Reef-safe classification is critical for reef tank stocking. Fully reef-safe fish: clownfish, most damsels (with caveats), anthias, fairy + flasher wrasses, basslets (royal gramma), most blennies, gobies (yellow watchman, diamond), cardinalfish, dragonets. Reef-safe with caution: dwarf angels (50/50 - depends on individual), most tangs (occasional polyp nip), large wrasses (eat shrimp + small fish but not corals), Foxface (rare clam nip), anthias. NOT reef-safe: large angels (Queen, Emperor, French - eat coral), butterflies (most species), triggers (most species - eat shrimp + crabs), pufferfish (eat snails + clams + corals), cleaner wrasses (poor survival rate). Reef-safe inverts: cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs (small species), turbo + nerite + cerith snails, sand-sifting starfish (with caution). NOT reef-safe inverts: coral banded shrimp (eat ornamentals), most large hermit crabs (eat snails), serpent stars (eat small fish + crabs at night), most large starfish (Linckia, Choc Chip - eat coral). NOT reef-safe meds: any copper, formalin (in reef), praziquantel okay but most others lethal to inverts.
Reviewed by the Fast Aquatics husbandry team · Updated May 2026
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