Threadfin Lookdown (AKA Moon Fish)

ok how much would you guys spend on a fish like this?

 

No offense, but I probably wouldn't put one in my tank even if given to me

To each their own

I prefer colorful fish that don't get very big. I would buy a tang, that's as large as I would go, and since they're colorful, I would be happy - this dude looks too freshwater for me.

 

If I could get one that won't get bigger than 6" and not bother any inverts/coral/fish. I would say Max $60

 

we used to catch and eat all kinds of reef fish in Hawaii. Sargent Major Damsels are so common they're just trash bait stealing fish, but in the aquarium trade they're $20-50 each.

I've seen 1000+ tangs in a small area in the wild, and they'er $70 at the LFS.

There's a lot involved in LIVE capture and successful transportation, so just because it's common doesn't mean it will be cheap.

 

Yeah Sargent Majors are annoying in the wild. Damsels, but they're BIG damsels. Good cut bait though.

And lookdowns used to be cheap at the LFS back in the day. Just all these new laws and restrictions are making it harder to harvest them, thus sending the price right on up. We have several in our 616,000 gallon tank at the TN Aquarium. Kind of boring, they just swim in a school in circles. One of them does have his rear fin missing, not sure what got it. I'm not even sure if he's in there anymore. Too many predatory fish in that tank that wouldn't have the self control if they saw him without his tail fins

And I'd say ours at the TN Aquarium are about 1' to 1'6" or so. They get kind of big. Not something I'd put in a home aquarium. They are kind of shiny though...

 

I wouldn't put it in the tank if it were free. Not enough room for something that mediocre in color (or lack thereof).

 

great job putting up a little poll. the results so far speak for themselves: a resounding no.

 

i'm with pack on this one, boring looking fish.

on another note i did see these at the boston aquarium ( i posted pics somewhere) and they had a SCHOOL of these and each fish was easily 18+ inches. it was in their HUGE multi story cylindrical tank.

 

Naw

Lookdowns are pretty cool looking. That picture doesn't do it justice. They are more like mirrors than having a color (if that makes any sense).

With that said, I had ours in an 850 and not a 300.

 

I agree with Curt. They are really cool looking but to me, they look so much better when they're in a good sized school. That being said, I would only keep them if I had a ginormous tank that was big enough to support 10 or more of them.