Angler Fish

[Icewing726]

So I routinely educate my predator fish with the "fish are friends" bit but may have complicated it too much by adding in the "except for the frozen already dead ones I give to you" piece...

I've been watching my grouper to make sure I compare what size fish he can eat vs what size the wrasses are, but he wasn't the problem. I came home from vacation and found a huge crater in the sand. Minutes later I think I found out why. My fox face was swimming frantically with spines fully extended and the angler latched on for the ride. I managed to beat him with the feeder stick (another useful application) and get him to let go and now he's living in the sump (with a 24 hour loop of "fish are friends, not food"). Not sure why he chose the large body fox face vs a wrasse, but he's gonna need a new home.

Anyway, anyone have any fish suggestions that are conversation starters and don't cause problems like this? I'm probably gonna move the panther grouper to a new home as well which will leave the tank a little duller.

 

[Cliving1]

Well if your going for an all put predator tank, or tank with a predator, you have to accept this will happen. There are plenty of fish that are attractive and can serve the purpose of a conversation starter. But if you still have a predator, let's say an eel, then there is still a chance to lose fish or other inhabitants. What size tank and inhabitants do you have currently prior to offering suggestions?

 

[billdogg]

I tried keeping a rather aggressive Eel - Gymnothorax Undulatus - with a variety of predators but it ended up trying to eat them all regardless of how much/often I would feed he ended up being in a 150 by himself for about 20 years. He remained one of my favorites and certainly a tremendous conversation starter.

The list of his snacks include several XL yellow tangs, a Emperor Snapper morning n the 14” range, a guineafowl puffer that was about 18”, and a 4’ blue ribbon eel (hence his name, Hannibal). The fish that lasted the longest with him was also the smallest - a purple pseudochromis she decided to wear out its welcome in my happyfish tank

 

[Icewing726]

Well if your going for an all put predator tank, or tank with a predator, you have to accept this will happen. There are plenty of fish that are attractive and can serve the purpose of a conversation starter. But if you still have a predator, let's say an eel, then there is still a chance to lose fish or other inhabitants. What size tank and inhabitants do you have currently prior to offering suggestions?

150 gallon
Large Volitan Lion
2ft Black Ribbon Eel (eats anything and everything including by hand)
A supposed Banana Wrasse (no clue really, pretty sure I got jipped on it since I bought it young)
A blue headed wrasse (sent in place of one that I ordered, he's the smallest fish I own and the one I fear for the most)
Fox Face
Red Sea Purple Tang
Panther Grouper (getting big, probably going to start searching for someone that wants him before he cleans house)
Angler (lives in my sump after I caught him last night)

So not a total predator tank, just not a peaceful tank either.

 

[Icewing726]

I tried keeping a rather aggressive Eel - Gymnothorax Undulatus - with a variety of predators but it ended up trying to eat them all regardless of how much/often I would feed he ended up being in a 150 by himself for about 20 years. He remained one of my favorites and certainly a tremendous conversation starter.

The list of his snacks include several XL yellow tangs, a Emperor Snapper morning n the 14" range, a guineafowl puffer that was about 18", and a 4' blue ribbon eel (hence his name, Hannibal). The fish that lasted the longest with him was also the smallest - a purple pseudochromis she decided to wear out its welcome in my happyfish tank

The fox face was my first fish in (and my youngest sons fish), so it kind of has a place in my heart protection wise... Wish the first fish was the meanest most aggressive one lol. Would have been easier to deal with.

You know... I just thought of something. I had thought my second eel was dead and siphoned him out of the eel tubes only to discover he was nursing a bad wound. I thought i had tore off his tail when I siphoned him... I wonder if the angler bit it off while he was swimming in the tank and thats what sent him into hiding... He eventually died even though I did get him to eat again while recovering in the sump.