Flashlight Fish?..thinking of buying Tomorrow

[delpni]

Hey everyone,

I am thinking of buying a 'flashlight fish' (photoblepharon palpebratus) or two tomorrow and have read that they are generally peaceful (if anyone has had conflicting experience, please let me know!). I have a 75 gallon tank (48" long) with 3 Percula Clowns, 4 Chromis, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Mandarin Goby, 1 Yellow Shrimp Goby with paired shrimp, and 2 Bubble Tip Anemones (I am also adding 2 Blue-Green Chromis tomorrow), all my water tests are fine and I have ample liverock and caves (over 95 pounds) with sand substrate (80 pounds). I have not been able to find much information about the photoblepharon palpebratus, other than they need dark places to hide or they can be blinded (caves are essential!!), they have a big appetite, eat mostly at night (will they eat during the day if ligting is off??). Will they eat flakes, mysis/brine shrimp, krill? Do I have to feed them in the evenings? Can I feed them at 8 am and then again around 8-11pm? I don't want to adopt something I cannot properly care for but if they would be okay, I think these fish are amazing! ANY advice would be greatly appreciated here!! Thank you.

 

[drnecropolis]

More than just needing shady places.. As far as I know, they need dark dark dark areas..

Say... Its dark because the lights have been off, then BAM they cut on.. Instant goner..


One of those fish that have no business being in a home aquarium what-so-ever..

 

[delpni]

I didn't think about room lights going on and off at night. :doh: Ya, I'll scratch that idea! Thank you.

 

[cr500_af]

What Ansley said. Also, according to Scott, Reef Fishes Vol 1, they are a very challenging fish to get to feed, usually requiring live food to get a feeding response.
They need to be provided with completely dark hiding caves unless the tank AND the room are kept dark... which pretty much means a species tank in a dark room.
To top it off, they need seriously timid tankmates, and even then they need to be the first into the nocturnal tank, acclimated and feeding well before any other fish are introduced.
Add it all up and it spells bad idea... unless you start from scratch with the plan of housing them and build your whole plan around them.