My little success

aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Not that I'm an nearly out of the woods yet, but I've cleared a few hurdles with my Rock Beauty angelfish. It's been just a touch over 8 months, that she's been under my care.
.
For those that don't know, Rock Beauty angels rarely survive more then a 1 month in captivity. This was always been to be attributed to the Rock Beauty having a unique diet we're incapable of reproducing, and a reluctance to feed. However, some 'people in the know' have recently been attesting it's not the diet that's the problem, but how Rock Beauties are collected. RB's are a slightly deeper water angel, typically in the 60-200 foot range. Since they are an Atlantic fish, there isn't a demand for risks of deep water diving, so it's been suggested that most Rock Beauty are caught with quinaldine, sort of a quasi-safer cyanide, used here, and else where in the Caribbean. Then instead of being properly decompressed, they are pinned through the side of the body or through their vent.
So while I am not suggesting that anyone should go out a buy a Rock Beauty with the proper research, and hopeful that more us one day will be able to keep these awesome fish.
With that said, here are the pics.

First purchased:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/340769/little-ones

Today:

 
juniors04

juniors04

Member
Great looking fish! Thats how I feel about my Annularis Angel had him for a while and know a lot of people that were not successful with them.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Ya, I know a collector in Florida who told me all about the Rock Beauty Angelfish a while back on why they don't survive in captivity and its because of quinaldine, not their diet.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Hey AquaKnight, do you have any problems with the Rock Beauty Angelfish nipping/killing your gorgonians/corals/inverts?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Thanks for the comments everyone, he's been a treat to have!
CK, no real problems so far. I was actually worried about the gorgs, being from the Atlantic all, but hasn't touched a thing, other then a very rare nip of the caps, probably getting a piece of food or something. As to whether I'm riding on borrowed, yea probably, but the Blueface should start with the corals first.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3089635
Thanks for the comments everyone, he's been a treat to have!
CK, no real problems so far. I was actually worried about the gorgs, being from the Atlantic all, but hasn't touched a thing, other then a very rare nip of the caps, probably getting a piece of food or something. As to whether I'm riding on borrowed, yea probably, but the Blueface should start with the corals first.
Oh, ok. Thanks for the info!! I was thinking about getting one as well but was also worried about it nipping/killing my gorgonians.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by Coral Keeper
http:///forum/post/3089636
Oh, ok. Thanks for the info!! I was thinking about getting one as well but was also worried about it nipping/killing my gorgonians.
Gorgs are probably only behind SPS in the least likely coral to be nipped by angelfish. I don't have any zoas/palys, no softies, a few big mushrooms, and the only LPS I have left is a frogspawn. I did have some others, trumpet/candy cane and some acans that I had to remove because of the Blueface, as well as some failed zoas (angel food lolol).
If I still had those the Rock Beauty would probably have nipped something by now. But because it's most SPS and gorgs, I'm safe(r) then average IMHO.
 
gatorzone19

gatorzone19

Member
Nice Angel! I caught a 2" Rock Beauty two weeks ago in 15ft of water with a monofilament hand net. I have him in a quarantine tank and he has been eating Ocean Nutrition Angel Formula, Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef, and New Life Spectrum Thera+A Pellets. He will begoing into a 55g tank with tons of caulerpa for him to munch on. Do you have any tips for me to keep this little guy healthy? And is yours growing quickly?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
That's awesome! The Rock Beauty is the only Atlantic angel I've never seen diving/snorkeling.
Sounds like you're doing a great job so far. The only important addition I can think of is some seaweed sheets. Probably what mine eats the most of, though he has to wait after the Blueface and Naso.
 
gatorzone19

gatorzone19

Member
Im glad to say my Rock Beauty has been in my 55g Reef for 3 months. No STARVATION what so ever. He eats everything I put in the tank. Also I have had juvi French Angel in the 55g Reef. They do not fight and they havent nipped at any of the corals yet!
AquaNight, hows your Rock Beauty doing? And any more tips to help mine live as long as yours?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Gatorzone, that's great to hear. Not really anymore tips, pretty much just waiting for him to put some size on. He has become interested in the scallops I feed, so I've started cutting up some small pieces for him.
I did move about a month ago, so I've played a bit a tank swapping. He's in a 60gal temporary, till I have a 240gal setup running, which I should start with in a few weeks.
I started a thread for the temp tanks;
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/363776/my-60-55-gal-temporary-tanks
He is quite the little chubber


 
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