Anableps

[olaf]

How much does an anablep cost?
I need some input about these fish.
How people have their tank setup and if they have them in schools, etc.

Thanks

[MonoSebaelover]

I don't know where you live but here in CO they range from 9.99-19.99 when they are available. I used to keep them in a school until one of them turned male and the rest suffered a fate very common (I have found) in Anableps. I used to work at this lfs and this one wholesaler would always have them so I ordered 5 of them to put in my 55 (at the time it was a brackish tank with a couple of Monos, 2 Fig 8 Puffs, 2 Mudskippers, and 2 Archers). And I found very common in all of them (some arrived with it in the bag) was they would float belly up and couldn't control their body (the same thing that happens to sw fish with cyanide) and after a day or so of this they would die. It can happen within a couple of days to a couple of weeks. At the time there were five females and the strongest one turned male and the rest had gotten the nasty disease and died. But now the problem is since the lfs that I worked at closed its doors I have no source for getting more. I really want to get a harem of females (probably 3 or so) but no store in CO carries them currently. In the wild a male will live solitary (that is why 98 percent of Anableps on the market are females-I once read 1 in 200 anableps was a male) and they will breed with the females (that school) and return to a solitary life. I now still have my male (is about 6-8 inches now, got him when he was 3) and he is in my 55 slightly salted tank (definetly not brackish since there are peaceful African cichlids in there with him) and he is doing fantastic. He attacks my hand every time I feed the tank and he eats anything and everything. I keep the water level two inches below the rim of the tank and there is a reptile hammock thing in there so he can chill if he wants to along with several fake plants that break the waters surface. Anyway, feel free to contact me if ya have any more questions about these wonderful fish.

[Nippy]

Wow! I thought they had to be kept strictly brackish! How much salt do you put into your tank, MonoSebae?
I have 2 of them, both male, in my brackish 20. I was going to either upgrade the size of the tank when they got bigger or trade them back into the pet store. The tank I was going to use for them has been taken over by a testy oscar who refuses to get along with anyone. :rolleyes:
I paid $26 for my 1st one and then the owner gave me a deal on the last one for $15. They bug me to death! The one is always trying to mate with the other one. Doesn't he know the other one is a dude also?
:confused:

[MonoSebaelover]

They generally prefer brackish but my male was never too thrilled about being in brackish so when I moved him down a bit he is much happier. I think salinity is 1.003-1.004. It is very low but he and everybody else is very happy with it. I have a pair of Yellow Lab Cichlids that breed one week, carry the babies for 2-3 weeks, then immediatly breed again right after. None of the babies make it due to the fact there is a 3 inch Datnoide, 3 inch African Spotted Leaffish (actually a Climbing Perch) and two 2 inch A. calvus. But if they are happy enough to breed all the time they must be happy with the salinity too. I really want to find some females so I can breed them but there are NONE in this fricken state. It is very annoying!

[olaf]

Now there are three different kinds or spieces of anableps.
Anableps anableps - Largescale Foureyes (FW/BW)
Anableps dowi - Pacific Foureyed Fish (FW/BW/MW)
Anableps microlepis - Foureyes (FW/BW)

Which kind do you have?
The LFS has one but it id hard to tell which kind it is.
They have it in FW with Platies and tetras. it is about 5" - 6".

[MonoSebaelover]

Anablep Anablep is the most common and is the one I have. Anablep Anablep is the only one that truly floats on top of the water all the time. I had one of the other species once and they spent more time in mid column but still had the four eyes. Anyway, hope this helps.

[Nippy]

I think my salinity is even lower than that. I have Knight Gobies and an article in TFH said they like 1.002 so I keep it at least there or somewhere between there and 1.004. I would love to move my anableps to a larger tank.

What kind of salt do you use? I'm using actual marine salt right now; Instant Ocean brand.

[MonoSebaelover]

Yep, I use the Instant Ocean. I have 4 saltwater tanks as well, so it just makes sense.

[bksmith]

Nippy,

Do not limit your salinity based solely upon having a knight goby. I have had a knight at 1.015-1.016 for over a year now and he is doing great!