We love our elephant nose fish purchased two weeks ago from World Wide Fish and Pets - Connecticut! Peter was kind enough to ship him to us, as we purchased online from PA.
"Flipper" WAS rather shy and nocturnal- for the first two days. and I didn't see him eat a bite, but at the end of day two, we pulled out all the stops to ensure he would get a feast if at all possible.
Pouring thawed out Bryan shrimp into the tank, did not seem to help the first two days, and I did the emergency middle of the night water changes, to ensure we didn't fowl the water trying, but at the end of day two he had his first feast:
We thawed out frozen Bryan shrimp and Mysis shrimp in a jar of aquarium water, placed it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes until warmed back up to aquariums temp 80 degrees, and carefully lowered the jar so that the shrimp stayed in the jar, placing it on its side right at the opening of his log cave (which by the way he is crazy about.)
Then we turned off the aquarium lights and waited, watching. after about 5 minutes of swimming around, Flipper discovered his A+++ meal served in style and filled his tummy.
He was a different fish after that, as he was happy to swim in the light, all day the next day, he spent the 4th day resting in his cave till night when lights were out, and then became more of a daylight swimmer.
We continue to feed him with a jar, as this helps us remove what he can't finish w/o polluting the water, and is great fun to watch as the jar is positioned by the front of the tank so we get a very close up view of him eating.
He tends to explore every new situation with his tail first, where his electronic signals are emitted. Then he will turn around and swim forward.
Before the end of week one, Flipper was eating life black worms from our hands, and really seeming to enjoy any hand at all in the aquarium to play with.
His behavior actually seems to mimic that of a dolphin's.
In this video, you will see him playing with my hand, (as my daughter is in the background begging for a turn)
In the next clip my daughter is playing with him, (while her friends in the background are begging for a turn, )
and in the last clip, her friends are playing with Flipper, getting him to swim through their bracelets for a fun trick.
We played with flipper most of all day Sunday between Sunday morning church and Sunday night Awannah.
He remains the friendliest most social fish you will find.
He does enjoy patrolling his hollow log, and the occasional bowling for Corries, but is a delightful, active, and gentle animal. We are delighted with our new friend, Flipper. Best fishy buy ever!
Thanks so much, World Wide Pets - Connecticut (Pete)
(Cost was $19.99 for Flipper, and $38 for shipping)
Frozen shrimp cubes are roughly $5 for 30 cubes, he eats about 1/4 cube a day. with 4 pinches of live blood worms hand fed. Water temp is kept at 80 degrees Fariegnheight.
