needlefish?

[snakeskinner]

I've noticed the LFS has had Needlefish the last few times I've stopped by and they are very interesting. I'm considering one for my 36 gallon but not sure if it's a good choice. It's a 1/4 cylinder 36 gallon that I have heavily planted. Right now I have 3 giant danios, one gold gourami, 2 serpae tetras, 5 small tiger barbs, a 6" pleco, 6 ottos and I had 10 ghost shrimp that I believe about 6 or 7 are left. I am planning on maybe a pair of rams or Kribs to finish out my bottom of the tank and/or maybe some other barbs as well. I also saw some Golden Rainbow Panchax that look interesting and may pick up a couple of those. I need some topwater fish in the tank because most of what I have stays in the front on the bottom and midlevel so there's lots of room left in the tank. The only info I've found on needlefish is that they can be agressive to smaller fish but I don't plan to have any real small fish, smallest being the ottos. the needlefish I saw are around 6-7" long and I don't believe one could catch the other fish once they drop down into the plants. Does anyone have any of these needlefish? What size/type tank and tankmates do you have? how about diet? I'm still searching for more info but there doesn't seem to be much out there. If I do a websearch, I come up with more hits on a fishing lure called a needlefish, not much on the actual fish. thanks, Kyle

[LMOUTHBASS]

hey
they require live food and are predatory most lfs that have them feed them minnows etc so i would expect them to eat your danio , maybe tetras and barbda - basically if they can get it in their mouths it's food - don't let them fool you either i know they swim in place mostof the time but they can strike quick -
also their mouths open wide!

[OrionGirl]

There are a number of fish called needlefish. Most of them will outgrow a 36 in short order, and will be able to eat any fish under about 3 inches, even if they are only 6-7 inches long. I would not add it to your tank. You can look here: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Strongylura&speciesname=exilis for more info--and to see if you can identify the species.

Look at hatchet fish, and african butterflies. Both would be suitable, if this is a covered tank. You could also do killie fish---there are many great colors, and most stay fairly small and are peaceful.

[snakeskinner]

that's not what I wanted to hear :) sounds like I'll probably stay away from them then. any idea what they can go with? Maybe I will get a larger tank one of these days and get one or two then. thanks, Kyle

[LMOUTHBASS]

i was told their a funny fish - you can't keep them with most cichlids cause they'll rip the needle fish apart! funny huh? you woulnt think so at first but then again it is a long skinny fish - small fish are out of the question - i woul think oddballs might work - like butterfly fish, clown knives - i think larger catfish like pictus, maybe big gouramis, hmmm prob anything that's not a meal but not a bully either

[snakeskinner]

maybe needlefish with dwarf puffers........ sounds like an interesting fight to me.........Kyle

[ticklemepunk473]

I was told that needlefish need brackish water is that true?

[Hans]

i dont think many fish NEED brackish water, they just do better in it

[OrionGirl]

Brackish fish do NEED brackish conditions. There are trace elements and higher levels of minerals in brackish water, which these fish are adapted to living in and benefitting from. There are many, many fish that live in brackish estuaries as juveniles an then migrate--most often, into the ocean.

For needlefish--many are brackish. Some can go either way, though, which is why species identification is crucial.

[Hans]

well we have lots of brackish fish in our store, none have salt in the water, they do fine? oh by teh way needle fish are wicked hungry, they are not liek normal gars that kinda look at the lil feeder, and swim slowly to get them, needle fish are like BAM! the instant you throw a lil guppy in there

[OrionGirl]

For a short period of time, yes, brackish fish can survive in FW. But, long term, they need salt. Without it, they will be prone to diseases and parasites, and a much shortened life span.

Conditions in a LFS are seldom considered long term, healthy setups.

[snakeskinner]

some brackish fish, not all. Many "brackish fish" simply live there some of their life. Many migrate back and forth and live in salt , brackish and freshwater. A couple of rivers here in Oklahoma have a high salt content (better than brackish from what I've heard) but there are the same fish you find in freshwater found there. KYle