What is the hardest fish to keep in this hobby?

[MaxTremors]

+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%

.

I had one of these for several years when I first started keeping sw tanks 20+ years ago, when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, didn’t test, did water changes maybe once a month, topped off the tank with a 5 gallon bucket that I’d just pour in there when the water level was 2-3 inches low. But it did alright, for 3-4 years, and then just disappeared one day (never came out of the sand one day). I’ve always wanted another one but everyone talking about how difficult they are ha scared me off.

 

[Rtaylor]

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

I have purchased 5. One arrived emaciated and died in 3 days. The other 4 were thin on arrival but all started eating Masstick the day I received them (shipped overnight). Did you try Masstick?

 

[Rtaylor]

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.

There are some newer food options that are making orange spot filefish much more possible. I have had 3 for about 7-8 months, a few weeks ago I purchased 2 more, 1 arrived emaciated and didn’t make it. The other has put on weight and all indications are good. Panta Rhei makes 2 kinds of specialty pellets for corilavores and spongivores. OSFF seem to find Masstick almost irresistible and my 4 all started eating it heartily on day 1.

 

[dhnguyen]

Pinnatus Batfish

 

[Viking_Reefing]

There are some newer food options that are making orange spot filefish much more possible. I have had 3 for about 7-8 months, a few weeks ago I purchased 2 more, 1 arrived emaciated and didn’t make it. The other has put on weight and all indications are good. Panta Rhei makes 2 kinds of specialty pellets for corilavores and spongivores. OSFF seem to find Masstick almost irresistible and my 4 all started eating it heartily on day 1.

Awesome to hear! Now if someone could breed them and make sure they won’t destroy my acros I’ll get a pair haha
I would have thought masstick would entice them to eat but would lack some things that they get from coral polyps.

 

[guysmiley]

Moorish Idol

thats a shipping issue mainly and having a food they will readily eat , the new chroma boost pellets work a treat i got my idol a year ago and had him eating them within half an hour hes fat as healthy and beautiful but i have no zoos left lol

 

[guysmiley]

Awesome to hear! Now if someone could breed them and make sure they won’t destroy my acros I’ll get a pair haha
I would have thought masstick would entice them to eat but would lack some things that they get from coral polyps.

chroma boost pellets are also excellent for finicky eaters

 

[guysmiley]

I would 100% agree with this, imo it should be kept in the ocean

my one eats everything now flake mussel all pellet foods nori you name it, i started him off with chroma boost pellets hed been shipped over night to me close to 10 hours of travel out of quarantine center and had him eating chroma pellets within half an hour hes super fat and healthy iv hadf him over a year now and hes growing quick beautiful fish, i can appreciate a few years back when there wernt any readily available foods they would eat you could buy and they dont ship to well , but with advances in the foods available now they are possible to keep well and happy

 

[Dolphin2409]

Whale shark.

:3

Hmmm, not sure on this one. I haven’t heard any horror stories or heard of any instances where people have been unsuccessful in their attempt to keep a whale shark. I’ll double check in the whale shark forum just to be sure.

 

[Glenn Siegel]

blue ribbon eel, impossible to get to eat

I have had my blue ribbon eel for nearly 3 years ...but I agree that this is one of the hardest to keep. They definitely need a place to live within the tank to feel secure. I had a custom made eel cave madd and of course he just had to pick the ugly pvc pipe with a few openings that I put together ‍

I would also say a regal angel (if anyone has one eating to rehome or knows of one let me know)

 

[Glenn Siegel]

Hmmm, not sure on this one. I haven’t heard any horror stories or heard of any instances where people have been unsuccessful in their attempt to keep a whale shark. I’ll double check in the whale shark forum just to be sure.

Easy...

 

[Wolters_88]

Great white

 

[Dolphin2409]

Easy...

Impressive, how big is your tank?

 

[Blknovass]

Here is one I have not seen is a cleaner wrasse. No matter what I can get them to last 2 weeks then done. They should not be in the hobby but left in the wild.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Great white

Very true. Even public aquariums can’t keep them for over a few months.

 

[Wurst]

Long term, I would say....
Quoyi Parrot Fish

I’ve been lucky to have one in my 300 for about 3.5 years. Eats everything, doesn’t eat corals... Not many people have had that outcome.

 

[batfish5]

I have purchased 5. One arrived emaciated and died in 3 days. The other 4 were thin on arrival but all started eating Masstick the day I received them (shipped overnight). Did you try Masstick?

Curious as to where you were able to buy a group?? I would like to try my luck .

 

[Andreas' Reef]

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

Bruh moment

 

[FishStixx2]

What is the hardest fish to keep in this hobby?

Sadly, for me, hippo tangs. I've gotten two now. Both didn't make it through qt. One to a disease the other to ick.

 

[zukihara]

+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%

.

Uhoh. I have two ornate I put in a few weeks ago. Seem to be doing well and eating, so I hope that continues.