Difficult and Special Care Species List

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10293407#post10293407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
IME the days of seahorse only species tanks are far gone. There are many many fish that can be kept with them. They do not do well with fast swimming aggressive eaters, of corals that have a sting. They also do best in tanks with temps under 74F.

Seadragons are not legally available in the trade, but not really that diffucult to keep if you have other syngnathid experience.

Pipefish are becoming increasingly more popular in reef tanks and seem to do O.K. with the higher temps and flow.

JME, you did ask for feedback.

I think it's awesome you took the time to compile this list. Kudos to you my man. :thumbsup:

I think just because it's a species tank does not mean you can't keep other live organisms with them, you just need to be very selective and the focus on the whole tank must be the species you're loking to maintain. I'm sure you'll agree with me that if you were to put a eahorse in the majority of the reef aquariums owned by people on this forum it would not last long. Thanks for the heads up on the Seadragons, I had forgotten that they were illegal to collect. Also, thanks for the feedback and props.

 

[thecichlidpleco]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10292678#post10292678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rue
Just out of curiousity...who DOESN'T have at least one anemone?

Aiptasia?

 

[Springmo]

This is a great list.

Along the same lines as the red coris, I was a little surprised to see the dragon wrasse as needing a 200+ gallon tank. Acquired when small, they don't seem to attain the size of large wild specimens even after many years. What about the harlequin tuskfish? They seem like they belong in 200+ gallon tanks.

 

[plandy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10292741#post10292741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seagirl
great post

I second the above. Peter, good work and great idea. This one should definitely be hard wired to the top of the list.

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10293724#post10293724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I'm sure you'll agree with me that if you were to put a seahorse in the majority of the reef aquariums owned by people on this forum it would not last long.

For shizzle!

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294052#post10294052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Springmo
This is a great list.

Along the same lines as the red coris, I was a little surprised to see the dragon wrasse as needing a 200+ gallon tank. Acquired when small, they don't seem to attain the size of large wild specimens even after many years. What about the harlequin tuskfish? They seem like they belong in 200+ gallon tanks.

200+ gallons was originally just a rough estimate and some of the species I was judging on potential size. It's good that people are noticing these two wrasses IMO though. Them along with Panther Groups and Emperor Snappers are the fish that are most often put in inappropriate sized aquariums. They're also the fish most commonly seen as cute little juvenilles. I'll make some notes on those two wrasses to reflect your concerns when I edit the list.

As for the Harlequin Tusk, they reach a max. length of about 1' as far as I know and are probably less deserving of the list than the Red Corisa and Dragon Wrasse (I need to make some notes about the scientific names as well), especially when you consider their demeanor.

I happy that people are having some problems with things on the list rather than things I missed. So far it seems that I was pretty thorough.

 

[Peter Eichler]

I'd appreciate any feedback on the Potter's Angel and the Blue Chromis. The Blue Chromis was once on the list and the Potter's is one I've thought about adding.

My experience with both fish has been that they don't fare well in captivity. I've seen suggestions that Blue Chromis need to be kept in groups, but even under those circumstances I've seen them die regularly and just generally look unhealthy even if they are surviving.

I've never personally kept either fish so I was hesitant on adding them to the list. However, my experience with then at local fish stores is enough to make me consider adding them.

 

[Springmo]

200+ gallons was originally just a rough estimate and some of the species I was judging on potential size. It's good that people are noticing these two wrasses IMO though. Them along with Panther Groups and Emperor Snappers are the fish that are most often put in inappropriate sized aquariums. They're also the fish most commonly seen as cute little juvenilles. I'll make some notes on those two wrasses to reflect your concerns when I edit the list.

As for the Harlequin Tusk, they reach a max. length of about 1' as far as I know and are probably less deserving of the list than the Red Corisa and Dragon Wrasse (I need to make some notes about the scientific names as well), especially when you consider their demeanor.

I happy that people are having some problems with things on the list rather than things I missed. So far it seems that I was pretty thorough.

Good points. I think it's worth mentioning though that body depth is as important to consider as body length when thinking about bioload and the tusk is a very deep bodied fish.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294327#post10294327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I'd appreciate any feedback on the Potter's Angel and the Blue Chromis. The Blue Chromis was once on the list and the Potter's is one I've thought about adding.

My experience with both fish has been that they don't fare well in captivity. I've seen suggestions that Blue Chromis need to be kept in groups, but even under those circumstances I've seen them die regularly and just generally look unhealthy even if they are surviving.

I've never personally kept either fish so I was hesitant on adding them to the list. However, my experience with then at local fish stores is enough to make me consider adding them.

I've some experience with potters and while I don't think they should be put on the Fish to Avoid list, they are definitely a species with special concerns. They are particularly prone to damage from shipment and should be kept only with docile tankmates. I think this fish is worth mentioning because a lot of people seem to want to keep them.

 

[zemuron114]

centropyge multifasciatus do well from marshall islands. i always get them to eat. but the majority do poorly from indo.

most butterflies do well. those that should be completely avoided are the C. mulleri and C. ornatissmus, C. lunulatus, C. lineolatus. Pretty much any that eat coral. lol But most do well as long as they eat other food then coral.

long nose hawkfish do extremely well in captivity, whether they jump or not?

List is very very informative. I think you've covered almost everything! Someone will always have that one fish that is doing well to go against the norm though... But thats that makes the hobby interesting and hopefully we can learn something from that persons experience

 

[sunfish11]

Just out of curiousity...who DOESN'T have at least one anemone?

I have none.

Peter, I didn't see drangonettes on your list and I think that they should be added along with scooter blennies.

Great job, by the way.

Lisa

 

[HBtank]

Are you talking about the standard blue chromis or the blue reef chromis?

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294529#post10294529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sunfish11
I have none.

Peter, I didn't see drangonettes on your list and I think that they should be added along with scooter blennies.

Great job, by the way.

Lisa

"Mandarin Dragonettte (requires large amounts of live food typically which can be provided naturally in 50+ gal. tanks with a good amount of live rock, will only rarely accept prepared foods)"

"Scooter Blenny (see Mandarin Dragonettes)"

The grouping of those two could be a little better and I'll make changes next time I edit to fix it.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294569#post10294569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HBtank
Are you talking about the standard blue chromis or the blue reef chromis?

I'm speaking of Chromis cyanea.

 

[OmarD]

Thanks Peter for great lists!

...thought I asked before, but don't see post. - can I have your permission to post to another reef forum I frequent?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294519#post10294519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
centropyge multifasciatus do well from marshall islands. i always get them to eat. but the majority do poorly from indo.

most butterflies do well. those that should be completely avoided are the C. mulleri and C. ornatissmus, C. lunulatus, C. lineolatus. Pretty much any that eat coral. lol But most do well as long as they eat other food then coral.

long nose hawkfish do extremely well in captivity, whether they jump or not?

List is very very informative. I think you've covered almost everything! Someone will always have that one fish that is doing well to go against the norm though... But thats that makes the hobby interesting and hopefully we can learn something from that persons experience

Do you have any examples of longterm success stories with the Multibarred Angel? They're one of my favorite fish and some positive news wouldn't be a bad thing.

The Butterflies are certainly incomplete on the list and I took the easy way out on that one a bit, but for beginner to intermediate hobbyists it's a good basic guideline. There are dozens of species that are incompatible for aquariums IMO, and there are some that will do pretty well that I did not mention. That's something I will work on eventually...

I feel Longnose Hawks are labeled pretty well as it stands now. "Longnose Hawkfish (hardy fish but they are notorious jumpers and be careful with ornamental shrimp with all Hawkfish)" doesn't seem to go against what you just said.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294631#post10294631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OmarD
Thanks Peter for great lists!

...thought I asked before, but don't see post. - can I have your permission to post to another reef forum I frequent?

Thanks,

Scott

Answered you question in the version of it that is a sticky. Feel free to post it elsewhere

I made this one tonight and you may also find it useful.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10293535#post10293535

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10294615#post10294615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I'm speaking of Chromis cyanea.

I have had mine for over a year. I love it, great fish and doing great.

I do not believe it does well it in groups.

I may have a hyper aggressive individual, but it chased all others to their death. In fact, in all my SW and FW experience, it was the most aggressive attack I have ever seen.

It is also one of the more dominant fish in my tank, far from "peaceful" in my book.

It eats anything I feed and is a very interesting fish. It has some behavoirs that are really cool.

 

[davidryder]

Peter, I think I have made the comment in the past that you rarely say something I don't like.

Great posts, bookmarked them both

 

[DaveP]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10291463#post10291463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler


Centropyge heraldi (almost always caught using drugs)

That sentence sounds really funny if you read it incorrectly!

Great list!!! This will really help a lot of people in this hobby!

 

[Rokdog]

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Originally posted by Peter Eichler


Centropyge heraldi (almost always caught using drugs)

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That sentence sounds really funny if you read it incorrectly!

Dont knock it til you've tried it


Great post Peter