Thank you, Cranberry!!

[shrimpy brains]

Alright, so I just set up my 125g reef and got everything moved from my 90g into it. My 65g hex is getting drilled, so it can be a seahorse tank. And the Cranberry posts all these wonderful threads, with fantastic pics. of all these scorpionfish!!

So, now I am looking at the 90g (I was going to sell)and going......HMMMMM.....scorpion tank!

Finding this site is going to put me in the poorhouse, for sure!!

Alright, so I'm def. going to do it!

I'm thinking....1 fuzzy dwarf, 1 hawaiin, and a couple of leaf fish? Or cockatoo waspfish?? I've been researching and it seems as if many of these type can be housed in the same tank! Am I mistaken?? Read something about the Cockatoo wasp possibly being cannibalistic, is this true??
Anyway, the more species I research, the more I like. So, I am looking for recommendations of scorp. fish combos, that won't kill each other, and won't outgrow this 90g tank. Anybody have an opinion?? What would you do??
Thanks in advance!

 

[aquaguy24]

I've got a 24g scorpion tank. With a fuzzy and a pair of leaf with no problem. I've had this setup for 3 months so no where near a success story.. 90g should be plenty of room.

 

[fmarini]

the good news about scorpionfish-- is they dont bother or care about anything that "doesn't fit into its mouth". So essentially they all get along is they cant eat each other.
The only concerns you'll have is to ensure that the super slow feeding fish, like leaf scorpions, get sufficient food when housed w/ other fish.
which of course means- do you have access to live ghost shrimp-since you'll need to wean all your fish onto these first- then slowly get the fish onto prepared foods.
AS for a cocktoo wasp- they maybe cannibalistic as juveniles, I've kept pairs and trios before and never saw much more than an occasional headbutt- they never tried to eat each other.
Lastly, in my experience many of the weird scorps are uncommon to find for example, Cranberry's D barberi (the hawaiian as you all it) they dont come in frequently at all. they are considered plain, green and unattractive, so theyseldom collected, and if they do get collected are almost always mixed in w/ regular dwarf fuzzys, and sold as a "dwarf fuzzy"- so you need a keen eye. The other weird scorps you've seen like ghouls, anbon lions, rhinopias are even more uncommon.
So get your experience in w/ more common scorpionfish first-the key is proper feeding and high quality water

 

[cranberry]

Oh gosh! Thanks for the huge compliment! But I really can't take credit for being able to find some nice critters locally.
The critters I was planning to put in a single tank can be seen on this page (the tank stats link is not working yet) My tanks/fish.
But I may split up the 65g scorp tank into 2 tanks. If I don't, I don't believe I will ever be able to go on vacation again. I have to admit I'm good at feeding these guys. I think it has to do with my job and the fact that it has trained me to use my peripheral vision very well and I have great dexterity. Aquaguy above has been lucky to get his leaffish to take frozen. I have only gotten one to eat frozen. The other leaf took frozen for the first time and then the larger leaf came over and grabbed his face and the smaller one never took frozen again... I'm still trying.
The ambon won't even LOOK at frozen... he turns the other way. But I just combined a tank and I'm hoping he'll take the hint from the others that are taking frozen.
I just see some little gill flaring and generally puffing and standing on fins on occasion. Some don't even bother that anymore.

 

[spanko]

Is this where you caution the OP about the danger of getting stuck by one of these guys when doing tank maitenance, especially with multiples in the tank?

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by FMarini
http:///forum/post/3088522
the good news about scorpionfish-- is they dont bother or care about anything that "doesn't fit into its mouth". So essentially they all get along is they cant eat each other. Does this apply, even if scorps are different sizes, or do they need to be sep. until they are the same?
The only concerns you'll have is to ensure that the super slow feeding fish, like leaf scorpions, get sufficient food when housed w/ other fish.
which of course means- do you have access to live ghost shrimp-since you'll need to wean all your fish onto these first- then slowly get the fish onto prepared foods. I was thinking of keeping a 10g with ghost shrimp. Will that be enough nutrition? Gutload shrimp? Should I keep another 10g with feeder fish of some sort? If so, what fish? And yes, hoping to convert all to prepared.
AS for a cocktoo wasp- they maybe cannibalistic as juveniles, I've kept pairs and trios before and never saw much more than an occasional headbutt- they never tried to eat each other. Cool
Lastly, in my experience many of the weird scorps are uncommon to find for example, Cranberry's D barberi (the hawaiian as you all it) they dont come in frequently at all. they are considered plain, green and unattractive, so theyseldom collected, and if they do get collected are almost always mixed in w/ regular dwarf fuzzys, and sold as a "dwarf fuzzy"- so you need a keen eye. The other weird scorps you've seen like ghouls, anbon lions, rhinopias are even more uncommon. Assuming I can find/afford, you think the rhinopias can be kept with these? Have'nt found adult sizes for either species yet.So get your experience in w/ more common scorpionfish first-the key is proper feeding and high quality water prob. start with dwarf fuzzy as they are common and inexpensive.
Thanks!

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3088553
Oh gosh! Thanks for the huge compliment! But I really can't take credit for being able to find some nice critters locally.
The critters I was planning to put in a single tank can be seen on this page (the tank stats link is not working yet) My tanks/fish.
But I may split up the 65g scorp tank into 2 tanks. If I don't, I don't believe I will ever be able to go on vacation again. I have to admit I'm good at feeding these guys. I think it has to do with my job and the fact that it has trained me to use my peripheral vision very well and I have great dexterity. Aquaguy above has been lucky to get his leaffish to take frozen. I have only gotten one to eat frozen. The other leaf took frozen for the first time and then the larger leaf came over and grabbed his face and the smaller one never took frozen again... I'm still trying.
The ambon won't even LOOK at frozen... he turns the other way. But I just combined a tank and I'm hoping he'll take the hint from the others that are taking frozen.
I just see some little gill flaring and generally puffing and standing on fins on occasion. Some don't even bother that anymore.
Oh yeah, been to that lionnfishlair page several times.

That is what made me start considering this! Noticed you were planning about 12 diff. scorps. in a 60g and was thinking I could def. put 4 or 5 in a 90g.

Maybe, I could convince you and/or others on here to do a thread on "feeding scorps. tips and techniques"

Also, noticed somewhere on here, you said you were growing these fish out to the same size, before putting them together. Are you concerned about them eating/harassing each other, or do you just find this easier for feeding?
Thanks!

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3088580
Is this where you caution the OP about the danger of getting stuck by one of these guys when doing tank maitenance, especially with multiples in the tank?

Thanks, Henry! Yes, I am concerned about putting my hands in here w/o thinking, like I'm used to doing in my reef tank.

You would think the names, scorpion, wasp, barbs, etc. would be a good warning, but maybe, even a dwarf fuzzy, would like a good belly rub!!

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/3088372
I've got a 24g scorpion tank. With a fuzzy and a pair of leaf with no problem. I've had this setup for 3 months so no where near a success story.. 90g should be plenty of room.

Very nice! Do you find it difficult to get them all fed equally?? Are you transferring them from live to processed food?? Are they all about equall size??

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3088604
Maybe, I could convince you and/or others on here to do a thread on "feeding scorps. tips and techniques"

I have been taking pictures for one that includes every technique I ever tried.
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3088604
Also, noticed somewhere on here, you said you were growing these fish out to the same size, before putting them together. Are you concerned about them eating/harassing each other, or do you just find this easier for feeding?
When they are their adult size, they won't be able to eat each other. But right now, some fish are so small, they could definitely be eaten by some of the others.

 

[aquaguy24]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3088612

Very nice! Do you find it difficult to get them all fed equally?? Are you transferring them from live to processed food?? Are they all about equall size??
feeding can be difficult at times cuz the fuzzy is so active. And such a pig. I have distract her to feed the leaf scorpions. I just wave the food in front of the leaf's face to get their feeding responces then I let the food go. The leaf scorp. chases it down like if it was live. Some ppl use a net but I havnt had the need to apply this technique. I've also gotten them use to seeing the tongs I use for feeding, so every time they see the tongs they all know it's feeding time. Smaller(juveniles) species will take captive diet easier then mature adult species. I find that these scorpions don't attck yr hand as soon as u put ur hand in the tank. Just make sure u know where these are at all time, so yr less likely to get stung.

 

[aquaguy24]

My leaf scorps. Are actually half the size of the fuzzy but big enough to not look like food.