Finicky hard to care for fish.

[Yellowtang]

Pinnatus batfish=this fish should be left in the wild very difficult to feed
ribbon eels=same with this one

Even tho I don't think Pinnatus batfish should be sold for aquarium trade, they are an awsome looking fish when in eye contact with one. I had one that would not eat anything for about 10 days. I read a web site of a diver that said he saw one eating bananas that had fallen into the water.
I went what the heck and got a banana and threw some chunks in the tank. When I came back the next day the banana was gone, only fish in the tank. After that it ate anything that hit the water. This info is only for incase someone already has one that won't eat. Not to go ahead and try one.

JR,

 

[Cuda]

I had a couple and they did not last too long for me, but that was when I had a bad DKH test kit and I was way off killing my zoos.

Are blue spot jaw fish hard to care for ?
From my understanding they are all captured almost fully matured and have trouble adapting to the aquarium life.

 

[nayrgaijin]

I had a couple and they did not last too long for me, but that was when I had a bad DKH test kit and I was way off killing my zoos.

The one I had only lived 1 1/2 weeks -_-
He seriously had the best personality ever....

 

[rng_pw]

I have had a copperband butterfly for I would say about 8 months and I have never seen him eat prepared foods. I have tried a ton of different options and he never pays any attention. He is growing and obviously eating something but Im not sure what it is. I have at least 500lbs of live rock and a ton of coppepods so that would be my guess.

 

[Ike]

Saw this thread and decided to post this list, hope some of you find it helpful.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f56/difficult-special-care-species-list-32412.html#post348778

 

[makingbubbles]

For people that make the mistake and get a mandarin or scooter, and there not eating food yet and you don't have a refugium. You can buy a clear plastic breeder box and put a rock in it (to sink it to bottom) and add some chaeto algae in it. This will make a small sanctuary for small organisms to thrive. I had a "finicky" scooter and just 20lbs or rock survive this way.

 

[jaytizzle]

I would also add Acanthurs nigricans - Whitecheek tang - to the list. They have a very poor survival rate. I tried one and failed miserably. I love that fish but my next tang will be Acanthurus japonicus - Gold Rim tang. They look fairly similar but the Gold Rim has much better survival rates in captivity.

 

[inactive]

Flashlight Fish - 100% death rate, can't emulate pressure.

Ventralis Anthias - Expert Only - Too many reasons.
Purple Queen Anthias(p.tuka) - See Above
Slender Anthias - Same

 

[wingman1234]

ive had two pairs of twinspot gobies since ive started and both started eating frozen foods and sifting he sand bed but misteriously one day one of the two stopped eating and sifting shortly after the other did the same and died. i had them for almost a year and the other for about 6 months

 

[Ike]

I would also add Acanthurs nigricans - Whitecheek tang - to the list. They have a very poor survival rate. I tried one and failed miserably. I love that fish but my next tang will be Acanthurus japonicus - Gold Rim tang. They look fairly similar but the Gold Rim has much better survival rates in captivity.

I don't know if I'd go as far as much better... Yes, A. Japonicus is does tend to be a little hardier, but I suspect both have pretty poor survival rates. I've also felt that wet web media champions one as suitable for aquarium life and one as not falsely. They're both pretty hit and miss, along with the similarly hit and miss Powder Blue (A. leucosternon).

 

[Ike]

ive had two pairs of twinspot gobies since ive started and both started eating frozen foods and sifting he sand bed but misteriously one day one of the two stopped eating and sifting shortly after the other did the same and died. i had them for almost a year and the other for about 6 months

Horrible survival rates with these guys, I don't know of any that have survived much past a year.

 

[wingman1234]

yes i believe you also have to hide food underneath the sand bed so they constantly stay fat

 

[meisen]

I may be wrong but Atlantis Marine World either replaced their flashlight fish frequently or had them live for a while at least (saw them on 2 seperate occasions). So 100% mortality might be an exaggeration. I do know that an issue with them is that antibiotics kill off their endosymbiotic bacteria making them a drab grey squirrelfish-like thing. And these fish looked healthy, they came out right when the ligths went off and put on an amazing display.

That said, I still dont know if they are appropriate for home aquarists as I also understood them to be cooler water fish.

 

[youngtimothy]

I have a leopard wrasse, eats flakes and is doing great. great fish!!!!

 

[Doughster4]

Purple Queen anthias

Impossible to feed it seems

 

[FateX8]

red spot cardinal fish, its close to 100% if not 100% martality rate

 

[carlosR]

My copperband butterfly fish has been with me since December 29. Not long enough to claim a victory I realize. He does have some ich going on, bummer, but not so bad that I'm certain it will cause his demise. He has adapted to my tank pretty well. He hides behind the live rock wall and comes out quite often. Food-wise he only actively eats live blackworms but he does nose around the live rock often during the day. Yesterday he was coming to the cleaner shrimp, I'm assuming the ich was getting him. I love this fish and the challenges he brings. Very engaging personality and attractive. I think with many wild-caught fish, if we don't offer them foods they are used to then they will not make the change. Especially specialized feeders and with a schnoz like his, he is obviously specialized for something!

 

[cee]

Purple Queen anthias

Impossible to feed it seems

I kept one for over a year once. You're right about getting them to eat; it took over a month but it finally ate frozen mysis. Lived but never really thrived and disappeared one day. Also, they lose their color a bit after being in captivity. Definately NOT recommended.

 

[makingbubbles]

My mandy is a difficult fish! but shes beautiful too. Dont advise anyone to try this fish with out knowledge of maintaining pods.

 

[reefervet]

I may be wrong but Atlantis Marine World either replaced their flashlight fish frequently or had them live for a while at least (saw them on 2 seperate occasions). So 100% mortality might be an exaggeration. I do know that an issue with them is that antibiotics kill off their endosymbiotic bacteria making them a drab grey squirrelfish-like thing. And these fish looked healthy, they came out right when the ligths went off and put on an amazing display.

That said, I still dont know if they are appropriate for home aquarists as I also understood them to be cooler water fish.

There is a group for sale on DD right now, must have made it through a QT period and eating to be offered for sale there.