compatibility of frogfish, ribbon eels, leaf fish, and seahorses

Grizzlor · 05/10/2015, 07:01 AM

I am quite new to the hobby and have been enamored by certain marine species, namely frogfish, ribbon eels, leaf fish/rhinopias, and seahorses. I was thinking that frogfish, ribbone eels, leaf fish, and rhinopias can theoretically all live in the same environment without issue, and they can all eat the same food. I am planning to breed black mollies and guppies for feeding purposes. Additionally, seahorses (tropical types) could also exist in the same conditions. Providing that I directly feed the seahorses frozen Mysis shrimp, and feed the other black mollies/guppies, they can all exist in the same temperature (about 76 degrees) and flow requirements. the eels should not harm the others, and it would only be a matter of hoping the frogfish and rhinopias/leaf fish not gulping each other or the seahorses. Does anyone think it is possible? Or am I trying to mix fire & water? Has anyone kept any of these species together in the same tank before?

moondoggy4 · 05/10/2015, 11:40 AM

I used to have two of your fish listed. I had a yellow wart skin angler and two ribbon ells black and a white both would eat goldfish yes back in the 80's hard to find ones that eat. Anglers will size up they're next meal if it is the same size as them or smaller and fit within their giant mouth, they don't care what they eat, keep them WELL feed and they might not eat your other fish.

I think you get two tanks for what you want.

Sk8r · 05/10/2015, 01:58 PM

Definitely.
A ribbon eel, if a ghost eel is any guide, and they're similar, has a very large mouth, hunts by night, hides by day, and will take down any fish he can get into his mouth. Freshwater species are not always good nutrition for a marine creature, longterm. But he will supplement himself quite expensively on most anything you put in with him. Seahorses would be lunch in short order.

My advice would be to build slowly. Start with a quiet seahorse tank and learn the chemistry ins and outs of that. Then work up to the larger tanks.

Grizzlor · 05/12/2015, 12:11 AM

what do you feed ribbon eels if not mollies? The LFS tries frozen mysis shrimp, but I don't believe this is best as their mortality rate is terrible in captivity and this seems to be what everyone tries. Also, mollies are able to be in saltwater, so they are kind of marine? I was also thinking glass shrimp because someone told me that they'll be part of their natural diet (shrimp), and could live in saltwater until they molt. Regarding mouth size, when I look at them they seem to be always open but not very big...that's why I thought ribbon eels and frogfish might do OK together...frogfish too big for them and ribbon eels too long for the frogfish. The seahorse idea was just an additional thought. I hear the advice and probably won't do it...but I will still try the eels and frogfish together...and maybe a nice rhinopia as well.

Spslvr · 05/12/2015, 02:20 AM

These are two of mine i love scorpions and anglers, i like to make sure i have a steady stream of chromis for them, although small anglers up to an inch and a half love cherry shrimp

Daltonbilecki · 05/12/2015, 08:18 AM

Just curious could a dwarf lion also live along side or will he be at risk?

Spslvr · 05/12/2015, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daltonbilecki

Just curious could a dwarf lion also live along side or will he be at risk?

No problem at all i have one aswell..

bfin3 · 05/12/2015, 07:25 PM

How much do you spend quarantining and feeding them chromis?

Spslvr · 05/12/2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfin3

How much do you spend quarantining and feeding them chromis?

none.. i feed 1 at a time.

ChimolaFish · 05/12/2015, 10:45 PM

Mollies spawn in the ocean and can live long (sometimes healthier and longer) lives completely in saltwater. I wouldn't feed goldfish though. Just feed frozen though if you can. Krill and silversides are perfect. Dwarf lions are trickier. You might never ween them on to frozen

accline · 05/13/2015, 08:46 AM

I used to keep seahorses, then I had twins. Seahorses need a dedicated tall tank. They feed very slowly and deliberately. If they are wild caught, they may, and I emphasize may, learn to eat frozen mysis shrimp. They also like rotifers, which if I'm not mistaken, are more nutritious than mysis. Please, please do not try to keep seahorses if you're new to the hobby. Wait until you have a little more of an understanding of how to keep the hardier breeds you're talking about and enjoy them. Seahorses are endangered because they are considered somewhat sacred in China and other Eastern countries. They are used for medicinal purposes and have been over fished. I'm not saying don't get them, just get them when you have a little more experience. I absolutely love them, they are fascinating, the way they "snick" their food. Thanks for reading my post.

moondoggy4 · 05/13/2015, 07:11 PM

^^^^^^ Welcome to Reef Central

Goldfish = 1985 ie back in the day.

I wish I could find my old photos of that tank.

Grizzlor · 05/14/2015, 11:07 PM

I sure wish my lfs could get in nice rhinopias...not that there are ugly ones, but I haven't seen a nice scorpion like yours, Spslvr, apart from on the internet. Were you ever worried about the rhinopia eating the frogfish?

On another note, my lfs just got in (last night) an antennarius commersoni (Commerson's frogfish). They said they were supposed to get a different one that was only 2.5 inches long, but the supplier sent this one that is huge! He's like 6 inches long and super fat. He's not the best in coloration, but still very cool!

Grizzlor · 05/14/2015, 11:08 PM

I sure wish my lfs could get in nice rhinopias...not that there are ugly ones, but I haven't seen a nice scorpion like yours, Spslvr, apart from on the internet. Were you ever worried about the rhinopia eating the frogfish?

On another note, my lfs just got in (last night) an antennarius commersoni (Commerson's frogfish). They said they were supposed to get a different one that was only 2.5 inches long, but the supplier sent this one that is huge! He's like 6 inches long and super fat. He's not the best in coloration, but still very cool!

05/10/2015, 07:01 AM	#1
Grizzlor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 9	compatibility of frogfish, ribbon eels, leaf fish, and seahorses I am quite new to the hobby and have been enamored by certain marine species, namely frogfish, ribbon eels, leaf fish/rhinopias, and seahorses. I was thinking that frogfish, ribbone eels, leaf fish, and rhinopias can theoretically all live in the same environment without issue, and they can all eat the same food. I am planning to breed black mollies and guppies for feeding purposes. Additionally, seahorses (tropical types) could also exist in the same conditions. Providing that I directly feed the seahorses frozen Mysis shrimp, and feed the other black mollies/guppies, they can all exist in the same temperature (about 76 degrees) and flow requirements. the eels should not harm the others, and it would only be a matter of hoping the frogfish and rhinopias/leaf fish not gulping each other or the seahorses. Does anyone think it is possible? Or am I trying to mix fire & water? Has anyone kept any of these species together in the same tank before?

05/10/2015, 01:58 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Definitely. A ribbon eel, if a ghost eel is any guide, and they're similar, has a very large mouth, hunts by night, hides by day, and will take down any fish he can get into his mouth. Freshwater species are not always good nutrition for a marine creature, longterm. But he will supplement himself quite expensively on most anything you put in with him. Seahorses would be lunch in short order. My advice would be to build slowly. Start with a quiet seahorse tank and learn the chemistry ins and outs of that. Then work up to the larger tanks. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/12/2015, 10:45 PM	#10
ChimolaFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 560	Mollies spawn in the ocean and can live long (sometimes healthier and longer) lives completely in saltwater. I wouldn't feed goldfish though. Just feed frozen though if you can. Krill and silversides are perfect. Dwarf lions are trickier. You might never ween them on to frozen __________________ 300 Penninsula: Mixed Reef, 3 Hawaiian Dwarf Morays, 3 Watanabe Angels, 4 Molucca Damsels, 3 Staghorn Damsels, 1 Sgt Major, 1 Springer's, and 1 Magnificient Foxface.

05/10/2015, 11:40 AM	#2
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I used to have two of your fish listed. I had a yellow wart skin angler and two ribbon ells black and a white both would eat goldfish yes back in the 80's hard to find ones that eat. Anglers will size up they're next meal if it is the same size as them or smaller and fit within their giant mouth, they don't care what they eat, keep them WELL feed and they might not eat your other fish. I think you get two tanks for what you want.

05/12/2015, 12:11 AM	#4
Grizzlor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 9	what do you feed ribbon eels if not mollies? The LFS tries frozen mysis shrimp, but I don't believe this is best as their mortality rate is terrible in captivity and this seems to be what everyone tries. Also, mollies are able to be in saltwater, so they are kind of marine? I was also thinking glass shrimp because someone told me that they'll be part of their natural diet (shrimp), and could live in saltwater until they molt. Regarding mouth size, when I look at them they seem to be always open but not very big...that's why I thought ribbon eels and frogfish might do OK together...frogfish too big for them and ribbon eels too long for the frogfish. The seahorse idea was just an additional thought. I hear the advice and probably won't do it...but I will still try the eels and frogfish together...and maybe a nice rhinopia as well.

05/12/2015, 02:20 AM	#5
Spslvr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Melbourne australia Posts: 595	These are two of mine i love scorpions and anglers, i like to make sure i have a steady stream of chromis for them, although small anglers up to an inch and a half love cherry shrimp

05/12/2015, 08:18 AM	#6
Daltonbilecki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 282	Just curious could a dwarf lion also live along side or will he be at risk?

05/12/2015, 07:25 PM	#8
bfin3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 417	How much do you spend quarantining and feeding them chromis?

05/13/2015, 08:46 AM	#11
accline Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 5	I used to keep seahorses, then I had twins. Seahorses need a dedicated tall tank. They feed very slowly and deliberately. If they are wild caught, they may, and I emphasize may, learn to eat frozen mysis shrimp. They also like rotifers, which if I'm not mistaken, are more nutritious than mysis. Please, please do not try to keep seahorses if you're new to the hobby. Wait until you have a little more of an understanding of how to keep the hardier breeds you're talking about and enjoy them. Seahorses are endangered because they are considered somewhat sacred in China and other Eastern countries. They are used for medicinal purposes and have been over fished. I'm not saying don't get them, just get them when you have a little more experience. I absolutely love them, they are fascinating, the way they "snick" their food. Thanks for reading my post.

05/13/2015, 07:11 PM	#12
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	^^^^^^ Welcome to Reef Central Goldfish = 1985 ie back in the day. I wish I could find my old photos of that tank.

05/14/2015, 11:07 PM	#13
Grizzlor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 9	I sure wish my lfs could get in nice rhinopias...not that there are ugly ones, but I haven't seen a nice scorpion like yours, Spslvr, apart from on the internet. Were you ever worried about the rhinopia eating the frogfish? On another note, my lfs just got in (last night) an antennarius commersoni (Commerson's frogfish). They said they were supposed to get a different one that was only 2.5 inches long, but the supplier sent this one that is huge! He's like 6 inches long and super fat. He's not the best in coloration, but still very cool!

05/14/2015, 11:08 PM	#14
Grizzlor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 9	I sure wish my lfs could get in nice rhinopias...not that there are ugly ones, but I haven't seen a nice scorpion like yours, Spslvr, apart from on the internet. Were you ever worried about the rhinopia eating the frogfish? On another note, my lfs just got in (last night) an antennarius commersoni (Commerson's frogfish). They said they were supposed to get a different one that was only 2.5 inches long, but the supplier sent this one that is huge! He's like 6 inches long and super fat. He's not the best in coloration, but still very cool!