Paris updates (burrfish)

[Myaj]

Oh, I know, I should have photos.. but I've been waiting until I get her moved to the 75 and I've been working so much overtime that's been out of the question (although I've finally gathered up all the equipment and supplies to do it!).

Well, she's growing. And eating. And eating! This fish could eat 4 times a day and still want more!

Yesterday she ate 8 grasshoppers and 6 MTS snails (trust me, I tested them out, she has absolutely no trouble crunching those shells and loves them), and was still looking for more! I ended up giving her a nightcrawler a few hours later. I don't want to overfeed her, but man, I don't want to not feed her enough either! Generally she can eat 2 nightcrawlers in one sitting before she doesn't have a ton of interest in food anymore but she just never gets much of a belly bulge, like OraL said is the same with hers. At least her belly isn't sunken anymore. She's been dewormed 2x now, and I might still do a third try with Flubenol later on, just to see if I notice any change. The first two dewormings were Levimasole/Metronidazole soaked food.

She also eats New Life Spectrum Cichlid pellets (when she's in the mood), and absolutely adores the Massivore Delight food that just came out (I think its new?). Neither of those are a staple, just an ocassional snack. Her main diet is the snails (MTS or ramshorns when I have enough extra to harvest, really need to set up a breeding tank again) or nightcrawlers. I really want to try her on some shell on shrimp, but they look HUGE for such a little fish. Suppose I can chop them in half or thirds? Her being able to eat the MTS snails has been a real life saver, I can grab a handful out of my one planted tank that is seriously infested with them, toss them in and she'll hunt down every one. No matter how picky she's being, she never turns down a snail.

She's still in the 20H for now, but I recently added a skimmer to the tank to help try and make it a bit more stable/comfortable for her in the mean time. I'm having fun trying to adjust this thing and will stand there just staring at the bubbles. Yeah, it doesn't take much to amuse me. I'm not sure what I'll do when I move her to the 75, use my current skimmer or end up buying a larger one (this one was initially purchased for my small reef setup and only does up to 65 gallons). Probably use this one for now then buy a bigger one as she grows, after I work some more overtime!

She gave me a scare the other afternoon.. was swimming normally, begging for food, then she'd go nose down, tail up and start spinning like a top! Did it multiple times, it was almost like she passed out and got trapped in a whirlpool current! Did a quick water change and she immediately stopped and hasn't done it since. I have no idea if it was a new "trick" or if there was something wrong, but as usual, clean water saved the day.

Anyways, I'm hoping to have her in the 75 by the end of next weekend! I just need to move the fish out of that tank (still rearranging my other tanks) and pick up some base rock, and of course drain and remove all the old planted substrate and refill with new substrate, rocks, etc... oh boy, "just" is a huge understatement!

[crazedpuffer]

Aww I can't wait to see pics.

[hoover]

Hi Myaj Lovely looking fish if its the one in your avatar.I agree with you regarding the appetite of burrfish mine (dougal) is basically an aquatic dustbin eats anything that goes in the tank whether its meant for him or the other fish
The food he eats currently are Marine flake,spirulina flake,frozen marine mix,frozen chopped cockle,frozen mysis shrimp,frozen krill,Shelled prawn,shrimp,mussel,cockle,and squid rings he has nt turned his nose up at anything yet,i think if i let him he would eat until he exploded.He has an incredible appetite and sometimes when you walk close to the tank he will squirt water out at you to get your attention.I wish you all the best when you move him into the bigger tank,will he be on his own or with other fish.
Chris

[Myaj]

Thanks Hoover, yes, that is Paris in my avatar.

She's a bit more picky about what she eats, but she'll eat a ton of it! I tried feeding her shell on shrimp last night and she just kept spitting water at me, that's the first time she's done that. She did take a few bites, but was far more interested in trying to hit my hand with the spitting!

Now the Figure 8 and turgidus both really liked the shrimp.. surprises me that she wasn't too happy with it. She had fun chomping on it and dragging it around the tank but didn't really eat any. And it made the skimmer go nuts!

[Troender]

That is the fish of my dreams! That is the fish that makes me want to go marine. I've envied you your burrfish for a long time. Someday, maybe...

[Troender]

What tank size would you think suitable for a burrfish like that? I am dreaming about it, and wonder if I can use any of the tanks I have now.

[spoot]

Troender, These burrfish get to about 12", so I'd suggest something with a minimum depth (front to back) of 18" for turning room. A standard 75g I think is as low as I would go if I couldn't afford anything bigger.

[Myaj]

Yes, i'm using a 75 with a sump that will add about another 20 gallons of water volume.

Well, she's still in Qtine.. gotta get that 75 changed over ASAP, she's getting big!

[spoot]

Myaj, pictures. Please

[Myaj]

Awww, can't you wait till she's moved? Hehe.

Got some base rock on order, it should be in Friday. The store was out *eyeroll*. I want her moved next weekend for sure.

[spoot]

haha, fine....but there'd better be a lot after she's in her nice new home

[Myaj]

Oh there will be. Actually, I just might take a few of her in Qtine yet to show how much weight she's put on.

[spoot]

...i mean

[Myaj]

Okay, so I took a few quick photos today but with the flash, they just don't look great.

At least you can see the weight she's put on. I doubt she'll every completely fill in that "dip", but compared to older photos (look at the spots) you can see how much her body has actually filled out.

[manutius]

hehe she is cool and beautiful too