The Bluespot Club

[Basser1]

Here's a pic of Polky waving his fin "hello" to your new Blue Spot!

[h20crazy]

Well, I did an hour and a half, I didn't touch him, I used a plastic bag to get him into the tank and just placed the mouth of the bag around the PVC and he backed up into it on his own. He is in the tank right now digging into the sand through the PVC pipe. He noticed me peeking in the PVC with the flashlight and he ducked as if he was trying to hide. Man I love my BS. I just hope he does well.

[Basser1]

Well, it looks like it's going good so far. Next you need to see if he is hungry. Polky eats like a pig, even flake food! Enjoy your BSJF!

[Dentoid]

H2O, he looks great! Congratulations! You are doing all the right things to make him feel comfortable and at home. It's a good thing that he is digging. That is what they do! My first BS didn't start digging for 3 days after I introduced her to the tank. I thought there was something wrong. Welcome back to the Club!

Basser, that picture is so cute!

Blue Spot Power!

[michael_cb_125]

Congrats on your new BSJF. They really are amazing fish.
Just a tip. I have NEVER acclimated a fish over 30 minutes. I agree with Craig on this one. I figure the bag water is far from quality. I acclimated for temp. Once temp is adjusted, I pour in cup after cup of tank water. Then I add the little fish to the tank. IMO Drip acclimating a fish is very stressful. Plus it is difficult to keep the temp stable in a bucket or plastic container.
~Michael

[h20crazy]

Thanks everyone.
He is doing great, checked on him this morning and he had dug his way out the side of the PVC and in his first burrow. He seems very aware and not too scared as he just sat there watching me. I will try to feed later today, normally I feed my tank with mysis and cyclopeeze, but I think I may throw in some small chunks of silversides just for him. If he eats, I guess I am almost in the safe zone. I have noticed that the temperature changes more the longer you acclimate, so on my corals I have only been doing half hour to 45 minutes. Just thought longer might be better(I guess I was wrong) on this fish. All the previous fish I have added I usually did an hour and a half. Not too worried on the fish section anymore as he is most likely the last addition to my 75G tank as I am not that big on having a lot of fish. I will keep the acclimation in mind for the fish I will add to my 55G though. Thanks.

[Dentoid]

They also have tunnel vision and will only take pieces of food that are water bourne and in front of them, if it falls to the bottom, I have found, my BS won't eat it. I turn off the pumps and drop small pieces of shrimp and squid into the tank over the burrow site and let it slowly sink. My BS comes out of his burrow to meet the food. I can only do this after lights out, with the moon lights, after the other fish have hunkered down for the night. Happy to hear he is doing well. Here is to your continued success!

[michael_cb_125]

I need to take a video of Jose eatting tonite. I think I will. He will swim from end to end of the tank chasing food in the current.

[Dentoid]

Michael, your BS is very outgoing and I was wondering why, then it dawned on me, you don't have any fish that are bigger than him in your tank. That is why he doesn't stay in his burrow, he is not intimidated by the other tankmates.

My BS will come out of his burrow at night when the other fish are all behind the rockrwork and asleep. Other times, he only darts in and out of his burrow.

[michael_cb_125]

That is the case now. But what about when I had an exquisite wrasse(4 inches) and mean PBT (4 inches) and a HUGE LTA.
All of those were bigger than Jose, and pretty aggressive (hulio the Powder Blue Tang was VERY aggressive). He was out and about just as much then. I even saw Jose Bite Hulio and shake his head like a pit bull. I know know the lack of larger fish is a possible reason, but previously he was the same outgoing little guy. I guess we will see how it goes when I get him in the 240.
~Michael

[h20crazy]

So.. I already have some more good news. My Dirty Harry is eating. I tried to feed him mysis, he only got 2 pieces because the other fish wouldn't let the food get to him. So, I chopped up some silverside and actually was able to stick my hand about 5" from his burrow and drop the chunks to him. He had about 5 small chunks before he grabbed the 6th one and spit it back out at me. I guess that meant he was full. He seems only intimidated by my Canary wrasse(Slappy) I guess because that is the biggest fish in the tank almost 4" Other than that everything seems great. He is not scared by me coming close to the tank, so I guess its a good thing. I was able to pull the PVC out of his way as he is no longer using it now that he has made his burrow outside of it.

So... here is his living area(dead center in the tank):
And this is him in his burrow after eating

BTW: I noticed the tunnel vision when I dropped a piece of silverside and he looked away and it just dropped to his feet and he didn't see it at all. I know now they can't see too well.

Michael, hope to see your Jose at feeding time video.

[michael_cb_125]

I tend to disagree. I think that they have great vision. Anytime someone walks into the fish room, Jose swims directly to the front of the glass. If it is me he will stay at the front and follw me around. If it is anyone else he will swim to the back of the tank, or somewhere else. He CAN distinguish between me and other people. Plus BSJF are very aware of what is going on around them. A fish can not have poor eyesight and be so aware of their surroundings.

I am glad to hear that your new guy is doing so well. What type of covering do you have over your tank?
~Michael

[goldenmean]

H2O - congrats on the new BS.
Very handsome fishy!

[h20crazy]

Thanks.
I'm not too sure if I should be too worried about a cover. He is not being bothered, and my tank is acrylic with euro-bracing on most of the top, except for 2-15"X7" openings. There is a canopy and he seems to be doing very well. I have some fish netting I might cut and use for those openings though.

He is building his burrow at a very fast rate and using some rocks I didn't think he could move.

[h20crazy]

Actually, I am cutting the fish netting at this moment and putting it up as soon as I am done, figured I better not risk it since it is their biggest cause of death.