That's about what I was thinking, jraker. I'll take a year with these 'dream fish'!
Caribbean Biotope Seagrass Tank
- Thread starter Michael Hoaster
- Start date
Not a good pic, but it'll do for now. Woo! What a thrill watching these fish in my own tank! Even with only (ha!) three, they were schooling. The gyre current in my tank seems to work well for them. They are very confident swimmers.
I also got two macro frags today. Dragon's Tongue and Dragon's Breath.
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sam.basye
New member
Man is that some paranormal sh*t... lol
I would've been out the door and starting the car faster she could blink twice to get the other two! That's of course if I didn't die of shock first. haha
Those fish will always be looking down on you, Michael.
Pretty sweet!
How much would it be to ask for you to post a short video??
I want to see the swaying grass and new fishes swimming/behavior!
How does everything get along? blennies, grammas, inverts, etc...
"Man is that some paranormal sh*t... lol" -I know right? I was stunned. Luckily, I didn't crash my car!
Now for some bad news; one died overnight. Big bummer.
Moving forward, I'm now trying to get them to eat. They didn't go after frozen mysis. I got some live feeder shrimp. The small one ate two of them quickly, but the big one didn't get any, I don't think. I'm stoked to get some food in one of them, at least for now. The grammas enjoyed what the lookdowns didn't eat. A few of the shrimp escaped capture, so I'm sure they'll get hunted down. I may try feeder minnows tomorrow. The shrimp didn't wiggle much when I put them in, so they didn't trigger a feeding response. Maybe minnows would be more enticing.
I'd love to do a video. I have played around with it a few times, but I wasn't able to get what I wanted, so I haven't followed through on it. These fish are definitely video-worthy, so I'll give it another try. They are bit beat up right now though, so I may wait until they're more presentable. I'm so vain!
The grammas and blennies are aware of the new predators lurking about, but with easy escape hatches, it's pretty much business as usual. When one of the lookdowns got too close, one of the blennies chased it away! I'd say the grammas are a little less spread all over the tank, and the blennies are maybe a little faster on the food capture/retreat.
I added two nassarius snails today, for additional leftover food cleanup.
Now for some bad news; one died overnight. Big bummer.
Moving forward, I'm now trying to get them to eat. They didn't go after frozen mysis. I got some live feeder shrimp. The small one ate two of them quickly, but the big one didn't get any, I don't think. I'm stoked to get some food in one of them, at least for now. The grammas enjoyed what the lookdowns didn't eat. A few of the shrimp escaped capture, so I'm sure they'll get hunted down. I may try feeder minnows tomorrow. The shrimp didn't wiggle much when I put them in, so they didn't trigger a feeding response. Maybe minnows would be more enticing.
I'd love to do a video. I have played around with it a few times, but I wasn't able to get what I wanted, so I haven't followed through on it. These fish are definitely video-worthy, so I'll give it another try. They are bit beat up right now though, so I may wait until they're more presentable. I'm so vain!
The grammas and blennies are aware of the new predators lurking about, but with easy escape hatches, it's pretty much business as usual. When one of the lookdowns got too close, one of the blennies chased it away! I'd say the grammas are a little less spread all over the tank, and the blennies are maybe a little faster on the food capture/retreat.
I added two nassarius snails today, for additional leftover food cleanup.
Emotional rollercoaster.
So happy to get the new fish. But today I'm in a race against time, trying to get the big one to eat. The longer he goes, the worse he looks. Not a happy place. I hope he comes around soon. If not I may have to seriously consider force feeding.
So happy to get the new fish. But today I'm in a race against time, trying to get the big one to eat. The longer he goes, the worse he looks. Not a happy place. I hope he comes around soon. If not I may have to seriously consider force feeding.
sam.basye
New member
Do you know how long the LFS had them prior to purchasing them?
They might just be in shock going from the LFS's tank back to their natural environment (mini version)
Thanks OrQidz!
Sam, I think they had just gotten them in that day. They've probably been out of the ocean for a week, not eating, so reserves get low. They were a little ragged, but I figured they'd be fine. These fish are supposed to be sturdy, but you have to get them eating first. I turned off one of the pumps, so they could swim a little easier. It seemed to help. The smaller one is eating live food, but not frozen. The big guy has not eaten anything. He's showing interest in feeders, but the little guy beats him to it-or the grammas get them. I may move him down to the quarantine tank, so he has no competition. But the stress of netting him could be dangerous. I like him having room to roam too, so I'm not sure. He does seem to enjoy the tank, riding the currents and seems a little better today.
Nerve wracking.
Sam, I think they had just gotten them in that day. They've probably been out of the ocean for a week, not eating, so reserves get low. They were a little ragged, but I figured they'd be fine. These fish are supposed to be sturdy, but you have to get them eating first. I turned off one of the pumps, so they could swim a little easier. It seemed to help. The smaller one is eating live food, but not frozen. The big guy has not eaten anything. He's showing interest in feeders, but the little guy beats him to it-or the grammas get them. I may move him down to the quarantine tank, so he has no competition. But the stress of netting him could be dangerous. I like him having room to roam too, so I'm not sure. He does seem to enjoy the tank, riding the currents and seems a little better today.
Nerve wracking.
Thanks Zach!
The big one still hasn't eaten, I don't think. The small lookdown has now eaten a little frozen mysis, along with a lot of feeder shrimp and minnows.
I may have to try putting him in quarantine, where he's the only one in there, so no competition. We'll see tomorrow. If it seems too stressful, I'll abort. He swims around well, so I have hope, but not eating is not cool.
The big one still hasn't eaten, I don't think. The small lookdown has now eaten a little frozen mysis, along with a lot of feeder shrimp and minnows.
I may have to try putting him in quarantine, where he's the only one in there, so no competition. We'll see tomorrow. If it seems too stressful, I'll abort. He swims around well, so I have hope, but not eating is not cool.
Thanks McPuff and jraker!
They are very cool fish! Unfortunately, I have been in fish-keeper hell, since I got them. I lost one the first night, and I've been struggling like never before, trying to get the big one to eat. Today, he ate a piece of flake food, then spit it out. Believe it or not I'm calling that progress! On two other occasions, I saw him "choking", where it looked like he was trying to get something down, so it's possible he has eaten a little. I'm still feeding live feeder shrimp and minnows, trying to trigger the feeding response. He has shown interest, but he's way too slow, and the other fish are not.
As I've mentioned before, I may move him to quarantine, but he's swimming so well, I'm reluctant. Plus, it's good for him to see other fish eat, to 'inspire' him to join the feast.
They are very cool fish! Unfortunately, I have been in fish-keeper hell, since I got them. I lost one the first night, and I've been struggling like never before, trying to get the big one to eat. Today, he ate a piece of flake food, then spit it out. Believe it or not I'm calling that progress! On two other occasions, I saw him "choking", where it looked like he was trying to get something down, so it's possible he has eaten a little. I'm still feeding live feeder shrimp and minnows, trying to trigger the feeding response. He has shown interest, but he's way too slow, and the other fish are not.
As I've mentioned before, I may move him to quarantine, but he's swimming so well, I'm reluctant. Plus, it's good for him to see other fish eat, to 'inspire' him to join the feast.
sam.basye
New member
Fish can go quite a while without eating. My female clown went a week without eating, and the whole tank has gone a week and a half without eating before - auto feeder malfunction..
Don't stress out too much. It will eat when it gets hungry enough!
Not sure why the one died. Must've been stress related.
Don't stress out too much. It will eat when it gets hungry enough!
Not sure why the one died. Must've been stress related.
Yeah, Sam you're right. I left my tank for two and a half weeks not too long ago.
But these guys were a little ragged and I lost that first one, so I'm on edge.
I love flasher wrasses, jraker! I hope yours is OK.
But these guys were a little ragged and I lost that first one, so I'm on edge.
I love flasher wrasses, jraker! I hope yours is OK.
Lookdown update:
The big one has finally eaten some live feeder fish! We may be out of the woods.
The big one has finally eaten some live feeder fish! We may be out of the woods.
With all the extra food I'm dumping in the tank, I've let the macros go unpruned. This should help soak up stuff, while I get them transitioned to frozen food. So things are gonna get a little jungle-y around here.
I look forward to just enjoying the new fish without worry. Maybe even get some pics! They really are cool fish. I can't believe I have them!
I look forward to just enjoying the new fish without worry. Maybe even get some pics! They really are cool fish. I can't believe I have them!
