What fish/invert does the worst in aquaria

[A Toadstool Leather]

With so many advances in caring for sensitive marine life what creatures still do not do well in our tanks? I am talking about stuff that almost no one is able to care for long term, not just stuff that is hard to keep. Anemones and sps are regarded as hard to keep but some people manage to keep them thriving for years.

 

[Mr. Bill]

Sea Stars. Very choice few survive longer than 6 - 8 months, which is about how long one takes to die from starvation.

 

[jamesgaines]

great white shark longest time one has been kept is 198 days

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Sea Stars. Very choice few survive longer than 6 - 8 months, which is about how long one takes to die from starvation.

My sand sifting sea star is two years old, it was almost eaten by a red reef lobster too at around 1 year old. I've only had it 2 years but there's no telling how old it actually is considering most of them are collected.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

Is anyone keeping crinoids long term?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Several pelagic species cannot be kept in an aquarium no matter how big it is. Leatherback Sea Turtles, Blue and Mako Sharks, and Billfish are the first things I think of when considering this subject. In home aquaria, some species such as Basket and Feather Stars (Crinoids), Squid and Nautiluses, and even some specific types of corals are notoriously difficult to care for long term and have a high failure rate in aquariums. For that reason, many people will say they should just be left alone and stay in the ocean.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

I say that nps corals aside from sun corals and dendros have a very high failure rate. Feeding corals like gorgonians is hard enough, but they need to be fed constantly which pollutes the water.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Several pelagic species cannot be kept in an aquarium no matter how big it is. Leatherback Sea Turtles, Blue and Mako Sharks, and Billfish are the first things I think of when considering this subject. In home aquaria, some species such as Basket and Feather Stars (Crinoids), Squid and Nautiluses, and even some specific types of corals are notoriously difficult to care for long term and have a high failure rate in aquariums. For that reason, many people will say they should just be left alone and stay in the ocean.

Feather stars are so cool though. To be honest they should be left alone though.

 

[saltyhog]

Crinoids would be my first thought as well.

Starfish are difficult but not impossible. I have a Blue Linckia that I've had for over 4 years and is still doing well.

In fish, mandarins can be easy in the right tank but you have to consider their tankmates. I don't think I could ever keep one with all my Haliochoeres and leopard wrasses. Obligate corallivores such as orange spotted filefish and some butterflies are another. Difficult but not impossible.

 

[mort]

Is anyone keeping crinoids long term?

I had one for 4 years when I first began. Not one of the really impressive massive ones but a small green species that came as a hitchhiker. It seems 4 years is a pretty decent time for an aquarium specimen which is a shame considering they can live for decades if not centuries.

 

[mort]

I say that nps corals aside from sun corals and dendros have a very high failure rate. Feeding corals like gorgonians is hard enough, but they need to be fed constantly which pollutes the water.

Blueberry gorgonian is one species that seems doomed. Even with really heavy feeding I could only keep mine in a not dying not growing state for a year. I lost it when my mini brittlestars bloomed and stopped it opening up.

 

[psidriven]

Most of the nice looking nudibranches. Basically anything that's hard to feed correctly.

 

[Gloryofthereef]

None of my customers ever did well with flower pot coral (goniopora), I see people out there fragging and selling them, but I gotta wonder if anyone has truly done well with one for over 2 years.

 

[Paul B]

Sea pens, sea apples, sea fans and scallops.

 

[hart24601]

None of my customers ever did well with flower pot coral (goniopora), I see people out there fragging and selling them, but I gotta wonder if anyone has truly done well with one for over 2 years.

The ORA red ones have been in captivity for a long time now, maybe over a decade now?

My 1st thought was feather stars and some NPS as well. At least for livestock we see in the hobby that doesn't do well.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Most of the nice looking nudibranches. Basically anything that's hard to feed correctly.

Its a shame too since they are so pretty. Where I live we get these cool looking nudibranches called spanish shawl nudibranch

 

[mort]

None of my customers ever did well with flower pot coral (goniopora), I see people out there fragging and selling them, but I gotta wonder if anyone has truly done well with one for over 2 years.

It's the goniopora stokesi that give goni's a bad name. These are the near impossible to keep species but some of the others are pretty easy like the encrusters. I've had a couple for 6-7 years now and don't target feed or anything, just stuck them down and forgot about them. They admittedly aren't the quickest growers.

 

[BigJohnny]

Coralivores like orange spotted filefish and orange masked butterflyflish.