Top 5 Marine Fish you should possibly avoid.

So we know there’s some fish that are not suitable for your tank, they may not be compatible with your inhabitants, they may not be reef safe and eat your critters or coral, but this is a list of the fish with think you should possible avoid altogether.

1. The Copperband butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)

This is a truly beautiful fish, and don’t get me wrong we occasionally stock this species and they are often requested. They are good at eating pest aiptasia.....and can also eat your LPS corals, that is when they eat. They are an extremely fussy fish, do better in large rocky tanks. But generally they just are such fussy grazing eaters that many a reef keeper struggles to keep this beautiful specimen.

2. Harlequin Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)

You can find this species in the trade sometimes names as a Sweetlips Clownfish. It's one of those species that looks lovely when its small swimming around, but you’re going to need a serious size of tank to keep this fish for any length of time. Growing up to 75cm of near 30 Inches this is a fish that needs a serious amount of space.

3. Pinnatus Batfish (Platax pinnatus)

This fish is uniquely striking in its appearance as a juveniles, but it grows rapidly and loses its colour. They are very sensitive to changes and need a much longer acclimation period than usual. They also grow a whopping 18" in size so you’re going to need a big chunk of the ocean in your house to successfully sustain this species.

4. Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)

The Moorish Idol made famous by Finding Nemo (Scar) is a beautiful ornate stunning fish but most unfortunately die very easily in captivity, most don't make it a week. They are very fussy eaters and would rather starve to death then eat something they don’t want. If you would like something like a Moorish Idol you should consider alternatives such as Heniochus Butterfly fish which have similar black and white markings and are easier to care for.

5. Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita)

This is another species best left in the ocean or to marine keeping experts. They are truly beautiful with striking blue and yellow colouration that swim in a captivating manner but... they are very short sighted with poor eyesight like many eels. The biggest issue as with many other hard to keep species is feeding, they are fussy and you may find you have to rely on feeding live feeder shrimp or small fish to them to keep them happy. They are also exceptionally good at finding small gaps in your aquarium lids and ending up as fish jerky after making their way a good few feet across the floor and under your sofa.