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Anonymous
Guest
Can't find much about it, other than that it's very reclusive. I've never seen one before, and I just happened upon one today. $9!!! Anyone kept one of these guys? Aggressive towards other fish? Shrimp eaters?
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Anonymous
Guest
According to Scott Michael:
Genus Belonepterygion (Spiny Basslets)
"
"Until recently, this genus was placed in the Family Acanthoclinidae along with three other genera. But after extensive study, Mooi(1993) lowered this family to the subfamily status within the Plesiopidae. Most members of that subfamily Acanthoclininae are residents of the temperate waters around New Zealand. But there are four species, representing two different genera, known to occur on coral reefs. I have encountered one of these, the Banded Spiny Basslet (Belonepterygion fasciolatum), in aquarium stores. All of the members of this subfamily are very reclusive and are seldom seen by divers. They are a rare commodity in the marine fish trade.
The Banded Spiny Basslet is brown with narrow, dark bars on its body, orange on the lower part of the head and a white stripe from the eye to the pectoral fin. In some specimens, the dorsal and anal fin are bright red or orange. This species is known from Australia to southern Japan and attains a maximum length of 5 cm (2 in.). It is an extremely cryptic species that is not suitable for most aquariums because of its secretive nature. For example, I placed two Banded Spiny Basslets in different aquariums, both of which were medium-sized and contained numerous pieces of live rock. I never saw them again, while I located the other one by accident when I removed a piece of live rock in which it was hiding. It was in good condition and had apparently been feeding on small creatures associated with the live rock. If you do find one of these attractive little fish and decide to purchase it, you should place it in a smaller (e.g. 10 gallon) species tank (i.e. a tank devoted to only this fish) with several smaller pieces of live rock for it to hide among. Place a red incadescent bulb or low wattage "moon light" over the tank at night, when all the other lights are off and you may be able to observe it slinking around the tank decor. You may even see it dart out to snatch a passing morsel at feeding time."
But you already knew that. :wink:
mario
Genus Belonepterygion (Spiny Basslets)
"
"Until recently, this genus was placed in the Family Acanthoclinidae along with three other genera. But after extensive study, Mooi(1993) lowered this family to the subfamily status within the Plesiopidae. Most members of that subfamily Acanthoclininae are residents of the temperate waters around New Zealand. But there are four species, representing two different genera, known to occur on coral reefs. I have encountered one of these, the Banded Spiny Basslet (Belonepterygion fasciolatum), in aquarium stores. All of the members of this subfamily are very reclusive and are seldom seen by divers. They are a rare commodity in the marine fish trade.
The Banded Spiny Basslet is brown with narrow, dark bars on its body, orange on the lower part of the head and a white stripe from the eye to the pectoral fin. In some specimens, the dorsal and anal fin are bright red or orange. This species is known from Australia to southern Japan and attains a maximum length of 5 cm (2 in.). It is an extremely cryptic species that is not suitable for most aquariums because of its secretive nature. For example, I placed two Banded Spiny Basslets in different aquariums, both of which were medium-sized and contained numerous pieces of live rock. I never saw them again, while I located the other one by accident when I removed a piece of live rock in which it was hiding. It was in good condition and had apparently been feeding on small creatures associated with the live rock. If you do find one of these attractive little fish and decide to purchase it, you should place it in a smaller (e.g. 10 gallon) species tank (i.e. a tank devoted to only this fish) with several smaller pieces of live rock for it to hide among. Place a red incadescent bulb or low wattage "moon light" over the tank at night, when all the other lights are off and you may be able to observe it slinking around the tank decor. You may even see it dart out to snatch a passing morsel at feeding time."
But you already knew that. :wink:
mario
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Anonymous
Guest
I did 
It's hiding right now, but I can still see it. I'll let ya know what happens...
It's hiding right now, but I can still see it. I'll let ya know what happens...
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Anonymous
Guest
I'm really most curious if I can add it in with my small shrimp. It has that dottyback mouth to it...
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Anonymous
Guest
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Anonymous
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How small, is your small shrimp? I'm guessing these are pod predators, so if you have a decent population there probably won't be a problem. Just don't let it get too hungry.
mario
mario
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Anonymous
Guest
Very small. Bumblebee shrimp. I'm not too overly concerned about losing those though. I also have a small porcelain crab, those Urocaridella shrimp, and some harlequin shrimp. I think those are big enough.
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Anonymous
Guest
If it was me I'd ween it to very small shreds of shrimp, squid, mussels, etc. as soon as possible to see if it won't be a tad bit more sociable.
I didn't see anything about a covered tank though.
I'd be of the opinion that these guys might be inclined to go carpet surfing when startled.
mario
I didn't see anything about a covered tank though.
I'd be of the opinion that these guys might be inclined to go carpet surfing when startled.
mario
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Anonymous
Guest
It certainly looks like a jumper. And I would be putting it in an open topped tank. Right now it's in a covered refugium. Maybe I'll just leave it there. Defeats the purpose of the fuge but what the hey, it's a cool fish.
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Anonymous
Guest
It comes out at night, and during the day when the lights are off. My lights come on at noon. I just fed the tank and saw it cruising about in the fuge and snatching pieces of flake. Far away from the rockwork. Cool lookin' fish.
Still doing OK as far as I can tell....just saw it very briefly today for the first time since the last post in April :roll: This guy and my blue striped pipefish are killing me. I see them very very rarely, make sure they have full bellies, and go about my business. But nobody knows I even have fish in the tank I guess I need a clown or something.
I guess I need a clown or something.Sponsor Reefs
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