Do Dragonettes get lazy?

[Learner]

The dragonette that lives in my tank was very active upon arrival a few months ago,
always on the lookout for food, buzzing about the tank most of the time.

Over the past two weeks he has become less active. He's eating well as far as I can tell,
no weight loss etc.

He has however, taken to lounging on the bottom of the tank for an hour or two about three times a day.

I'm not overly concerned, but this behaviour is sooo different from when he joined me.

Could he have just settled into a routine? knowing roughly when he's going to be offered food rather than have to
constantly seek it out?

Am I (as usual) just being a little paranoid???

Would appreciate any suggestions,

Thanks.

[Bergy]

i know mine has been lazy since i got him, one month ago.. i was surprised thinking that he would be like yours, in that they hunt all the time, but mine hides during the daytime, mostly hunts at nite, but he seems to have his favorite spot that he hangs in...

Im thinking that as long as he isnt losing weight, he should be ok...

[Learner]

Well Bill, sounds like yours is like mine :D lazy!!

Dropped some live brine shrimp into the tank today, little lunch size packs from my supplier..

he went nuts for them!! as did all other residents. :o

great fun to watch too. ;D

[cruzincaril]

im watching everyones fish posts to see what probs/compat they have as i want to add a few more when the weather gets warmer for shipping.ive heard of dragonets i think ive seen pics..what fish are they compat with and will they eat corals?

[Bergy]

yes, they are reef safe... but typically they only eat PODS...  copepods/amphipods  if thier little mouths are big enuf...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1635+1723&pcatid=1723


This is a red one...(which is what i have, i think)

[psykokid]

Most come from the wholesalers as eating only copepods/amphipods. Some can be weaned onto brine then frozen, some cant. If you have a good established tank where no other fish in your tank feed on that prey group exclusively then it would be good to go. I got mine as a rescue from a kid that had him in a nanocube. Fish was skin and bones when i got him. Now 5 months later he's fat and happy pigging out.

I think since Tania's eats brine/other foods that are offered he has gotten used to feeding time and doesn't feel the need to hunt incessantly. Happens all the time to animals in captivity. Mine on the other hand doesn't eat anything other than pods and is constantly hunting.

[cruzincaril]

on the site it says ..difficult to keep..probly wont survive with me..i dont even know if i have any kind of pods.. i dont have a lot of white things growing behind and on the filter and the side glass but dont know if they are pods or what

[Bergy]

the pods will llook like small dots of dust that move...

the amphipods will look more like shrimp but about 1/8-1/4"

but chances are, if you dont have other fish or critters eating them, you have a tank full and just dont see/notice them...

[cruzincaril]

well ill see the fish pecking at the glass so maybe they are eating something on there...

[Learner]

Some of the 'pods are so small, we can't  see them with the naked eye, so the fish are probably
taking 'food' from the glass. ;D

My yellow tailed damsel backs into crevices in the rock, shakes its tail,
and all sorts of 'dust size stuff' gets into the flow, the other fish then go nuts on it. :D

[cruzincaril]

really? youre very observant..i have one of those little nuts too...i call him that cuz hes a trouble maker..when i added my son in laws yellow damsel he floated on to me ..he was pecking the heck out of that guys tail..he always thinks hes the master..ive seem him get his hackles up like a dog or cat ready for a fite...mean little thing..tho clowns are considered in the same family and so different...i dont feed my fish often to keep all the bad chemicals down so im glad they are at least snacking on the glass..lol

[Learner]

My Damsel is beginning to get a little punchy......it's just started to pick on the Clowns!!

I'll be keeping an eye on it.

[cruzincaril]

down the toilet they gooooo....just kiddin!

[Bergy]

nooooo


but, it is another good reason to have a sump...

[Learner]

nooooo


but, it is another good reason to have a sump...

nooooo x 2   :o

Maybe when I get a little more experienced I will upgrade.. 8)
and maybe have a sump.....a sort of naughty room eh? lol  ;D