ArcherFish Inquiry

[Scott Linstead]

Hello,

I am a professional photographer and I have just acquired 14 archerfish. I have done all that I was instructed to do in terms of adding the salt, de-chlorinating and adding the substrate to this 120L tank. I introduced the 14, seemingly juvenile (1.25 to 1.5 inch) fish to the tank last night. The filter is active and the temperature is stable at 28C. I initially placed some frozen bloodworms but nobody seems to be eating. I allowed a few tiny crickets to move around on the surface and the fish would occasionally bump one with its nose, but, again, no feeding. I would like to know about their feeding frequency and how to stimulate the "water jet" instinct. Also, any commentary on what I may be doing wrong or forgetting to do as a newbie would be appreciated. I realize there may be some time involved in aclimatizing these little guys, I just want to be sure that I dont accidently kill them off by my own ignorance.

Thanks!

Scott

www.scottyphotography.com

[Billythefish]

I'm thinking of the famous fish that shoot down bugs with spit so is there a way you could rein act that kind of thing? I'm pretty sure they get to at least a foot in size so your tank will soon be to small! , they are carnivores fish so they should eat freeze dried foods flake foods and small insects also you could try blood worms and brine shrimp, also they will more than likely start killing one and other in such a small tank and large number... hope that helps ya

edit to add: if you have the tank half full you can then add a over hanging branch that you can place bugs on this should get them spitting in no time!

[Billythefish]

btw love the photos on your site:19: .... please dont enter POTM lol:hmm3grin2orange:

[ladyoutlaw50]

absolutely beautiful pictures!! I am very impressed!! Where do you go to get such awesome shots?

[Scott Linstead]

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback and kind words regarding my photography. I travel around the world for my images and, up to recently, I have specialized in wild birds. Now I am getting some decent results with captive fish and reptiles.

Please keep in mind that I am a rank amateur when it comes to fish. Let me ask you all this:

When you first get new fish (any fish), is it normal for them not to eat at all for the first few days?

Thanks!

Scott

[Billythefish]

not in my experience newly bought fish tend to be very hungry........ can i ask how you set your tank up? and what equipment your using?

[Tolley]

Yep it is normal for fish to go off food after being rehomed.

[Billythefish]

Yep it is normal for fish to go off food after being rehomed.wow 23 years of keeping fish and its never been a problem!.. i must be doing something right :c1:

[Scott Linstead]

OK, this is what I did so far:

-2 big bags of active substrate to produce about 2 inches at the bottom.

-I added the prescribed amount of dechlorinating agent for the 70L of water that I put in the 100L tank

-I added the cycling agent and salt -- again, according to the prescribed amounts for brackish water fish

-I maintain the tank at 28C

-Filter is running

-a fake plastic plant was installed

The fish are very active and they will often investigate a moving insect on the surface -- they just wont eat

Any input appreciated

[Scott Linstead]

Yep it is normal for fish to go off food after being rehomed.

Thanks, Tolley. That's somewhat of a relief. How long should this go on for? They seem to be burning a lot of calories in the tank so I suspect they will require food soon(?)

Scott

[cocoa_pleco]

Thanks, Tolley. That's somewhat of a relief. How long should this go on for? They seem to be burning a lot of calories in the tank so I suspect they will require food soon(?)

Scott

fish can go for a month without food, so as long as they ate at the store they should be fine

[Billythefish]

OK, this is what I did so far:

-2 big bags of active substrate to produce about 2 inches at the bottom.

-I added the prescribed amount of dechlorinating agent for the 70L of water that I put in the 100L tank

-I added the cycling agent and salt -- again, according to the prescribed amounts for brackish water fish

-I maintain the tank at 28C

-Filter is running

-a fake plastic plant was installed

The fish are very active and they will often investigate a moving insect on the surface -- they just wont eat

Any input appreciatedhow long did you have the tank cycling before you put the fish in.. and dude plastic plants lol with them cool fish!..... was your filter new and what is it?

[Scott Linstead]

how long did you have the tank cycling before you put the fish in.. and dude plastic plants lol with them cool fish!..... was your filter new and what is it?

Thanks for getting back to me, Billy. I didn't cycle the tank for very long at all -- perhaps an hour -- before transferring fish from the plastic bag. The water was still cloudy from the substrate. The filter is a new AquaClear 50 (it also says "formerly aquaclear 200).

[Scott Linstead]

fish can go for a month without food, so as long as they ate at the store they should be fine

Thanks. One thing I forgot to mention is that they were actually flown special order from Singapore to Montreal. I had to order so many (15) as this was the minimum that the supplier would send and I was also advised to go with a large number to offset potential fatalities during transport

[Billythefish]

Thanks for getting back to me, Billy. I didn't cycle the tank for very long at all -- perhaps an hour -- before transferring fish from the plastic bag. The water was still cloudy from the substrate. The filter is a new AquaClear 50 (it also says "formerly aquaclear 200).then this maybe the reason they wont eat... it can take a good 4 weeks fore a tank to cycle and gain the good bacteria.... the cloudy water could also be a nitrate bloom... in short your tank isn't cycled so the fish will be acting strange may even die on you! IMO.......

[Scott Linstead]

The substrate I used supposedly has active, good bacteria in it already. The cloudiness has definately diminished since yesterday. Could I add some of that particulate water clarifier?


then this maybe the reason they wont eat... it can take a good 4 weeks fore a tank to cycle and gain the good bacteria.... the cloudy water could also be a nitrate bloom... in short your tank isn't cycled so the fish will be acting strange may even die on you! IMO.......

[Billythefish]

The substrate I used supposedly has active, good bacteria in it already. The cloudiness has definately diminished since yesterday. Could I add some of that particulate water clarifier? I would just leave it be for now as you say its diminishing... water changes will help out a fair bit too .... do like 20% once every 3days until its clear.

[OscarFan]

OK, this is what I did so far:

-2 big bags of active substrate to produce about 2 inches at the bottom.

-I added the prescribed amount of dechlorinating agent for the 70L of water that I put in the 100L tank

-I added the cycling agent and salt -- again, according to the prescribed amounts for brackish water fish

-I maintain the tank at 28C

-Filter is running

-a fake plastic plant was installed Lots of plants should be put in. Some rocks and driftwood would also suit this fish

The fish are very active and they will often investigate a moving insect on the surface -- they just wont eat Try hanging a plant 6" to 1' off thew water and place a bug on that. That should triger their instincts

Any input appreciated
..........

[Scott Linstead]

This morning I witnessed a few of the archers ingest a live cricket that I let run around on the water surface. There still does not seem to be a unanimous feeding going on yet, but some a are actively hunting. Also, a cricket that I released to the water surface climbed up onto my plastic plant and I saw a singular squirt from an archer fish that was trying to dislodge him. I am encouraged!

[Billythefish]

wow i'm surprised yet very happy that's outstanding news...... I'm sure given time to adapt to the new tank they will then thrive.... would also love to see some photos uploaded here at the a.c, :19:

[Scott Linstead]

Thanks for the encouragement, Billy. Things seem to be moving along nicely with much more feeding and quite a few noted instances of squirting. They will squirt at any size cricket but they will only eat the tiniest on first-sight basis. They will squirt at the very largest cricket but they don't seem to know what to do with it when it hits the water. I am trying not to make things too difficult for them so I am letting a good quantity of crickets right onto the surface. I want to build up the population's health before I start exploiting them. I am happy to see that the instinct to squirt is a strong one -- perhaps stronger than the desire to eat at this point.

Now, all that is left to do is:

- install the infrared sensors above the water line to detect a squirt. This will be the most challenging since the squirt is very subtle and may be difficult to detect

- position a target overhanging leaf.

- find a way to adhere an active bug to a particular spot on the leaf without appearing obvious on the picture.

- install the overhead flashes

-position the camera

-pre-focus the camera on the spot where the fish is likely to be.

[Billythefish]

Thanks for the encouragement, Billy. Things seem to be moving along nicely with much more feeding and quite a few noted instances of squirting. They will squirt at any size cricket but they will only eat the tiniest on first-sight basis. They will squirt at the very largest cricket but they don't seem to know what to do with it when it hits the water. I am trying not to make things too difficult for them so I am letting a good quantity of crickets right onto the surface. I want to build up the population's health before I start exploiting them. I am happy to see that the instinct to squirt is a strong one -- perhaps stronger than the desire to eat at this point.

Now, all that is left to do is:

- install the infrared sensors above the water line to detect a squirt. This will be the most challenging since the squirt is very subtle and may be difficult to detect

- position a target overhanging leaf.

- find a way to adhere an active bug to a particular spot on the leaf without appearing obvious on the picture.

- install the overhead flashes

-position the camera

-pre-focus the camera on the spot where the fish is likely to be.that hurt my brain haha i can just about get my camera to tern on :hmm3grin2orange: , im sure the end product will be well worth it,,,, good luck buddy