mudskipper newbie

[albartsch]

Hi- Just joined. I've been fascinated with mudskippers for years, and was very suprised to see them in a pet store in Boston last week. I didn't know I could see them outside the New England aquarium. I bought 3, and was told to keep them in fresh water and feed them bloodworms. Then I started the research, and see web postings saying that I must create brackish water, use a large aquarium, feed live food, and keep the water warm. I have a four foot aquarium in the garage that I could set up, but I don't really know how to make brackish water and can't be sure how much of this advice I need to heed. Any advice from experienced skipper-keepers?

[OrionGirl]

I'm going to move this over to the Brackish Water forum. You'll get more info pertinent to your question over there.

Welcome aboard! We'll do our best to help you provide a happy home for your skippers!

[albartsch]

Thanks! I didn't see that forum, so I posted in both marine and freshwater.

[OrionGirl]

I closed that one and put a link in to this one.

Not a biggie, just easier for you if it's all together. We usually advise people to post a topic in just one place, to reduce duplications of responses. :)

[cdawson]

You're going to need land as well as water for your skipper tank, They mostly spend time on land rather than water, as you might have seen at the aquarium. Try to re-create what you saw there and get the right water parameter you've seen around the net.

[albartsch]

Thanks. One more question for the experienced. Has anyone created a system for an automatic fish feeder so I can go away for the weekend or longer?

[OrionGirl]

Adult fish can go for well more than 2 days without food. For fry, some source of food will be needed, but infusoria or a healthy planted tank can even support them for a day or two. Just make sure the water level and parameters are appropriate, and that the temperature will remain stable. All of my tank lights are on timers, as well, so I just don't worry about anything. The tank I have at work doesn't get fed on the weekends or holidays with no negative results.

[val]

Albartsch, to Aquaria Central, home of the most waterlogged fishkeepers on the internet:)

Yep, I want my next tank to be mudskippers, too.

You will definitely want to get the 4 footer out of the garage. You need to a bit of land as mudskippers are reportedly territorial (I can only pass along what I've read, but I've done a fair amount).

Have you had fish before? Mudskippers will be something of a challenge, so you'll have your hands full.

Check out this site: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~thebobo/mud.htm

Also, if you can get your hands on Practical Fishkeeping, a great British magazine, the Jan and Feb issues (I think) had a two part on mudskippers. If you can't get them, PM me and I can send/fax you a copy of the article.

Also, do a title search for mudskippers here. I had a couple of questions a couple of months ago and those threads may still be here (or not, the boards updated a couple of months ago...)

HTH

Val

[albartsch]

Thanks. Please send me the reprint if you can. Fax number 617-249-0149. I've kept fish before, and newts, but I think I've bit off a big one here.

[MonoSebaelover]

Honestly if you have kept fish and newts before it shouldn't be that hard. Just think of it as a cross between a newt and a fish that needs salt. I have one in a 55 currently with many other bw fish (Anableps, Monos, Mollies, Gobies, and a Fig 8), and he is extremely easy to take care of. But then again I do have a ton of experience with amphibs (currently have Tiger leg Tree Frogs, Red eye Trees, Mantellas, Newts, Graceful Chameleon and Red Ear Slider-last two are actually reptiles but thought would include anyway). "Skippy" gets frozen bloodworms, frozen brine, flakes, and live brine altered regularily. Just keep the questions coming, Aquaria is a great place and yes, we are quite a bit water logged! Feel free to PM or email me if you have any questions. I check both daily.

[albartsch]

Thanks for the info. I need some real "nuts and bolts" information now. My tank is four feet long by 13 inches, and about 18 inches tall. I will keep 3 mudskippers in there, which are now 1.5 inches long, and may add newts or other fish.
I think I'll need a light, filter and pump, heater, and recipe for brackish water. Can anyone advise what to buy and where? Thanks.

[MonoSebaelover]

A) Newts are out of the question since salty water dries out their skin. They will get dehydrated and slowly die. Some fish to look for would be like Mollies, Anablep Anablep (4 eyed fish), Guppies, Bumblebee Gobies. Brackish water depends on where you live as to how much salt to put in the water. It is best to buy a Hydrometer (one by Aquarium Systems is best) and get the range between 1.008 and 1.014 depending on the fish you get. FYI, I use 1.5 cups of salt per 10 gallons of water for my brackish systems and gives a salinity close to 1.010. BTW, in case you didn't know your tank is a 55 gallon. Hope this helps and good luck with the Skippies.

[albartsch]

Thanks! That was very helpful! I actually did not know the tank capacity. Do you use regular table salt? I live in Boston, what salinity should I use? I'll forget the newts and go with the species you suggested.

[MonoSebaelover]

No, table salt is the worst salt to use. The best to use is one of the marine salts (I use Instant Ocean, on both brackish and marine tanks and have not had any problems in the 3 years I have been doing them). I know there are some reports out there about how not good Instant Ocean is, but has worked great for me with no ill effects so I would say go ahead and use it. I have never lived in Boston (lived in New Jersey/New York for 9 yrs) so the best thing to do would be to get a hydrometer and test the level of salt in a bucket and figure out how much you need to get a certain salinity.

[sihen]

MonoSebaelover

Could you help me please,

I need some help, last week i bought 2 x Mudskippers, the problem im having is the 2 mudskippers hate each other, the one seems to always go for the other and the other is hiding away and doesnt look happy. its eyes have gone look blood shot,

Iv got a tank that is half full with water, half the tank has place for them to go out of the water but once again the problem comes into play that as soon as both are out the water the one goes for the other.

Dylan