Out of Africa (picture intensive)

[Ritten]

Those are the plumpest, most beautiful, energetic, healthy, fish I have ever seen in an aquarium. Just stunning.

 

[FishboyDave]

Wow I wish one day I can have something like this.

 

[lps1212]

Great thread pics weren't bad at all I too am a fan of bubbleking the aquascaping looks nice and the build even nicer

 

[WienerDog]

WOW...certainly breathtaking. Its nice to see someone still captivted by their passion. Your attention to detail shows your devotion to your 'wet pets.' Thank you for keeping us posted to date. You've put as much effort into replying to our questions as you do to your hobby. It is much appreciated and respected...thank you. I'll continue to follow and look forward to your updates from across the globe.

 

[rpjaws74]

You definitely have an awesome selection of fish!! Probably fish on everybodys wish list. Every time I catch up on your thread you seem to add a new fish. Do you wish you had build your dream aquarium bigger?

 

[kinlayan]

D3hree- I am very happy you like this thread it is like diary of sorts to me and the best way i can share my passion with all the people who have similar passions around the world.
The Queen is a beautiful angel no doubt! but unfortunately it is also one of the most destructive where any fleshy corals are concerned most lps/softies will be hammered by it.
Sps you may succeed , well you are going to get some nips but if you have sufficient density of corals and the size of your aquarium is large enough then i see no reason why it wouldnt work if you keep her well fed! . The blue face is also the next on the destructive list followed by the french.The majestic , regal and the bandit are the least destructive of my bigger angels so far. Although the bandit has taken to nipping the cowfish's horns it seems cowfish skin tastes nice , i am trying to find ways to stop this behaviour. I feed a frozen and pelleted food and i use a wide variety of foods.Frozen usually includes mysis, krill, bloodworm,angel formula - ocean nutrition. pellets i use new life spectrum and ocean nutrition and grotech pellets all mixed up.

The fish are actually abit obese and i am going to have to cut back on the fatty foods!

Wowkingjames- thank you !!

Ritten - thank you i do pride myself on how long i have kept some of them they are geriatric in age some of them and i just hope they keep going on and on but alas nothing does.

Fishboydave- i also hope one day you can have this and i may also follow your thread with the interest you have shown!

Lps1212- pics are not my forte but i am glad you like them in person the fish are often more beautiful than their pics! Bubbleking is superb skimmer no faulting it cept for price. Thank you on the build compliment!

Wienerdog - Thank you so much , it is privilege for me to share this passion with like minded individuals such as yourself

Rpjaws74- thank you, there are so many wonderful fish i wish i could keep them all but that cant happen so choices have to be made and i cant say i am disappointed with any of the choices so far!

 

[KuyaMark]

wow awesome looking tank

 

[kinlayan]

I have a bit of an update since i am posting and there has been some interest lately.

about 2 months ago i acquired a pair of Hawaiian flame wrasses, i have not had good luck with fairy wrasses mainly due to them being jumpers , i decided to make a net cover for the aquarium while these were in Quarantine- But as you will see i was met with another challenge!

I have 2 wrasse inhabitants in my aquarium a Mystery wrasse and a yellow tailed tamarin wrasse both have been ideal citizens, i was apprehensive when purchasing the flame wrasse pair as i know mystery wrasses can be terrors much like sixlines if they dont like a new fish but i thought i would try anyway given that there is lots of space in the aquarium for the relatively small fish.

I introduced the pair to the main section via an acclimation box i made myself and sure enough the mystery was not a happy camper to see these new wrasses in his territory but the aggression wasnt too extreme, after a few days i released the pair.

The mystery wrasse started hounding both and had both pinned up in a corner of the tank proving he was the boss and he ruled the roost! I feared the worst and then decided to use a tip from an iphone app called Marine Fishmates which suggests using a mirror if other methods to reduce aggression between fish dont work.

Well as you will see the mirror definitely has reduced aggression- the mystery spends more time concerned about its own reflection than attacking the newly introduced flame pair allowing them to become more established. It is still early days and i may not be successful if he goes back to wanting to kill them but the aggression has almost all but gone and i have been removing the mirror and returning it on alternate days until eventually it will be hopefully no longer required. I hope this behaviour modification will hold and i will be successful as i think these are incredible fish including the mystery!

Here are the pics! for this update


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5558773175/" title="mad mystery by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5558773175_d427c4349b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="mad mystery" /></a>

He is the boss and he is telling me he decides who lives and dies on this his reef

This is the deception at work!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5558749257/" title="DSC_2322 by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5558749257_45e17d8cdf.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_2322" /></a>

This is the mystery obsessing about what he is going to do to the other mystery wrasse on the otherside of the glass when he gets hold of him < little does he know>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5558752363/" title="Mystery and mirror by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5558752363_433644d399.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Mystery and mirror" /></a>

The beautiful Flame wrasse pair!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559349156/" title="flame wrasse pair by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5559349156_a38a08b833.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="flame wrasse pair" /></a>

The male
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559335938/" title="flame and bandit by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5559335938_2736758155.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="flame and bandit" /></a>

the male and the hybrid black/scopas tang

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559340062/" title="hybrid tang and flame by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5559340062_4cc30c443e.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="hybrid tang and flame" /></a>

the female

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5558746515/" title="female flame by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5558746515_ce2a4f6d3a.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="female flame" /></a>

Male and his fellow from the same part of the world Potters

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559320598/" title="flame and potters by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5559320598_ea4c8a1580.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="flame and potters" /></a>

 

[kinlayan]

The Mystery starting to tolerate the new pair he is still looking for the "other " mystery - it will remain a mystery i hope what happened to it

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559344884/" title="mystery and flames by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5559344884_756eb889a8.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="mystery and flames" /></a>

Some more pics of the flame male and other fish

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559310184/" title="middle canyon 2 by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5559310184_20ee8b286f.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="middle canyon 2" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5558735279/" title="male flame wrasse by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5558735279_99900c0f10.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="male flame wrasse" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559316486/" title="middle canyon pic by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5559316486_15a1dd82ef.jpg" width="500" height="316" alt="middle canyon pic" /></a>

 

[kinlayan]

funny vid i thought id share was filming the Bandit but the French just wanted to let me know He is just as important!

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[Mr. Winters]

Mr Winters - so far i can tell you Heliopora/blue coral is safe with almost all fish, fire coral-millepora gets the odd nip but nothing major also fine with all my fish in the middle- i added montipora capricornis and that has not been harmed for 2 months now by any fish but montipora digitata was bitten by the clown trigger and moved to my coral section to prevent its demise as he was acquiring a taste for it.Montipora Danae seems to be unharmed as well

Xenia was fine for months but then they acquired a taste and decimated it - funny it was the regal tangs that ate the majority of it not the angels as much(blue face did eat it).

I have blue star polyp that is safe and is not eaten it has proliferated all over the aquarium and is very attractive - , not sure what species it is exactly it maybe a primitive xeniid i hear.

I also added a Large heteractis crispa 2 years ago which was never harmed but it has sebae clowns protecting it.

also what have what i think is Pachyseris and perhaps Leptoseris also unharmed

I also added Fungia species which have not been harmed or nipped yet still early days around 1 month.

Gorgonians i attempted a few species but they all came under attack by the queen angel.

I am trying many corals and will let you know as time goes by on more.Many fish in the middle section are not reef friendly notably the Cowfish, Clown trigger and my large angels species so it is very much an ongoing experiment to find what they will and wont eat.

wow! thanks! yes this is very informative. keep up the good work so i can apply it to my big tank plans!

 

[Mr. Winters]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42085951@N06/5559316486/" title="middle canyon pic by Kinlayan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5559316486_15a1dd82ef.jpg" width="500" height="316" alt="middle canyon pic" /></a>

is the blue rock in the upper left hand area completely covered in these blue clove/snowflake polyps?

<a href="http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w62/carefreeshiznit/?action=view&current=blueclove002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w62/carefreeshiznit/blueclove002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Elliott]

you have been successful keeping large angels together while many reefers have failed, primarily due to their aggression towards each other, can you provide us with your recommendations and/or keys to your success? many thanks

 

[tcmfish]

For starters his tank is huge...

 

[kinlayan]

Mr Winters- you are 100% correct those are the blue clove polyps, they have proliferated all over my tank area's seem to die back and regrow in different or the same areas all the time, none of the fish eat them.

Elliot - As Tcmfish states it is very important to have sufficient space for large angels and even dwarf angels - but i have found that with some fish size of the aquarium is little issue for example i had 2 Fire fish and even though they were the smallest fish in the tank the one kept the other pinned in a corner for months and finally made it jump into a freshwater reservoir at the back of the tank. Some Fish just wont tolerate the same species not matter how big the area is.

My key to success usually hinges on the following i get different size angels from the established ones often smaller is better in my book unless your initial fish are already small. I get angels in different genera/ radically different colours if possible although this is not the case with my Majestic and Blue face , they are different sizes though and they
have established a dominant hierarchy.

When i add a new fish i always add it to an large enough(it may need an extended stay therein) acclimation box within the tank where can see how the other inhabitants will interact with it and where they can get used to it.

Once i believe there is no aggression i release the new fish, if aggression occurs , i then will attempt other methods of behaviour modification such as Mirrors,Changing territory, catching the offending fish and seperating it for a while. While sometimes one can lessen the aggression there will be instances where success just is not possible in a given setup.

 

[Elliott]

thanks, how large of an acclimation box do you use and for how long?

 

[kactusficus]

Hello Kinlayan,

It's a very nice discovery I made today with your thread, tank and personality! What an amazing fish selection, and what a big emotion you share when you're talking about your "wet pets"!

I really enjoyed reading your gallery of portraits, and your stories. One can really tell you're loving your pets and would be very to sacrifice a lot to them, I was really touched by your empathy as I rely on that feeling a lot.


Your blue spotted jawfish is one of my favorite fish, I laughed so much when I saw its size compare to the face of the French angel coming in the frame, it was funny and frightning at the same time! How is he doing now? I loved the picture of him with his "fort Alamo" construction, hilarious!
How come he can eat enough, with these monsters all around? Do you spot feed him?

Would you mind someday putting a "meal time" video on the thread, it should be an amazing scene!

Your video of the Xanthichthys couple is absolutely fascinating, they are so beautiful, and their parade is :inlove::inlove:

You really need to put on a companion to you mandarin, their parade is magnificent, you'll be hypnotized!

Well, enough talking.... Thank you 100 times for sharing the life of your beautiful wet friends

I wish you the best for the years to come, for any of your fish and animals, and a special thought to your clown trigger may he have many more years of happy swimming!

cheers,
Sabine

 

[kinlayan]

Elliot , it is 1 metre long by half metre wide by half metre thick andi use it for at least 2 weeks if there is heavy aggression , if no aggression the fish is usually release after a day or two, i supply the box with an airstone to increase water movement in it during this time, it has lots of small holes and a feeding hole- the enitre box is made out of clear perspex

 

[kinlayan]

Kactusficus - it is an honor that you have taken the time to read through all my stories of my pets! Thank you very much for your wonderful compliments

The blue spot jawfish was challenge to feed and i had made a special feeding tool to put around his burrow and allow me to give only him food however since then i have worked out a system of feeding where , it gets enough food if i stagger the food and i feed the frozen foods first which mainly float in the water column and pellet foods after which the blue spot jawfish also eats, when feeding the pellets if too many fall near his burrow too fast the other fish often knock his burrow closed and he has to reopen it but if i spread the pellets across the front of the tank this doesnt happen often. I will make a feeding video.

I agree with you a Mandarin female would be very nice , i will look out for one!

thank you , the Clown trigger is very old i am guessing over 23 years probably ,i dont know how much longer he/she will be with me but i have appreciated all the time i have had this beautiful fish!

Thanks again Sabine and i hope you enjoy the thread some more. Bonjour!

 

[danielbui23]

kinlayan, this is a very unique design. I don't know if you have already mentioned but what where the sizes of the smaller display tanks on the sides?