I have recently set up a brackish aquarium. It is 75 gallons with a .012 salinity. I got a few fish a couple weeks ago- 2 archers about 2 1/2 inches long, 2 ruby scats, between the size of a quarter and a fifty cent piece, and 8 sailfin mollies. I also have 3 fiddler crabs. I am not sure why, but I never see the archers or the scats. They stay hidden and only some out when I turn off the lights. I was thinking maybe there wasn't enough decor in the aquarium to make them comfortable. The back corner of the aquarium has flagstones stairstepped up to the top by stacking them with petrified wood pieces, so it creates lots of hiding room. The other side has a large basket with mangroves, which I plan to plant in the bottom gravel when they are tall enough. The middle has a lg piece of driftwood with a few java ferns. Do you think adding some more plants in the middle and on the water's surface would help? What else could it be? Maybe the light is too strong? I have over 2 watts per gallon. Do these fish like it darker? Any advice on what to try?
Are brackish fish generally shy?
- Thread starter sixpack_ey
- Start date
I would say that brackish fish do not tend to be more shy than any other fish. Some are downright spunky and feisty! While I don't know about scats in particular, mollies do not tend to dislike bright light.
I think you need to look for a source of their stress. Besides light level for the scats, what are you tank parameters? What are ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels?
It sounds like you may be going through a mini-cycle after the addition of so many fish at once, so I would guess there will be some ammonia and nitrite. Both of these will explain the stressed behavior of your fishies.
I think you need to look for a source of their stress. Besides light level for the scats, what are you tank parameters? What are ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels?
It sounds like you may be going through a mini-cycle after the addition of so many fish at once, so I would guess there will be some ammonia and nitrite. Both of these will explain the stressed behavior of your fishies.
I may have been unclear in my question. The mollies are out swimming all the time, it is the scats and archers that are always hiding. But, once the lights are out, they are all out swimming around. They won't even come out for some tasty crickets until after the lights are out. The water parameters are all fine- I have my own test kit and I test all my aqauriums' water frequently. This aquarium was already fully cycled; I have had lots of FW fish in it for about a year and traded them the week I got my brackish fish. Since I last posted, I tried to get a lower light, about .5 watts per gallon to see if this would make a difference but the fish still didn't come out. The only problem I can think of is the location of the aquarium- its inbetween my kitchen and my living room, a very high traffic area. And I think my one year old always running up to look at the fish may be stressing them out. But, this is something I can't change- a 75 gallon aquarium isn't something you can just pick up and move.
I'm glad it's not water quality. It does sound like they're just stressed from all the activity around the tank. I know what you mean about not being able to move the 75! If you don't have live plants, you could just leave the lights out most of the time, if it'll make your fishies happier. It does sound like they don't appreciate the light, though. If they're not having problems eating with the overhead light turned off, then I think they'll be just fine with it off most of the time. I think the aquarium lights are mostly for our (human) benefit anyway 
stock that s**t with some good quality live food. guppies, ghost shrimp, molly fry, small platys, and whatever else live you can get that will tolorate yer salinity. those archers and possibly the scats will get used to having the feeders around, and should hopefully encourage a lil boldness.
my fish were never that shy, but they have most def become more aggressive with age and a hearty supply of live foods.
my fish were never that shy, but they have most def become more aggressive with age and a hearty supply of live foods.
Paula, I do have live plants- mangroves and water sprite, so I can't leave the lights out.
Brackishguybob- I didn't know ghost shrimp could tolerate brackish and I thought archers would only eat from the surface of the water anyway( I haven't had a brackish water aquarium for long, I have lots to learn). I will deffinitly go out and buy a bunch of those little guys and hopefully that will make a difference.
My scats have been coming out more lately; I added some more plants a few days ago and it seems that made a difference. Thanks for the advice guys!
Brackishguybob- I didn't know ghost shrimp could tolerate brackish and I thought archers would only eat from the surface of the water anyway( I haven't had a brackish water aquarium for long, I have lots to learn). I will deffinitly go out and buy a bunch of those little guys and hopefully that will make a difference.
My scats have been coming out more lately; I added some more plants a few days ago and it seems that made a difference. Thanks for the advice guys!
as long as you acclimae the GS and feeders very slowly, they'll do very well.
also, there is a lot of weird nonsense about how archers will only eat food that the can see above them.
the only archers ive ever had are the ones i have now, and they will eat anything at any tank level. ive even seen them shoot underwater to dislodge little critters from their hiding places.
also, water sprite can only tolorate very low SG, i tried it once and within 2 weeks my tank was full of squishy brown water sprite needles. aside from being a P.I.T.A., the dead plants can throw off you levels.
also, there is a lot of weird nonsense about how archers will only eat food that the can see above them.
the only archers ive ever had are the ones i have now, and they will eat anything at any tank level. ive even seen them shoot underwater to dislodge little critters from their hiding places.
also, water sprite can only tolorate very low SG, i tried it once and within 2 weeks my tank was full of squishy brown water sprite needles. aside from being a P.I.T.A., the dead plants can throw off you levels.
I have had a very different experience with my water sprite. I had a lot of it when my aqaurium was FW, then I gave it all away to switch to brackish. There were a few tiny sprouts of it left floating in my aquarium, so I planted them, and they have grown fast- about 5 inches in a month or two. They look great and seem to be very healthy.
