Anyone kept very delicate fish for a long time?

[crimzy]

I am very interested in a couple of delicate species for my new tank. Just wondering how many people have actually had success with the delicates. I'm talking about blue dot rays, moorish idols, pinnatus batfish, achilles tang, etc. Anyone kept these for over a year?
Just wondering if these guys are simply challenging or if their demise is a foregone conclusion.

 

[leopard_babe]

My blue spotted ray was a great fish. I had him 9 months and then I had to move. So I sold him to my neighbor who had just set up a 400g. He is still there swimming happily there. That would make him about 2.5 years in captivity.
I think the hardest part to a delicate fish getting it to acclimate to its new surroundings. Once they are used to the tank and its mates, there stress level goes down and their immunity goes up. Then their appetite is better. All things that contribute to healthy fish.
Along with the proper care of your tank, and the qt of your new additions.
Accidents happen, even in the most mature tanks. My cat cranked my heater up one day

And my son used to put his toys in my sump. Along with power outages, and other natural disasters.
So imo, you can keep rare animals in your tank. You just have to have little fluctuation in your tank levels, to keep stress down.
lol.

 

[kjr_trig]

Crimzy I did keep an Achilles Tang for 5+ years, in fact he came with the tank which came with our first house. All told he was in the tank for more than 7 years. IMO the Achilles is VERY hardy once established, that fish lived through a lot of screwups by me as a complete beginner. Wonderful fish, still my favorite fish I have owned....To me they just need steady PH (he would let me know if it dipped below about 8.1), good flow (although my tank was fairly light there) and good diet with lots of greens. Just find a healthy specimen that is eating and you are golden IMO.
SrFisher kept a Moorish Idol for 10 years, I think he lost it in Katrina, he just got another one. If he doesn't chime in PM him about it.

 

[crimzy]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2753702
Crimzy I did keep an Achilles Tang for 5+ years, in fact he came with the tank which came with our first house. All told he was in the tank for more than 7 years. IMO the Achilles is VERY hardy once established, that fish lived through a lot of screwups by me as a complete beginner. Wonderful fish, still my favorite fish I have owned....To me they just need steady PH (he would let me know if it dipped below about 8.1), good flow (although my tank was fairly light there) and good diet with lots of greens. Just find a healthy specimen that is eating and you are golden IMO.
SrFisher kept a Moorish Idol for 10 years, I think he lost it in Katrina, he just got another one. If he doesn't chime in PM him about it.
The moorish is what I really want. I've also considered a Pinnatus Bat if I can find one large enough to hold its own in my tank. Not sure about the achilles but I do love them.

 

[spiderwoman]

We have at least one reefer in our club who has an Achilles Tang in a 500+ reef. Beautiful specimen. I got to see that tank a few weeks ago.

 

[srfisher17]

IMo & IME; if you can get an idol to eat (that's the tough part); then they are very easy to keep. Like Kirk said, I did have one for about 10 years and, when I first got it, thought I was going to lose it. It finally ate some freshly opened clam and would eat anything from then on. I do have one in QT now and it eats anything. I made sure it was eating before I bought it (online). I know these fish aren't for everyone; but they are plentiful and require the usual "delicate" species stuff: pristine water, large tank (150 gal. min.), no bullies (they like to just be left alone and never bother other fish), a varied diet with lots of sponge, vitamin supplements, and some luck. I sure think an experienced hobbiest who can provide for this fish can try one without being put on a guilt trip. This is one fish I would never buy unless it came from Hawaii. I also agree with Kirk on the Achilles: once acclimated, they thrive.
Also, IMO, I think the smaller you get "delicate" fish (with some exceptions), the better. It's easier to get a fish eating what you offer before he's established a real strict diet in the wild. This also applies to most large Angels.