Rhinopias or Leaf Fish

I would like to get either a Rhino or 2 leaf fish. Does any one hear have one of them and if so have you ever noticed them changing color. I heard that the pink Leaf Fish could change color. I know they can camoflouge themselves but if they are not stressed I wonder than if their true colors stay.
Adam

 

Aren't leaf fish fresh water?

 

Leaf Fish

No the salt water species

 

I had a fish very, very similar to rhino and he changed colors from a brown to purple color. I read a lot about both the rhino and leaf fish. This fish practice mimicary...will often change due to their surrounding....also other factors such as food fed plays a big role. Food high in HUFA and vitamins are necessary and must be added.

However, this does not guarentee that they will change color...some might never change color, some might get drabber the longer they are in captivity...so you never know

Remember both of these fish are venomous...so dont go petting them!

 

Rhino or Leaf fish

What fish did you have that changed to purple? The only other thing is my hand is in the tank a lot always fixing or moving something. They sell gloves I guess you can wear
Adam

 

It was an ambon scorpion...was mislabled as a rhino...was a very cool fish but SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN CAPTIVITY. I thought it was a rhino as did the fish store and the supplier...very similar fish except Ambon really has not been traded in hobby all that much and not much known about its needs.


I never wear the gloves when I work with my venomous fish...can not work in there with them on...besides they may not provide enough protection. Just have to be able to know your fish. And wtih a few exceptions (ambon and stonefish) unless you have an allergy to them they are not really deadly....just hurts like hell! Still a good idea to avoid being stung. My ambon and stonefish on the other hand are deadly if you are stung by them. In fact when my ambon did die I had to make sure and not touch the fish at all cause even the skin was poisonous I found out. Viper died due to a heater malfunction

I will say that rhino and leaf fish will require live food more then likely for a while before you are able to switch him to silversides and krill. Some of them are never able to be switched over so you will have to have live food tank also set up. I have been watching a rhino in one store for months and months and they have not been able to get him to eat anything but live.

Also you can not have a single other fish in that tank as it will eat everything. Unlike the toadfish, angler and some scorpions that I have had, they will actually be good swimmers and chase the fish until they catch them. (all those listed iwll also....just more lazy then rhino) So you will have to make it a species tank.

 

I saw in your thread you have clowns, stars, wrasse and a mandarin...those will be ate for sure so you have to get rid of them...not as sure about the star but I would bet it would. I kept crabs in the tank...no shrimp of any kind.

 

rhinopias

Im not sure either if the scorpion can eat a serpent star. I dont think so. I had a chance of getting a yellow frondosa but did not becasue it had a slimy stuff coming out if it. Later i found it it was normal part of its shedding process. It also changed from yellow to a darker mustard color in the LFS tank. I was scared it would turn brown.
Adam I might just look out for a pink and yellow leaf fish they are much cheaper than any rhino but a pink one is very hard to find.
Adam