just got a potters angel!!!

[reefNewbie]

My first fish, in addition to the damsels! My tank has finally cycled so i went out and bought one of these beautiful creatures. One problem though. I feel like an idiot. I didnt want to put any of the LFS water into my tank, so after properly acclimating the angel, I netted him out of the bag. Well turns out taht was stupid, cause he got his face caught in the net. I freed him in under a minute, very carefully without hurting him or his fins. But i just noticed no on his upper dorsal fin near the back a sort of bubble in his skin, on the fin. I cant really tell what it is cause hes moving around too much. Its not like a bubble, just looks like his skin is raised or something. Like a ripple in his fin. But thats not where he was stuck in the net and its not ick cause its not white. So i dont no even what it is. Anyone have any suggestions, will he be alright!

 

[wombat1]

Well if it's just a ripped fin he should recover fine. It's way easier and safer to use a glass cup when catching fish. Do you have any macroalgae in your tank??? Potter's are one of the hardest pygmy angels to keep, and they need green algae to survive. They are strict herbivores and will starve rather than eat meaty foods. I would do alot of reading and get your hands on some different species of green algae for him to eat.

 

[reefNewbie]

yes, i did do some reading on them. it did say that they do like to eat algae but it also said they would eat different variety of frozen meaty goods. it also said its hard to get them to eat at first but over time if your lucky they will eat most anything u feed them.

 

[wombat1]

Depends on your fish. Some people get lucky enough to have them eat meaty foods. The LFS here had one for a year in a clam tank that would eat only macroalgae and a little nori. Good luck!!

 

[Lazyreefer1]

well if its your first fish after those damsels it will probally die. Potters are hard to keep. Do a little research if you care. If it dies get a CoRAL Beauty. Nice looking fish for under $20. I have killed 2 Potter's, but 1 did live for 2 years

 

[Emperator]

a healthy potters will eat anything. i have had mine for 14months and he eats flake, frozen and live foods with gusto. mine prefers flake over any other type of food, go figure. potters do not eat macroalgaes, they will, however, eat microalgae by rasping it off rock and the glass. potters, imo, do best in mature tanks, so good luck with your guy. if he eats, he should do fine.

it is best to quarantine all new fish in a separate tank and make sure they are eating before releasing them into your display.

i agree with the above post, ditch the net and use a plastic cup to extract new fish from the bag.

 

[Anonymous]

My Potter's is more of a herbivore. It will eat some of almost anything I feed the tank, but the only things he really gets into are nori sheets and veggie flakes. He also picks at the rocks and substrate constantly. I have had him for nearly a year now and it is one of my favorites. Wish I could post a picture, his coloring favors the darker blue compared to others I have seen with more orange. I love the velvety sheen of a healthy Potter's.

To address the original post, I'm sure the little ouchie will heal OK, the main issue is whether or not it will adapt to life in the new tank (especially since it is a NEW tank). Part of the formula for success with dwarf angels seems to be the availability of snacks on established live rock. Be sure to offer plenty of veggies, mine started out eating nori exclusively and very slowly adapted to other foods. Good luck!

 

[reefNewbie]

alright guys, thanks for all our input. BTW it was said that a coral beauty is for under 20 dollars? My LFS sells them small for 32.99, my potters angel was 45 dollars and hes about 1.5-2 inches. is that too much money? I do trust my LFS guy and he always gives me discounts. Hes been in the bussness for over 30 years and successfully keeps over 50 tanks full of reefs and fish. He seemed to think that the potters would do fine in my tank. I did read that they like well established water, but my water( i just tested) was actually really good. I no i dont have all the algae he needs so i figured i would get some veggies in addition to the flakes/brine that he might not eat right away. thanks

 

[Anonymous]

$45 for a Potters is about right. I've seen them as low as mid-$30s and and high as $60. $32 for a coral beauty is a little steep, unless the specimen is exceptionally good looking and healthy, or possibly a Tonga variety (usually much more purple coloration).


-John

 

[reefNewbie]

yea, he was very purple.

 

[Emperator]

prices really depend on the location. if you find a healthy potters that is eating for $45, i would consider that a steal. around $30 would be average (at a lfs) for a coral beauty. however, i have seen then go for as low as $10.

as for flake, don't feed brine flake, they are not nutritious. go for spirulina flakes and/or formula 2 flakes.

hth

 

[Anonymous]

Frozen 'Angel Formula' is also a good bet, since it's high in sponge matter.

 

[ErikS]

A el-cheapo fish tranfer device is two tupperware containers (the kind you store leftovers in). Take one & drill a few holes in the bottom. Nest the two together (w/o holes on the outside) & when you get some new live stock dump it directly into the container(s). Acclimate as usual, when that's done remove the inner container & dump the fish into the tank. No store water transfered & no damage to the livestock.

 

[jeddy]

yep, I use a plastic strainer. Same idea.
Jim

 

[XXX]

Emperator: Is that a gorg next to the Potter's with the blue polyps? Difficult to tell in the pic. Wow!!!

 

[reefNewbie]

well i have tried flakes and brine so far, still wont eat, picky bastard. Hes been swimming around a lot picking at all my LR. I guess im gonna have to go buy some algae to attach to some rocks for him to munch on....any other ideas?

 

[Emperator]

yep its a blue gorg type animal next to the potters. it was doing great when i target fed it phyto and gp's, however, due to excessive nutrients from target feeding i stopped and you can see that it began to recede from the tips.

i gave it to a reefer that doesn't mind target feeding daily.

as for the potter's it will come around when it gets hungry enough. are you feeding live or frozen brine?

 

[reefNewbie]

it is frozen brine.

 

[reefNewbie]

YAY, he ate some Spirulina flake food today!