What is the best ?

[orcafood]

I was just wondering what the community thought the most colorful/interesting fish in brackish water would be.

[Pufferpunk]

I think that would have to be figure 8 puffers.

[fballguy]

For sure figure 8 puffers.

[Pufferpunk]

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/puffers-in-focus/f8/

[Ruben Tolon]

In a larger tank, archerfish. They are very endearing, although nervous...but they are fascinating and are impressive-looking fishes when adults.

[muddskipper26]

well u kno what im gonna say...MUDSKIPPERS
haha, they may not be the MOST colourful but they are the most interesting.:)

[muddskipper26]

http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/mudskippers/mud.htm
heres a pretty good site.

[FISH ROOM PLUS]

Mono A. are colorfull
Anableps are interesting...to say the least:)

[Pufferpunk]

This is all kinds usless, w/o knowing what size tank you're planning. Or is this just a question?

[FISH ROOM PLUS]

This is all kinds usless, w/o knowing what size tank you're planning. Or is this just a question?

Its more fun playing the guessing game:argue:

[Pufferpunk]

Well, there seems to be no arguing here but when we're speaking of a single figure 8 puffer, that can live in a 15g tank for life or a schooling species that grows to a foot long, like the mono, that could require a 300+g tank for a school of adults, this thread can get confusing.

[FISH ROOM PLUS]

mAKES IT ALL THE MORE FUN:)

[thebramble]

gobies, gobies, gobies! bumblebees! fan dancers! dragons! all of 'em :)

[orcafood]

No it was competly just a question, and thanks for a the replies :)

[BeelzeBob]

archers and mono's for sure,

golden archers are beautiful, and fantastic to watch. i'm halfway tempted to figure an outdoor setup for mine this summer. its a fish that spits water at bugs, jumps for bugs, spits at you and jumps around.

monos are my favorite fish. they are stunningly beautiful, faster than anything, and they get HUGE. they're sweet.

the tightest thing in my opinion is my moray eel. Earl's a real champ. he even bit me once.

his pattern is like a dark green with (literally) metallic gold speckels. he eats from a stick, hangs out with his mouth open etc.

i personally think puffers are boring, and they dramitically limit what you can keep with them(brackish sp) to like Other puffers. they're cute as hell, i have a DP named killer in a 10galFW.

but i think the key is an estuarian set up with variety. but i will have to donate my monos in the next few months. when i got them they were the size of a dime. now they're as big as my hand. An local lfs has a 1500gal display that im trying to get them into.

if you can get tiny mono's its totally worth keeping them for a year or two.

[thebramble]

archers and mono's for sure,
[...]
but i think the key is an estuarian set up with variety. but i will have to donate my monos in the next few months. when i got them they were the size of a dime. now they're as big as my hand. An local lfs has a 1500gal display that im trying to get them into.

if you can get tiny mono's its totally worth keeping them for a year or two.

just my humble opinion, but ... i wouldn't encourage anyone to get fish that they can't keep for life. if you know they'll get too big for what you'll be able to accomodate, it's kind of risky to get them thinking that when they get big, you can find them another home in a year or two... don't you think? ;) your pets are your pets, not rental cars or disposable tupperware.

[BeelzeBob]

WHY NOT?

if you're completly responsible and no way interested in making a profit, ive found it to be easy.

no more stressful for the fish than an upgrade......

the reason id suggest it is that commonly people make the mistake of buying these fish when theyre small, not realizing how friggin big they get....

also, ive had mine for two years since they were practically fry. so ive had plenty of time to make arangements for their new home.

i cant afford a 1500 gallon tank. but i know someone who can and does.

so i could have let the fish deteroriate at the LFS (Most monos dont last long at the fish stores) or give them the happiest life possible for as long as i could, and as soon as their quality of life is in question (id say june) the go to a full marine system 10Xmine

so no, thats not what i think.

[thebramble]

WHY NOT?

if you're completly responsible and no way interested in making a profit, ive found it to be easy.

no more stressful for the fish than an upgrade......

the reason id suggest it is that commonly people make the mistake of buying these fish when theyre small, not realizing how friggin big they get....

[...]

so no, thats not what i think.

so what you're suggesting is that someone gets them, fully KNOWING how big they get, with the plan in mind that someone else can probably be found to take them off your hands...

sorry, i'm not trying to picking on you personally, only point out that this plan doesn't fall into the definition of "responsible pet ownership." it sounds like it's working out for you and your monos, which is great, but it IS a risky proposition for most people.

i'm speaking from years of experience working with animals that someone decided to get "for a couple of years" and then couldn't take care of later on. sometimes the people knew that would happen, sometimes they had a "plan" that didn't quite work out, other times not... the stories are just as sad regardless of how they came into rescue/foster possession.

[BeelzeBob]

now this is some what of an assumption but...

i dont see how exactally you can try and lecture me about keeping 3 fish in their minimum tank req. and making adiquate plans MONTHS IN ADVANCE for them to go to a huge tank because i just know they'll be happier,

WHILE BASED ON YOUR PRIOR POSTS YOU'RE KEEPING A VIOLET GOBY IN A 10 GALLON TANK? when are you going to upgrade? you know that fish gets 2 feet + right?

im not saying go out and buy whatever fish you want. thats moronic.

Im saying if you have a 50gal + tank it'd be more than worth it to keep a couple monos for a couple years, being that you are sure that you can make accomodations for them in the future. WHICH I CAN.



sorry, i'm not trying to picking on you personally, only point out that this plan doesn't fall into the definition of "responsible pet ownership." it sounds like it's working out for you and your monos, which is great, but it IS a risky proposition for most people.

"responsible pet ownership." WTF? :huh:

i dont see how in you years of experience you've managed to stick a VG in a ten gallon. what preperations have you made for when that fish is longer than the tank you keep it in? which will be less than a year. and that is coming from experience.:rolleyes:

and i don't think that you're picking on me. i just think you're wrong.:thm:

oh yea and BTW, its very difficult to kill a VG, given that they are kept in proper conditions.......

[thebramble]

now this is some what of an assumption but...

i dont see how exactally you can try and lecture me about keeping 3 fish in their minimum tank req. and making adiquate plans MONTHS IN ADVANCE for them to go to a huge tank because i just know they'll be happier, .......

that's awesome and i'm glad for you and your fish. does it work out for most people? no.
[...]



im not saying go out and buy whatever fish you want. thats moronic.

Im saying if you have a 50gal + tank it'd be more than worth it to keep a couple monos for a couple years, being that you are sure that you can make accomodations for them in the future. WHICH I CAN.


awesome. you can. you have. i'm not faulting you at all for what you're doing. i'm only saying it's unwise in general to buy fish that you can't accomodate beyond a year or two. have you never read any of the FAQs online, on this forum, even? they all say the same thing.



"responsible pet ownership." WTF? :huh:

i dont see how in you years of experience you've managed to stick a VG in a ten gallon. what preperations have you made for when that fish is longer than the tank you keep it in? which will be less than a year. and that is coming from experience.:rolleyes:


um... that little 4" fish won't grow to be longer than the tank. ever. it died. it was in a hospital tank for a reason. nowhere did i ever say that was to be its permanent home.



and i don't think that you're picking on me. i just think you're wrong.:thm:


wouldn't be the first time i've been wrong and you're certainly entitled to think what you want. i'm just stating my opinion for the benefit of others who may not have such an easy time finding homes for fish they KNEW would get too big when they bought them.



oh yea and BTW, its very difficult to kill a VG, given that they are kept in proper conditions.......

it's too bad that, since you know and care so much about them, you didn't respond to that thread when i was asking for help with that little one - you might have been able to help me save it, who knows. ironic you should bring it up now that it's too late. possible you're just one of those folks that likes to hit below the belt when someone disagrees with you.

[Pufferpunk]

I agree w/thebramble, as far as suggesting it's a bad idea for anyone to go out & purchace a fish, knowing full well it will outgrow any tank you can afford. It's all well & good that you have a friend with a 1500g SW tank that will be fine with housing these fish but most folks won't know someone like this & I don't think it's a good thing to encourage this kind of fishkeeping.

[BeelzeBob]

im not saying everyone should just go out and buy any fish they want assuming that they can just pass it on.

If you can't garuntee that you will be able to place the fish in a better home later, dont buy the ****ing fish.

But if you do have the accomodations, there is nothing wrong with taking the opportunity.

Seems that you both are saying that not many people have this opportunity. and i completly agree.

But i completly dissagree with being called irresponsible. ive done everthing possible to ensure that these fish have full and happy lives. MIND you that the only reason that i would ever do what ive suggested is for the fish, not my attention span or personal enjoyment. (so they've made it past a week, alive. actually thrived for 2 years)

So why would you suggest i am encouraging some taboo form of fish keeping?

So i completly stand affirmed within my opinion that if you have a tank that is 70 gal +, AND you know for a fact that you can get them into a larger system anytime they need it, THERE IS NOTHING IRRESPONSIBLE OR WRONG WITH KEEPING A FISH THATIS NO WHERE NEAR IT CURRENTLY, BUT WILL OUT GROW YOUR TANK. EXACTALLY HOW MUCH DIFFERENT IS THAT THAN SETING UP A NEW TANK, AND SWITCHING THE FISH?

but if your tank is not even that big, or you have no idea what youll do with them when they out grow your tank, DONT BUY THE ****ING FISH, MAN. DO I HAVE TO LIKE IDIOT PROOF MY POSTS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE WRATH OF THE BABY BOOMERS?


And also, i was origionally just posting my opinion about what i thought were cool fish, until someone tried to flex there internet knowledge and tell me im irresponsible fish keeper, and encouraging a bad practice, and spreading missinformation. so yea ill take a low blow and rub the unneccesary death of a fish in your face.


it's too bad that, since you know and care so much about them, you didn't respond to that thread when i was asking for help with that little one - you might have been able to help me save it, who knows. ironic you should bring it up now that it's too late. possible you're just one of those folks that likes to hit below the belt when someone disagrees with you.

sorry im not on the forum daily, and with all the information available, i don't see why you'd need my help. plus, ur post is similar to how many post about the same poor little fish saved from petco? (ive said it befor and ill say it againat least it was alive at the store, next time research the animal before you buy it.)

And for the record, me rubbing that in your face has to do with you calling me irresponsible. i really could care less about weather you're right or wrong, and i could especially give a **** weather YOU PERSONALLY think im wrong. ive come to not care for your OPINION. I have come to find that age isn't an adiquate substitute for EXPERIENCE

[BeelzeBob]

200

[Pufferpunk]

200 what?

[thebramble]

shots of tequila? that would explain a lot.

[orcafood]

Well...
Thanks for all of your experince and insights, I found it to be very usefull information! Now as an add to my earlier question, what would you all say is the most rare brackish fish. Sorry if I am asking to many questions.

[thebramble]

in general i don't know... but around here (and maybe it depends where you are - bigger cities probably have more to choose from), it seems like orange chromides are in very short supply. i've been looking for months! it makes me wonder if it's just here, or in other places too.

[Pufferpunk]

I don't see anableps very often.

[thebramble]

i've never seen those here.