seahorsedreams
New member
This girl's QT/training tank was an expensive thing. Buying SPS for feeding.... not cheap. Then you have the daily feeding of a kazillion different food items.... most of which they will not take.
Oxymonacanthus longirostris - a week in review.
- Thread starter seahorsedreams
- Start date
edwing206
New member
Can we make a list of the foods that these guys really seem to like and eat readily? I think it would be a good idea as it would help people who want to have these fish but can't buy tons of different foods. *I know that they won't all take prepared foods and they won't all like the same things either. It would just be a really great place to start.
Actually, mine eats anything I offer. Flakes (all kinds), small pellets, freeze dried and frozen. Number one favorite seems to be spirulina flakes.
IME flake food is good first food, seems like flakes are the easiest for them to catch and eat.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
But mine have never taken flake at all that I can tell.... The problem is that these guys seem very individualistic in what they decide might make a good food. For me, Nutramar Ova was the key.
seahorsedreams
New member
VERY individual.... mine doesn't really like flake. She'll take it, but she clearly is not that "into it".
Mine hates shaved squid. She was like "WHA!!! POOEY!"
Ignores Nutramar Ova and anything similarly sized.
Mine hates shaved squid. She was like "WHA!!! POOEY!"
Ignores Nutramar Ova and anything similarly sized.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
just to reiterate, Renee (seahorsedreams) and i keep a lot of "special needs" fish, but i've never seen her work as hard as she has with the OSFF. constantly trying different foods, just HOPING they'll take a bite, and since they seem to be pretty shy at first, simply trying to observe them to SEE if they're eating can be a challenge. each little "peck" at the food is a small victory.
i'd often find her asleep on the bed where she had been peeking out from under the covers so the fish wouldn't see her and become distracted (the OSFF setup is in our bedroom because we wanted a low traffic area).
i CAN say that IF you can get them eating for you, they will "turn the corner" and you'll find them coming right up to the front of the tank when they see you.
of course, bombarding the tank with all this food plays h*ll on the water quality, so that's yet another consideration.
i think finding fish that aren't too far gone from the get-go is a huge part of the equation.
just the observations of a husband/hobbyist who has lived it...
edwing206
New member
Thanks for the input Greg. I appreciate it.
FWIW since I started this hobby almost 5 years ago and I have kept a LOT of fish during that time. I am in no way implying that I am an expert, I am far from that. I know what it takes to care for these guys and I'm committed to them 100%.
FWIW since I started this hobby almost 5 years ago and I have kept a LOT of fish during that time. I am in no way implying that I am an expert, I am far from that. I know what it takes to care for these guys and I'm committed to them 100%.
uhuru
New member
Re: Oxymonacanthus longirostris - a week in review.
Formula 2 flakes work best for me. He will eat that all day long. I've been feeding different brands of mysis, shaved mysis and brine shrimp and mine will eat all of them - but he prefers whole shrimp over bits. The problem is, he has trouble eating whole shrimp other than brine (which he loves). I noticed he was losing body condition when feeding mostly frozen. I'm starting to soak NLS pellets in mysis juice in hopes that he will start eating that. In the beginning he would pick at stuff here and there but always preferred flakes. Things are changing though so patience and perseverence is key.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Formula 2 flakes work best for me. He will eat that all day long. I've been feeding different brands of mysis, shaved mysis and brine shrimp and mine will eat all of them - but he prefers whole shrimp over bits. The problem is, he has trouble eating whole shrimp other than brine (which he loves). I noticed he was losing body condition when feeding mostly frozen. I'm starting to soak NLS pellets in mysis juice in hopes that he will start eating that. In the beginning he would pick at stuff here and there but always preferred flakes. Things are changing though so patience and perseverence is key.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
seahorsedreams
New member
Did you try the H2O Mini Mysis?
I actually didn't find them very mini this latch batch.
I actually didn't find them very mini this latch batch.
namxas
Things With Stings R Us!
to be honest...i don't know of anyone who is a REAL "expert" in the hobby. some are simply more advanced.
if you decide to give it a shot, the important thing is to try and learn from others who have had success, but definitely add your experiences (good or bad) to the knowledge pool. the more we can learn from each other, the better we'll all be in the long run.
oh, one thing we have noticed, along with others: even if your water TESTS OK, if the fish go off their feed a bit, do a good WC...they're kinda picky that way.
uhuru
New member
I agree - I don't know what happened but the shrimp are so big they get stuck in my baster. There are also a lot of tiny fish mixed in. Very disappointing, especially since I bought 10 boxes.
edwing206
New member
to be honest...i don't know of anyone who is a REAL "expert" in the hobby. some are simply more advanced.
if you decide to give it a shot, the important thing is to try and learn from others who have had success, but definitely add your experiences (good or bad) to the knowledge pool. the more we can learn from each other, the better we'll all be in the long run.
oh, one thing we have noticed, along with others: even if your water TESTS OK, if the fish go off their feed a bit, do a good WC...they're kinda picky that way.
I definitely get what you're saying. I've been reading up a lot on these guys and will keep looking for new info before I even set up a tank for them.
On the water quality issue, that's no problem. I might be setting up a new reef tank and if I do the OSFF tank will be plumbed to it. If not I might still plumb it to my existing tank, lol.
Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Looking good, uhuru!
seahorsedreams
New member
Mine will be going into a community tank.
The first thing they require is a lot of research.... there's lots of different views, with different experiences, in these 7 pages. Any threads on these guys is worth a thorough read to do these guys justice.
The first thing they require is a lot of research.... there's lots of different views, with different experiences, in these 7 pages. Any threads on these guys is worth a thorough read to do these guys justice.
