He figured out a way to get them eating prepared foods, but still lost a bunch to starvation. Doesn't seem worth it to me.
Actually, I really can't say I've lost any to "starvation" within my care
Gotta get the record set straight. This is a fish that much like Dragonnettes and other types of fish, suffers a lot long before it ever gets to YOU.
First fish lost was
paper thin and died within 2 days of purchase. It was a fish that ordinarily would've never been a fish I purchased. Stavation in the chain of custody LONG before it ever got to me.
2nd loss was a fish that tied at 9 days after it had started eating. Cause unknown.
3rd fish, another fish that had started feeding. Unfortunately, during the critical first couple weeks, I was called out of town on business, and when I returned,the fish was in poor shape. This *might* be considered starvation, but I consider it improper care.
The 4th and 5th losses were both fish that had already been in captivity over a month before they came to me, and died due to a problem with my QT tank at the time. I never nailed down what the problem was, but any fish put in the QT tank became stressed and went off food..taken out and into a reef, they turned back to normal. Had there not been a problem in the QT tank, those two probably should still be here today.
Still, that's 5 losses out of 17 attempts...that's a 70% success rate.
As far as long term sustainability sans live coral - it's proven at this point, at least in my opinion. There are several aquarists I'm aware of who've fed nothing but prepared foods and hand them live several years. I also firmly believe that you don't get fish to spawn when they're not getting the proper nutrition and care either...spawning is typically a sign that "all is right" with the fish, that you have given them everything they need to be happy and healthy and exhibit the full range of natural behaviors in captivity.
All of that said, still very much an EXPERT ONLY species. See the March/April '09 issue of CORAL for more info