Florida Flag Fish

[Crocodylus]

Are they known by another name on the LFS, like American Flag Fish or are they another species?

Also, what is the differences between the sexes? males more colorful? fin shape? etc.

[MrGoodbytes]

I don't know about sexual dimorphism, but they usually seem to be either American or Florida Flag Fish at the LFS. I will check for you. Their scientific name is Jordanella floridae if you were wondering.
Graeme

[MrGoodbytes]

Okay, I just checked my Baensch Photo Atlas and it says that J. floridae males are more colourful and that the females have a dorsal fin spot. Males apparently dig a pit in the substrate and guard the nest.
HTH,

Graeme

[stik6shift98]

i have seen them at my lfs and am gonna purchase 4 of them 3 female and 1 male...well hopefully since they are hard to tell which is which

[somefinnfishy]

all the flag fish I have seen around here in the last month are misshapen deformed with a kinda hunch to them and haveing bad fungus probs also so inspect CLOSELY.

[Crocodylus]

I have also read that they can be agressive towards other fish, to the point of ripping their fins.. any truth to this? I keep guppies and neons, dont want to see them ripped to shreds

[stik6shift98]

would they be dangerous to discus and stingray?

[WolfPup522]

I had 2 males (search the forum for flag fish and you'll get some good info) and they were not the least bit aggresive. I had them in with Buenos Aires tetras and scissortail rasboras, all of which were bigger than Lewis & Clark, but they got along quite well.

They really are beautiful fish and I miss mine terribly.

[stik6shift98]

i went to buy some today and they told me my stingray would eat them:mad: :(

[tricksterpup]

Yes, Flag fish will only do well in a planted tank and only with no predatory animals. So no large cichlids or sting rays or you will have missing fish. Males are very aggressive during breeding and when guarding the eggs. Very similer to sunfish and cichlids in this regards but still a pup fish non the less.
I currently have a breeding pair that have produced offspring. The male is a brillant bright red with blue strips, very pretty fish. While the female is more drab but still very pretty in her own right, she has blue strips and is a bluish gray color.

Here is a very useful article on this Native fish.
http://www.nativefish.org/Articles/Jordanella-floridae.htm


jim
This is either a female or a Juvie
http://www.nativefish.org/Gallery/Jordanella-floridae-1.jpg
Here is a male.
http://floridafisheries.com/images/fish-pic/jor-flo.jpg

[stik6shift98]

that male is beautiful...

[tricksterpup]

here is another male picture.

jim

[andruboz]

my lfs suggested they could go brackish? anybody else heard that? normally she's right, but i havent seen anything to back her up this time.

[pharoh08]

how big of tank is that stingray in, maybe you could get a jack dempsy or oscar or something bigger

[tricksterpup]

I believe they can tolerate brackish water but I would not keep them in it. They are very adaptable to most water conditions though; either hard or soft they can live in it. But they are not true brackish fish but a freshwater fish.
Here is a quote from the article posted.

"The literature is, again, somewhat divided on desirable conditions. The J. floridae so readily adapts to very different situations that most stated conditions are probably correct. This author has obtained viable eggs from the same pair, both in soft, too-warm, deep, acid water, and shallower, hard, cooler water. The only requirement seems to be reasonable acclimation, and adequate mix of animal and vegetable matter in the diet. "

In one of the tanks, they did add salt to the water but due to water changes and not adding salt later, the water salinity changed to a fresher mix.

jim