Oxymonacanthus longirostris pair enters a mixed reef environment

[small alien]

Greetings.

This is a continuation of sorts building on this thread about this amazing pair of fish.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1879315

[small alien]

I introduced the pair to my 75 gallon mixed reef mid-afternoon several days ago.

Within seconds, the male nipped at a large Hydnophora colony and then a frag of Montipora spongodes causing a little polyp retraction. I could see immediately these fish were going to behave much differently than the rest of my crew.

They then retreated to one back corner and paced most of the rest of the day.

No major interaction with any other fish other than being checked out by the clowns when they first went in the tank.

[Makenna]

I am interested to see how they do. Mine took an interesting turn. Out of the blue they stopped eating frozen but they love the flake food. They get fed 6 times a day via a feeder and they especially love picking it off the bottom. Seems strange, but they seem no worse for the wear...

Anyhow, looking forward as to whether or not they eat the coral once they are use to prepared food. Also please note how they do in competition for food with other fish. It seems that they woudl be outcompeted by most of our normally kept fish.

[small alien]

The second day they started exploring the tank more. They really seemed to use the whole 4' of the 75 and they also seem to love flow. They'll hang out right in front of the K4's and are very able and strong swimmers.

As several in the last thread pointed out, these fish can hold their own. They are not shy and not interested in anyone else either. I will say I removed the Bangaii which had been chasing my leopard wrasses since day one and which I could imagine chasing the filefish. That is not allowed. I have the cardinal for sale on a local forum. I may get a new pair down the road as I do love that fish.

The files will eat anything. They are absolutely my easiest to feed fish. It is so funny. Though they are slow to take to mysis. I've been feeding them formula one gel and they are really going for it. And it's cool because I'm seeing other fish start to try it, the leopards in particular. Very interesting and awesome how fish can see others eating something and seem to get the idea to try it as food. Banded pipe is also eating roe and cyclopse for the first time and I've had it for 6 months or more. You can see them all watching each other eat to some degree. Cool.

[small alien]

Today when I came home I could see the files nibbling something on the bottom of the tank in that kind of vertical way that they do. Seemed like it was right in the area of my green fungia and when I looked at the coral, it seemed somewhat worse for wear. I'll have to keep an eye on it. I'm willing to sacrifice a few corals, but if these guys are going to go on a feeding frenzy on the cnidarian population of my tank, I may remove a few choice items.

At night, they fish are sleeping together hanging nearly vertically in a corner of the tank.

Also, as I said, they really are active swimmers and cover the whole length of the tank often. And they seem to especially spend a lot of time high in the water column, maybe the top 4-5". That's kind of neat visually because no one else really swims up there except my crazy flow surfing dragonface pipe. So it's neat to see the files swimming up above and the leopards below and then the dragonets on the sand. So groovy.

[small alien]

Originally Posted by Makenna

I am interested to see how they do. Mine took an interesting turn. Out of the blue they stopped eating frozen but they love the flake food. They get fed 6 times a day via a feeder and they especially love picking it off the bottom. Seems strange, but they seem no worse for the wear...

Anyhow, looking forward as to whether or not they eat the coral once they are use to prepared food. Also please note how they do in competition for food with other fish. It seems that they woudl be outcompeted by most of our normally kept fish.

mine really love prime reef flakes and they're getting that as an early morning feeding before work. An auto feeder would be cool. I'm going to look into that.

So far, they're quite active and assertive eaters. Right in there with the leopards and clowns which are probably my two most assertive other species.

I have been feeding formula one gel or flake first which I know they'll eat and which no one else eats too much of. Then mysis for the wrasses and then roe or cyclops for everyone else. So far, I am not at all worried about feeding these fish and they look fat as heck. They are feeding machines, I tell you!

I'm mostly worried about my corals. We'll see what happens.

[SMOOTHIE]

This is so great to hear. Thanks for keeping us updated

[snorvich]

Both threads (this one and the original) are fascinating reading!

[namxas]

Great reporting...I bet they love that 75 gal.

[small alien]

Thanks, Steve and Greg. I have a ton of respect for you both and it is an honor to have you tagging along.

They do seem to love the swimming room of the 75 and seeing them in there makes me feel like anything smaller would not be really doing them justice. I could tell they were getting a little edgy in the 10 gallon QT and they seem quite happy now. Also, I usually get the feeling that fish like having other species around. It seems to create a comfort level. May be kind of a "dither" effect.

Cheers, Paul

[twiggyb]

Here's my little guy







....and his tank he shares with a dragonface

[small alien]

Cool. Thanks for sharing. Does yours do much coral nibbling?

[twiggyb]

Everyday as soon as the lights go on, he darts to the acro and immediately starts picking at it. I only feed him twice a day so that keeps him plump in the mean time. He picks at the brain occasionally too, but it hasn't done any damage to it. The chalices, yuma,clam, and frogspawn haven't been touched. The pic of the tank is a little old, now there is two big coral colonies put in on the right. They were completey bleached minus the tips when I first got them, but some of it has came back to life and coloring up, but no PE from them. They last quite a while even with the constant picking at them. I originally wanted to put him into the 65, but with him still being a little stubborn and still picking at sps I didn't want him struggling for food and killing off my sticks. When they grow out to bigger colonies, and I will have a bigger tank as well, I'm going to put him over there. It is one the most awesomest fish to have and take care of as long as you're willing to do the work to keep them IMO and I'm glad I saved him from the LFS. He was almost on the verge of death when I first got him. His mate unfortunately wasn't as fortunate and was dead the next day when I went back to pick him up

[small alien]

Female started eating mysis this morning. They're PE so they're fairly huge. She'd look around for smaller pieces or take bites from a larger one. Hooray!

Their pair behavior seems stronger in the bigger tank and their interactions with each other are fascinating.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'd love to see some video of the two of them together in the larger tank.

[small alien]

I'll sure give it a whirl. Probably this weekend.

Cheers.

[small alien]

Another pair coming up this afternoon on DD!

[small alien]

Looks like they didn't make the cut today.

[snorvich]

Do any of you have shrimp in with these fish?

[bidny]

I keep shrimp (cleaners, peppermint) with mine. I've never had an issue doing so. They seem to ignore each other.

[small alien]

I have a few sexy's in my frogspawn. I doubt the files have noticed them yet. No cleaners or other larger shrimp. With how much effort mine put into eating a piece of mysis, it is hard for me to imagine them going after a live shrimp. But you never know of course.

Thinking about trying a pair, Steve?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by small alien

I have a few sexy's in my frogspawn. I doubt the files have noticed them yet. No cleaners or other larger shrimp. With how much effort mine put into eating a piece of mysis, it is hard for me to imagine them going after a live shrimp. But you never know of course.

Thinking about trying a pair, Steve?

You folks are an inspiration. I have only one place that they might go and that is a very large tank and it is not ideal, at least from what I read in your threads. But I am, quite honestly, drooling over your success.

[Makenna]

To that point I also I am having great succes and I got them from DD as well.

They have quickly become some of my favorite fish and a source of fun for many of hte local guys.

I am probably not going to put them in my mixed reef, but I am moving towards setting up a 60 cube just for them.

Great thread!!

[twiggyb]

I have three sexy shrimp in with mine. He's no where near big enough to tackle them though Even if he was bigger I think the small mouth they have wouldn't allow to go after bigger shrimp other than brine or mysis IMO. Could be wrong though.

[jmaneyapanda]

Originally Posted by small alien

I'm mostly worried about my corals. We'll see what happens.

This is an issue I think you'll have to accept. Despite what he will eat, you cant take away the instinct of what he wants to eat.

A whole other topic will be, is what we will eat going to be what he should be eating? But, I wont derail. Good luck!