Difficult and Special Care Species List

[nsreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10345684#post10345684 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hulley
Does anyone know of reputable online retailers that does not sell drug caught fish?

www.jlaquatics.com

From their website:

"We at J&L Aquatics do not believe in the practice of fish caught using drugs. Although these fish tend to be cheaper, it harms the environment, and tends to cause organ failure in fish.

We do not purchase or sell drug (cyanide) caught fish.


We also believe a fish that does not have a reasonable chance to be sustained in a home aquarium should remain in the wild. You will therefore not see many types of fish (certain species of butterflies, filefish, etc.) for sale by us. These fish are better left in the wild where they can flourish.


We will not ship a fish that is unhealthy or not eating. Our customers deserve the highest quality of fish, and this includes receiving animals that are eating, and free of disease.


90% of our fish our gained through the actual collectors not wholesalers or trans-shippers. This means that we have total control over how our fish are collected, handled, and shipped. "

I am inclined to believe every word of this, as I have dealt with JL on many occassions and found the quality of their live stock to be second to none. How much help this is to those of you south of the border i don't know, but for us canucks they are great!

 

[rbursek]

Nice site!!! But if I remember right they will not ship to the US and vise versa do to Customs holds and delays in shipping?
Bob

 

[rbursek]

Peter,
I forgot to mention I got a pink tube coral from DFS about 6 weeks ago and it is doing great.
Bob

 

[techigirl78]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10417367#post10417367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rssjsb
techiegirl78 - I'm curious about your comments on engineer "gobies/blennies" being aggressive.

I understand people getting confused by their juvenile form and then being surprised that they get so big, but I've never read the "extremely aggressive" thing before - can you elaborate?

It looks like the engineer gobies/blennies are part of the Pholidichthys genus. I don't know much about engineer gobies besides that they get big as you said. The genus of blennies I mentioned was Plagiotremus. They are in the same family as members like the canary fang blenny, but belong to a different genus that is much more aggressive. Here's a link for some info/pictures of them: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sabertoothblens.htm. Checkout the bluestripe fangblenny in particular.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10418484#post10418484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rbursek
Peter,
I forgot to mention I got a pink tube coral from DFS about 6 weeks ago and it is doing great.
Bob

If it's non photosynthtic keep it fed with small foods such as rotifers and it just might continue to do great. Unfortunately, many non-photosynthetic corals starve to death over the course of several months.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, and for getting the thread nominated. I've been on vacation for the last week and I'll try to get some revisions done on the list soon.

Peter

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10417216#post10417216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by techigirl78
Very nice list. Just a few comments.

For the lionfish (dwarf) listed, I'd probably mention that getting one that is eating is key. I got my dwarf zebra from the LFS eating frozen food and have had good luck with it.

I'd probably add all or most scorpionfish are best left for experienced keepers. It took me a while to get mine eating good.

In additon to the canary fang blenny (which is a great little fish), I'd list all the Meiacanthus blennies. I would also put the Plagiotremus blennies on the list under extremely agressive. Pointing out that they can look similar to neon gobies as I've seen a few people here get the blennies when they thought/were told they were gobies.

Thanks for the reminder about the Plagiotremus Blennies. I had forgotten about them and though they're quite rare in the trade, they're certainly worth a mention. I'll also change some of the notes on the other things you mentioned.

 

[kingfish7]

very nice work, you produced a very informative writing. I was also shocked about the Clown tang but I understand what you mean by regretting keeping one. Mine was so mean I think it gave my Soha tang a run for its money.

 

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10329811#post10329811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
Would still appreciate some more feedback on the Potter's since I'm seriously considering adding it to the second part of the list. More feedback on the Blue Reef Chromis is appreciated as well.

Peter...I am by no means an expert but as some additional feedback on the Potters I'd like to offer up that at the very least they are an "expert only" species. Since we cannot be guaranteed how well they were shipped it is up to us to choose wisely and provide the best environment. Both of these things come with experience. When choosing, are they active and responsive to you presence (maybe even a little arrogant)? Will they eat while at the LFS? How often do you feed your tank and do you have adequate forage in your tank for the Potters? I believe that a "no" to any one of these questions means to leave it alone. And, again, experience helps to honestly answer these questions.

I have one but only bought it after having answered yes to all questions. The first time I tried a Potters was month 3 in the hobby. It is now 5.5 years later and I feel experienced enough to own one.

BTW...what a great list! Thanks!!

 

[zemuron114]

online retailers can claim they never buy drug caught fish but in the end they have no idea if it is or isn't, because most wholesalers dont know (especially from indo or the like) Just because they claim it, doesn't mean it is 100% true. It is a start though.

Peter - there are many threads around RC on potters angels with a ton of info

 

[Gordonious]

"Regal Angelfish (Red Sea Specimens tend to be hardier and more willing to accept prepared foods and the more recent trend to keep this fish in reef aquariums helps with survivability)"

Why do you think it is that keeping them in reef aquariums helps? They get important vitamins eating zoanthids?

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10433768#post10433768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gordonious
"Regal Angelfish (Red Sea Specimens tend to be hardier and more willing to accept prepared foods and the more recent trend to keep this fish in reef aquariums helps with survivability)"

Why do you think it is that keeping them in reef aquariums helps? They get important vitamins eating zoanthids?

Well, they certainly get extra nutrition from various algae, tunicates, sponges that show up on live rock. The availability of a more natural food source found on live rock does a lot to sustain them while they get accustomed to thier new surroundings and start accepting prepared foods. I wouldn't suggest people try them in reef tanks, especially mixed reefs, but those that have had success with them not nipping usually have SPS dominated tanks. The Regals that do nip at corals are getting a more diverse diet though :lol:

 

[Peter Eichler]

If you guys like the thread/list don't forget to vote for it as the thread of the month

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1170759

 

[DaveP]

Back on one of the earlier pages you were asking for info from people with Potters experience.

I kept a Potters in a 55 gallon fish only for 4 years! I picked a healthy fish that was not only eating frozen food but constantly grazing in the tank at the fish store.

Poor guy died one summer when the tank temp reached 88

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10434069#post10434069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveP
Back on one of the earlier pages you were asking for info from people with Potters experience.

I kept a Potters in a 55 gallon fish only for 4 years! I picked a healthy fish that was not only eating frozen food but constantly grazing in the tank at the fish store.

Poor guy died one summer when the tank temp reached 88

Thanks Dave, it's pretty clear now that they're one of those fish wtih lots of failures and also some success stories. Getting a particularly good specimen from the start seems to be pretty key.

 

[Brock Fluharty]

If you buy CB seahorses, they don't need live food.

 

[ssbn627]

Peter Eichler
I really like this list. I had a fu man chu lion fish that I keep in a 20 gal Oceanic Flatback hex. I transported him from South Carolina to Florida. I had a lot of dead live rock that I made caves for him to hang out in. I feed him ghost shrimp till I could get him to eat packaged shrimp. He was about 2 inches when I bought him at Tide Line Aquatics, in 1995, and I gave him to another LFS in Florida in 1998 when I moved back to Wisconsin. He was around 4 or 5 inches when I gave him up. I know they are picky eaters, and I also do not recommend them to anyone. I also currently have a Scooter Blenny all by himself in my 8 gal Oceanic Biocube. I feed him live copepods, and daily feedind of frozen mysis shrimp. My LFS had him in there display tank for 6 months, and I have had him since 6-5-07.

 

[Peter Eichler]

It seems Scooter Blennies are easier than Mandarins to get to accept prepared foods, though I've never been lucky enough to get one of either that would. Thanks for the feedback on the Fu Manchu.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10434155#post10434155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brock Fluharty
If you buy CB seahorses, they don't need live food.

IME it's not quite that cut and dry. I know CB will be more likely to accept foods that aren't live, but I've also heard of and seen many that still won't touch things like mysis and frozen brine, but perhaps that was stress related. I will make a note that CB are far more likely to accept prepared foods when I do my revisions.

P.S. The thread of the month voting is tied so get those votes in

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10438430#post10438430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
IME it's not quite that cut and dry. I know CB will be more likely to accept foods that aren't live, but I've also heard of and seen many that still won't touch things like mysis and frozen brine, but perhaps that was stress related. I will make a note that CB are far more likely to accept prepared foods when I do my revisions.

P.S. The thread of the month voting is tied so get those votes in

Peter, if theyre not eating frozen when you get them, dont purchase any more from that breeder. If a breeder can't even get his animals onto frozen food, then I'd question everything else hes doing.

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10438577#post10438577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Peter, if theyre not eating frozen when you get them, dont purchase any more from that breeder. If a breeder can't even get his animals onto frozen food, then I'd question everything else hes doing.

I've never dealt directly with a breeder which I'm sure if part of the problem.