Chaetodon meyeri - anyone keep one? Experiences?

[Georgephoenix]

Hi all,

Has anyone successfully kept one of these? I know they are an obligate corallivores and an extremely difficult fish to keep and adapt to aquarium life, but I am curious to see if anyone out there keeps one? If so what have you had success with? e.g. tank mates/feeding/younger older specimens/ quarantine? I don't have one nor am I ordering one but they are one of favourite fish so eventually I'd like to attempt to keep this fish one day.

George

 

[Dmorty217]

What do you consider long term? I consider it years personally. There is a guy in Japan or China (can't remember which) who has several that he feeds clams on the half shell (or did, not sure if he still has them) as far long term goes, no one has kept on what I would consider successful "long term"

 

[Georgephoenix]

I consider long term to be at least 3 years, I just about remember a post about a guy in Japan quite a few years back now.... I think he had a number of different corallivores would be interesting to see if he's still got them. A few people seem to have success feeding clams on a half shell with Chaetodon larvatus from what I've seen.

 

[Dmorty217]

I consider long term to be at least 3 years, I just about remember a post about a guy in Japan quite a few years back now.... I think he had a number of different corallivores would be interesting to see if he's still got them. A few people seem to have success feeding clams on a half shell with Chaetodon larvatus from what I've seen.

Yes but I would still question long term success with feeding clams on the half shell only. Most "pick" at clams on the half shell but don't really ingest much leading to their slow demise. Lavartus and Arabians I have seen eating mysis and brine don't make it long term. There is something that the coral provides them that they need to live long term. Andrew (Hedgedrew) had a ornate that ate prepared foods when he got it, then he put it in his 900g reef tank and it wouldn't accept prepared foods anymore. Not sure if his is still alive or not.

 

[Tanu]

I keep a larvatus (around 14 months now) and a meyeri (around 3 months now). It took me months before I got the larvatus to accept fresh oysters. Meyeri still accepts no foods I offer, it just grazes on the corals.

Here you can see a short video of my tank:
<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yvhZtH2Wu9I?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is some info on how I try to do it on another website:
http://totm.ultimatereef.net/2017_december/

I would not consider keeping any corallivore without the ability and will to feed it live corals.

 

[suta4242]

Stunning fish selection Tanu! :dance:

I would not consider keeping any corallivore without the ability and will to feed it live corals.

Yeah, no idea why, but true corallivores definitely obtain something beneficial from the coral. Good luck with the Meyers.


:wave:

 

[Georgephoenix]

Yes but I would still question long term success with feeding clams on the half shell only. Most "pick" at clams on the half shell but don't really ingest much leading to their slow demise. Lavartus and Arabians I have seen eating mysis and brine don't make it long term. There is something that the coral provides them that they need to live long term. Andrew (Hedgedrew) had a ornate that ate prepared foods when he got it, then he put it in his 900g reef tank and it wouldn't accept prepared foods anymore. Not sure if his is still alive or not.

Yes I agree with you on the fact that most only pick small amounts, no where near enough nutrition to sustain the fish long term.

Tanu your tank looks fantastic and I love the collection of fish! It's great to see someone making progress with such difficult species. Am I correct in thinking you released the fish into the tank on the same day as picking up the fish, and after the freshwater baths?