Carl needs a friend

[DaiShan]

I think Carl (my skunk grouper) needs a friend. The only two fish that we had in the tank that he didn't eat, I killed about a month ago on accident with chlorine. He used to eat 8 pieces of krill, now he eats 1-2, he doesn't swim any more, he only hops around, and he sits and looks at his reflection all day. So what do you aquarium guys recommend as a friend for carl? I don't want anything overly agressive because carl is getting old and I would want him to get killed, but I can't have a small fish or else carl will eat him. Suggestions welcomed.

 

[Wallydraigle]

When you say skunk grouper do you mean Chromileptes altivelis? Everyone uses their own common name and it's better to use scientific names. If that's the fish in question then by all means put another one in there if your tank size allows. Groupers are inquisitive fish and they do get bored and depressed if they are alone for long. Of course his lack of appetite could be from a physical problem rather than emotion, since you mention you killed the other fish. I'd test water parameters and do several water changes and if he doesn't improve in a week or so get him some company.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Oh, others of the same species will go well with Carl, and also Lionfish are big enough and easy to keep. Groupers aren't mean, they just have big mouths, so anything that he can't eat should give him some diversion.

 

[DaiShan]

Thanks for the info, do you think a Lion Fish would be a good addition? How do they act towards other fish? I know if I get a Lion Fish my parents are going to want to get one with color. It has been over a month since the other fish died, I have stabalized the water and test it2 times a week for salinity, and ph, and one other test (I would have to go down stairs to check the name) I am planning on changing the water tomorrow, it is a 75 gallon tank, so I really need more than just carl in there. Also after he recuperated from the chlorine incedent he was swimming around and would come to the glass in the tank when you walked into the room, and was eating 8 pieces of krill, which has fallen off significantly. Now he just jumps around like a gobi or something. Carl is of species Cephalopholis miniata

 

[Wallydraigle]

Okay. C. miniata are very shy fish, and they need places to hide. It is a stress response to lay on the bottom and play dead. Other fish won't necessarily help, but C. miniata are smart and when there are no other fish around they get stressed because in the wild when there are no other fish around it usually means they have all fled from a large predator. Something else that I have notices is that they seem to be really suceptable to tiny flatworms that live on them and eat their mucus coating. It doesn't hurt the fish, it just stresses them out. Make sure he doesn't have little clear worms on his body. Something is stressing him out.

Lionfish will go well with Carl. There are several species and a few color variants. My fovorites are black P. volitans and P. radiata. Be aware that they have poison spines though. The sting won't kill you, but it will hurt, A LOT. They only use it for defense and are usually really laid back. A lionfish and Carl should fit well in a 75 gallon tank and they eat the same things. Try to get one that is eating frozen food because they can be funny about only eating live sometimes.

I hope Carl gets better.

 

[DaiShan]

Wow thanks for all of the information, you truly are a wealth! I will check for the worms you talked about, and hopefully I will be picking up a Lion Fish this weekend!