Treat with care during acclimatisation as L14s are quite shy, particularly when introduced to a new environment. More than likely the new arrival  will not be eating for a while. Put some food near its hiding place and ensure it eats. Keep the lights off or down during the first weeks. When acclimatised it is quite a tough competitor and can fend for itself. It doesn’t get stressed easily when confronted by more aggressive tankmates  I have noticed all mine “offer” their food when a younger fish competes for it but they will not move an inch when an adult, or similarly sized fish does the same. Another observation is that while mine cohabit fine with Acanthicus Adonis they are always lower down in the hierarchy. Similar behaviour has been observed when the L14 gets into a confrontation with the L114; there will be a fight but but it is always the L14 that gives way despite being a senior member of the tank. My L14s coexist pretty harmoniously with the L25s (no competition or fights observed over a period of 4 years between two colonies consisting of 5 fish each).

Younger fish have a striking colouration, including full gold coloured dorsal and caudal fins. Coloration becomes less intense as the fish grows while the gold shade on the fins gives way to the normal pattern and ends up as a thick line at the top and end part of the dorsal and caudal fins respectively. Yet, even as adults, L14s are impressive fish with a lovely presence in the tank.

You will notice occasionally that some of the fish have a duller colouration or patches of fading pattern. Most of the times this is due to slime, to which the fish is susceptible if the water conditions are not good enough. I treated mine by adding salt to the tank for a week at 0,1% solution and that did the trick. 

It is often said that L14, when full, eats only the skin of the fish and leaves the flesh. Hence the aquarist should take care to remove uneaten food to maintain good water quality. I am not convinced this is the case. I have noticed that mine, on occasions, prefer to eat the “head” of prawns and the shell, living the flesh for other fish. If prawn shells are not provided, they will rasp on sea shells I have in the tank for decoration. I suspect this preference may be related either to their need for specific trace elements or to their digestive function.

Though active and not a recluse, L14 is not the type of fish which will swim around the tank. Beware: should such behaviour be manifested check your water quality and monitor the fish for disease. Restlessness, particularly when combined with swimming towards the top of the tank, is a sure sign something is wrong.

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