Help! my Mono's need your help!!

[bestbet98133]

I did a bad thing most fish lover's do...I did not research before buying (3) Monodactylus argenteus 5 months ago. I trusted the LFS and brought them home to my 55 gallon community tank. Only then did I find out that I cannot keep their salinity high enough due to low tolerance of other fish.

My Question: Is it possible for Mono's to live 'happily' with 1 tsp. per gallon of aquarium salt? No two authors seem to agree and I trust this site. I also alternate weekly water changes with 3 Tbs. of livebearer salt per 10 gallons.
Would it be better to move to 20 gallon tank w/higher salinity or keep in 55 gallon until bigger tank is purchased?

They eat well, all 3 have overcome cloudy eye right after purchase. They have grown from approx. 1" to about 4", and I now am looking for bigger tank. In the meantime, I want to keep them as healthy and happy as possible.

PS. They seem to love live food, is it ok to feed them meal worms? I did it 1x, but can't find concrete info.

Thanks so much

[MonoSebaelover]

I gave up trusting ALL fish stores a long time ago. Actually 4 years ago when Petland told me to cycle my 6 gallon tank with 5 goldfish and a pleco. I didn't want to do it but my mom and the guy told me it was the right thing to do. I had ammonia for over two months and all I wanted in the tank was some Dalmation Mollies. Anyway, now I do all my research on the internet. Back to topic. Your fish store pretty much made a horrible choice for your tank. The thing few people know about Monos is they are freshwater as little juvies (1 inch to 2 inches), then they are brackish up till about 5 inches, then they thrive in saltwater after that. Monos will have many problems as they grow if not kept in saltwater. I had a single Mono that was in a 55 brackish (he is now 4 inches) and one day his color got very dark which is their stress pattern. I figured he would be fine so didn't do anything so five days later of having the dark color and getting extremely skinny since he hadn't eaten I had to take drastic measures (which I don't recommend at all but it was a do or die situation) so I started a very slow drip from my saltwater tank into the bucket I put him in (salinity was at 1.010) and over 4 hours raised it to the saltwater level of 1.024. I was terrified he would get ich and die but he was either going to die of starvation or ich. But amazingly after only an hour of being in the tank he started playing with my Blue Hippo Tang, and now 1 week later, no ich, no dark colors, eating anything and everything. This just goes to show that they love saltwater, and really need it to be happy as they approach adult hood. So if I were you I would either decide to buy a bigger tank and set it up saltwater or return the monos. Anyway, hope this helps and sorry your fish store gave ya bad advice.

[bksmith]

Your 3 monos are already way too big for a 20 gallon tank. Please don't try that. As for salinity, they definitely need more, I don't know if I would agree that they need full SW but will definitely need a middle to high level brackish set up (1.010 and preferably higher).

[bestbet98133]

Thanks for such a quick response. I too have seen the dark color on my Mono's on occasion (learned that leaving an overhead light on for 5 min. after turning out the tank lights, reduces stress for them) I so agree with you regarding LFS, however, this place in Seattle called The Fish Store is supposed to be known for its expertise. The Mono's were about 1" when I bought them. I called the fish store immediately after gaining internet information they asked me to bring in sample of my water. When all the water tests were fine, they admitted the need for higher SW, but would not let me return them. Now they have gotten so big, but their aggresiveness towards each other is stressing out my other fish!! I will take the advice and not put them in the 20 gallon, so looks as if I must find them a bigger home.

I wasn't told anything regarding meal worms.....can I chop them and feed them? I am having such a hard time finding live food in my area. Thank-you again

[cdawson]

Originally posted by bestbet98133
, however, this place in Seattle called The Fish Store is supposed to be known for its expertise. n

that place is BS, NOBODY that owns a store down there knows very much about anything. I went to like 8 different stores looking for bio-spira while I was down there and they all looked at me like I was retarded. Then while I was at the The fish store I heard one of the employees there telling a customer (about a black ghost knife) that if you want to really get a look at it , don't put any decorations in the tank and use a really bright light!!!
I couldn't believe what I had just heard!

If you need to find someone to take your fish I've got a large brackish tank up here in vancouver that already has mono argentus (and I'm looking for more). I've got 3 right now.
I see agressiveness even in my 100+g tank, I would seriously suggest finding someone to take your fish or buy a much larger tank. It's best to research anything before you buy it, I hope you learned to not trust employees at an LFS before anything else.

Also aquarium salt does nothing as far as brackish water goes, you're going to have to either find new homes for your monos, get a new tank for them (100+g) or get rid of the other fish for the time being. These guys get BIG and cannot be properly housed in inadequete space for long without major health problems. You should bring your american money up to vancouver and get a large tank for cheap. I can point you in the right direction if you need any help. I bought my 135g for $600 can.

[bestbet98133]

You are so right about LFS and sometimes they care more about a sale than the welfare of the fish!! I knew better than to purchase any fish without first researching their needs, however, I fell in LOVE with what was then "little baby" Mono's. And I asked many ?'s to 'the fish store', after feeling satisfied that they were a good match for my tank, I bought the three. Moral of story: Never Again!!

Yes, I know that my precious mono's need bigger house. Not sure how soon I can purchase bigger tank. So, you sound like you could provide good home. Can you e-mail me so that we can discuss the particulars of delivery, ect.

bestbet98133@yahoo.com

If I were to come up to B.C., where would the best place to purchase a tank be? Look forward to hearing from you, thanks again

[olaf]

150 Gal
5 Argentine Monos 4"
5 Sebae Monos 4" (6" head-tail)
2 Red Scats 2.75"
1 Green Scat 4.5"
1 Silver Scat 4.5"
1 Green Spotted Puffer 3.25"
1 Figure 8 Puffer 2.75"
1 Orange Chromide 3.5"
2 Green Chromides 4"
1 Archer 4.25"
1 Tiger Fish Coius microlepis "Dat" 4"
1 Silver Tiger Fish Coius quadrifasciatus "Silver Dat" 3.25"
2 Leaf goblinfish Vespicula depressifrons 2.75"
Salinity is at 1.010 (at the moment)
I change the Salinity over the year to minic the change of seasons. The wet season the Salinity is lower and the dry season the salinity is higher. The range is from 1.005 to 1.018.
All of my fish are healthy and spoiled. Live top quality healthy food when I can get it and frooze when I can't.
The tank is very well balanced.
Tank 2 - Salinity is at 1.016
3 Silver Shark Catfish 5.5"
1 Target Fish 3.5"
Tank 3 - Salinity is at 1.017
1 Mangrove Red Snapper 2"
2 Hermit Crabs .25"
1 Orange Turbo Snail .75"
3 Margarita Snail .5"
1 Cerith Snail .75" Burrows in the sand 90% of the time.
Tank 4 - Salinity is at 1.013
I also have 4 flounders 1"

[cdawson]

What have you got for filtration on your 150g? and how long have you had it?

[olaf]

I have two Eheims 2026 & 2228, PowerSweep 228 powerhead w/ filter attachment and Magium Pro. I have had it for a while. I am planning on getting a Bio Lifegard by Pentar.

[cdawson]

dude, I've gotta get some more filtration for my 135g all I've got on it right now is an rena xp3. I knew I didn't have enough filtration. Also how'd you acclimate your turbo snails for brackish water?

[olaf]

Very slowly and have a lot of food.
My Turbo is at 1.017 Which isn't far from When I bought it at the LFS. Their SW is at 1.022.
Also in Tank 3 the hermit crabs are Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab
(Calcinus laevimanus).