kingfisherflesh
New member
Agreed. But what seems like destruction in our small systems is necessary maintenance in the large one (real reef).
Get what I am saying? Cool that you observed some similar behavior.
Oxymonacanthus longirostris - a week in review.
- Thread starter seahorsedreams
- Start date
Agreed. But what seems like destruction in our small systems is necessary maintenance in the large one (real reef).
Get what I am saying? Cool that you observed some similar behavior.
D5HP
New member
Uhuru,
I have followed your tanks on other forums for a while (namely the NPS tank) and am excited about getting a pair of these fish for myself.
I read this thread a few months ago and remembered something about Roggers food being a solid choice. I cannot get Ova locally so I had to order some from DFS. I decided that since I was already spending the money on shipping I might as well and get both of the Roggers offerings as well. I look forward to updating here with my successes not only with the fish but also the food.
My pair arriving Tuesday:
Lots of water changes in my future, I believe. :wavehand:
seahorsedreams
New member
They are on the skinny side, I'm afraid.
D5HP
New member
Yes, but I certainly couldn't find a better pair locally and if DD is shipping them out I assume they're in reasonable health for the trip. The female appears to have eaten right before that photograph but the male concerns me a great deal.
Hopefully they arrive fine. I have a cooler of more frozen foods being delivered the same day so hopefully they will be interested in one or more of the following as well as the plethora of options I already have for my other fish.
I'm optimistic but nervous.
D5HP
New member
That's great news...
There are a few people that had luck soaking NLS pellets in mysis juice and then "smooshing" them up. Have you given that a shot?
Any pictures?
pr12
New member
I've been soaking them, and they both try to bite chunks out of them, but I'm working on smooshing them into big enough bits that they can eat. Their currently eating 4-5 times a day,my male came in on the skinny side but is definetly gaining weight. I'll try to get some pictures tommorow.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
Just fed mine some smooshed nls pellets this evening. Nom, nom, nom.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
If only mine would eat mysis. As it is, there is no one food all of my fish will eat. Oi!
seahorsedreams
New member
Yes, but I just wish they would be conditioned just a little bit more before sending them out.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
Agreed. Once they're eating, it's not that hard to put some weight on them and you'd think DD would take the extra time to do that. I hope those arrive in good health.
kingfisherflesh
New member
I know where DD is getting those fish from, and that place is not having any issues getting these guys to feed...its all about lots of servings, small portions, and quality foods.
DD is getting these fish...and even though those look skinny, if they are on the floor, they are eating.
Like posted about fish from the DD are doing good before, during, and after shipment, and they are already accepting frozen foods.
DD is getting these fish...and even though those look skinny, if they are on the floor, they are eating.
Like posted about fish from the DD are doing good before, during, and after shipment, and they are already accepting frozen foods.
Bluespot22
New member
Wow, what a great thread! I can't believe I didn't find it sooner. I've had my pair for just about a year now. I ordered a trio off of diver's den originally, the male died after one day (and was eating frozen right off the bat!-still have no idea why...) so I was left with two females. They did NOT get along. I separated them. Female #1 ate nutramar ova from the beginning and female #2 did not eat anything. I had to train her from acro skeletons, but she did fine for a while. I actually ended up selling her, and she did fine up until a month ago. The buyer lost her due to some disease he never identified.
I decided to locate a male, and got a MAC certified one that was picking at nutramar, but still needed to be trained. He paired right up with the female, and they have been doing very well ever since. They currently eat nutramar ova, cyclopeeze, pellets (after they have been soaked and are nice and soft) pick at mysis and rod's food.
They currently reside in a 46 gallon that is setup pretty naturally, it used to be my seahorse tank until I moved them into the 60 cube, so it has various macroalgaes and a few soft corals. Also the share the tank with a pair of spawning black clowns.
They have been showing strong signs of breeding behavior lately, and I have even had 2 false spawns. They went through all the motions of spawning, but the female did not release eggs. This happened to Matt Pederson before his actually started, so hopefully I will get a spawn from these guys one day! Here are some pictures, along with a brief video of the false spawn yesterday. It is from far away, but I didn't want to scare them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lIJItNXfoE&feature=player_profilepage
I decided to locate a male, and got a MAC certified one that was picking at nutramar, but still needed to be trained. He paired right up with the female, and they have been doing very well ever since. They currently eat nutramar ova, cyclopeeze, pellets (after they have been soaked and are nice and soft) pick at mysis and rod's food.
They currently reside in a 46 gallon that is setup pretty naturally, it used to be my seahorse tank until I moved them into the 60 cube, so it has various macroalgaes and a few soft corals. Also the share the tank with a pair of spawning black clowns.
They have been showing strong signs of breeding behavior lately, and I have even had 2 false spawns. They went through all the motions of spawning, but the female did not release eggs. This happened to Matt Pederson before his actually started, so hopefully I will get a spawn from these guys one day! Here are some pictures, along with a brief video of the false spawn yesterday. It is from far away, but I didn't want to scare them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lIJItNXfoE&feature=player_profilepage
small alien
The fungus is among us.
Fantastic! Your fish have great body weight. I wonder if your female is carrying eggs. She looks chubby enough. Thanks for sharing!!!
D5HP
New member
Wow you have some beautiful fish...I hope they spawn that would be incredible.
Both of mine have arrived alive and appear to be fine despite the trip.
Male is definitely on the thin side, which sucks.
The female looks better that she did in photos though, from what I can tell from the top. She has a nice shape...and doesn't look extremely frail. I am confident with her...the male might take a bit more work.
Updates tonight after the lights come on way later.
Both of mine have arrived alive and appear to be fine despite the trip.
Male is definitely on the thin side, which sucks.
The female looks better that she did in photos though, from what I can tell from the top. She has a nice shape...and doesn't look extremely frail. I am confident with her...the male might take a bit more work.
Updates tonight after the lights come on way later.
Bluespot22
New member
Thanks everyone! I'm very proud of them. 
I talked to Matt Pederson yesterday, and he does think they are spawning. I'll just have to look harder for the eggs next time I witness the spawn!
Good luck with your new additions Dustin!
I talked to Matt Pederson yesterday, and he does think they are spawning. I'll just have to look harder for the eggs next time I witness the spawn! Good luck with your new additions Dustin!
D5HP
New member
Thanks Bluespot.
I updated the other thread but thought I would here as well.
After I got a few bags off I was able to tell I was confusing the two fish. The male is actually the much larger of the two although I thought the opposite from the pictures.
The male actually looks good/reasonable. I have only seen pictures of everyone else's healthy OSFFs but this is the thickest one I've seen in real life. The female is thin, however. Very thin.
I am still a bit nervous about it all but I can say that both fish are eating.
I put in some ova and the female immediately inverted and started picking it up off the bottom of the tank. Just little bobs picking it up. The male perked, but ate little. I added the green roggers and he took a bite from the water column before backing away...I think I can get him on that eventually for sure after that response.
About 20 minutes ago I tried again with brine shrimp and ova. The female ate what I believe to be at least 30-40 eggs and the male may have been eating the eggs or the brine...I couldn't tell from my lookout in the doorway. He almost seems to be watching her more than eating...but maybe that's me trying to give him manlier protective traits that don't exist in this species.
These fish absolutely eat frozen foods though, as this is not a natural behavior at all and bewilders me to think about. I will update again here in a week or so...unless I make a breakthrough in their feedings.
I updated the other thread but thought I would here as well.
After I got a few bags off I was able to tell I was confusing the two fish. The male is actually the much larger of the two although I thought the opposite from the pictures.
The male actually looks good/reasonable. I have only seen pictures of everyone else's healthy OSFFs but this is the thickest one I've seen in real life. The female is thin, however. Very thin.
I am still a bit nervous about it all but I can say that both fish are eating.
I put in some ova and the female immediately inverted and started picking it up off the bottom of the tank. Just little bobs picking it up. The male perked, but ate little. I added the green roggers and he took a bite from the water column before backing away...I think I can get him on that eventually for sure after that response.
About 20 minutes ago I tried again with brine shrimp and ova. The female ate what I believe to be at least 30-40 eggs and the male may have been eating the eggs or the brine...I couldn't tell from my lookout in the doorway. He almost seems to be watching her more than eating...but maybe that's me trying to give him manlier protective traits that don't exist in this species.
These fish absolutely eat frozen foods though, as this is not a natural behavior at all and bewilders me to think about. I will update again here in a week or so...unless I make a breakthrough in their feedings.
D5HP
New member
I will most likely continue updating in the other OSFF thread...but thought I'd put another round of photos in this thread in case people aren't subscribed to the other.
Female eats most everything I would want her eating at this point...but I need to find some smaller pellets to see if I can get her on those.
Male has eaten a little more mysis, which is good.
I am feeding heavily and they are definitely keeping full stomachs. I am having to change their water every other day. I'm doing roughly 20% changes to make sure I can stay on top of things.
Female eats most everything I would want her eating at this point...but I need to find some smaller pellets to see if I can get her on those.
Male has eaten a little more mysis, which is good.
I am feeding heavily and they are definitely keeping full stomachs. I am having to change their water every other day. I'm doing roughly 20% changes to make sure I can stay on top of things.
D5HP
New member
Greg & Renee,
My files are both eating well...the male has finally taken a liking to both types of Rogger's food when I put pieces in the algae clip. He picks at it for hours...just little bits but by the end of the day he has a sizable belly on him.
Greg mentioned that your male showed some aggression, most notably with regard to feedings. Now that he is eating well from the clip he seems COMPLETELY consumed with keeping the female from getting to any food. Even when I feed brine + mysis in the water column she will only be able to get a few pieces due to his chasing. She plays this game well at times by weaving around him back to the clip for a quick snag of food. I just feel like she is swimming extensively compared to her intake. I am going to get another algae clip tonight and hopefully I can get a his+her buffet system going on but I wanted to know your thoughts and experiences here. How long did this last? The male is probably 60-70% larger than the female (pictures show) and I don't know what I could do to help even the odds here.
EDIT: You were NOT kidding about the water quality either. I certainly was testing the biological filtration capabilities with the feedings the first week and had a bit of an ammonia blip <0.25ppm but still >0ppm and did 30g changes every day for four days until I was certain I was in the clear. The clip is allowing me to feed far less and still get more food to each fish...so that was a miraculous discovery.
As always I really appreciate your advice,
My files are both eating well...the male has finally taken a liking to both types of Rogger's food when I put pieces in the algae clip. He picks at it for hours...just little bits but by the end of the day he has a sizable belly on him.
Greg mentioned that your male showed some aggression, most notably with regard to feedings. Now that he is eating well from the clip he seems COMPLETELY consumed with keeping the female from getting to any food. Even when I feed brine + mysis in the water column she will only be able to get a few pieces due to his chasing. She plays this game well at times by weaving around him back to the clip for a quick snag of food. I just feel like she is swimming extensively compared to her intake. I am going to get another algae clip tonight and hopefully I can get a his+her buffet system going on but I wanted to know your thoughts and experiences here. How long did this last? The male is probably 60-70% larger than the female (pictures show) and I don't know what I could do to help even the odds here.
EDIT: You were NOT kidding about the water quality either. I certainly was testing the biological filtration capabilities with the feedings the first week and had a bit of an ammonia blip <0.25ppm but still >0ppm and did 30g changes every day for four days until I was certain I was in the clear. The clip is allowing me to feed far less and still get more food to each fish...so that was a miraculous discovery.
As always I really appreciate your advice,
