OH NO !!! --- I finally did it !!!

[ckreef]

Thats right I finally did it and purchased a fish for my Minibow --- What was I thinking ?

Actually I have been considering getting either a small fish or a shrimp for the tank. I feel I have a large enough POD population that my tank should be self sustaining for either a small fish or shrimp.

SO I was up in Atlanta today and CBA had a really cute, extra tiny (about the size of a dime) Honey Chromis for $11.99. There was only one left in the store.

I had Bobby bag it. So he netted it and put it in the plastic container getting ready to bag it. As soon as he did that little bugger had a massive stroke. He stoped breathing and moving and sank to the bottom. Oh well there goes my fish idea for the tank.

About 2 min latter that little guy started kicking again but Bobby didn't really want to sell him to me knowing how far away from Atlanta I lived. SO he gave him to me w/ the undestanding that if he lived I would pay for him next time I was up in Atlanta and if he died then no problem. What could I loose.

He is a totally awesome fish. Within about 10 seconds of being in my tank he was attempting to eat everything that floated by. Unfortunatly he had better learn how to eat pods off the glass and LR otherwise he will starve because I am NOT going to start buying fish food or feed the tank in any way. Either the tank can support him or it will be a sad day on the reef.

SO far so good. The bellow pic is the closest I could find on the web. He is more orange in color and the blue markings are very vivid/electric blue. An awesome looking teny, tiny fish.

[sammy33]

Charles,
He is indeed a cool looking fish. I have two fish in my 15g and really enjoy them both. My Clown Goby is seemingly surviving solely on the pods in the tank because he definitely does not eat the frozen mysis or brine I put in for the Yellow Watchman Goby!?!?

Again, good choice on the fish!

[aquadude]

"Unfortunatly he had better learn how to eat pods off the glass and LR otherwise he will starve because I am NOT going to start buying fish food or feed the tank in any way. Either the tank can support him or it will be a sad day on the reef."

Seems kinda harsh! What would it hurt to feed very sparingly to make sure it doesn't starve? Seems like if you wanted to have a fish that could live soley off the contents in the tank, you should have gotten a fish that grazes algea, perhaps an algae blenny? How large is your tank? I'm not trying to flame you are anything, I know very little about nano tanks - just curious and it seems kinda irresponsible. If I am wrong, please explain. Thanks.

[ckreef]

I understand your concern.

The tank is a Minibow 7. He is the only fish/invert/critter in the tank. I have a huge pod population (read that as hundreads and hundreads easily counted on the glass at any one time). I am a true believer that most people over feed their fish and are slaves to the fishes pan handeling. Also an algea eater would be the same situation. You grow algae for him to eat I grow pods. Same sort of situation just different food source. Actually in Dr. Burgess Atlas he is listed as eating both pods and algae and I see him this morning pecking at the LR. I actually keep my tank really clean of algae so there is probably more pods than algae for him to eat.

If I didn't think there was enough food I wouldn't have done it. If he starts looking really skinny after a few days I'll put him in my big tank. Of course I don't feed that tank either but it does have a bit larger pod and algae population due to tank size and currecntly only two fish.

If I need to feed him in the Minibow then he's got to go. If thats the case I'll get a mated pair of Yellow Coral Banded Shrimp which would definatly not need to be feed (that was my first idea until I saw this little fish)

[ckreef]

Just thought I would give an update on "Glow" (my son named him).

It has been 8 full days and the little guy seemed to have settled down nicely. I have not feed him anything --- period. He picks at the sand/LR/Algae. His belly is fat and happy and his poop seems normal. He does not pick at the corals any more (from what I can tell).

He's a very active fish but doesn't seem to beg. He will come right up to you or snub you to the back of the reef.

Anyway all seems good without food. WHich is great cause I really liked him and didn't want to have to get rid of him if not feeding him didn't work out.