Favorite Flagtail Treats?

[DirtyPaws949]

While scoping the LFS, I saw a ~4-5” Flagtail (red-striped tail), with a biiiiig crater where his eye ought to have been. My bleeding heart immediately wanted it, and I will say was a bit impulsive. An employee said the flagtail had been with them a while, never had an eye, but eats well and was healthy— sold him to me for $20 down from $50 ?
I contemplated naming him Willy (One-Eyed-Willy), but I think I’m going with Scallywag ?‍

I was going to put him in my 75gal to grow out some, but was worried the cichlids (convicts and a meeean Vieja/Texas grow-out) would bully him... so I opted to put him in the 180gal community tank, where the biggest possible bullies would be the large male angels and the crayfish.
On the downside, these guys get huge, and the smallest fish in that tank are guppies and bloodfin tetras. So far Scallywag doesn’t bother the small fish, and they don’t act afraid of him... although he does get cranky if the corydoras go for a morsel he’s eyeing.

Today, he joined the loaches in gobbling flakes from my hand, and was wondering what sort of treats he would like best tobe given in this fashion.
I think he’s adorable.

That tank gets flakes/ pellets/ algae&spirulina wafers daily, and steamed veggies (mostly broccoli/spinach) 2-3x/week, live blackworms ~2-3x / week, and a mix of soldier fly larva and earthworm crumble combo 2-3x / week. In addition to all the cooties (scuds, snails, etc) that are swooshed around in there from plants I’m prepping/cleaning

 

[Jexnell]

Grow tons of algea, they love it better than any pleco

 

[DirtyPaws949]

Grow tons of algea, they love it better than any pleco

Oo! The 180gal doesn’t grow very much algae (that I know of) since the only light comes in from the top and that’s usually always 60-90% covered with floating plants. The 75gal gets the best algae, and is actually over-run with it currently (considering moving my SAEs to it). It’s a BBA I think mixed with hair/string algae ??‍75gal has 2 bristlenose plecos (they’re getting moved to the 60 or 65gal), my granny mystery snails, Nerite snails for algae control, but they’re not really doing a good job.

I do have portions of hair algae growing in various bins, the 7.5gal actually has a really neat ball of it. I can try devoting a 5gal bucket for hair/string algae.
Is there any particular algae they like?

 

[DirtyPaws949]

Also, how big of a threat will he be to the smaller fish? I’ve read they’re incredibly peaceful however, like with most fish... if it fits in their mouth...

I have options of moving him to the 75gal or 150gal (larger cichlid tank). I also have the option of moving some of the smaller fish to smaller tanks.

 

[Jexnell]

I don't know much about them, only had one for a couple months. It devoured all algae that was available, I also feed him NLS AlgeaMax pellets.


This is right after I got him, you can see the one trail he cut thru so far.

 

[Jexnell]

Also, how big of a threat will he be to the smaller fish? I’ve read they’re incredibly peaceful however, like with most fish... if it fits in their mouth... ☠

I have options of moving him to the 75gal or 150gal (larger cichlid tank). I also have the option of moving some of the smaller fish to smaller tanks.

I would not worry about other fish being eaten, they don't really have the mouth for that. Think more of a pleco mouth.
Heard they can be slime coat suckers, as an issue over actually eating fish.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

I don't know much about them, only had one for a couple months. It devoured all algae that was available, I also feed him NLS AlgeaMax pellets.
View attachment 1460631

This is right after I got him, you can see the one trail he cut thru so far.

Nice Lima shovel nose how big is he now if you still have him also DirtyPaws949 my flagtail loves shrimp I take cooked shrimp from the store and thaw it out then I take a piece out and cut it into small bits or you could shred them up and put a little bit in for the flagtail and see if he likes it or not

 

[Jexnell]

Nice Lima shovel nose how big is he now if you still have him also DirtyPaws949 my flagtail loves shrimp I take cooked shrimp from the store and thaw it out then I take a piece out and cut it into small bits or you could shred them up and put a little bit in for the flagtail and see if he likes it or not

I don't have them. All fish in that pic were rehomed to a fellow MFKer due to a supposed apt remodel that never happened....

 

[Rtc/tsn]

I don't have them. All fish in that pic were rehomed to a fellow MFKer due to a supposed apt remodel that never happened....

That’s tragic I’m really curious about what that Lima looks like now if he’s still alive

 

[FJB]

"Also, how big of a threat will he be to the smaller fish? I’ve read they’re incredibly peaceful however, like with most fish... if it fits in their mouth..."
[Sorry I did not see your post before...]
In my experience, even your smallest fry is safe, at least if the prochi is eating enough, which he/she will make sure it is the case anyway. They are very tame, but forage constantly being your best advocate for excellent tank cleanliness. Give him nori often, he will love you for it, as well as garbanzos, flakes, pellets, frozen goodies....anything and everything.
Mine came at ~2.5 inch in 2017, now close to 10" and eats from my hand and likes to be pet on the forehead.
All photos the same fish at various times (as a baby, all grown up, feeding on nori, Nori seaweed).
Enjoy one of the nicest fish to have!