Eccentricities and Discussion of the Ruby Red Dragonet.

[ReeferKimberly]

I would like to start a discussion about the various behaviors of the Ruby Red Dragonet. Since they have only been in captivity a short time it is difficult to ascertain what is normal behavior and what is not. Here I thought we could compare notes and share pictures of our little fish.

I will start with mine. I have had him about 6 months. At time of purchase he was about an inch and is now about an inch and a half. If you would all share the size of yours and how long you have had them I would appreciate that. I am looking to find out at what size they max out. Please include what yours eats, if you have gotten them to eat dead foods, and what foods those are. Mine so far just eats pods. Mainly because I have not tried to get him to eat anything else as I have a huge pod population.

As far as eccentricities. I have found on 2 occasions now that he sleeps SO soundly that if sand is blowing over him he does not move. I turn on the lights and he is buried half-way into the sand and remains that way for about 10 minutes until he 'wakes up'. I have noticed that he does not fully wake up for about another hour however. He goes and hides and then eventually comes out and starting picking at food. I have also noticed he takes long breaks from eating during the day and just hangs out in one spot for about 30 minutes at a time on a regular basis.

Have you noticed these behaviors in your ruby reds? Thank you for all information you care to share :)

He is at the bottom, to the right of the duncans.

https://31.media.tumblr.com/0c5fe79fb3716bc076913decc3b7efdb/tumblr_n4zkfi2kie1rddoc7o7_1280.jpg

https://31.media.tumblr.com/48291d142e885fd42e6b3b001eab2106/tumblr_n4l1f0WjIk1rddoc7o1_1280.jpg

[RynoParsons]

Mine jumped :(

[jlanger]

Since I have only had my Male Ruby Red Dragonet for about a month, I don't have too much to add.

My male is just under two inches in length.
So far I have only witnessed him eating the live pods in the reef. I do add NutraMar Ova and Cyclop-eeze to my frozen foods periodically, but there hasn't been much of a response to the frozen foods. My system is crawling with pods, so I'm not too concerned as of yet.
Like your dragonet, mine will also spend the nights on the sand bed and get covered with any sand that gets blown around.

If the male does well for the next couple of months I have requested to get a female that is, hopefully, eating frozen foods, so that it may entice the male to do so if it has not done so by then.

<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/user/jason_langer/media/120gal%20Reef/MaleRubyRedDragonet.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4/jason_langer/120gal%20Reef/MaleRubyRedDragonet.jpg" border="0" alt="Male Ruby Red Dragonet photo MaleRubyRedDragonet.jpg"/></a>

[ThreeMoneyJ]

Mine jumped :(

Same here :(

But I picked up a new pair and they are doing great for the last 2 months. I haven't seen them eating prepared foods yet, but they're both fat and happy. They are both fearless and are always out in the open.

[small alien]

Nice looking tank, reeferkimberly. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[ReeferKimberly]

Thank you Small Alien :) And thank you to you others as well for sharing. Even the jumpers. Now people will know they need to have a cover. I heard from several others who said they jumped, must be common. I have a cover since I have an eel but would not have expected to need one otherwise.

Great pic jlanger, interesting that yours will let itself get buried too :smurf:

[Betta132]

I've never kept a ruby red, but I used to have just a plain scooter. He would do the sleeping thing too... I once accidentally buried him a little bit while moving a few things, and he didn't react. His little gill tubes were sticking out of the sand, but that was about it. I finally poked him to make sure he was okay, and he came out and scooted away.