Popeye Catalufa Soldierfish (Pristigenys serrula)

[SDguy]

Anyone ever kept one of these?

[michael_cb_125]

While I have never personally owned one, I have always really liked them.

Check Out This Japanese Big Eye going on the DD tonight.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390320_10150435461324706_32999209705_8196125_1066319342_n.jpg

~Michael

[Barracuda]

I have kept a few over the years....

They will eat anything that fits into their cavernous mouths.
They grow to a moderate size in aquariums
Fairly peaceful with most tankmates they can't swallow
Can be somewwhat reclusive or will hang out in one area for the most part

Wouldn't be a good choice for your fish only system...IMO/E

[SDguy]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it.

[seahorsedreams]

What a great fish. That would look so awesome in my medium lionfish tank as it pretty much looks like them in pattern. Thank goodness you shared your info. That's just what I need is another single fish system. SO many of my tanks have just one fish in them.

But that is just crazy beautiful.

Side note: Did you see that Harley? What a prime color.

[seahorsedreams]

How big do these tend to get realistically? Is there another size fish you can compare him to?

How big is their open mouths when compared to the fish size/mouth size ratio of a volitans?

Would they pick on flowing fin filaments?

[Barracuda]

SHDreams,

Realistically, about 6 to 8" max., generally in the 4 to 5" range.
There mouth structure/ size would be similar to volitans - they have that if it fits its dinner. Predominantly feeds on cardinals/ sleepers or other small fish on the reef...
No they wouldn't pick on flowing fins of lions, blocthies, etc....

You could consider them lionfish without the frilly finage.

Easy care, eat most anything provided, fairly personable, and generally hang/hover near their cave, etc. Will rush to the front of the tank during feeding time.

They don't generally need a species only tank. They can be kept with all larger fish with minimal issues. Over the years I have kept them with lionfish, groupers, angels, bttys, hogs, wrasse, etc....

Hope that helps.....

[SDguy]

So it would be OK in my angel/butterfly FO?

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[seahorsedreams]

Did you have this species in particular? What temperature did you have your tank set at?

[seahorsedreams]

Erf! Just digging into the data, so I don't know the validity of this yet, but just read they're collected at no less than 250 feet! I don't think my tanks would support this species in particular.... not to the tune/risk of 800 bucks.

[Barracuda]

Peter,

Nice tank. I thought you put in a small Navarchus/ Majestic in the tank? If so, this angel would most likely be eaten or thrashed in an attempt to swallow the angel. This is the reason I mentioned earlier that it wouldn't be a good fit.

The only other issue is feeding. The "Big Eye" will require a large food item. You can train them to eat "bay shrimp/ salad shrimp", "Silversides", or chunks of fish/mollusk flesh.

My last one would eat pellets, formula one cubes, and shrimp.

IME/O it would work in the tank, but personally I wouldn't do it - unless I found a small one.

[SDguy]

Peter,

Nice tank. I thought you put in a small Navarchus/ Majestic in the tank? If so, this angel would most likely be eaten or thrashed in an attempt to swallow the angel. This is the reason I mentioned earlier that it wouldn't be a good fit.

The only other issue is feeding. The "Big Eye" will require a large food item. You can train them to eat "bay shrimp/ salad shrimp", "Silversides", or chunks of fish/mollusk flesh.

My last one would eat pellets, formula one cubes, and shrimp.

IME/O it would work in the tank, but personally I wouldn't do it - unless I found a small one.

I lost the navarchus in QT :( It was actually destined for the reef, not the FO.

[Barracuda]

Renee,

I have kept both P. alta & serrula.
I have kept them in temps ranging from 72 to 80 with no issues.

DD has the P. serrula for $130. To me this is still a high price range for this fish, based on general prices in LFS in our (LA) area.

The $800 one is from Japan.

Erf! Just digging into the data, so I don't know the validity of this yet, but just read they're collected at no less than 250 feet! I don't think my tanks would support this species in particular.... not to the tune/risk of 800 bucks.

[SDguy]

BTW, wow does fishbase have the crappiest pics ever of this fish :lol: Pristigenys serrula

[SDguy]

So I actually bought one of these from the LFS... he's in QT right now. But.... I completely forgot I have a cleaner wrasse in the DT. I assume that's a no go on compatibility?

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_1396_zps77a6cce1.jpg

[Terryz_]

So I actually bought one of these from the LFS... he's in QT right now. But.... I completely forgot I have a cleaner wrasse in the DT. I assume that's a no go on compatibility?

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_1396_zps77a6cce1.jpg

!!!! It is a niphonia!!! Feedback from the LFS which have two of them, that they are not aggressive and doesnt chase after small fishes, shrimps might be gone and they need to train to hand feeding as they will only recognise food that is in front of it and approach at slow speed.. We think is is sort of myopic.. LOL!!

[SDguy]

niphonia... I wish! It's just striped due to stress since it was just put in the tank when I took the picture. He eats well (they fed him at the store) and he even ate last night in the tank... but I'm afraid he'll eat my cleaner wrasse, since he ate a silverside at the store...

[Terryz_]

Didnt know the Serrula will have stripes too.. lol.. but it is still a very nice fish, wish could get my hand one a small one..The two Niphonia is fine with all the fishes in the tank,much much smaller fishes.. and they dont Chase other fishes.. and cleaner wrasse is quite fast I guess..

[SDguy]

He's settled in well, eats well, and swims around a lot more. His color is amazing!

[Terryz_]

Yup, I have always like them but we usually get them big enough to be served on dinner plate.. lol.. unless I find a smaller one, around 4inch is a good size I find.. How big is yours? The red is very bright and nice..

Will take a photo of the niphonia when I bring by the shop later. The large one is even more stunning than the small one.

[SDguy]

Oh mine's a small guy maybe 4". Looking forward to your pics!

[Terryz_]

Yup, I have always like them but we usually get them big enough to be served on dinner plate.. lol.. unless I find a smaller one, around 4inch is a good size I find.. How big is yours? The red is very bright and nice..

Will take a photo of the niphonia when I bring by the shop later. The large one is even more stunning than the small one.

[michael_cb_125]

Awesome fish Peter!

Could you post a few more pictures? Video?

I have always wanted one of these guys, but never pulled the trigger. I wish I could find a juvenile, sub 3".

~Michael

[SDguy]

I fed relatively large pellets today... HBH spirulina pellets. My fish go nuts for them, the only issue is that they are often too large for most of my fish. The bigeye is learning to scoop them off the floor with his mouth quite well!!

[Terryz_]

Smaller Niphonia..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/Terryz87/New%20Camera/IMAG0341.jpg

The bigger Niphonia.. Cant get a photo from the side..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/Terryz87/New%20Camera/IMAG0339.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/Terryz87/New%20Camera/IMAG0340-1.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/Terryz87/New%20Camera/IMAG0343-1.jpg

[SDguy]

Very nice!! Thank you for the photods. I'll try to get some more of mine...

[Terryz_]

Now you know why it looks like your serrula looks like small niphonia...

LOL..

[SDguy]

A few pics from this afternoon...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_1434-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_1431-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_1438-1.jpg

[Terryz_]

Wah, The markings on the finnage are nice!

[SDguy]

Thanks. The red color is quite brilliant. It'll make a nice contrast to all the yellow orange white and black of the other fish...

[SDguy]

.....

[jarrod13]

How cryptic are these guys really

[namxas]

I kept a red soldierfish (M. murjians) for several years, and it was a bit cryptic, mostly stayed in the rockwork, but it always came out to eat, and when the tank dimmed it would come out.

I can't speak for the catalufa, but I suspect they're similar.

[SDguy]

The feeding behavior of this fish is very neat. It likes to catch food above it. It will swim right by food at eye level or below. If it does notice food at eye level or below, it will purposely dive down below it so as to be able to gulp it from below. But it will still also scoop food up off the floor. I wonder.... if it gets fed too often off the floor, will it develop eye issues like freshwater arowanas?

[lcf425]

Gorgeous fish ! any fish lost due to it ?

[Terryz_]

Gorgeous fish ! any fish lost due to it ?

I thought you not getting already.. LOL..

[SDguy]

Gorgeous fish ! any fish lost due to it ?

No. In fact he is very docile and quite intimidated by my angels.

[Terryz_]

No. In fact he is very docile and quite intimidated by my angels.

I think he is more concerned about the smaller fishes?

[lcf425]

do you happen to have wrasse or small clownfish in your tank?

[SDguy]

As mentioned in the beginning of this thread, I do have a cleaner wrasse in the DT that I am concerned about. I'm hoping he recognizes the cleaner warsse as such, and doesn't try to eat him. We'll see... as Terryz posted about a similar species, he saw no problems with a cleaner wrasse.

[SDguy]

He is in the main display and has been fine with even the smallest of fish (though nothing really tiny/bite sized). I also only feed him the same food all my other fish get; in other words, no large items like silversides.

[SDguy]

I have to admit... I've had maybe 3 or 4 people over to see the new 240g FOWLR and the first thing out of everyone's mouth is "Wow, what is that red fish?!" :lol:

Not sure whether to be pleased or insulted, considering all the other fish in there!

[GrendelPrime76]

any idea why liveaquaria has these guys as difficult?

[SDguy]

Not sure... maybe some can be difficult to train onto frozen food? Or maybe they are tough to get eating during the day when first collected?

[SDguy]

I'm happy to report the fish is a model citizen in the DT. I'll try to get a video of him today. I also noticed LADD has a really nice small one for sale right now!

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=175524

[SDguy]

Snapped a few new pics. Again, doesn't bother samll fish at all.... but, the big angel tried to do a little tail swiping action on him and he wasn't having it... after a few swipes he grabbed the tail in his mouth and shook! The catalufa has been extremely peaceful, until provoked. I'm hoping it stays that way, and the angel learns not to try to bully him.

I used the flash on the camera, hence the constant glowing eyes on him.... they are like mirrors! And hence the more orange than red color...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05844-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05887.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05862.jpg

Oh, and did I mention he LOVES to photobomb? :lol:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05786-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05772.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05801.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05800-1.jpg

[SDguy]

Houston, we may have a problem. I've seen the catalufa "mouth" the meredithi angel a couple times now. So basically this fish is nothing like a lion, which I was sort of hoping. It actually completely ignores bite sized fish (easily edible), but will attack large fish. It may have to go... :(

[Mrscribbled]

I just picked one up, plan on putting with my rhinopias. You really think he'll cause damage to your larger fish?

[SDguy]

I've seen no more aggression from the bigeye... looks like he just needed to let the angel know that he wasn't going to get pushed around.

[SDguy]

He will forever be known as laser eyes :lol:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202013/DSC05969-1.jpg

[SDguy]

I just picked one up, plan on putting with my rhinopias. You really think he'll cause damage to your larger fish?

How is yours doing?

[Mrscribbled]

Was doing great, really loved him. found him on the floor when I got home one day. I'll have to get more screen cover for that tank. He was a bit more aggressive than I wanted though. He would attack the feeding stick when feeding the Rhinopias.


Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

[SDguy]

Yeah, I could imagine that...

[SDguy]

My catalufa died last night. I'm at a loss. He's been in perfect health. I recently added a few damsels since he's been so good around small fish... I think he ate a few of them, as expected, since some were VERY small. Could this have been the cause in some way? I'm so bummed!!!

[Mrscribbled]

Hard to say, the short time I had mine he ate a Perc clown, and 3 damsels I had in the qt when I added him. He also ate rather large silversides he robbed from the feeding stick. Sorry to hear about yours, it really looked sweet in your display.


Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

[tcmfish]

Has anyone seen gas bubbles in the eyes? If so an ideas on what caused them?

Peter sorry for your loss.

[Rapide]

Guess who's coming to dinner, Peter?!
So sorry to hear that yours didn't make it... :sad2:

Mine is in QT now, and already ate some frozen goods :bigeyes:

[SDguy]

Nice pickup! I was very disappointed to lose mine... I wish you better luck!

[Rapide]

I actually didn't know you lost yours until just now... Such a shame.
The fish in the picture is about 3-3,5" and in QT with the Scarus. They were in QT in London for 3 weeks and probably 2 weeks in here now.