New additions...

[RandyFolds]

Also, I have started pitching brine shrimp eggs in my tanks. Is there any reason not to?

[Just_Greg]

Also, I have started pitching brine shrimp eggs in my tanks. Is there any reason not to?

mostly because all you'll do is foul your tank, and the pipes won't touch them.  they do like fish/shrimp roe, nutramar ova, oyster eggs, etc.  also, Doryhamphus dactyliophorus have fairly large mouths and can take frozen mysis with no trouble.  some pipes also like frozen cyclopeeze.

we kept a flagfin (D. janssi) in our reef for a number of years, and it was a super fish.

[Bergy]

...   but it is worth a try. . .

HMMMM


I read this a lot, but I always cringe when do...

[Just_Greg]

bandeds are actually about the easiest of the flagfins to convert and keep, and that species actually stays out in the open more than most.

[RandyFolds]

...   but it is worth a try. . .

HMMMM


I read this a lot, but I always cringe when do...

And I am just your average aquarist with no notion of how to care for them...

EVERY fish that you put in your tank, whether wild caught or not, is only a "try", and its chances of survival are grim. I am not sure what makes this different.

[RandyFolds]

Also, I have started pitching brine shrimp eggs in my tanks. Is there any reason not to?

mostly because all you'll do is foul your tank, and the pipes won't touch them.

I was actually thinking more along the lines of coral and general biotope... why would they foul the water, per se? There is plenty of algal matter to sustain them, and the coral will go to town on the nauplii.

I was more curious if there was a reason to keep the capsules out of the tank. I feed nauplii hatched in old tank water anyways, so the only difference is that they will hatch in the tank.

[Just_Greg]

that's the problem...you don't want the shells in your tank, and since you've hatched BBS, you KNOW how nasty hatch water is, not to mention the high number of bacteria and ciliates (found on the shells) you're adding to the tank.

[Bergy]

your trying it or other more advanced people trying is one thing...

but typical and beginner hobbyist using that logic, that the fish or critter or coral is cheap and 'worth a try' is disturbing..

for you to do it is one thing but to admit that a species has low success rates in the industry/hobby, and state that PRICE is the over fiding factor in deciding whether something is worth trying or not worth trying will give others that read it reinforcemnt to use the same logic


and yes, all things are 'risky' but we should try to minimize the risk by using our own knowldge and experience and comfort level


Buying and trying high risk critters is not good for the environment... as it only reinforces the lfs to keep on requesting critters that sell, causing more fish to be harvested etc...etc...

[RandyFolds]

So I should try it, but not tell anyone?

Why don't Greg and Renee get the soapbox rant for their scorps with notoriously poor survivability (no offense to either of you - what you do is awesome)? If it costs $300, it is ok, but if it costs $3, its not?

[Bergy]

no, dont brag or rant about how it is poor chances but 'what the heck' its only a few bucks...

or you can post less info, or you can post what you will do to try to beat the odds.l

or you can post whatever the hell you want...

I just think there are way moer novice an dbegginers with that 'built in ' mentality that need to look at things differently


certainly  you have to admit that if we were talking dogs, and there was a species that has not every survived and or the odds were against success, that you would think, well hey, it was only ten bucks...


no, you would or rather I WOULD maybe advertise thier poor success rate and try to let folks know to not try this at home, or whatever other disclaimer...

and i would only do it if i thigught i could beat the odds...

Nothing worst then dealing with asick dog... but since it is fish, things are different???

again,  i think lots/too many peeps think differently cause they are fish...

and i see no difference

[Just_Greg]

umm...most flagfin pipes typically don't fare too poorly if you get good specimens to begin with.  yes, the key is getting them weaned onto prepared foods (mysis, roe, etc.), but the real way to think of them is more or less like a madarin or scooter dragonette.  they'll do fine in a mature system with a thriving pod population, but it's best to wean them if you can.

are they a beginner fish?  no, but neither is a mandy.  however intermediate aquarists should have little trouble keeping with a bit of research.  so, if anything, the ol' "RESEARCH IS YOUR FRIEND" can be reiterated.

[RandyFolds]

I would say there is a difference between an animal that can brood six young at once vs. and animal that can brood 600,000 at once....not that fecundity is always that high, but it does change the perspective.

[Bergy]

the perspective is as you and greg put it...

if you have knowldge and experience and want to do something that is against the odds, and believe you have a better then average chance at success, then fine..

but your message didnt state that... and although we know, we being the folks that are online now and participating, some may not...

to read your message out of context like that, with specific verbiage that the decision is based soley on dollar perspective was my point..


and i thought i was fairly clear about that, as i said that when i read that , it bothers me.. not that what you are doing bothers me...


and i dont know anything about the viability/syustainability of these species... i am only going by the content of teh message... in that you said they had a bad history...