Fish Id Please

[Uel]

Here is a picture of a fish called a pencil wrasse by the LFS. I can't find any info on this wrasse. Does anyone know anything about them.
Thanks Uel
http://community.webshots.com/photo/474 ... 9213rssZkA

 

[danmhippo]

It's more commonly called Belted Wrass

Look in search engine under "Stethojulis balteata"

 

[sedgro]

Also might point out that this fish is pretty much doomed even if it is eating in the store. They feed by taking mouthfulls of sand and sorting out the edible crustacea, worms, ect... Seem to need to be eating all the time. I tried keeping one despite what I read on wetwebmedia.com, Baensch Atlas, and Scott Michael's 500+ fish species book. It ate and ate and ate but continued to waste away. Avoid it.

sedgro

 

[Uel]

Thanks guys.

 

[john f]

A fish that eats well but wastes away could have internal parasites.
This can be treated.
You could have saved that fish sedgro.

The other possibility is dietary insufficiency, but that probably would not come into play for a wrasse.




John

 

[sedgro]

Actually John F, I did try piperazine soaked food thinking this was more than just a nutritional deficiency. I had no luck - same end result. The LFS I bought it from kept one in their large reef as well with the same results. I know in "my study" my n=2 but if you look in just about any guide to aquarium fish they all state this fish has a poor survival record in captivity. This particular species is endemic to Hawaii so I don't think cyanide or poor collection/handling techniques is a factor. So "could" I have saved this fish? Yes - by believing the research I had done and not buying it in the first place. I encourage others to do the same.

A few quotes from the experts:
Bob Fenner wetwebmedia.com: "Though Stethojulis are planktivorous and don’t get too large (most are about six inches long maximum) they do have one shortcoming: they rarely live for any time in captivity.", Scott Michael, Marine Fishes: "Difficult to feed. Even when eating it tends to pine away.... This beautiful wrasse does not fare well in captivity", Rudie H Kuiter, Fairy & Rainbow Wrasses and their relatives: "They are very active and require lots of space, and suitable food has to be available at all times during the day. Most species lose condition very quickly if this cannont be provided."

Lastly, try to find one of these beauties in a public aquarium. I have visited quite a few including Waikiki and Monaco and have never seen one displayed. My 2 cents

sedgro

 

[john f]

Interesting............

How often did you feed it?




John