Aussie elegance... ya or nay

[GOSKN5]

So I have always wanted an elegance, but know their story of being difficult and dying for seemingly no reason..

I have read a bunch on them.. some old some new. Seems like the aussie ones have a much better chance of survival but even they can be hit or miss...

Divers den gets aussies in just about each day, and the regular LA has a maricultured option available...

Thoughts on giving either a shot? Or is this still a huge toss up.. I would rather not waste $100+ without a decent shot at success... thanks..

 

[vashawn]

I got 1 from my loc store. paid $40 was 2 1/2 -3" when open now about 5" open.
I for about 2 mths.
i feed it everything 1x a week.
light flow
mod light (using chinese blk box)

 

[jacksonpt]

As with so many things in this hobby, I think a lot of success is dependant on how healthy and well-adjusted the animal is when you get it. Buying from a reputable source with a history of having healthy animals will go a long way, especially when you're talking about iffy things like elegance.

So I guess the question I'd ask is whether or not you trust Live Aquaria and all the things that go along with buying online.

 

[GOSKN5]

I wonder if my chances are significantly better with an aquacultured one? Usually so..

 

[Jeff4777]

I got 1 from austin aqua farms and its really healthy.

 

[GOSKN5]

My tank is also barebottom.. I have read they prefer sand bottom.. anyone kept one BB before?

 

[heuerfan]

My tank is also barebottom.. I have read they prefer sand bottom.. anyone kept one BB before?

I've always kept mine on a rock in the bottom of tank so in my opinion don't need sand. I've only kept aussie elgance and they've been doing very well.

 

[GOSKN5]

Ordered this one from DD... love the pink tips... hopefully arrives in good shape..

 

[Budman422]

Here are my elegances I just fragged these up. It is dependent on getting. A healthy specimen. Put it in low flow and light and give it time to adjust.

 

[Budman422]

This one has been around over 20 years. Once established they are bulletproof. I frag them every so often.

 

[GOSKN5]

Awesome pics... that's amazing.. thanks for sharing

 

[Flanders]

I picked up one of the maricultured ones and I can tell it's going to do well. I have had it for several months now and it's growing like a weed. They had probably 15-20 small ones, all very healthy looking.

The guys at the store said no one seems to have any trouble with them, other than them being voracious fish eaters. I have not experienced that myself.

 

[GOSKN5]

Seems to have shipped nicely.. in the tank last night and stayed mostly closed... came home from work today and this is how it looked (sorry for the overly blue shot, sunset started haha)

Not 100% open but decent for only being in tank just over 24 hours... also saw it grab a piece of food and eat when I fed the tank...

 

[jacksonpt]

I picked up one of the maricultured ones and I can tell it's going to do well. I have had it for several months now and it's growing like a weed. They had probably 15-20 small ones, all very healthy looking.

The guys at the store said no one seems to have any trouble with them, other than them being voracious fish eaters. I have not experienced that myself.

Hey... did you get it at ABC? I lost one in a tank crash/power outage that I got from there a few years ago, and have been looking to get another for a few months now.

 

[GOSKN5]

Would it be detrimental to the elegance if I cut the tip off the base? To make it flat so it will sit on the barebottom?

It is not open much today and im wondering if it's too much light or flow...

 

[Jeff4777]

Would it be detrimental to the elegance if I cut the tip off the base? To make it flat so it will sit on the barebottom?

It is not open much today and im wondering if it's too much light or flow...

Be very careful with light at first. Each specimen has a different tolerance level when it comes to lighting. If one starts to die from over exposure there is little that can be done to save it.

 

[Moort82]

I personally wouldn't cut the skeleton. When I kept them in a bare bottom tank I made a little holder out of some pvc pipe. Once expanded you couldn't see it.

 

[heuerfan]

I
The guys at the store said no one seems to have any trouble with them, other than them being voracious fish eaters. I have not experienced that myself.

Wow never heard of them being fish eaters!

I personally never directly fed any of my elegance that I've had or have.

 

[Flanders]

Hey... did you get it at ABC? I lost one in a tank crash/power outage that I got from there a few years ago, and have been looking to get another for a few months now.

No, I got mine at a frag swap from a vendor called Cherry Corals. ABC has a bunch of nice ones in right now though.

 

[Moort82]

Wow never heard of them being fish eaters!

I personally never directly fed any of my elegance that I've had or have.

We had one I the shop that grew to about the size of a nfl football and when we moved it there was a little cuc graveyard under it. It also ate a mandarin that I didn't know had been put in the tank.
its more likely to eat things that are slow or sick.