Brackish Fish Profiles

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Lupin

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Sep 21, 2006
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Lupin Information Super Highway/Goldfish Informati
thegab.org
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Paul
For brackish water fish, we shouldn't forget them.lol

Same template.


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Scientific Name:

Common Names:
Care Level:
Adult Size:
pH Range:
Temperature Range: (F/C)
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range:
Origin/Habitat:
Temperament/Behavior:
Compatible Tank mates:
Diet:
Tank Size For Adult:
Narrative:

References/Links:
 
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Sploke

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Staff member
Oct 20, 2005
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South Windsor, CT
Real Name
Matt
Gobioides broussonnetti - Violet Goby

[picture]

Scientific Name: Gobioides broussonnetti
Common Names: Violet Goby, Dragon Goby
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 55cm (21")
pH Range: 7.8-8.4
Temperature Range: 23-25*C/73-78*F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.020
Origin/Habitat: Estuarine brackish areas, western Atlantic coastline from South Carolina south to southern Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful fish, despite aggressive appearance. Filter feeder, requires small-sized food. Small eyes and poor eyesight indicative of non-predatory nature. Good community fish, prefers tight, dim hiding places to lurk. Mostly nocturnal feeder.
Compatible Tank mates: Other BW community selections - mudskippers, bumblebee gobies, mollies, chromides, although can be aggressive toward conspecifics.
Diet: Often only takes frozen-thawed foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and mysis. Difficult to switch to prepared foods. Depending on aggressiveness of eating habits of tankmates, may require spot feeding. Target feeding after lights out proven to be effective.
Tank Size For Adult: Generally viewed as an inactive fish, but large adult size warrants 75-90gal tank as adults. Relatively slow growing after 7-8" size is attained.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. G. broussonnetti can live for abbreviated periods of time in full freshwater, but often develops skin ulcers and immune deficiencies when kept in freshwater long-term. If purchased in freshwater, transition to low-end brackish via slow drip acclimation should be relatively straightforward. A fine substrate such as sand or mud will be appreciated as they will filter-feed by sifting through substrate for small food particles. Long caves such as tubes of PVC will be appreciated for lurking during the daytime. No sexual dimorphism is noted.


References/Links:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3856
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/6b.html
http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Gobioides_broussonnetii.html
 

Sploke

resident boozehound
Staff member
Oct 20, 2005
6,797
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South Windsor, CT
Real Name
Matt
Brachygobius xanthozonus - Bumblebee Goby







Scientific Name: Brachygobius xanthozonus
Common Names: Bumblebee goby
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 3.8cm TL (1.5")
pH Range: 7.8-8.2
Temperature Range: 25-28*C/75-82*F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.012
Origin/Habitat: Estuarine areas, brackish mangrove swamps in Sumatra, Borneo, Java
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful community fish. Does well in groups.
Compatible Tank mates: Other BW community selections, nothing aggressive enough to eat a fish of its small stature. They can also be easily outcompeted for food, so care must be taken to ensure they are getting enough to eat.
Diet: Often requires small live foods such as blackworms and baby brine shrimp. Can possibly be weaned onto frozen foods such as mysis, brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Tank Size For Adult: A small group of adults can be kept in tanks as small as 5 gallons.
Narrative: These fish are often sold as freshwater specimens. The adults may travel to FW to spawn, then return to brackish environments. They seem to do best in low-end brackish for long term care. They do well in tanks with lots of cover. Large snail or barnacle shells work well. NOTE: There are several similar species imported under the name "bumblebee goby". B. xanthozonus is one of the more common ones; telling them apart is next to impossible without the use of a microscope. However, the care listed above can be considered a broad guide for this group of fish.


References/Links:
http://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=11304
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/6b.html
http://fish.mongabay.com/gobiidae.htm
 
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xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
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Dichotomyctere nigroviridis - Green spotted pufferfish
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Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
Common Names: Green spotted pufferfish, leopard pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 15cm (6")
pH Range: 7.5-8.5
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.010-1.025
Origin/Habitat: Found in estuarine brackish areas as well as freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes across India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Temperament/Behavior: Very aggressive. Difficult with most tankmates.
Compatible Tank mates: Certain robust species such as similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 35-40 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. D. nigroviridis can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

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Oct 5, 2021
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Dichotomyctere fluviatilis - Ceylon pufferfish
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Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere fluviatilis
Common Names: Ceylon pufferfish, green pufferfish, topaz pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 15cm (6")
pH Range: 7.5-9
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.010-1.025
Origin/Habitat: Found in slow fresh and brackish bodies of water across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Temperament/Behavior: Very aggressive. Difficult with most tankmates.
Compatible Tank mates: Certain robust species such as similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 35-40 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. D. fluviatilis can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. They are very similar in care and size to D. nigroviridis. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
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Dichotomyctere ocellatus - Figure eight pufferfish
1637718301299.png
Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere ocellatus
Common Names: Figure eight pufferfish, eyespot pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 7.5cm (3")
pH Range: 7.5-8
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.010
Origin/Habitat: Found in fresh and brackish rivers and coastal waters throught Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Temperament/Behavior: Slightly less aggressive than larger Dichotomyctere, but still very nippy.
Compatible Tank mates: Similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, gobies, orange chromides, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 15-20 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. D. ocellatus can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. However, this species is more tolerant of freshwater than previously mentioned members of their genus. They are essentially smaller, more peaceful versions of the previous two fish. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
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Dichotomyctere erythrotaenia - Samurai pufferfish
1637718918966.png
Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere erythrotaenia
Common Names: Samurai pufferfish, red striped toadfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 7.5cm (3")
pH Range: 6-8
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.010
Origin/Habitat: Found mostly in brackish swamps and rivers around Indonesia and Papa New Guinea.
Temperament/Behavior: Slightly less aggressive than larger Dichotomyctere, but still very nippy.
Compatible Tank mates: Similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, gobies, orange chromides, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 15-20 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. D. erythrotaenia can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. However, this species is more tolerant of freshwater than some previously mentioned members of their genus. They are very similar in care and size to D. ocellatus. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
45
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Dichotomyctere sabahensis - Saba pufferfish
1637719326176.png
Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere sabahensis
Common Names: Saba pufferfish, giant spotted pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 15cm (6")
pH Range: 7.5-8.5
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.015
Origin/Habitat: Found in Borneo
Temperament/Behavior: Very aggressive. Difficult with most tankmates.
Compatible Tank mates: Certain robust species such as similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 35-40 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. D. sabahensis can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. D. sabahensis is commonly mistaken for D. nigroviridis and D. fluviatilis. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
45
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Chenlonodon patoca - Milkspotted pufferfish
1637719861567.png
Scientific Name: Chenlonodon patoca
Common Names:
Milkspotted pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 38cm (15")
pH Range: 7.5-8.5
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.005-1.025
Origin/Habitat: Found in brackish and marine costal waters throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful by puffer standards.
Compatible Tank mates: Similarly-sized puffers, scats, monos, brackish chromides, and possibly eels could work.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 125 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. C. patoca can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. C. patoca belongs to a very obscure genus, of which they are the only member to be commonly traded. These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 

xenacanth9

AC Members
Oct 5, 2021
45
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Sphoeroides annulatus - Bullseye pufferfish
1637721424641.png
Scientific Name: Sphoeroides annulatus
Common Names: Bullseye pufferfish
Care Level: Medium
Adult Size: 30cm (12")
pH Range: 7-8
Temperature Range: 24-28°C/75-82°F
Specific Gravity/Hardness Range: 1.010-1.025
Origin/Habitat: Found in rocky reefs as well as sandy bottoms in fresh, brackish, and marine water throughout the eastern Pacific ocean.
Temperament/Behavior: Agressive.
Compatible Tank mates: Best kept species-only.
Diet: Hard foods such as snails, as well as softer, meatier foods such as bloodworms. Hard foods are required to trim teeth.
Tank Size For Adult: A single specimen will require about 125 gallons.
Narrative: Like many brackish fish, often sold as a freshwater specimen. S. annulatus can live for certain periods of time in full freshwater, but will not prosper when kept in freshwater long-term, and will ultimately die prematurely. Sphoeroides, despite being a large genus, is one that is rarely-seen in the trade.These fish prefer cover in the form of wood, plants, rocks, etc. If purchased in freshwater, transition to brackish via slow drip acclimation. No sexual dimorphism is noted.
 
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