list of specific fish as to why difficult?

BubblesandSqueak · Apr 6, 2024

thought this was the area to post this.
I couldn't find it but is there a list of what the challenges are when a fish is listed as difficult or expert only rather than researching each fish separately?

lapin · Apr 6, 2024

I find that any fish that requires a certain diet or habit is hard to keep.

BubblesandSqueak · Apr 6, 2024

lapin said:
I find that any fish that requires a certain diet or habit is hard to keep.

yes, but most of the websites just say difficult rather than specific dietary needs etc...I thought someone may have put together a list of all available species out there with what makes them hard to keep on one page type of thing.

livinlifeinBKK · Apr 6, 2024

There's an issue of Coral Magazine that focuses on that exact topic. You could probably find it for free on Google now since it was written a long time ago.

lapin · Apr 6, 2024

Or become a Ichthyologist

areefer01 · Apr 6, 2024

BubblesandSqueak said:
thought this was the area to post this.
I couldn't find it but is there a list of what the challenges are when a fish is listed as difficult or expert only rather than researching each fish separately?

There are some specific books on reef keeping that has chapters on fish and their challenges. Reef fishes Vol 1 as one example by Scott Michael. Bob Fenner has a couple books relates to butterflies, tangs, etc. If you are looking for an actual list, diets, and other meta data then no, probably not readily available today.

Books are always nice to have and a life long reference but these days not that cheap unless you can find them used. Even then. Searches are ideal but just be aware that you may end up with conflicting opinions. When that happens the onus is on the hobbyist to do more research and then come up with their own conclusions.

Not to trivialize what expert means one thing that always stands out is the source of product. Collection, handling along the supply chain, isolation, quarantine, etc. Expert may mean food requirement(s), may require display maturity (sponges, algae, pods, etc), or it may mean temperature. A lot of variables.

Anyway Scott Michael, Fenner, few other authors have some amazing books that may help and will serve you well with your time in the hobby. Otherwise search the 'net and do your best to vet the results. You will see a pretty good pattern before you know it on who is giving the advice and the quality of it.

All the best.

BubblesandSqueak · Apr 6, 2024

areefer01 said:
There are some specific books on reef keeping that has chapters on fish and their challenges. Reef fishes Vol 1 as one example by Scott Michael. Bob Fenner has a couple books relates to butterflies, tangs, etc. If you are looking for an actual list, diets, and other meta data then no, probably not readily available today.

Books are always nice to have and a life long reference but these days not that cheap unless you can find them used. Even then. Searches are ideal but just be aware that you may end up with conflicting opinions. When that happens the onus is on the hobbyist to do more research and then come up with their own conclusions.

Not to trivialize what expert means one thing that always stands out is the source of product. Collection, handling along the supply chain, isolation, quarantine, etc. Expert may mean food requirement(s), may require display maturity (sponges, algae, pods, etc), or it may mean temperature. A lot of variables.

Anyway Scott Michael, Fenner, few other authors have some amazing books that may help and will serve you well with your time in the hobby. Otherwise search the 'net and do your best to vet the results. You will see a pretty good pattern before you know it on who is giving the advice and the quality of it.

All the best.

thanks. very informative. gives me a good source for books to look into.

livinlifeinBKK · Apr 6, 2024

BubblesandSqueak said:
thanks. very informative. gives me a good source for books to look into.

September/October 2018 Coral Magazine...it discusses 50 species...

BubblesandSqueak · Apr 6, 2024

livinlifeinBKK said:
September/October 2018 Coral Magazine...it discusses 50 species...

thank you. was trying to find it but just kept coming back "captive bred species"

areefer01 · Apr 6, 2024

livinlifeinBKK said:
September/October 2018 Coral Magazine...it discusses 50 species...

Not pushing products but when subscribing to Coral magazine you have access to their back catalog. Well worth it in my opinion not to mention supporting them.

There is also Advanced Aquarist who has their past articles archived. Some hidden gems tucked away. How many are specific to fish I can't say - sorry about that. Just throwing out another wealth of history and knowledge. I still visit frequently as there is some great stuff.