Hoplolatilus chlupatyi

cee · Sep 1, 2009

Does anyone have any experience with this tile goby? I picked one up and, while skittish, he ate just a couple of hours after being acclimated. He's got to be the coolest fish I've ever seen and I want to make sure I keep him around for awhile. Post your experience if you have any as I know they are difficult keepers. He's basically in a 125 wide, covered with 1/4" mesh, with a CBB, fairy wrasses, and a pair of mandarins, so his tankmates are quite mellow. Thanks.

Dave

cee · Sep 1, 2009

Highly stressed fish but an accurate representation of his display (not mine).
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnuBvBB1v_k&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

Stray32 · Sep 1, 2009

Wouldn't have been much easier to title your thread...Tile Goby? hehe

No experience, but nice looking fish!

cee · Sep 1, 2009

Stray32 said:
Wouldn't have been much easier to title your thread...Tile Goby? hehe

No experience, but nice looking fish!

Then you might not have looked

Stray32 · Sep 1, 2009

Touche...

Paul_N · Sep 1, 2009

ooooo Very Nice! I want one! How much if you don't mind me asking.

Paul_N · Sep 1, 2009

Hmmmm hope you have a tight fitting top. This is from WWM:

"The Tilefishes present a true challenge to advanced marine aquarists... sure, there are small species in this family, and yes... they do accept most all fresh, frozen/defrosted and dried-prepared foods... but these exotic piscines are so nervous of nature, so deft of rapid swimming AND jumping, not to mention most of them digging and diving into the substrate. In terms of historic survivability they collectively score low points, most dying within a few weeks of capture from damage in collection, cumulative stress... or JUMPING OUT."

Blackhawk Fan · Sep 1, 2009

Awesome fish cee!

I saw them somewhere for $170 Paul.

cee · Sep 1, 2009

Paul_PSU said:
Hmmmm hope you have a tight fitting top. This is from WWM:

"The Tilefishes present a true challenge to advanced marine aquarists... sure, there are small species in this family, and yes... they do accept most all fresh, frozen/defrosted and dried-prepared foods... but these exotic piscines are so nervous of nature, so deft of rapid swimming AND jumping, not to mention most of them digging and diving into the substrate. In terms of historic survivability they collectively score low points, most dying within a few weeks of capture from damage in collection, cumulative stress... or JUMPING OUT."

Yep, I'm well aware of this requirement. I kept tilefish before for years when I lived in Dallas (about 13 years ago). However, not this particular one. The weird thing is that while he hides, he's coming out quite a bit considering the short duration he's been in my tank, so not quite as skittish as the article would lead you to believe. I'm sending you a PM...

Dave

bamachamp92 · Sep 1, 2009

That has to be one of the coolest things Ive ever seen. Nice pickup Dave.

Paul_N · Sep 1, 2009

They say how big that particular one may get? I seen at least 6" on some of the sites. They mention 2ft in the wild but that's, well the wild. Thanks for sharing.

cee · Sep 1, 2009

He's probably a bit under 4" and shaped like a torpedo. Not as big as my pink margin and lineatus fairies but a decent size. Skinny enuf to fit through any opening bigger than 3/8-1/2", though.

Dave

revhtree · Sep 1, 2009

My gosh that is awesome!! Dave I need to make a trip. I havent seen/raided your tank in a while.

stunreefer · Sep 2, 2009

Stray32 said:
Wouldn't have been much easier to title your thread...Tile Goby?

No, as that could've reffered to several Species of fish, for example a Hoplolatilus purpureus. That's why scientific names exist... :nerd:

Oh, and you looked

Paul_PSU said:
They say how big that particular one may get? I seen at least 6" on some of the sites. They mention 2ft in the wild but that's, well the wild. Thanks for sharing.

Per fishbase they grow to 13.0cm (5.11 inches) in the wild: Hoplolatilus chlupatyi, Chameleon sand tilefish : aquarium

A study that Jay Hemdal did showed that fish (grown) in captivity will generally only reach 80% of the size in the wild (or at least, listed on fishbase) even in large public aquaria.

Paul_N · Sep 2, 2009

stunreefer said:
A study that Jay Hemdal did showed that fish (grown) in captivity will generally only reach 80% of the size in the wild (or at least, listed on fishbase) even in large public aquaria.

cool, I'd like to get one down the road and was worried about the size. I got that info off of wwm so they were probably generalizing then.