What is this fish?

[Valentini89]

I got it yesterday from LFS because wife wanted it and now I forgot the name. I need to know so I can research it. Thanks.

https://imageshack.us/i/pmhmD8B1j

[alprazo]

http://www.orafarm.com/blog/2016/04/...red-dragonets/

[Valentini89]

Originally Posted by alprazo

http://www.orafarm.com/blog/2016/04/...red-dragonets/

Thanks for the quick reply.. so from what I understand, they will accept pellet? I have no clue about copepods.

[Nick_Northern]

Whilst it may be possible to train this to eat frozen food, and if you are very lucky eventually pellets this fish will need a large tank (75g + but the bigger the better) full of live rock and a constant supply of copepods to survive, if the tank is large and mature with enough live rock and no other competition in the form of other dragonets, wrasse etc then the pod population may be self sustaining,otherwise you will need to add them very frequently.

How big and old is your tank?

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[Nick_Northern]

This kind of highlights why it is so important to research fish BEFORE you buy them

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[Valentini89]

Originally Posted by Nick_Northern

This kind of highlights why it is so important to research fish BEFORE you buy them

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Yeah I know I should have, my wife just wanted it.. and it was hard to say no. The tank is about 4 months old. There are no other and will be no other dragonets in it. I will have a much larger tank in several months I can move it to, if it lives.

[Bongo Shrimp]

Originally Posted by Valentini89

if it lives.

Talking about a fish like it's disposable? You should either learn about culturing copepods to maintain a steady supply or take the fish back to the LFS. The age old "I'll have a bigger tank one day" is meaningless.

This is not a fish that you can just sit back and hope it will live, it needs specialized care beyond that of most fish, as mentioned above.

[SaltyDoug]

Your tank is too small and not mature enough for the specialized diet of the fish. Bring him back or hes doomed to slowly starve to death.

[Valentini89]

Originally Posted by SaltyDoug

Your tank is too small and not mature enough for the specialized diet of the fish. Bring him back or hes doomed to slowly starve to death.

Ok thanks for the advice.

[Nick_Northern]

Originally Posted by Valentini89

Ok thanks for the advice.

The trouble is a lot of LFS out there will sell anything to anyone without checking if their tank, experience, knowledge is suitable. Researching or asking people on here is always a good idea prior to purchasing. Also check out liveaquaria, they have basic info on most fish including your dragonet which is listed as a difficult species.

You aren't the first person to be mis sold a dragonet and certainly won't be the last, and to be honest many LFS either don't know, or don't care enough (usually this) to educate customers or transition the fish onto prepared foods before selling hoping instead to get them sold as quickly as possible before they inevitably starve to death. It's a huge pet peeve of mine, as I see tanks full of these and mandarins etc wasting away at some of the more unscrupulous LFS near me.

Unless you are willing to spend time culturing your own copepods or spend a significant amount of money buying them (they can eat 100's a day) then I would definitely take it back, and while you are there ask them why they didn't ask any questions about your setup or warn you of the fishes specialised husbandry requirements when you bought it.

There are several captive bred dragonet species available from time to time which are a much better option but even these need a large mature tank to survive as a few feedings of prepared foods each day will not sustain them long term.

Nick

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