Rescue of Sustainable Aquatics captive raised Oxymoncathus longirostris

[small alien]

I stopped in at my LFS yesterday and they had an orange-spotted filefish that another customer had returned because he couldn't get it to eat. This fish was captive raised by Sustainable Aquatics and should have been willing to eat prepared foods but he did not have success. After about a week, he brought it in and gave it back to the store where in languished in their tanks for another week. By the time I saw it, it was thin as a leaf, but it was still fairly active and picking around the tank a bit. Knowing that I'm an OSFF guy, they gave it to me to see if I could get it to eat. I would guess it had a day or two to live. Here are a couple shots in the bag before I put her in QT (did I mention, it's a female! Having just lost my female, I was extra willing to give this a shot.)

 

[small alien]

I went ahead and removed my male from my DT and put him in with her thinking it might help her get into the swing of eating.

They were interested in each other immediately.

I fed some prawn roe and she ate a tiny bit but with very little vigor.

I was pleased to find her alive the next morning. I noticed she was picking at the rocks and back glass of the QT. I tried smearing some Formula 1 gel on some coral skeleton but she was not interested. But she obviously wanted to pick at food. I finally decided to throw caution to the wind and put her and the male back in the DT. He was hating the QT as well. Both seemed pleased to be in the big tank. She started picking at various leathers almost immediately.

Over the course of yesterday, I fed about 10 times and by days end she was eating prawn roe, Sustainable Aquatics pellets and Prime Reef Flakes with a lot more vigor.

Today, she also took a little Rod's. I'm focusing on the pellets mostly. She likes very small pieces of food only. She is noticeably thicker in the belly after eating over the last 36 hours. I'm cautiously optimistic about her chances.

 

[small alien]

A big key with this kind of thing is making the food available. I put a ton in and turn of the flow once it's all blown around. A fish like this needs time and I'm guessing the first owner just threw some food in the tank with other fish and she couldn't get into the swing. I don't know.

She seems to prefer the food to be in the water column rather than on the bottom, so I'll turn the flow back on every minute or two to get the food moving and then turn it off again so she can catch the food easier. It's going great so far and I'm elated.

Video soon.

 

[olemiss reb]

Good job. I love those little guys.

I wonder how much effort the original owner put into feeding her.

 

[small alien]

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[small alien]

Thanks, Rebel. I don't know what the other aquarists feeding regimen was. I'm also wondering if his tank was a FOWLR or reef. I think a reef tank is ideal for this species so they can graze coral a bit, even if they're eating frozen really well. They seem interested in nibbling lots of different corals, not just sps or acros. Also, I think they like the cover the coral provides. All speculative of course.

 

[small alien]

Here you can see her taking some prime reef flake. She has a funny crooked lightening-bolt spike.

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[small alien]

Oh my goodness, I can't believe I fracked up the species spelling in the title of this thread. Twice no less! Jeesh. Oh well. I think maybe I'll just link back to my main OSFF thread anyway if this little fish makes it.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Good luck to you, boy that fish sure was skinny, hopefully you can turn her around. If anybody can do it....

 

[small alien]

Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Tuna. It's scary to see a fish that thin. Then after looking at her for a while, I start to get used to it. Then I see the fat ol' male and remember what she's supposed to look like. Assuming she lives and continues to eat, I wonder how long it will take her to get back to full body weight.

 

[small alien]

I see you have an orange-tail, Kahuna. I had one for a while and it was a beautiful and interesting fish. However, it ate (and pooped) like a pig and it just seemed agitated all the time. It paced the glass more than any fish I've had. So, I eventually rehomed it. I now have a matted and it's similar in that it's a pig and paces the glass some, but I have zero aptasia. And that...is awesome.

 

[snorvich]

Good luck, seems as if you are on the right track.

 

[small alien]

Thanks, Steve. Here she is eating SA pellets soaked and smooshed as per her request.

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I turn on the flow in the middle for a bit to get the pellets suspended again. She really seems to prefer that. Then shut the flow off again so she can get more. It's so great to watch. Each feeding, her energy seems better. She even flashed some darker blues at the male.

 

[small alien]

Sorry my videos are so Blaire Witchish.

 

[jgmorr02]

Thanks for the videos. Very cool I really like your tank. Good luck on your road to a full recovery.

 

[small alien]

Thanks a lot, jg. Here's a shot of a little bit of pair behavior which she is actually encouraging at some points. That seems like a good sign to me.

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[small alien]

If anyone's wondering, the rising bubbles are just from dragonets scooting over the mighty cyano bloom. Nothing like feeding 10 times a day.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

You have a very cool mix of fish there, those clowns are unreal looking.

 

[small alien]

They're "naked" :rollface:

 

[Monkeyfish]

They're "naked" :rollface:

Fish porn. And here I thought this was a family friendly site!

Glad you're having luck with the new female OSFF. I'm sure she'll do fine now that she's in your hands (that sounds awkward, but you know what I mean.)