept moving, best shots I could get.

My Royale Gramma, ampipod hunter
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n230/delsol650/Picture019-1.jpg

Yellowfin Red fairy wrasse Pod hunter
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n230/delsol650/Picture017-1.jpg

Mystery wrasse- overall hunter
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n230/delsol650/Picture024.jpg

Yellow Coris- my work horse
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n230/delsol650/Picture026.jpg

and my algae cleaner saying hi.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n230/delsol650/Picture002-1.jpg

650-IS350

04/30/2009, 08:55 AM

Oh yeah also have a leopard wrasse but it already went under the sand to sleep so no pics of her.

tobey

04/30/2009, 06:31 PM

i got my guard dog today (Hoevens wrasse) but he seems to like to hide in the sand more than come out and play.

650-IS350

04/30/2009, 11:15 PM

Leopards and hallicores ones usually hide right away once placed in a tank. Guess its a defensive mechanism. They'll come out here and there till they feel fully brave about it and swim all over the place.

tobey

05/01/2009, 06:58 AM

my little guy was out cleaning when i got up. however my camera is horrible at taking pictures of moving objects :(

Skeptic_07

05/01/2009, 01:33 PM

is he/she still juvenile? I love the way the juvis look.

tobey

05/01/2009, 03:13 PM

yes its still a juvenile. ill get a picture of her when i borrow my friends camera.

MUCHO REEF

05/31/2009, 02:23 PM

Any more G Dogs to share?

taithao35

05/31/2009, 03:14 PM

MUCHO REEF

06/01/2009, 01:21 PM

Care to name them for anyone else looking to pick up a new G Dog?

Mucho Reef

joshnola

06/01/2009, 08:37 PM

What do those wrasses actually do? I mean they keep them free from algae and predators, but what types/kinds? Do they eat red bugs, flatworms, etc?

Just curious....

jack08

06/02/2009, 02:19 PM

cool fish i love wrasses

MUCHO REEF

08/10/2010, 12:17 PM

What do those wrasses actually do? I mean they keep them free from algae and predators, but what types/kinds? Do they eat red bugs, flatworms, etc?

Just curious....

Some wrasses have been known to eat nudis. Wrasses will also help control pod population. Many surgeons will graze on algae. Does anyone care to share what their dogs are doing?

Friday Night

08/10/2010, 01:35 PM

Make your move. :mad2:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k149/INK5150/FNP.jpg

Brett9917

08/10/2010, 02:33 PM

Do all wrasses need a sand bed? My LFS had some red coris wrasses in, but I have a BBT :(

Any ways my PBT keeps the algae at bay... Even the kind I introduce into the tank... lol
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4403873329_a946b8c027_z.jpg

IPisces

08/10/2010, 02:41 PM

Here is my clown ferry wrasse. They do a great job. I noticed some flatworms about a year ago and got this guy and two days there was not another flatworm to be seen.

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af103/IPisces/Saltwater%20Aquariums/DSC04469.jpg

and then theres this little guy.
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af103/IPisces/Saltwater%20Aquariums/DSC04806.jpg

MUCHO REEF

08/10/2010, 02:53 PM

Make your move. :mad2:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k149/INK5150/FNP.jpg

What does your dog guard?

Friday Night

08/10/2010, 03:10 PM

What does your dog guard?

Right now she guards the rack (random) anything i put up there that i dont want bubba the blue knuckle hermit to knock over goes up there. Gold frogspawn and SINGLE zoa frags brother your favorite! lol...:beer: and she watches it like a hawk...

chucktd321

08/10/2010, 03:21 PM

No not all wrasses need a sand bed. I think all most all of them do but I know sixlines don't being that they sleep in rocks. Im sure there are others but thats the only one im a 100% sure on. I wouldn't want to mislead you but i think even some of the ones that need sand could do well if there is enough porus rock IMO

MUCHO REEF

09/08/2012, 10:06 AM

Any new Guard Dogs for your zoanthids to share?

MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003

benjaminspades

09/08/2012, 12:29 PM

benjaminspades

09/08/2012, 12:35 PM

yellow coris wrasse + Kliens butterfly fish prey on zoa eating Nudis!

O wow the kliens butterfly fish is also known to eat aptasia lol

cloak

09/08/2012, 02:07 PM

Does airline tubing count? :D

reefwars

09/08/2012, 09:05 PM

ill play...zoanthid dominated bonsai cube

outback in the fishroom on guard are my pair of black leaopards, a melanarus and a green mandarin.

i keep them for anything brave enough to live in the polyos or hide in the dark!!

unfortunately after dark no ones doing squat lol :P

9-5 gig lol

got2envy

09/19/2012, 05:29 PM

My feisty little 6line :)
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae308/luv2fish4fun/Untitled-43.jpg

OHAI
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae308/luv2fish4fun/Untitled-45.jpg

on the hunt!
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae308/luv2fish4fun/Untitled-44.jpg

I got the sixline because I had a serious pod problem lol

jagr201

09/24/2012, 09:11 PM

I have a clown that "hosts" all my zoas. He isn't agressive at all thou.

650-IS350

09/24/2012, 10:46 PM

My guard dogs are Berghia Nudis' i'll take pics when possible.

benjaminspades

09/25/2012, 12:20 AM

I have a bare bottom tank. But I provide lots of hiding places for fish to sleep in w rocks and such.

New guard dogs:

Orange back Fairy
Melanarus Fairy
2 Carpenters wrasse

Everyone of these wrasse have a nice spot to hide in and they always hide in that same spot its pretty interesting.

Algae guards:

1 tiger tail sea cucumber: Detrius, diatoms,
1 Dolabella Sea Hare: Heavy duty Algae dominator
3 Turbo Algae
1 sailfin tang
1 rabbit fish

Pretty much I run longer photo periods so that theres more algae for them to eat. What do you guys think?

benjaminspades

09/25/2012, 12:28 AM

brchapm

09/25/2012, 08:31 AM

I bought a Melanarus wrasse to attack any stray bugs that may be in my tank. Not sure if it is a coincidence, but I have not seen a bristleworm in my tank since. There are some in my refugium, so I am wondering if the wrasse just has the worms in stealth mode...