Chameleon/Flashing Tilefish

[sphelps]

hahah, I guess Kne must be one of the brothers

Can't wait to meet Nek

[Leah]

And it seems that his typing to fast is rather catchy!

[mr.wilson]

I agree that they need to be kept in a group of 3 or 5. They are a schooling fish that physiologically require to feed and swim in a group. If you buy just one, it will hide a lot and it will be a reluctant feeder. Of course there are exceptions, but in general they get skinny and die in solitary condition.

The skunk tilefish (H marcosi) and dusky tile (H cuniculus) are ugly ones that often get shipped as substitutes, but the purple tilefish (H. purpureus) is more colourful than the flasher, but the flasher is cool to watch. Bluehead tile (H Sytarki) is pretty colorful too. They will cross-school so you could mix and match.

They need caves to hide in, where they stay as a tight group. They are jumpers, so you should cover the tank for the first week. I start feeding with live food (baby guppies and baby brine), then transition them over to frozen meaty foods (frozen brine, plankton, krill).

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mr.wilson

I agree that they need to be kept in a group of 3 or 5. They are a schooling fish that physiologically require to feed and swim in a group. If you buy just one, it will hide a lot and it will be a reluctant feeder. Of course there are exceptions, but in general they get skinny and die in solitary condition.

The skunk tilefish (H marcosi) and dusky tile (H cuniculus) are ugly ones that often get shipped as substitutes, but the purple tilefish (H. purpureus) is more colourful than the flasher, but the flasher is cool to watch. Bluehead tile (H Sytarki) is pretty colorful too. They will cross-school so you could mix and match.

They need caves to hide in, where they stay as a tight group. They are jumpers, so you should cover the tank for the first week. I start feeding with live food (baby guppies and baby brine), then transition them over to frozen meaty foods (frozen brine, plankton, krill).

Thanks for your input! That's more info that the ole 'net came up with. I think I will continue my search for the perfect center piece fish.

[fishyfishyfishyfish]

3 or 5 is malarky. They are pairing fish and a pair will do just fine. I have a pair in a 125 and they are 4+ inches and I feed ONLY flake. They are, BTW, the nicest pair Ive ever seen... And they mostly glow a deep azure blue so to those who think the purples are more colorful- you are CRAZY! And mine change colors when they see me (food source obviously).

They also turn WAY MORE than just green and blue- white, yellow, orange, purple and pink are a few Ive seen personally. If you get to see them in the mood for a little mating then its even better... Though Ive never had any luck coming even close to breeding them.

They dont need babying or anything... except they are CRAZY skittish. Stand up from the couch abruptly and they will launch themselves if startled. Covered tank only.

They are EASY to keep if you meet these requirements-

100 gallon or bigger tank

3+ inches sand (they dive into it like bombs are exploding)

LOTS of cover

low light- I have 40 watts over the 125- thats it.

Mine eat flake from my fingers. A good high quality flake is the BEST food for your fish- sad but true. My entire tank is supposedly "carnivores" (wrasses, gobies, assessors, clowns- MOST ANYTHING) yet Ive only fed flake with bits of protein enhanced mysis on RARE occasion. Some fish do have fussy eating but 95% - its all about flake.

Sadly most information is to make money, not healthy fish!

Flashing tilefish are by far the best fish Ive seen in over 20 years...