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Reef Tank 365
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So, when I first saw this fish in the LFS (3 or so weeks before the week I reserved it) I always shrugged it off because I thought it was a common tilefish (Discoloured blue head tilefish). I then saw it flashing and realised it wasn’t what I thought it was, so I reserved it and I’m glad I did! This guy is a beauty even when he isn’t flashing. I reserved it the week I caught it flashing to do more research on the flashing tilefish. I found little to nothing about this fish, everything I found was on how it flashes or why it flashes. I had done a week of research (Atleast 3-4 hours every day). I gave up and looked at the care of other Uncommon-rare tilefish. I then took the care of those guys and thought it would be best to do that to this guy. I bought it home and float acclimated it for 30 minutes (The salinity was the same from the LFS and in my tank). The issue in the tank was a tang and a jade wrasse, surprisingly nobody cares about the new fish and only bickered between eachother. The fish then went down into a cave for about 3 days (I have and do keep wrasse so to me it was normal). I then got worried after the 4th day but later in that day, he started to poke his head out of the cave and take it slowly. About an hour after this he came right out and swam for a bit to eat. It was so shocking but I was also VERY happy he finally came out to eat (I had no idea if he was eating in that cave). The fish that were supposed to be aggressive were the calmest I’ve ever seen them be! He had no stress put on him and didn’t flash at all within the first 3 days (He still hasn’t flashed in this tank and I’m taking that as a VERY good sign). About 6 days in the tank, he was out and about all day long, cruising on one side of the tank and nobody looked at him as if he was a new fish. He’s been in there since November 26th 21 and is from what I can tell, thriving. He took to frozen foods instantly (I have yet to even try pellets with my fish as usually only the clownfish and Genicanthus melanospilos go after them). I hope this information helps to bring more of a success rate out in this fish!
I also want to add, mine is now constantly a beautiful shade of electric blue 24/7, the tail is a slightly dull yellow (Still adds colour to the tank!) and his eye has a bright yellow stripe down it. If I can get my hands on one I would love a purple tilefish to go with this guy and contrast with his blue. I will add how mine pokes his head out of the water when I go up to the tank (He thinks he’s being fed) so I do recommend being careful when working in the DT with this fish and having a tight mesh lid that his head won’t fit through.
Also, forgot to mention but in the photos you can see the scribbled lines under his eyes, they are bright blue and yellow (Reminds me of a dandy beach almost). He also has a beautiful but not 100% obvious line just below his dorsal fin, that’s a yellowish colour.
I also want to add, mine is now constantly a beautiful shade of electric blue 24/7, the tail is a slightly dull yellow (Still adds colour to the tank!) and his eye has a bright yellow stripe down it. If I can get my hands on one I would love a purple tilefish to go with this guy and contrast with his blue. I will add how mine pokes his head out of the water when I go up to the tank (He thinks he’s being fed) so I do recommend being careful when working in the DT with this fish and having a tight mesh lid that his head won’t fit through.
Also, forgot to mention but in the photos you can see the scribbled lines under his eyes, they are bright blue and yellow (Reminds me of a dandy beach almost). He also has a beautiful but not 100% obvious line just below his dorsal fin, that’s a yellowish colour.