What is the hardest fish to keep in this hobby?

[Lukey2018]

For me, Orange Spotted Filefish. Had 2, both died in less than a week

 

[brmreefer]

For me...Mandarins.

 

[nkyreef]

Copperband. I've struck out 3 times.

 

[ZoWhat]

+1 Leopard Wrasse

Scared of its own shadow and after acclimation, difficult to even get eating live food.

The stars have to align with high quality water, perfect sandbed, no other intimidating fish, great endless supply of pods.

They are absolute PITAs. 100%

.

 

[Costareefer]

A wild caught sea horses

 

[ZoWhat]

A wild caught sea horses

Ohhhh forgot about sea horses and jellyfish

Like burning $100 bills with a Bic-lighter for a few days of "look what I got"

Both need dedicated tanks and only last a few months at best



.

 

[GK3]

Clown fish. I have tried to add a few in with my cichlids and bala sharks. Never works.

 

[Tchung23]

For me...Mandarins.

Try captive bred. That might be easier.

 

[AmaleeC]

+1 Leopard Wrasse

Scared of its own shadow and after acclimation difficult to even get eating live food.

The stars have to align with high quality water, perfect sandbed, no other intimidating fish, great endless supply of pods.

They are absolute PITAs. 100%

.

Funny story. I try not to buy fish at WWC since they don’t quarantine & I had a bad experience (sick royal gramma wiped out over half my fish ). But I visited one day just to see what’s happening/chat with the staff. I quickly fell in love with a Black Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) and lucky for me, she ate mysis in front of me at the store. Bought her on a total whim and she has done well ever since. I’ve had her for several months now. It wasn’t until the other day that I found out they’re at “expert level”.

Hardest fish for me is definitely a royal gramma. I know, I know, it’s a “beginner” fish. But I never have any luck. I’ve probably gone through three maybe four. I gave up and got an Orchid Dottyback. The tank has plenty of caves and crevices so I love watching him zoom in/out of them all

 

[ssunthar]

As a newbie.... i lost a few Mandarins and Butterflies.

 

[Dcal]

Clown fish. I have tried to add a few in with my cichlids and bala sharks. Never works.

Same I wonder if my cichlids killed mine too

 

[smacbride]

Mandarins, Butterflys...

 

[ssunthar]

Same I wonder if my cichlids killed mine too

Never get to experiment that combo...

 

[Landers]

Ohhhh forgot about sea horses and jellyfish

Like burning $100 bills with a Bic-lighter for a few days of "look what I got"

Both need dedicated tanks and only last a few months at best



.

A few months at best?? Moon jellies should live for at least year and sea horses for a handful years if you have a dedicated tank. Both are relatively easy to keep after getting the right tank and equipment IMO

 

[MCatano]

I have a weird problem with Helfrichi fish. They disappear and never return. Tank has a top and nothing that would eat them.

 

[Victor Guyton]

+1 Leopard Wrasse

Scared of its own shadow and after acclimation, difficult to even get eating live food.

The stars have to align with high quality water, perfect sandbed, no other intimidating fish, great endless supply of pods.

They are absolute PITAs. 100%

.

Mine is doing great

 

[Victor Guyton]

What is the hardest fish to keep in this hobby?

Achilles tang. I'm on my fourth

 

[yoelf]

For me personally, the Blue Spot Jawfish has been impossible. We have a cover on our tank and everything and 2 have managed to Free Willy their way across the room 10 ft away.

Mine jumped 4 days ago :’(

 

[Tmrvstyle]

Firesfish, hardest thing for me always had jump and aggression issues, now velvet and other issues lately

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Well, difficulty is relative. I find that most of the so called difficult species are relatively easy. They are however demanding in their care and usually people try to keep them in conditions that doesn’t meet their requirements.
I actually wrote about this a couple of days ago and am to lazy to rewrite it here


The truly difficult species I would say are the corallivore butterfly’s, orange spotted file fish etc because it’s extremely hard to meet their requirements to thrive.