‘Ugly’ Fish you now love

[i cant think]

I’m sure we’ve all got a fish we once saw as ugly but now couldn’t live without, I know I’ve got atleast 5-6 on my list. So, here’s some of the fish I once bullied and now love;
1. Paracheilinus hemitaeniatus - I saw a male back in August, and I had never disliked a fish more than that. 5 months later and that same LFS has a ‘pair’. The setup for the fish system has completely changed and just showed how nice this fish truly looks. Whether this was also induced by my love for Paracheilinus piscilineatus im unsure.

2. Siganus niger - I’ve had a weird time with this fish. A few years ago (2021ish) I wanted to see one in person, then in October finally did. At first, it was… Strange. But at the same time, you didn’t actually see the fish as the back and sides of the tank were black. Well, throughout the day I did find it to be a fish I loved as I watched it camouflage and go nearly completely white. Well, here is that same fish.

What fish did you find Ugly and then actually turn out to love?

 

[ErikVR]

My lawnmower blenny!

 

[I never finish anythi]

My lawnmower blenny!

Second this . It makes up for it with it's character tho .

 

[ErikVR]

Second this . It makes up for it with it's character tho .

Exactly!
Always acting like tough guy. Chasing tangs away from 'his' food. Chomping away at algae on the rocks.

 

[Paul B]

Clingfish.



And this guy.

 

[kevgib67]

I don’t have one but I would like to. Definitely ugly but interesting at the same time!

 

[i cant think]

I don’t have one but I would like to. Definitely ugly but interesting at the same time!

The LFS where I work has one of these, he is the grumpiest rock I’ve ever seen. Definitely adorable though.

 

[kevgib67]

The LFS where I work has one of these, he is the grumpiest rock I’ve ever seen. Definitely adorable though.

It is so interesting to watch them move with their fins adapted to leg and feet and the way they suck in food in like 1/100 of second.

 

[crabgrass]

Exactly!
Always acting like tough guy. Chasing tangs away from 'his' food. Chomping away at algae on the rocks.

Yup. I had him in with two clowns and was pretty boring.

Added 2 tanga and a cleaner shrimp and he is the life of the party.

 

[littlefoxx]

Powder brown tang. Saw a few in a LFS and thought they were ugly and just poop colored. But I ended up getting one as a replacement DOA for a puffer (the guy didnt have another puffer and I was okay with the trade). I think he is stunning and beautiful now! Named him Coco.

 

[i cant think]

Bump!

 

[Pneumatic_Addict]

Believe it or not: Regal Angelfish….

 

[Nate Chalk]

Clingfish.



And this guy.

Omg a pipe fish. In a reef tank? How's he doing with flow? Feeding?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I don’t have one but I would like to. Definitely ugly but interesting at the same time!

That fish is odd but neat looking!

 

[Tahiti]

My lawnmower blenny!

I always thought they looked cute! I have one also and he's so funny. The way he just looks at me like he's wondering why is this ugly dude staring at me

 

[Cthulukelele]

Mine is honestly probably the molly miller blenny. Huge personalities and the biggest food beggars in the universe

 

[McPuff]

I love lawnmower blennies. Right now I've got a starry blenny (basically the same) and it's so fun to watch.

 

[Paul B]

Omg a pipe fish. In a reef tank? How's he doing with flow? Feeding?

I have a few pipes in my reef. Those dragonface don't live long because they eat more pods than a mandarin and in a normal reef tank, there is just to much competition. I also have a pair of mandarins, a pair of Ruby Red dragonettes, and a pair of bluestripe pipefish.



The bluestripes I have always kept and they seem to live about 5 or 6 years as that is their normal lifespan. I have no problem with them and they require no feeding on my part.
They also constantly spawn



These Janss Pipes are another story.





I kept this guy for 7 years but I had to feed him and he only ate frozen mysis. Nothing else not even live worms. But it was my favorite and beautiful fish about 7" long.

These multi banded pipes never last long no matter how much I feed them. Again, to much competition in a normal reef so I don't keep them any longer.



If I can't keep a fish for it's normal lifespan, I don't want them

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I have a few pipes in my reef. Those dragonface don't live long because they eat more pods than a mandarin and in a normal reef tank, there is just to much competition. I also have a pair of mandarins, a pair of Ruby Red dragonettes, and a pair of bluestripe pipefish.



The bluestripes I have always kept and they seem to live about 5 or 6 years as that is their normal lifespan. I have no problem with them and they require no feeding on my part.
They also constantly spawn



These Janss Pipes are another story.





I kept this guy for 7 years but I had to feed him and he only ate frozen mysis. Nothing else not even live worms. But it was my favorite and beautiful fish about 7" long.

These multi banded pipes never last long no matter how much I feed them. Again, to much competition in a normal reef so I don't keep them any longer.



If I can't keep a fish for it's normal lifespan, I don't want them

Even if it didn't work, still nice to see something different for a while. It's not that exciting when everyone has the same fish.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have a few pipes in my reef. Those dragonface don't live long because they eat more pods than a mandarin and in a normal reef tank, there is just to much competition. I also have a pair of mandarins, a pair of Ruby Red dragonettes, and a pair of bluestripe pipefish.



The bluestripes I have always kept and they seem to live about 5 or 6 years as that is their normal lifespan. I have no problem with them and they require no feeding on my part.
They also constantly spawn



These Janss Pipes are another story.





I kept this guy for 7 years but I had to feed him and he only ate frozen mysis. Nothing else not even live worms. But it was my favorite and beautiful fish about 7" long.

These multi banded pipes never last long no matter how much I feed them. Again, to much competition in a normal reef so I don't keep them any longer.



If I can't keep a fish for it's normal lifespan, I don't want them

Pipefish are so neat looking!