I just bought a Siamese Sweetlips...need advice...

[mkdema]

I got a juvenile siamese sweetlips and was wondering if anyone has ever kept one of these fish, how long it has lived for and any advice you can give on the care of the fish itself...

I have done my research and know it is hard to care for, but I'm looking for other reefkeepers advice.

Thanks in advance...

 

[André Neto]

Hi Dema,...

This fish is very shine when young and there's a lot of problems to accept manufacturer food, so you can complete the diet with sea food like crustaceans, mollusc, fish and algae grinding in little piaces, this is good for all fishes too.

I hoop that I had help you and sorry about my English, my Portuguese is better.

Cordially,...

André Neto

 

[mkdema]

Thanks

I just introduced the sweetlips into the tank (a 29 gallon fish only with 2 banggi cardinals) and the first thing he did was swin eagerly to the bottom of the tank and start eating stuff off the bottom of the tank...

I tried to supplement him with some whole waterfleas but he doesn't seem to notice them, although he seems to be pretty happy where he is.

It's an amazing fish to watch and the patterns are breath-taking. I really hope I can get him to eat and keep him alive because he is just an awesome fish.

The other thing I'm wondering about is how big he's going to get assuming he starts to eat and stays healthy. What is their max size?

 

[witchdoctor]

They are carnivores, so you'll have to induce a feeding response (which is, of course, the hard part). You can try mysis shrimp, or maybe chopped up fresh shrimp.

I would have hoped that maximum size is something you found during your research, but it gets BIG. Maximum size is around 30 inches (yes, that's 2 1/2 feet). You should start to see the color change to adult coloration once it gets to around 4-5 inches in length. Here is an adult specimen in the wild.

Good luck with the fish, it is like the dalmation of the marine aquarium. Really cute as juveniles, but many are doomed when their owners realize they don't stay puppies.

[ January 07, 2002: Message edited by: witchdoctor ]</p>