Flame Anglefish

[doconnell]

I bought a Flame Angle fish and a Heniochus Butterfly fish from wetpets on Sunday. Both were eating and lively at the store. The butterfly is doing great.

Flame, not so good. This might be typical of them, not sure. He is hiding, very seldom comes out and eats very little. No one is picking on him or anything like that. It has only been 5 days but I have never had a fish take this long to adjust. My concern is the little amount he is eating. Is this normal for them, could he still be adjust? Is there anything I can do to help him adjust?

 

[Yinzer]

I bought one from there before and he lasted a week.

 

[doconnell]

Don't tell me that. I will be very sad.

 

[mikesin]

What are the other tank mates? Did you acclimate the new additions? My 1st guess is its still adjusting to the new environment. Mine took a while to adjust. Now its very curious of its surroundings but still hangs out- in or very close to the rocks to observe. Often I see our flame bolt into the rocks as we walk into the room, then we see it peeking out from the rocks, kinda funny, not very brave

 

[ironwill723]

They take longer to adjust sometimes. Mine didn't come out much first few weeks. As long as you have ample live rock he will be fine if water conditions are good.

 

[doconnell]

Water condition are fine as everyone else is doing great and I introduced him with another fish as I stated which is fine. I have plenty of rock as I can't find him most of the time and he is pretty big.

 

[raynist]

I have had my flame from there for 2 years so far. Pygmy angels are very shy at first.

 

[cloakerpoked]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this to you, but Heniochus are very difficult to keep, and are also not reef safe. Hope that was explained to you at the store.

 

[doconnell]

OMG NO, they didn't tell me that at Wetpets and as I'm sure you know I have more of a reef tank then I have a fish tank. I was wondering why a few of my coral were looking rigid.

On that note, I have to say the owner sold me the Heniochus and he knows that I have a coral tank as he is the one who told me that coral need food and sold me the food for my coral. I starting to be very disappointed in them as they sell items just to sell and not what is in the best interest for the customer.

 

[raynist]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this to you, but Heniochus are very difficult to keep, and are also not reef safe. Hope that was explained to you at the store.

That was my first thought too, but then I looked it up and saw that the are supposed to be good with softies and Lps. It said they may pick at sps.

 

[cloakerpoked]

In my reading, they shouldn't really be put with anything. It's one of those fish that is individual specific, but it shouldn't be surprising if it does go after stuff. Kinda like my Lamark's Angelfish was supposedly "reef safe" but when you read up on it a bit (not on websites, but in forums with people who actually keep them) they are not at all reef safe.

 

[raynist]

Interesting, I haven't seen my lamark angel ever get near a coral, but like they say they are all different.

 

[acer]

Hey Dannette - it took until yesterday for my Blue throat Trigger to start eating decently after purchasing from Wet Pets when I saw you Sunday. I was getting worried and bought some live brine and that got him started- then I feed an hour later with live brine and frozen mysis - he ate both, then three hours later I put in some spectrum pellets and he ate that as well. SO, it may be just new tank "jitters" - I was also surprised to hear you got a H. butterfly- risky in a reef and a difficult fish even for non-beginners.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Interesting, I haven't seen my lamark angel ever get near a coral, but like they say they are all different.

I was feeding 3x a day to try to keep him from munching my Acans but no luck.

 

[mikesin]

From what I have read the pygmy angels are a risk in a reef tank as well. They seem to be individual specific towards nipping at corals. I knew this when I purchased ours from wet pets. We decided to take a chance and so far so good - my point is you might want to reconsider the flame as there is a slight risk

 

[cloakerpoked]

I wouldn't trust any store's salesperson to be looking out for me. I'm sure that there is somebody out there who asks about tank specifics before selling anything, but I don't count on it.

 

[doconnell]

Ok, I came home and he is swimming vertically. Any suggestions? Any hope?

 

[acer]

Wow- the Butterfly is doing well and the Angel is not- weird huh?? I had a great flame for years- he picked a little on a few corals - but nothing that would cause any harm. I have had very bad luck with fish lately- so feel your pain. It did not matter were I bought from. SO, maybe your will get a great Butterfly to enjoy for years.

 

[snowhitejolf]

Wetpets will sell you anything and will cater to u if ur rich that's what I noticed

 

[acer]

Again - as stated before- you cannot count on any, repeat any, retail pet store to really know your tank, know the equipment, fish, corals, etc. well enough to give really good advice. They are in B-U-S-I-N-E-S-S and it is a fact that it is a "Buyer beware" situation. Hence "NO GUARANTEE". So, don't buy unless you have already decided before you get somewhere what your looking for. IF they have it and it is apparently a healthy specimen - then you take your chances. Still say Wet Pets, Seahorse, Elmers, do a pretty good job- they cant control catching procedures any better than we can. Any recovery Danette?? Try to put him in a isolation tank ASAP- just in case he has something that will spread.