I just wanted to share my journey with these great fish that are very hard to keep.
I've only ever successfully kept an OSF once before, but I am fairly confident with the pair I have now.
My interest started back in 2016 after reading Matt Pedersen's article about keeping these fish. I read everything about these guys and came up with my own protocol to adapt and ween these fish.
My 1st try came from Blue Zoo Aquatics where I included other fish in the order and before I was doing any QT. Long story short the OSF was successfully weaned only to die from what appeared to be velvet brought in by of the other fish bought from them which wiped out my whole tank.
The 2nd, I got from a local who had the fish weaned to Panta Nouri Polyp, a pellet food for polyp eating fish. Unfortunately, the fish was paper thin and did not eat pellets or coral from my tank. It was RIP in 1 week. I suspect that the transfer and acclimation to a new tank was too much for the OSF who probably needed So more time to fatten up.
The 3rd was an order from Divers Den. It was DOA.
The 4th was an order from DD as well. It came basically eating and lasted several months until I went on an extended vacation and my tank sitter failed me.
Over the years, I tried to get these from established tanks. I got one from NJ that was supposedly in great shape. It was paper thin and died shortly after I got him.
I had one shipped from a reefer in Ca only to have FedEx deliver a day late.
I finally broke down a month ago and ordered 3 from Blue Zoo. One came DOA, one did not wean and died during TTM. The 3rd is still alive in my observation tank and eating Masstick. It's very thin and still may not survive.
However, when a reefer in FL was breaking down his tank with a pair of these he had for over two years, I made a 30hr round trip to pick these up.
I now have a pair of fat and extremely healthy OSFs that eat everything I throw in the tank.
I've only ever successfully kept an OSF once before, but I am fairly confident with the pair I have now.
My interest started back in 2016 after reading Matt Pedersen's article about keeping these fish. I read everything about these guys and came up with my own protocol to adapt and ween these fish.
My 1st try came from Blue Zoo Aquatics where I included other fish in the order and before I was doing any QT. Long story short the OSF was successfully weaned only to die from what appeared to be velvet brought in by of the other fish bought from them which wiped out my whole tank.
The 2nd, I got from a local who had the fish weaned to Panta Nouri Polyp, a pellet food for polyp eating fish. Unfortunately, the fish was paper thin and did not eat pellets or coral from my tank. It was RIP in 1 week. I suspect that the transfer and acclimation to a new tank was too much for the OSF who probably needed So more time to fatten up.
The 3rd was an order from Divers Den. It was DOA.
The 4th was an order from DD as well. It came basically eating and lasted several months until I went on an extended vacation and my tank sitter failed me.
Over the years, I tried to get these from established tanks. I got one from NJ that was supposedly in great shape. It was paper thin and died shortly after I got him.
I had one shipped from a reefer in Ca only to have FedEx deliver a day late.
I finally broke down a month ago and ordered 3 from Blue Zoo. One came DOA, one did not wean and died during TTM. The 3rd is still alive in my observation tank and eating Masstick. It's very thin and still may not survive.
However, when a reefer in FL was breaking down his tank with a pair of these he had for over two years, I made a 30hr round trip to pick these up.
I now have a pair of fat and extremely healthy OSFs that eat everything I throw in the tank.