Reef Safe Invertebrates
- Corals (Class Anthozoa)
- There are aggressive types of coral which have sweeper tenticles that can burn other corals. These may require specific placement in an aquarium.
- Crabs
- Specifically small hermit crabs, anemone crabs, emerald mithrax crabs, and strawberry crabs.
- Fan worms (Suborder Sabellida)
- Giant clams
- Scallops
- Sea anemones (Order Actiniaria)
- Anemones, especially carpet anemones can eat fish and burn corals to death requiring specific placement for specimens in an aquarium.
- Sea cucumbers
- Sea fans
- Sea slugs
- Starfish / Sea stars
- There are many starfish which are not reef safe like crown-of-thorns starfish and chocolate chip sea star.
- Shrimps
- Peppermint shrimps, cleaner shrimps, pistol shrimps, anemone shrimps and blood red fire shrimps are better choices since the commonly available banded coral shrimp can kill fish, and the mantis shrimp will kill and eat most animals in a tank.
- Snails
- Some snails are parasitic but are rarely, if ever, offered in the saltwater aquaria trade.
- Sponges
- Tunicates (sea squirts)
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