Flounder reef compatability?

nateair · #1 09/09/2005, 01:04 AM

Check out what I just picked up from my LFS. He is sooo cool. The people at the fish store said he was fully reef compatable so I couldn't resist. You have to look closely because he a sneaky guy! What's interesting is that he seems to chase some of my fish so I'm beginning to think he is hungry. I thought he was a sandsifter. Any comments?

ClownFreak316 · #2 09/09/2005, 01:08 AM

Wow! A flounder in a reef tank! That is so cool. Don't worry about your fish. He is just curious. Flounders are herbaviors. The picture is too small and I can't really see much. They also are sand sifters so I wouldn't worry about too much. Did they have any bigger ones? You should try a school of them!

nateair · #3 09/09/2005, 01:09 AM

Here is a night pic of my reef tank.

ClownFreak316 · #4 09/09/2005, 01:13 AM

What is that a 75 gallon? Plenty of room. You need more flounders. You should start breeding them. I was thinking of getting a couple for my nano cube. Their really rare too. You must have paid a fortune for them. Keep up the good work.

nateair · #5 09/09/2005, 01:18 AM

Thanks! I like him a lot, can you see him in this photo!!!!!! He is the coolest for a reef tank!

masterswimmer · #6 09/09/2005, 01:39 AM

I see him totally clearly. He's the red disk right? lol J/K

Actually I'm setting up a 16 nano and I want to put a dwarf flounder and a Fu Manchu Lionfish in it. Just a little sps on the rear vertical wall.

Good luck. I think they are so cool. What species is yours? I'll be looking to pick up a Peacock Flounder.

Russ

NwG · #7 09/09/2005, 05:01 AM

Flounders can be very hard to keep.... They will eat anything they can get there mouth around... Just look at there teeth, not for veggies..

This is from Bob Fenner at WWM...

They need very large open sand areas and can cause major problems in a sandbed....

Anyway, I think they are pretty cool... they can change colors pretty fast!!!
Nate D

Dazed And Confused · #8 09/09/2005, 07:18 AM

Flounder are NOT herbivores. They've developed their color adaptatations and sand burying techniques to help them ambush small fish, shrimps, etc. They are a predator fish and will eat anything they can catch and fit into their mouths. They're equipped with long sharp teeth to catch and hold their victims, so once a fish has been caught there's no chance of recovery even if they manage to escape. He may be reef compatible since they don't eat corals, but they're not FISH compatible. At any rate, they're a cool and interesting fish. Good luck.

masterswimmer · #9 09/09/2005, 08:53 AM

I would think it is compatible with a Fu Manchu Lionfish! Those V spines aren't good for too many digestive systems.

Russ

sinkingbeach · #10 09/09/2005, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dazed And Confused
Flounder are NOT herbivores.

I second that, we use minnows and squid as bait to catch these in the back bays during the summer months. They also get pretty big although I'm uncertain if the same species I catch and eat you have swimming around in your tank.

Dazed And Confused · #11 09/09/2005, 09:13 AM

On a different note, they are some of the best tasting fish I've ever eaten. They're tough to filet until you get the hang of it but well worth the effort. When I eat trout, redfish or flounder, I don't have to apologize to my tank inhabitants for eating their buddies since I just took out one of their natural predators.
I assume you're planning to buy feeder fish for this guy since that's what he'll want?

MCary · #12 09/09/2005, 09:25 AM

I spent some time in Alaska. Just in case you need to know how to tell a halibut from a flounder, this is the best method. When you get them to the boat, reach in their mouth and pull them aboard. If you still have your fingers its a flounder.

ClownFreak316 · #13 09/09/2005, 10:35 AM

Nateair, I would strongly disagree with Dazed and Confused. Just read his username. That alone is enough to prove something. They are herbaviors. Just feed him some carrot flakes or formula 1. Carrot flakes have a lot of vitamin A which is good for seeing when they sift the sand. A good freshwater dip always encourages an appetite. You might want to increase the salinity of the fresh water as well. Let me know what happens?

xp964 · #14 09/09/2005, 11:00 AM

ClownFreak, I bred and raised two species of flounder for many years. I did my thesis work on them for my masters degree. They are most definitely PREDATORS. They are lay-wait-predators. They hide under the sand or with their camouflage, and snap at any potential prey that comes by. Depending on what species it is, they may eat worms, fish, or as said above "anything they can fit their mouths around". Some have tiny mouths (like winter flounder) and some have big mouths (like summer flounder or halibut). But they are all predators.
Sorry if that sounds peevish, sometimes I lecture...

sjm817 · #15 09/09/2005, 11:19 AM

I've caught many of them. I didn't use carrots for bait. Bloodworms and Squid hooked them.

Dazed And Confused · #16 09/09/2005, 11:25 AM

And being a clown and a freak is better? Do a little research before you spout off about what you THINK a fish eats. No saltwater flounder is a veggie eater - they are PREDATORS that live off of live prey. Their camoflage system is used to hide from prey fish and ambush them. Don't know that you need to hide very well to ambush seaweed. All you need to do is take a look at their teeth to figure out what they eat. Can't see how a fish with a mouth that works sideways could be a good sand sifter, either. How are they supposed to get a good scoop of gravel? Spend a minute and use the "search" function at the top of the page. Not a single mention of being a herbivore other than yours. All others acknowledge them being a predator and danger to any crustacean and fish in your tank.
Nateair, I'd recommend you spend some time researching fish before you buy them. I agree, flounders are cool, but after you lose a few of your smaller tank inhabitants, you may not feel the same way about them. At any rate, I hope it works out for you.

nateair · #17 09/09/2005, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the info clown freak, I didnt have any carrots so i threw some cucumbers in the tank, he didnt go for them at first but when i jiggled the pieces in front of him for a sec he ate them up real quick. My blue tang and my flounder seem to play a lot together, they are always chasing each other around. Its like having dori and nemo, except my nemo is a way cooler fish. I'll try the carrot thing tonight. Thanks!!!

nateair · #18 09/09/2005, 12:57 PM

you keep saying to look at his teeth but he just wont open his mouth wide enough. i tried with my fingers but he kept swimming away. have i told you how cool this fish is in a reef tank???

sinkingbeach · #19 09/09/2005, 01:02 PM

HABITAT AND BIOLOGY: The southern flounder generally prefers muddy bottoms throughout most of the estuary, but it can occur in channel and bay mouths and also frequents areas around piers, pilings, and rock jetties. Migrations to offshore spawning grounds begin in late fall at the onset of cold weather, and spawning is completed during winter months. This species is the prefect predator, lying in total camouflage on the bottom until unsuspecting prey wander within reach and are capture with lightning quick movements. Foods of this species include shrimp and fishes.

http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishin...fish/flounder/

Read it yourself!!!

sinkingbeach · #20 09/09/2005, 01:06 PM

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Paralichthys_dentatus.htm

Then read this!!!

jgoodrich71 · #21 09/09/2005, 01:07 PM

With the size that he is I would say there is a possibility that it may not be a flounder at all. It could be a "hog choaker". Either way they are carnivorous.

ClownFreak316 · #22 09/09/2005, 01:07 PM

You go Nateair! My flounder would eat cucumbers whole. Granted he was 3 1/2 feel long, but he loved them. I think it is sooo cool that you have taken the responsibility of taking care of matters in your own hands and not listening to knuckleheads like "Dazed and Confused". Flounders do eat carrot flakes. "It's Science". I don't mind being lectured, as long as the speaker is accurate. Hey Natair, if you have time, post some pictures of your flounder eating.

nateair · #23 09/09/2005, 01:14 PM

Im at work right now so ill show you some pics of the carrott feeding tonight. Sinkingbeach, i dont know how to read english, can you read it for me? Besides all those flounder studies are not based out of my fish tank, and in my fish tank we have only herbavores, right down to the shrimp and flounder.

Dazed And Confused · #24 09/09/2005, 01:17 PM

Freak, looks like you're the only one giving veggie advice. Since the ocean is full of carrots and cucumbers, it's easy to see why that would make sense to feed those to a flounder. I've caught and seen a lot of flounders but never anything close to 3 1/2 feet long. Sounds more like a halibut, but since you're an expert, I'll take your word for it. I went by my local LFS at lunch and he laughed when I suggested that flounder are herbivores. He's had several and always has to keep them in a species specific tank to protect his other fish. By the way, how can he be a sand sifter whenhis eyes look directly upward - he can't even look at the bottom where you claim he's sifting sand from.
Newly registered user with 4 posts, all in this topic. Why do I think you're just here to stir up trouble???

Dazed And Confused · #25 09/09/2005, 01:20 PM

By the way, Nateair, the only way a flounder is a purely herbivore is if you name all the small fish and shrimp in your tank "Herb". You're getting bad advice and chosing to follow it since you've already bought the fish and think it's cool. Good luck - I think you're going to find that fish very expensive to feed.