Show off your tilefish!

Slocke · Nov 24, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
Also are they messy eaters?

Yes (or at least intense eaters)

i cant think · Nov 24, 2023

Slocke said:
Yes (or at least intense eaters)

Vigorous? Absolutely! Mine have all been the exact same, but I wouldn’t say that’s messy - Messy to me is more like a lionfish or other Predatory species.

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 24, 2023

i cant think said:
I have currently got a Marcosi and have previously had Flashing Tiles and cared for most other species available except Oreni - I’m not too keen on this species anyway personally.

Messy eaters? Nope, they’re not too dissimilar to the wrasses. IMO, they are what you’d get if you mix a very personable wrasse with a Firefish.

I'll be on the lookout for one out of Australia!

Also picking up the China wrasse today! Would 1 feeding per day be sufficient?

i cant think · Nov 24, 2023

Reefkeepers Archive said:
I'll be on the lookout for one out of Australia!

Also picking up the China wrasse today! Would 1 feeding per day be sufficient?

I’d aim for 2, but little amounts each time.

Tcook · Nov 24, 2023

i cant think said:
Do you still have Purples? They’re still on my list if I ever get room for another tilefish (that and another Marcosi).

This is the other question about tiles that wasn’t asked: “Do tiles last long?” IME they don’t. They seem to do great for 6-12 months then disappear. I think they fool us by looking much hardier than they really are. The aquarist takes a sigh of relief, something slightly changes, then they are gone.

Slocke · Nov 24, 2023

i cant think said:
Vigorous? Absolutely! Mine have all been the exact same, but I wouldn’t say that’s messy - Messy to me is more like a lionfish or other Predatory species.

Lionfish eat their food whole. But yes eels make a mess.

Reefkeepers Archive · Nov 24, 2023

i cant think said:
I’d aim for 2, but little amounts each time.

Assuming she doesn't immediately burry herself in the sand I'll give you an update! Just hoping the food I ordered arrives in time

Plzpizza · Nov 24, 2023

I’ve just dosed it and watched for a hour. They don’t seem to be acting different I fed them in advance. Now it’s lights off and they are in their burrows . It should be good they are going to sleep so the initial 8 hours will be less stressful.

Tcook · Nov 24, 2023

Plzpizza said:
I’ve just dosed it and watched for a hour. They don’t seem to be acting different I fed them in advance. Now it’s lights off and they are in their burrows . It should be good they are going to sleep so the initial 8 hours will be less stressful.

Add extra airstone. Prazi drops O2.

i cant think · Nov 24, 2023

Tcook said:
This is the other question about tiles that wasn’t asked: “Do tiles last long?” IME they don’t. They seem to do great for 6-12 months then disappear. I think they fool us by looking much hardier than they really are. The aquarist takes a sigh of relief, something slightly changes, then they are gone.

My marcosi is currently 7 months and I’ve had a Flashing for 6-7 months as well until he jumped.

Honestly, I do find them to be harder than other fish however that is mainly during acclimation. If in the perfect environment they tend to be easier to care for long term. This is often with many overhangs and a deep sandbed to burry in (yes, they love a deep sand where they can form their own burrows).

Plzpizza · Nov 24, 2023

Doing good the other one is on the right hole. Makes me doubt I dosed to begin with. I think having sand and rocks to lower stress is key

i cant think · Nov 25, 2023

Plzpizza said:
Doing good the other one is on the right hole. Makes me doubt I dosed to begin with. I think having sand and rocks to lower stress is key

Watch out, that sand looks quite coarse. The coarser sand can lead to damages on the side of the fish which can become infected. If your display has a similarly coarse sand I would replace most of it with a finer sandbed thats around 2-3” deep.

i cant think · Nov 25, 2023

Well, I don’t know why but it seems that over night my tilefish has gained a case of partial pop-eye. It doesn’t look too severe so I’m hoping it heals on its own.

Tcook · Nov 25, 2023

i cant think said:
Well, I don’t know why but it seems that over night my tilefish has gained a case of partial pop-eye. It doesn’t look too severe so I’m hoping it heals on its own.

Isn’t it typically abrasion/injury? Good water and good food should help.

i cant think · Dec 9, 2023

i cant think said:
Well, I don’t know why but it seems that over night my tilefish has gained a case of partial pop-eye. It doesn’t look too severe so I’m hoping it heals on its own.

Didn’t update this but 3 days later, this guy was looking just fine! Completely normal and didn’t seem at all affected. Here he is today, being his grouchy self yet still wanting my attention.