Wartskin angler

[mgraf]

My reef has been sitting fallow since February and been thinking about what I would like to stock it with. I have mostly lps and softies, a couple bubble tips. Was looking into angler fish and am considering purchasing one. I do not have any experience with anglers. Just a few questions.
I have a QT up and running, no medications in QT. should I QT an angler, and if I do, what are the best methods for treatment of any possible parasites? Do they flash or show signs of parasites the same as other reef fish? Any help, advice or, thoughts on anglers would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Joke]

They r not a good reef fish and do better by themselves. Also they r very sensitive to coral stings. they will eat every thing in your tank small enough. R u planning on keeping them with other fish?

 

[mgraf]

No, it is the only fish. A couple peppermint shrimp but, we'll see.

 

[jraker]

It will eat the peppermint shrimp along with pretty much any fish below 6 inches long.

 

[cougareyes]

I'm no expert but I have keep a couple of them. One in a 30 gallon reef alone, he will eat the peppermint shrimp or anything up to the same size as himself. 1st one I kept died when it ate a jewel damsel the same size as himself, I guess the food can actually rot inside; that was 15 years ago. I don't know what your qt regimen is but I would not advise copper, they don't have scales so prazi pro will be mostly useless. Internal parasites could be a concern but unless you wean him to dead food and soak his food it will be difficult. The one I kept in a reef I could not wean and believe he got an internal parasite from live food. I kept him about a year and a half, that was last year. They are a ton of fun, still consider to get another one, just don't want to maintain another tank. He was a painted angler, same care they just get bigger.

 

[mgraf]

I picked up a little painted angler today. Not a wartskin but, now have a frogfish in the display. I put him directly into the display. I figure if I have to treat him, I will. If that is the case, then the tank can go fallow again while I treat. He is a remarkable little fellow, he ate a feeder at the LFS so the pepermints should be safe for the time being. I have mostly lps, and the pep's are always robbing them of food so, they have been pushing their luck with me anyhow.

 

[cougareyes]

I had mostly LPS they took off with the added nutrients the angler put in the tank with eating live, they are insatiable. Mine used to take a nightly swim and bounce off the glass with his feet, you would see the jet packs behind his arms, and when he would come in for a landing he'd sometimes scoot and and not quite stick the landing; it was hilarious. He'll fish you but maybe not your friends, it's funny how he knows who his pa is. Their turds are like dog turds, you can literally pick them up. Great to see them ambush their prey, one of the best fish I ever had. I put alot of orange corals for him to keep his orange color.

 

[Joke]

How big are the shimp and the angler? They can and will eat things bigger them themselfs. In the past i have had a wartskin that was 3 inches long eat a 4 inch potters angle. He did not swallow the whole potters (obviously) and was stuck in hi mouth, both died. Got a pic somewhere, i will try to find it.

 

[mgraf]

Angler is maybe 2". I have no doubt it can/will eat the pep's. Going to go get some feeders tomorrow. He ate at the LFS yesterday when I picked him up. Figured only feed him every other day or so. The pep's are just back up in case he's really hungry and I haven't had a chance to get some feeders.
It's kinda funny, the shrimps were very aware of him last night. They were checking him out with their antenaes. Being very careful to stay away from him. I think they knew what he was.

 

[mgraf]

A pic of the little guy. Hard to see much, he is solid black with white spots. Interested to see what color he becomes. They said he came in a reddish color and morphed black during his stay at LFS.

 

[mgraf]

Anybody have an exact Id on this guy?

 

[cougareyes]

You have 2 choices when they are that small and sometimes hard to tell the difference. Antennarius pictus(painted angler) or Antennarius commerson(giant angler) which gets huge. The white toenails has me leaning towards commerson, a painted angler will have 3 eye spots on it's caudal fin.

 

[mgraf]

I will look for the spots, hard to see cause he is so black. LFS said he was redish when he first came in. He ate a feeder guppy this evening. All seems well, curious on what he will make his coloration. He has been hanging around my caulaustria garden which has purple, teal, pink, and purple with green centers. I'm really into this fish, have been doing quite a bit of reading lately.