Blue Headed Tilefish

[Dizzle63]

I just bought three blue headed tilefish (Hoplolatilus starcki). They are all around 3" which seems small compared to the size that they normally come in at. All three ate/picked at a mysis, brine, and cyclopeeze combo at the store. My tank is tightly covered with a screen top. They are in with a pair of eightline flashers (Paracheilinus octotaenia), a zebra bar goby (Ptereleotris zebra), a pair of pencil wrasses (Pseudojuloides ceracinus), and a single orange backed fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis). I have searched for information on their care, but have not seen much information on their care. My friend has kept two purple tilefish (Hoplolatilus purpureus) in his tank for the past year and I have picked his brain on how to keep them, but he doesn't have this particular species. Does anyone have much first hand experience with this species or any tilefish? Thank you in advance!

 

[agam909]

eat at store, tight cover, good friends in tank..sounds great. any update?

 

[Dizzle63]

I ended up losing them in 24 hours. Still seemed to nervous. I plan on trying again when I upgrade tanks by putting them in first to establish themselves. Made me mad because they were an awesome size.

 

[RJT]

You lost all 3 fish in 24 hours? Did they jump? Any idea what happened?

 

[Dizzle63]

No idea. They simply disappeared. They didn't jump, there is nowhere for them to have gone. Really stinks

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

does your friend with Hoplolatilus purpureus post on RC?

 

[Dizzle63]

He does not. He owns an LFS and does not like to post. Views it as a conflict of interest.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

He does not. He owns an LFS and does not like to post. Views it as a conflict of interest.

understandable. Maybe you could put him in touch with me?

Hey- he's not the guy in St. Louis that has an Emperor in a reef aquarium, is he?