Scribbled rabbitfish

jenjen · Jul 5, 2016

I got a scribbled rabbitfish from a great LFS. When I got it, it was on its way up from 2 weeks in hypo. I brought it all the way up in QT then did TTM. I've had him 5 weeks.

He's looking great and eating great (Nori, Mysis and pellet). He's ready to go into the DT as far as I'm concerned but he's still super shy. He does come out to eat, but otherwise basically stays hidden any time I come in the room. If I sneak in he is out and about, but ducks and covers as soon as he sees me.

I'm restocking after a major system wipe out and am really cautious to add extra stress to the tank or any fish. Looking for opinions whether it's better to leave him in QT until he's more adventurous or if trying him in an acclimation box seems like an ok idea.

I have 2 juvenile tangs (yellow & striated) and 2 dwarf angels who run the show, though none of them has been agressive to new fish so far.

Thanks

NeuroticAquatics · Jul 5, 2016

I'd throw it in. I've always figured that fish will figure things out. I've had really skittish fish in QT that never hid once there were other fish around. I've also seen it go the other way.

jenjen · Jul 5, 2016

Terrible quality cell pic, but look why came out for a photo op. Maybe he heard me talking about him

4FordFamily · Jul 5, 2016

I doubt you'll have any issues but social acclimation boxes are rarely a bad idea

Quah · Jul 5, 2016

Like @4FordFamily said acclimation boxes always help but all rabbitfish seem to be timid but also hold their own very well due to those venomous spines. My Foxface runs the show, whenever threatened he throws up his fins. When he was in QT he was very shy and hid constantly once in the DT having the other fish around definitely seemed to have brought him out of his shell.

jenjen · Jul 7, 2016

Thanks for all the input everyone! I added him this evening. I put him in a box about an hour before lights out, then released him about 30 mins after the halides went out. Actincs are still on for just over an hour.

The 2 tangs are agitated, racing around the tank but he flashes his spines every time the get close and they leave. None of the other fish seem to care too much.

Fingers crossed this is it. He's such a great fish.. I've grown so attached to him already!

jenjen · Jul 7, 2016

Cell phone pics and actincs.. so bad!

eatbreakfast · Jul 7, 2016

Many times fish are far more skittish in qt than in dt. Not having any other fish in qt can be stressful. When other fish are not out in the wild, that is a cue that a predator is around, which will make a fish skittish.