The Bluespot Club

[Craig Manoukian]

I want to express my condolences to all who hae lost their BSJF. I finally made it through the 77 pages and 1155 posts!

I have to express how disheartened I am at the unbelievably high mortality rate of this thread. I think more than 15 of these fish have been lost by RS members, although I didn't make an accurate count. I think it should be made very clear that these fish are probably not the best candidates for this hobby. Even some of the most experienced reefers, experts in my book, have not been successful.

I am sorry if I have rained on the parade and kudos to those of you who still have your original fish. I don't want to dampen or discount the the exchange of information on what can be done to lower the mortality rate, but the rate is too high in my opinion and well above any reasonable risk/reward - not good conservation I would say.

[canadiensfan]

Craig -
Please note that I agree with you before reading my resopnse! Wanted to say that in case it's lost in translation in my response...

I agree with your assessment that the dismal success rate makes the BSJF's suitability for captivity questionable. Unfortunately, many resources that people use to research fish are calling them moderate or even easy care/hardiness fish. Up until my owning a BSJF, I did my reef inhabitant research in books and on trusted websites (facts/articles - not forums). Because of this thread, and this fish I will now research for anecdotal info on forums as well before making selections. If we lose this fish, I have no intention of purchasing another one. Even though we REALLY enjoy our BSJF, I can't in good conscience recommend anybody go out and buy one. I suppose that makes me a hypocrite, but hindsight is 20/20...

That said, I think that it is great that there is a thread with people giving honest accounts of their experiences with this fish (you also say this in your post). People are sharing what is working, what is not working, and hopefully we are learning from it. If I had found this thread prior to purchasing our BS, I wouldn't have bought him...but since I didn't, I will continue to post here, sharing my experiences. I hope that others will continue to post as well.

Just because they aren't necessarily suitable for captivity does not mean that collectors will stop taking them from the ocean, nor does it mean that people will quit buying them. Many without researching them at all before buying... For that reason, the more info that those of us who do own them, and are doing our best to make them thrive in our tanks, can get out there, the better.

That's all...

[lcstorc]

So sorry to hear another blue was lost.
Great pic of a gorgeous fish canadiensfan.
He looks very happy.

Lorraine I am going to have to check out this Florida Keys thing. My LFS has a new supplier that is bringing stuff in directly from the keys now. Straight from the dive boat to a holding tank to my lfs. A lot less stress on the fish. If he can get a bluespot from there I may just try again. I still think shipping stress was the problem with the one blue I lost. Everything I have read though says they come from the gulf of California. Very interresting. I can at least ask anyway.
With that said I won't get a new one until I have a more suitable tank set up for them. If I do it will be a combo bluespot seahorse tank since they both like the cooler water and the blue likes open expanses of sand while the ponies like their hitching posts. The ponies shouldn't stress out the blue with too much activity and visa versa. I thing the combo could just work. Still in the long term planning stages though so I will keep learning from everyone else for now.

[rebekwl]

Originally Posted by bluespotjawfish

I was talking with a guy from a local reefer's club about Bluespots. According to him, late August is the best time for collection. The ones off the Florida Keys (didn't even know they were there) are the best to get. When they are collected at other times of the year, they often sit overcrowded in a tub for a long time. He says there are often problems with the ones from Mexico (something about them getting too hot). He explained in detail how they catch them, it is pretty cool and easy! They can collect a thousand of them at a time. They set up several PVC tubes with net bottoms in an area. When they are ready to harvest, they just tap on something and all the BSJF go running to hide in their PVC tubes, then they just lift up the pvc tubes. Now none of this has any reference to go off of, but he does go out a few times a year and collects fish with a shrimping boat (takes what they catch in the net and stuff and nurses it back to health). They get a lot of Dusky Jawfish too. I suppose like other tails told in a garage sitting in front of a 600 gallon tub of stingrays and such, there is some BS to the stories that he has, but it was a really cool end to a horrible day. I got there at feeding time and got to pet the stingray that he rescued from a net (what a ham)! Not to mention the outstanding bargain on blue-legged crabs I got.

Anyway, Lynn, you might investigate this more since you are out that way and see what you come up with.

Jaws 2 still reporting for duty ~ Stubborn as ever about eating!

Hey everyone! Lorraine, that's they guy I was telling you about before. We have purchased alot of rock from him, he even came to our house to help us set up our sump. He's a great guy, very helpful and is in it because he loves the hobby, not just for the $ like alot of others! I have not been to see the sting ray's yet, I bet they are awesome!

Glad to hear that Jaws 2 is eating well! YAY!

Good luck to everyone with their blue spots. I love this thread but may never be brave enough to have one.

[aquaman3680]

Craig, i agree with you in every way. I think until we can come up with a much better way to house these fish long term there is no point in killing more. But i guess to find ways you have to have them. I will not purchase another one. Perhaps when they figure out how to captive breed them i will buy another.

Matt

[bluespotjawfish]

Aquaman - Sorry for your loss!

Canad. - Great pic! He looks awesome!

Reb - I had so much fun, you got to go see his rays! He is going to set up a few large tanks outdoors too later in the summer. The stingray is going to SeaBase which will be awesome with the nursesharks too. Do you dive? He will love all the attention he will get from the divers that certify there.

Craig - I probably wouldn't be so stubborn on my pursuit of these guys if I had not had them successfully (with no prior understanding of their needs) for 8 years until now. I am totally stumped with the probs people have had, especially myself. Times change...health of populations change...evolution happens...hurricanes...global warming...I don't know... However, at the same time there are probably plenty of fish that you would keep that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. I'm not sure what fish you keep so this is a general statement and not personal. I may give up on these guys, but don't know yet. I do think this forum has value. We have tried real hard to capture on our front page information about each fish, where it was acquired, how long it lived, and likely cause of death, etc. This doesn't require anyone to read 77 pages to see our experiences. However, the entire 78 pages should be read by anyone who really wants to pursue these guys.

Lynn - I like the idea of the pony/BS combo tank. The guy I visited had some awesome ponies in addition to his rays. They were adorable, fat and sassy! Of course they are well fed! I don't know how he keeps the temp low in the garage, but the water is cold ~ unbelievable! I'm still not brave enough to try this on my own, so you will have to be the brave one. I'm glad my 30 gallon tank where Jaws 2 is stays cool. I just have a small compact light on it. He now has a few friends a few blue-legged crabs and a monster snail. Hopefully that will keep the tank cleaner since he doesn't eat the food sometimes. I could also keep a cool tank in my basement ~ it is frigid and about the same temp summer and winter! But I don't go down there much so it would be neglected.

[Craig Manoukian]

It would be interesting to know where Dentoid's aka Scott's BSJF was harvested from as he is having great success with Dotty.

We have to remember that this hobby like all business is driven by supply and demand. Until there is a very clear path of success, complete with where and how the BSJF are caught, at what temperatures they live as they mature, what environment and animal husbandry protocol is known, we should all wait on acquiring these beautiful creatures. JMHO.

[bluespotjawfish]

I'm not sure if Scott ever asked Jeff's Exotic Fish (now Oscars) where they harvested Dotty from but I doubt they really know. I have purposefully gotten mine from difference sources, both locally and online including one from Jeff's that didn't make it. Not to say that even though they came from different suppliers that they all weren't harvested in the exact same place. I also wish I understood more about what they can tolerate as far as treatments go (like the hyposalinity treatments). I did the hyposalinity on Jaws 2 but because he looked so aweful and wasn't eating I aborted it. I haven't seen any ich on him since I did the treatment, but not sure that means anything. Some of my BSs were definitely lost to ich (as were all of my other fish but one).

I do think it is unbelievable that Dotty has fallen on the floor a few times and is still thriving. But, actually that is what I expect of these guys based on my years of keeping them!

BTW, they have been bred in captivity but not for years now.

[Craig Manoukian]

Captive bread should be the first option for sure. ORA has certainly picked up speed and positively impacted this hobby.

[bluespotjawfish]

I wish someone would do this again for BSs too.

[kathywithbirds]

Originally Posted by canadiensfan

Unfortunately, many resources that people use to research fish are calling them moderate or even easy care/hardiness fish.

... I will continue to post here, sharing my experiences. I hope that others will continue to post as well.

Craig, Canadiens and everybody else -- I've only been into this for a few months now and have gotten the best advice most consistently on this forum, (couple other forums are good too, MUCH less trafficked though). I have been amazed to walk into a LFS and be able to converse (somewhat) intelligently about salt stuff, and have even been better informed on a few things than LFS employees! Well, maybe that last one's not a big claim to fame. But I am grateful to all the knowledgable people here who offer their advice and experience!

sniff ** I'm all veclemplt!!!!!

[Craig Manoukian]

We all add something to this hobby even if it's only comeraderie or a healthy and civil discussion of different view points. Thanks Kathy.

[kathywithbirds]

oh, crap.... we have to be civil? That limits my vocabulary...

[bluespotjawfish]

Civil is just being kind to others and I think you do this well.

[Craig Manoukian]

Originally Posted by kathywithbirds

oh, crap.... we have to be civil? That limits my vocabulary...

:meeting: LOL