Wartskin Angler: My new buddy

[rookie07]

I don't want to hear about "streaky glass". I didnt want to traumatize him anymore than he is.
So, I just got this little guy this morning...he is bigger than I thought he would be(I was told 2"-2.5", and it is actually 3.5"), so it is almost full grown (They max out at about 4"). It's coloring is more yellow than it apperas in the pictures, just an awesome looking fish.

My firefish made it all of 3 hours before he was the 1st of many meals. It was so cool to see. It may have been the 1st time I saw the firefish out of his "cave" in a while...
I think he is alittle big for my tank...but I will be upgrading to a 165 gl in about 3.5 months.

The sun coral is about 2" across.... so the angler is about 3.5", I think


The white/clear "string" on his head is his "fishing pole", it's how he attracts his food. He will dangle and shake it around infront of him(yes, he can move it all around) to lure fish near his mouth.
It almost seems like it "walks" more than it swims.

 

[sweetsop]

what an awesomely ugly cool creature, love it!

 

[chazertis]

wow that is wild. great looking fish

 

[inkblue]

... that is booty-fuLLy ugLy!

 

[rookie07]

I was told...that any fish/most inverts that were the same size or smaller were "fair game"....but just now, I saw a harlequin shrimp walk up to it, and push him out of the way.....maybe b/c the angler was full from the firefish???
Or will the angler not eat small shrimp?
Anyone know?????????????????????(this is a formality, devious and/or dknows what the answer?)

 

[nick96ss]

wicked kool fish good luck

 

[jay1335]

Im gonna say yes he will eat them...Those guys can sting you too right?

 

[rookie07]

thanks...let's hope he does better than the Devils did.

 

[charliethetuna88]

how much was he very cool

 

[rookie07]

I dont think that is an appropriate question..... but, about $140

 

[ellebelle]

I assume he'll eat a harlequin shrimp. I saw one eat a grass shrimp.

 

[Pinkheine]

:lol_largeThese type of guys are my favorites! Though I'd never own one now because I also like so many other things. Someday we'll set up a tank just to have one. Best of luck with him, he is awesome.

 

[rookie07]

My harlequin just walk onto the angler, and over the angler's mouth...angler didnt budge....maybe they are secret lovers?:inlove::shhh:

 

[Lenny718]

Very cool fish, Best of luck!

 

[ellebelle]

Question: is it eating frozen foods at all?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

They cannot sting you

 

[rookie07]

Lissa...I only recieved it this morning...and within about 2 hours of being "in" the tank, the angler was "fishing", I held a piece of krill infront of him...he didnt want it, I tried that about 3 times more..nothing...then the angler ate the firefish(i was kinda glad...I hope the zoa/LPS eating peppermint is next)...so I think the angler is full enough for now....I will offer him krill again in the tomorrow(throughout the day)...IS KRILL OK? or do i need "shrimp"(I thought krill was shrimp)?
If I can not feed him in 3 days...I will buy 2 chromis and hopefully he can catch one.


So far...this angler seems more like a dog than fish......He is always facing the outside of the tank(I think he likes TV). He walks around slowly, stopping all the time to sniff around....and he doesnt move when something, or even my hand, is near him...I think I could pick him up before he would try to move

 

[ellebelle]

You might want to PM Dom (domboski) about his anglers. I think (though I am not 100% certain) that one of his anglers eats frozen foods without too many problems but the other one does not. He feeds them chromis, minnows and other live foods. But he can tell you waaay more than I can. Brendan (Chiefmcfuz) also had one for a while and he could probably give you more information too.

 

[rookie07]

thanks lissa

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Anything that will fit in his mouth is fair game and he will eat. Don't let them touch the open air or they can swallow the air and have a tough time expelling it. Silversides are good, thaw them out and put them on the end of a feeding stick and wiggle them in front of him so it looks like it's alive and slowly bring it closer and eventually he will go for it. Live food is the most desirable so I used to feed mine damsels and chromis. It is not selective in it's diet if a fish gets too close to it it will eat it. It will also go after and bite fish bigger than it is and can kill them. It was suggested to me and I suggest this to anyone with anglers to set up a species only tank and keep it separate from other fish unless you want those fish to be lunch. Also keep in mind these fish like to perch on corals and live rock and can irritate them and even kill them because it sits on them for long periods of time.

They are great fish and I miss mine quite a bit. They get expensive until you can get them onto frozen foods but they need a live treat every once in a while.

Oh and a little note I would feed ghost shrimp to mine that was gut loaded with mysis shrimp but that requires you to set up a small fw critter keeper and feed the shrinp ghost shrimp the mysis then scoop them out and feed them to the angler.