Re: Leaf  scorpionfish compatibility   11/19/06
Aloha, and Thank you again.  I used to only change the water once or twice a month, until I read your water change article...  I will be getting a bigger tank 8ft long!
<Congrats!>
My husband is going to build into our home... when I get things down in the small tank and the eel gets too big... I'll wait for the wrasse (and others) until then.
<Ah, good>
  I'm glad you approve of returning fish, I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.
<Is>
  No need to reply, just want to thank you again and wish you clear water during your stay at Holualoa.  Amy
<Mahalo my friend. BobF>

A Concern about My Leaf Fish  9/28/06
First, thank you for all of your advice with respect to purchasing and caring for leaf fish.  
<Welcome>
I have a concern about my leaf fish.  On Sunday, he ate 2 gut-loaded (Cyclop-eeze and Selcon) ghost shrimp and 1 small frozen Mysis (the first time I got him to eat anything frozen).  Today (Wednesday night) he is still very plump in his belly.
<Only need to eat/feed about once, maybe twice a week...>
He is usually only plump for 1 or 2 days after eating and so I am a bit concerned that there is some type of blockage.  Should I be worried?
<I would not, am not>
Is there anything I can do other than monitor the situation?
<Not really>
Otherwise, he is acting normally (or at least as normally as a leaf fish can).  
<Waving, yawning... mainly sitting about>
My tank parameters are as follows:  Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Temp 80 degrees, pH and alkalinity stable and within normal range.  
Also, on a different topic, there are just a ton of pods in my tank.  There is nothing in there that eats them (just my leaf fish and some zoanthids, a frogspawn, and a leather in the tank) and they are becoming an irritant to my zoanthids and sometimes even land on and annoy the leaf fish.  Is there anything I can do to decrease there numbers?
<Mmm, add a predator...>
Is there a coral that would eat them
<Not efficiently>
or an animal that would be compatible with a leaf scorpionfish in a 25 gallon tank with 25 pounds of live rock?
<My choice... likely a Labrisomid, Tripterygiid... Maybe a Gobiosoma species... many possibilities>
I really appreciate all of your help!
Adam Carlis
<BobF>

Re: Please help, Leaf Scorpionfish has gotten worse  9/29/06
Mr. Fenner,
<Adam>
Again, thanks for your help.  Please, if you have a moment, I have one more (important) question.  My leaf fish, along with being a little bloated, appears to actually be sick.  These are new symptoms as of today:  His pelvic fins appear to have worn away (the rays are still there, but the flesh is just gone).  It also appears as though this is starting to happen on his caudal fin (beginning at the tips).  I attempted to get a picture, but he is not in a good area to take one and they are nothing if not lazy.
The fish is part of a pair that I purchased online.  The first showed similar symptoms upon arrival and died about 3 weeks ago.  Everything else in the tank (LPS, Zoanthids, Softies)
<... these are likely the root cause of trouble here... chemically and physically mal-affecting this/these fish>
are healthy, growing, and show no signs of a water quality issue.  I really want to save this fish.  Please, what can I do?
<Move it to a system w/o these cnidarians>
Again, my tank parameters are as follows:
calcium 400
Magnesium 1300
Sg 1.026
Temp 81
Ph 8.3
Alkalinity 4.5
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
The tank has low-medium flow and there are no other fish that could be messing with him.
What do you think this is?  I have some Melafix that says it treats fin rot and is safe to add directly to the display (25 gallon).  Will this help?
<No>
What should/can I do? Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks again
Adam
<Move it, or the stinging-celled life... they're incompatible. Bob Fenner>

How do you know if a nocturnal fish is eating? Triacanthus   8/29/06
I have a 25 gallon SW tank with 28 pounds of live rock.  It is home to a pair of leaf scorpionfish (the only current and future fish inhabitants for this tank)
<This is about all the metabolic activity this volume can readily/safely handle>
that I recently purchased.  My question is, since I have read that they feed mostly at night, how am I to know if they are eating?
<Mmm, Triacanthus can/will feed during the day... might need to practice with live foods... I'd try some... oh, I see this below>
Two nights ago, I put 6 ghost shrimp in the tank in the evening.  When I went to bed, they were in the tank.  The next morning I couldn't find them.
Can I assume they were eaten by the leaf fish?
<I would, yes>
  The other possibility is that they died and were consumed by my clean-up crew (hermits, snails, Mithrax crab).  Short of staying up all night, is there any way to tell if they have actually eaten?
<Mmm... try placing these shrimp during the day on a day when you can be present pretty much all the time... They only need to feed this much about once a week...>
They appear to have full bellies, so that is an ok sign, I guess.
<Yes>
Also, how long should I let the shrimp sit in Selcon before putting them in the tank?
<Mmm... diluted in mostly seawater... ten, fifteen minutes... then this water added with the shrimp to the system (marine fishes "drink" their environment>
I want the leaf fish to have a balanced diet until I can get them onto frozen foods.
<Understood>
Thanks a lot,
Adam
<This is one of my favorite species... to photograph and hunt for underwater. Bob Fenner>

Re: How do you know if a nocturnal fish is eating? Taenionotus fdg.   8/30/06
Thank you for your quick reply and helpful advice.  I love your book, by the way.  
<Ahh!>
My LFS encouraged more regular feedings (2-4 times a week).  Is that because they sell me the ghost shrimp or is there something to that?
<Too much, too frequent IMO>
The leaf fish are unlike any fish I have ever kept before because it is difficult to tell when/if they are hungry.
Thanks,
Adam  
<"Index of fitness"... apparent fullness, tells all. Bob Fenner>

Weaning a fish onto frozen food... Taenionotus triacanthus   8/12/06
WWM Crew,
<Adam>
I love your website and you have helped me numerous times in the past (and also caused me some concern after making a purchase before researching on your site and just taking others' advice, i.e. the purchase of hermit crabs for my tank).
<An area of broad discussion...>
I am planning on purchasing a leaf scorpionfish
<Neat animals: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/scorpaeninae.htm>
in two weeks.  He is at a LFS now and is healthy looking and eating live shrimp voraciously.  I would like to get him onto frozen as quickly as possible.  
<Can be trying...>
Here is my current plan:  buying a dozen or so of the live shrimp he is eating now, freezing them.  Adding some garlic and then using a clear feeding prong and some fishing line to dance them in front of the little bugger until he decides it is actually food.  Should this work?  Do you have any other suggestions or ideas?
<Mmm, your plan sounds good... I would try other already frozen/defrosted and warmed whole meaty items as well...>
Also, I was thinking that a couple of shrimp a couple of times a week should be plenty for him, is that the case?
<Likely so for this species>
  What do you suggest as a feeding regimen?
<This sounds good... best to "play it by ear"... or eye... if it looks hungry...>
By the way, I finished The Conscientious Marine Aquarist recently and thought it was great.
<Ahh, glad you enjoyed this book>
thanks a lot,
Adam
<Welcome, Bob Fenner>

Leaf Scorpionfish    4/4/06
Bob,
I would like to set up a small tank for a leaf fish.  I have read through your website thoroughly - thanks for the great information - but I still have a few questions:
1.  What kind of clean-up crew do you suggest?  Other than shrimp, should other inverts be left alone?
<Anything more than mouth-size should be fine>
2.  I assume that, other than a second leaf fish, he would have to be the only fish in a 30 gallon tank.  Am I correct, or is there something else that might be able to avoid his gaping mouth?
<Mmm, a few types of animals... Seahorses for instance...>
3.  If I put him in my 90 instead, would a bicolor goatfish harass him or should he be ok?
<Might be hard to get food to this fish, but could be done>
I really appreciate your help.  I have been thinking about this for a while and want to make sure I have everything planned out properly before I proceed.
Adam
<One of my fave fishes to photograph... Bob Fenner>

Re: Leaf Scorpionfish  - 04/05/2006
Bob,
<Adam>
Thank you so much for your response.
<Welcome>
I spent some time at a popular LFS in the Chicago area today pricing out options for my tank.  I was hoping you could offer me a little guidance.
They seemed to think that I had three options:
1.  Buy the 24 gallon nano cube.  Also, purchase a small protein skimmer designed for the tank.  ($500 with stand)
2.  Buy the 25 gallon IFS system ($940)
3.  Buy a 30 - 40 gallon reef ready tank, add a refugium, a protein skimmer, and a protein skimmer ($1300)
<... all options... and there are many more... less and even pricier>
I plan on buying live rock and live sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater for any of these options.
<Good outfit>
In the end, this tank will house only 2 leaf fish or 1 leaf fish and a second fish that could cohabitate with a leaf fish (please give me some suggestions).  
<Posted on WWM... perhaps a Pseudochromid... >
I may add some easy to care for soft corals or something, but don't plan on hard corals, clams, etc. at any point.
Will the nano cube do the job for me or do I need to go with one of the more expensive options?
<Could likely do with the cube>
Also, I will be moving in 16 months and so want to make sure I have a system that I could move with me (12 hour drive away) if possible.
Thank you very much for your help,
Adam
<Perhaps a membership at the local Zoo/Aquarium for this period of time would suffice? Bob Fenner>

Re: Leaf Scorpionfish   4/7/06
Bob,
<Adam>
Thank you again for your reply.  Hopefully my welcome has not been worn out and I can slip a couple more questions in.
I just purchased your book (it arrives tomorrow).  I tried to buy it at a LFS, but they suggested The New Home Saltwater Aquarium, and were charging
$60 for what appeared to be a used copy of your book.
<Wow! Wish I had stored my "pay" for this/these in copies!>
  I purchased the book they suggested and have read it cover to cover - incredibly basic information.  I have spent about 30 hours doing web research and reading all I could in that time on the WWM website (it is fantastic by the way).
Despite this, I have three more questions.
1.  I am unable to find a specific procedure for getting my soon to be purchased leaf fish to accept frozen or prepared foods.  I have been told
that they are one of the more difficult fish in the family to train to eat non-live food.  Do you have any tips or suggestions for how to successfully undertake this process?
<Making/using a "feeding stick" of plastic, wood dowel... with a split on the end... wiggling food items near the front...>
Until then, what live food do you think is best for a leaf fish?
<Small livebearers, ghost shrimp...>
2.  In your opinion, is it worth the risk of having some of the LFS water in my tank to avoid netting the Leaf Fish?
<Not likely an issue... better to "Boris Karloff" mix the new and shipping water and net out the fish... dispose of mixed>
I am worried about damaging his fins.  I have read that this is appropriate with lionfish and was wondering what you thought in this case.
<Not an issue here...>
I really appreciate your assistance.  Like I said before, I am not going to do this until I am sure that I can do it right.
Thanks a lot,
Adam
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Tankmates or expensive food??
Hi guys. <Good morning, JasonC here...> Thanks for providing such a valuable resource for us.  Your site has helped me out numerous times and I've only had my saltwater tank a little over two months.  Ok here are my questions: (tank is 45 gallon tall, 76 degrees, 30lbs live rock, 1" crushed coral substrate, great water condition-just had it tested, 1 4in leaf fish, devils-hand coral, and a few hermit crabs and Astraea snails)
1.  My leaf fish is very lazy, I feed him ghost shrimp and/or feeder guppies every 3 days, he only eats what shows up on his side of the tank- seems to be in great health though (had him for a month).  Is there anything marine I could feed him? I heard freshwater feeders aren't that great. <Just about anything that is meaty and of marine origin would do - shrimp, squid, clams/mussels - chopped up into bite-sized chunks.>
2.  I'm very interested in getting a Firefish goby (or 2) but from your site I gathered that they do best in pairs. Can my tank support 2 of them? <It could, but that would be about the practical limit.> And will the leaf fish try to eat them (he seems too lazy to actually chase something, and I'm hoping the Firefish will be too big anyway) <I would bet money that the fish that seems lazy would suddenly develop just enough energy to eat them. Do recall that part of their MO is to just chill in one spot, looking like debris, until the time is right to strike.>
3.  Can I add live sand to the tank this late? <Yes, although your live rock will liven the substrate you have already.> I've read that I need a deeper substrate bottom. <Nah... 1" is fine, and unless you want to up it to 4" or better, stick with what you've got. It will be easier to clean.> I figured live sand would be best. <Yours will be live soon enough.>
Thanks again for all your help.  Its experts like you guys that keep us motivated.
Cheers- Nick C.
<Cheers, J -- >

Leaf fish
I can find little information on the Taenionotus triacanthus (leaf fish). Do you know how they fare in captivity?
<Pretty well. Reasonably hardy. Can live in the right conditions. You do realize they are venomous right? Be careful handling >
If they will accept frozen food over time, and how to feed?
<They like meaty things and eat in bulk like lionfish. So feed 3-4 times a week. If they don't eat right away try a live feeder shrimp. Needs non aggressive tank mates>
They seem to perch instead of swim. Does that mean a feeding stick may work?
<A feeding stick will likely serve you and the fish well>
Any info would be great, or if you could direct me to a good site. Thanks
<You're welcome! Hope that I've helped. David Dowless>