Saltwater Pilot Fish!

[Seratuki]

Hello all

I have a 55 US gallon saltwater aquarium...I'd had some Ich probs a while back, so I've not added more fish since..but my fiancee saw this pilot fish at the LFS and he purchased it... After arriving home we did some research and quickly returned the fish to the LFS with a few choice words as to what they were selling!!
Anyway...I've added some more shrimp and snails and I wondered, my fiancee seems to love the odd looking things, cowfish, boxfish, pilot fish ect...and I always hate to have to tell him we cn't have the fish he wants in our tank...
Ae there any odd looking fish that are reff compatible?
I've got 2 clown fish
butterfly fish
2 damsels

of course, I won't be adding fish for a few months yet as per advice...I've since told fiancee the same.


Thanks so much...

Sera

 

[Fish Fingers]

Not really too "odd", but puffers are interesting looking fish. Maybe you could consider buying a small one of them? Some species are known to be reef compatible, however it usually depends on the personality of the fish. However if you got one you damsels might harrass it.

 

[Mr Miagi]

If your Clowns are big enough, you could buy a predator Dwarf Lionfish. What about a leaf fish? They are odd. Both require individual feeding of live shrimp or can be slowly weened onto frozen meaty foods.

 

[steelhealr]

Just want to say I admire your ability to return the fish and be conscientious. WTG. SH

 

[Seratuki]

SH- Thanks...
I must admit that there was a part of me that thought.."wow, what a cool fish!" and wanted to keep it. But after dicovering that it wasn't even on Liveaquaria or on any other website with someone keeping it in there home tank...I figured that was a bad sign...
I then discovered it was also called a ramora? and that they live with sharks and whales...eat meat and parisites off the shark...they also get 3 feet long!!!!
I was just completely angry...this fish was doomed anyway right? several sites stated that public aquariums can't even keep these fish alive, and yet the LFS sold it to my fiancee for a home aquarium??? I just feel bad that he's going to end up with some other un-suspcting fish keeper and slowly waste away....

Apparently my fiancee said that the LFS didn't even know what it was and ordered it just to check it out...not even knowing what it ate or any of it's requirements!!!!
I must admit to purchasing fish in the past without much regard, but after this incedent, I've pretty much given up on that LFS and I research my purchases before hand...



Sera

 

[bunjiweb]

We had a remora come in at work accidently as It was called a "Pilot Fish".

When it arrived we instantly knew it wasnt suitable for a reef tank. Unforatunately we couldnt find anyone to take it, but luckily we found it a home at the Birmingham Sea-Life Centre where it lives in their Ocean Display with black-tip reef sharks and some giant green turtles.

I hope the one that you had gets to a good home, or gets taken to a public aquarium like ours was as they simply aren't suitable for the home aquaria! Good on you for taking it back.

Ben

 

[steelhealr]

True pilotfish aren't remoras but they are free swimming fish that 'lead the way' for larger fish/mammals. Pilots are commonly yellow in color with stripes. They grow very large and are difficult to keep. They had two at my lfs recently and they were elegant appearing fish. SH

 

[Seratuki]

Yes, they called it a pilot fish...but it was gray with white stripes...when I looked it up it was actually classed as a remora...is there a difference ?


Sera

 

[bunjiweb]

Often Remoras are called Pilot Fish as a common name but as steelhealr it is actually a different fish. This is how we ended up with one at work. If it was Grey with black/white stripes on its side then it is a remora.

Ben

 

[Seratuki]

Are Remora not tank compatible?
Just trying to make sure I undersrand......


Thankies.

Sera

 

[steelhealr]

This is the pilotfish that I am familiar with:

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_di...pcatid=1501&N=0


This is what I'd consider a 'remora':

http/www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...&articleid=1971
SH

 

[Aquascaper]

Remoras have a scaly plate on top of their heads which they use to attach themselves to the larger fish or whale. They hitch a free ride along with the fish and eat leftovers from the host as well as larger parasites on the host.

My LFS had one in a Trigon 190 which was a case of mistaken identity when ordered
(passed away very quickly)

As SH says the Pilot fish will swim in front of large fish and whales, riding on the pressure wave created by them as they swim through the water, and eat escaping krill, etc. that is trying to get away from the larger fish or whale