leaf fish tank
- Thread starter rayn
- Start date
seahorsedreams
New member
I keep them in freshwater and feed them marine flakes. I've kept them for 15 years now, because my first fish were seahorses and they were wild caught. You can convert, but it has a pretty high mortality rate with a lot of batches. I think it depends on the amount of abuse they receive before they get to you.
But I was super lucky, and for the first 10 years, I collected my own marine variety every week. I kept them in a 20 gallon tank with corner airline filters (carbon and filter floss) and a bag of rocks for biofiltration.
If you're getting them from the same source, it could be your source. They are actually pretty hardy.... to a certain point.
They really like oxygen. They can live very well in low oxygen conditions as they sometimes hang up in estuaries (and is why they can "pop" so well), but in tanks, they do much much better with lots of oxygen flow.
But I was super lucky, and for the first 10 years, I collected my own marine variety every week. I kept them in a 20 gallon tank with corner airline filters (carbon and filter floss) and a bag of rocks for biofiltration.
If you're getting them from the same source, it could be your source. They are actually pretty hardy.... to a certain point.
They really like oxygen. They can live very well in low oxygen conditions as they sometimes hang up in estuaries (and is why they can "pop" so well), but in tanks, they do much much better with lots of oxygen flow.
rayn
New member
A bubble wand and filter are fairly easy to come by. Anything else that helps them long term?
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
You could easily keep a trio or quartet in a 29 with thoughtful aquascaping (lots of open substrate but still plenty of LR and caves/overhangs).
AlexS95
Active member
Cool. I just saw my first one at an LFS and I just had to take it home... Right now, he hasn't eaten anything. He just stares at the Ghosts until they swim away, and he freaks out if I try to net-feed him. Here's a picture of the little guy. Any advice?
rayn
New member
I let mine go for about two days before first feeding, then they should be good and hungry. Was it eating at the lfs?
I get the shrimp in the net and place it close to the leaf, then hurdles the ghosties towards it if they run away. After a few times the fish learns that the net means food and will start coming towards it,, then eventually climbing in after it. My new one hasn't came quite that far yet, but it stating to recognize the net as a source. If you want to net feed don't let the thistles free swim in there for the fish to pick off at their leisure as this works against you in the long run.
I get the shrimp in the net and place it close to the leaf, then hurdles the ghosties towards it if they run away. After a few times the fish learns that the net means food and will start coming towards it,, then eventually climbing in after it. My new one hasn't came quite that far yet, but it stating to recognize the net as a source. If you want to net feed don't let the thistles free swim in there for the fish to pick off at their leisure as this works against you in the long run.
seahorsedreams
New member
Not all scorps take to ghosties. Some are more use to fish, but make sure you use guppies or mollies.
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namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
Since you've found what the fish is used to eating, that will help you a little down the road with weaning it.
Do the ol' "guppy on a stick" or "guppy in the net" thing for awhile, then try using the tail-end of a small silverside instead (like the pic in the feeding article).
Do the ol' "guppy on a stick" or "guppy in the net" thing for awhile, then try using the tail-end of a small silverside instead (like the pic in the feeding article).
