Harlequin Sweetlips?

[donniekim]

Hello All,
I'm considering adding a Harlequin sweetlips to my tank. It is a 55 gal with 60 lbs. of LR & mostly damsels. I had an Oriental Sweetlips before and was told it was not a good fish to have, would not do well in captivity etc. etc. I am now considering the harlequin! From what I have read these are very hardy fish and great for beginners!

Does anyone have any experience with these? or heard or read something pertaining to these?

Thanks in advance!
Donnie

[Instar]

I've never know of anyone to actually keep one alive. They eat crustaceans out of the sand and are very shy. Bad choice to include with damsels and they need a large tank with lots of sand bed. They ship poorly from rough handling and usually won't eat. They are in the drum family and very tempting, thats for sure. Where did you see great for beginners? I don't know anyone who has one of those actually. If they were easy, there would be a few around cause they are quite cool.

[MikeP]

Ditto what Larry said. A very very very challenging fish, most die despite the best efforts of their keepers. Also the few I have seen that did grow up lose their attractive coloration and become a bland greenish color.

[donniekim]

after further investigation I have found that I WOULD NEED AT LEAST 180gal or 200gal!

thanks yall

[don-n-sa]

Great job on finding out important info BEFORE you buy...oh and WELCOME TO MAAST

[donniekim]

Thank you all for the quick responses and appreciate the warm welcome!

[don-n-sa]

Hey donniekim

You want to hear a quincidence? my name is donny and my wife's name is kimberly, by the looks of your screen name it looks pretty close to you.

[Richard]

When I set up my first tank 20 something years ago this was my favorite fish. I went through 5 or 6 before I gave up. I got some of them to eat a little but not nearly enough to keep them alive for long.There wasn't too much available info back then so I just learned things the hard way. Google would have saved me a ton of money back then.

[donniekim]

Hey donniekim

You want to hear a quincidence? my name is donny and my wife's name is kimberly, by the looks of your screen name it looks pretty close to you.

I'm Donnie and my wife's name is Kimbra! Nice to meet ya!

[scuba_steveo]

Hey donniekim

You want to hear a quincidence? my name is donny and my wife's name is kimberly, by the looks of your screen name it looks pretty close to you.

I'm Donnie and my wife's name is Kimbra! Nice to meet ya!

What is this a pick up site? You two should keep to PM's. lol. j/k

[GaryP]

Welcome to MAAST donniekim.

We're not short on opinions, or experience for that matter, on just about any topic you can come up with. When in doubt just ask Instar or Richard. Those guys have forgotten more than most of us know about SW aquariums. I take that back, I don't think Instar has ever forgotten anything. He has a harddrive embedded in his head.

Gary

[donniekim]

We really appreciate the warm welcome yall!
I'm glad yall are knowledgeable (?) cause I have a lot of questions from time to time! Man, yall were real quick with the replies!!!!!!!! :-D
Nice to be treated decently for a change!

Thanks everyone!
Donnie