Thinking about getting an angler...

[R_DEL]

I have a 29 gallon that just got set up with plenty of rocks for it to perch on, My question is how difficult are they to keep and could i keep one with a snowflake eel?

-thanks

[zoebeaglezoe]

I know they should be housed alone ,just make sure it eating before you buy one

[crzy4reefs]

I would keep it by itself, 29 should be fine. Make sure it's eating prepared foods first.

[LRS078]

If you want to do an angler; do the angler "right" and make it a species tank. They are worth it.... Smaller size tanks are okay but you MUST MUST keep on top of water parameters as these fish can make a mess of water chemistry fast. A larger tank offers more stability but they are doable in smaller tanks.

(my 3" angler loves species only about that size but water changes are a must as well as some nassarius snails, SS starfish, and a algae eater or two) He tends to ignore snails and the starfish stays buried 99% of the time but anything else is fair game. Get a test kit and keep an eye on nitrates. Soon as they creep up do a 15% to 20% change. Oh, and never ever use copper for any reason. Insta kill....

If your LFS has an angler you like put a deposit down and see if they can get it eating frozen/dead before you take it home. The smaller/younger you get them the more readily they seem to make the switch to prepared/frozen foods.

[Monkeyfish]

Don't buy an angler without first seeing it eat frozen at the store. Many will simply refuse to eat anything but live foods. Also, a snowflake eel is NOT a good tank mate for an angler. From what I've read they have a natural, mutual animosity and one will end up eating the other.

[LRS078]

The eel will outcompete the angler for food for certain and will likely intimidate/injure the angler further. Short of maybe *maybe* seahorses, I've not seen anything that makes a good angler tankmate. (misc cleaner/maintenance inverts aside of course) Odds are even the SH will end up a meal at some point but I've seen it done safely with the safety bias towards the angler that is.

Do aquascape some tiered "shelves" in the tank, your angler will thank you. And keep the flow low. Water turnover is good, just use spraybars or whatnot to keep your angler from being blown/pushed around.

[R_DEL]

Thanks for the replies...

Actually I have never seen one at one of the LFS in the area... I was going to order it online.

So is this a bad idea since I cannot watch them eat?

Should i see if the LFS will order one and watch it eat in the store?

[LRS078]

R_DEL,
It is a far safer bet to do it through a LFS that knows their stuff. If you order online you totally roll the dice. Talk to your local LFS (or better yet a couple) and see if this is something they want to bring in. A really good LFS will appreciate you want to do the project right. If they don't and only let you special order and make you commit to taking whatever comes in you are no better off than using Foster and Smith or whomever.

If the LFS is willing to work with you to acclimate to frozen/etc with a deposit then give them the business (even if the price is a bit higher). If they will not work with you on acclimating, go online.

Hope this helps...

PS where are you located? Perhaps a board member can recommend a good LFS nearby?

[R_DEL]

I am in the Houston/Spring area of Texas the only 2 i know of are Aquarium World and Fish R Us. I will probably go ask one of them about it in the next few days.

[sunfishh]

I would checkout this thread. Uberfugu has a bunch of anglers.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=832814