McCosker's Flasher - bad idea in my tank?

[iwishtofish]

I have a 75g tank with a 40b sump. I cycled it with all dry rock, a chunk of raw shrimp, and heavy dosing of MB7. My tank is basically sterile-looking, and only houses 12 blue-leg hermits that eat omnivorous pellets (there is NO algae).

I was thinking of adding a single male McCosker's flasher wrasse first, and then, later on, maybe 3 Dispar anthias.

Can anyone tell me why I should NOT add the McCosker's to my tank at this point? Is it too sterile? Will this wrasse not do well without females, or other schooling fish? I really need to increase my bioload.

 

[skraj011]

If you're tank has fully cycled, the mccosker's should be fine. they are hardy. Make sure you properly cover the top or else it will jump out.

 

[snorvich]

They are prolific jumpers and egg crate will not keep them in.

 

[iwishtofish]

If you're tank has fully cycled, the mccosker's should be fine. they are hardy. Make sure you properly cover the top or else it will jump out.

I do believe the tank is cycled. After detecting no bad stuff, I added 12 hermits 9 days ago and have been feeding them omnivorous pellets ever since. Tested for ammonia today just for the heck of it - none detected.

They are prolific jumpers and egg crate will not keep them in.

Good to know! I plan to fashion a bird net screen when I can. Anyone have any advice on the screen?

 

[iwishtofish]

Forgot to ask - cyclopeeze best to entice this fish to eat?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I do believe the tank is cycled. After detecting no bad stuff, I added 12 hermits 9 days ago and have been feeding them omnivorous pellets ever since. Tested for ammonia today just for the heck of it - none detected.



Good to know! I plan to fashion a bird net screen when I can. Anyone have any advice on the screen?

Get the clear 1/4" netting from bulkreefsupply.com. I got this stuff and it was so easy to cut some screen frames from home depot and put it together. No fish can get through those holes! plus it looks nice and flush with the tank as well. here's some pics if you like

 

[iwishtofish]

That does look great! How does one cut the screen frame? What tools are needed?

 

[Saltwaternooby]

Hack saw, miter saw, teeth... anything that can cut straight.

 

[hotrodolds]

Hack saw, miter saw, teeth... anything that can cut straight.

serrated steak knife :crazy1:

 

[iwishtofish]

Hack saw, miter saw, teeth... anything that can cut straight.

Ok, thanks!

serrated steak knife :crazy1:

Hey, I've got one of those!

 

[iwishtofish]

Well, the fish is in the tank, and he's a small one. Unfortunately, I could only find what looks like 1/2" bird netting at Home Depot. I needed something fast, so hopefully this is better than nothing until I can order the 1/4" netting from BRS. (Maybe tomorrow I'll place another layer over the top, slightly off center from the first layer. That should make the holes smaller.) Even though I bought the materials to make the custom screen, I just used electrical tape to temporarily tape the netting to the top of the tank.

I hope the fish does ok. He slowly made his way to a cave in the rocks, and chilled there in sight until the room darkened more. Maybe I'll get lucky and see him alive tomorrow. He will be the only fish in my tank for a good while, I think.

I plan to try enticing him out with some cyclopeeze as soon as possible.

 

[jdwreefer]

:thumbsup: Grats on the first fish! I got a male and 2 female McCoskers in my 90g. Do you plan to get females for yours? The males are supposed to do their display thing more often in the presence of females, I can't say whether this is true or not, or how much more often they do it since i've only had mine with females.

Mine all eat great, rods food, flake, cyclops, mysis, everything I've thrown in there so far.

 

[iwishtofish]

Thank you, John! I wouldn't mind adding a female or two, but I just read it isn't good to add females after the male. Do you know why this is?

My fish came out to eat today when I added cyclopeeze to the tank. He's funny - he just hangs out in the current and waits for it to come to him, grabbing only the pieces that meet his standards.

He is a very small fish.

 

[iwishtofish]

Hmmm...I hope things haven't gone bad. The fish went to bed suddenly late last night, without first swimming around in his cave as usual. I looked all around the outside of the tank, thoroughly, of course.

Didn't come out this morning, so I'm a little concerned. No sign in sump, on pumps, etc. Overflow is tiny with huge drain hole, so he'd have shot right down.

Maybe he's sleeping in, right? :worried:

 

[iwishtofish]

Was just sleeping late, thank goodness. Fish are always a nerve-wracking experience, IMO. I need to get some corals to worry about, instead!

I just ordered the proper 1/4" screen, although I have doubts that it could keep this fish in, should he jump.