I just purchased this fish. The LFS said it was reef safe but I am looking online and seeing some forums where they are saying its not reef safe. Anyone have or had this type of fish? If so how was it in your reef tanks?
from what I read at liveaquaria
They get to be 2+ feet and require a very large tank.
they eat shrimp and are carnivores, so I imagine a 24" fish in a tank that likes meat means that shrimp, crabs and small enough fish would be dinner.
In case you have not seen it’s adult form here that is Adult Spotted Sweetlip
Never buy pets on impulse browsing is fine but if you see something you like go home and research, the more reading I do on that fish the more it sounds like heartbreak just waiting to happen, very difficult to get eating, grows very fast and often suffers malnutrition as a captive adult.
yeah that is what i read also. I wish the LFS would of given me accurate info. ???
Which LFS did you go to?
Kritter Kove
Was just in there 2 days ago and they have another SL as well. Good luck with the fella, keeping them active and eating are the hardest.
Yeah he had two when I bought this one. He just contacted me and apologized and said he gave me the wrong info about the fish and to bring him back and he will make it right!
[quote=“nerak, post:8, topic:6618”]
Yeah he had two when I bought this one. He just contacted me and apologized and said he gave me the wrong info about the fish and to bring him back and he will make it right! [/quote]
That’s a good store there. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of that happening before.
I like that my favorite store has their books out in the aisle and if I see something in the tanks I like, I walk over and borrow a book to look up the fish’s needs and requirements. Prevents getting home, firing up the computer, and doing a face palm.
I thought that too when he contacted me and apologized and said bring it back in and he will make it right. The little things like that is what customers look for. I dont blame him for giving me the wrong info I know its hard to keep up with all the details on all fish species. But its great he is going to do the right thing. All the other stores that I know of say once you take the fish out of the store then there are no guarantees and returns. Thats great your store has the books out like that. Thats a great idea. I will see if he has books like that there or not. If not I will make the suggestion to him.
I should of researched it before I bought it. This would be the first fish I bought without doing so. Lesson learned!
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:9, topic:6618”]
[quote=“nerak, post:8, topic:6618”]
Yeah he had two when I bought this one. He just contacted me and apologized and said he gave me the wrong info about the fish and to bring him back and he will make it right! [/quote]
That’s a good store there. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of that happening before.[/quote]
+1 I’ve never heard of a store doing that before. I’ll have to check them out, I think there is one in Middletown.
He is in Dover. Not sure if there is one in Middletown or not
Bringing a smart phone with you is always good. There are lots of reliable internet sources to reference. Live aquaria has a decent list of fish and their requirements. Since they also sell fish you can get an idea if that “rare” fish is just overpriced or really is a rarity. BUT prices do vary, very very widely. Fish sell at our local store for $39 and on the web for $99. Guess we are fortunate to be on the better side of things here.
That is a good idea. I do have an Iphone. Never thought to look it up. I never use my phone to its full potential.
If you have an Iphone check out http://www.aquariumhandbookcomplete.com/
its $15 bucks but also very nice and will pay for itself first time it keeps you from that incompatible critter or one that requires a special diet.
The fish got to my coral banded shrimp =(
Just an update! I was not able to catch him to return him to the store. I have not seen him for almost a week now. So I am assuming he didnt make it. I never saw him eat. I know its hard to get them to eat.
I’m sorry to hear that. Next time, you might want to ask the staff to feed the fish before you buy it.
that sucks well look at the bright side you would’ve complained about the coral banded eventually I couldn’t keep any shrimp with mine. then it died and i tried to get a pair and they died. I then was able to keep cleaners and peppermints.
[quote=“dunk, post:19, topic:6618”]
that sucks well look at the bright side you would’ve complained about the coral banded eventually I couldn’t keep any shrimp with mine. then it died and i tried to get a pair and they died. I then was able to keep cleaners and peppermints.[/quote]
I thought it did get my coral banded. About two days after putting it in my tank I thought the coral banded was dead and I blamed the fish. I found what I thought was a dead shrimp, so I fed the tank (because he always comes out at feeding time) and he didnt come out. So I assumed the worse and thought that fish got to him. A day later I saw the shrimp. It was just his molt that I found. I have seen his molt several times but because I knew that fish was in there and it ate inverts I assumed the worse.
I just know for future to check out a fish before purchasing it. I usually don’t buy a fish unless I know for sure if it is reef safe. Luckily in this case I just lost the sweet lips and nothing else.