Dactyloptena macracantha is the specific species I am interested in--this one stays smaller than many of it's cousins. Any one have any info? I'd like to know if one could be kept in a 50 invert (corals) tank. They say they get to about 8 inches, and it would be the only fish in the tank. The deep-water part is what worries me.
Flying Gurnard?
- Thread starter OrionGirl
- Start date
I've had direct experience with only one Flying Gurnard, a Gulf Stream juvenile D. volitans that I caught here in NJ. Flying Gurnards are basically botton dwelling fish that should be in an uncluttered aquarium with a roomy substrate. These fish walk on their pectorals, swimming and gliding mostly to get from one place to another. They eat the usual stuff found in sandy areas, like worms and small inverts. They have a large semi-square head, with very prominent bones. Mine had vivid blue dots all over its huge pectorals. Eventually it got too big, growing from about 3 inches to about 9 inches from one summer to the next, when I released it. I suppose a smaller species would work out better, but they are a very specialized fish, and fairly active. In general, I've found that deep water fish do perfectly fine in aquaria, as long as temps, light levels, and other parameters are met.
Where did you read that? It says they grow to 1 foot 2 inches, and at that size would need at least a 180.
The description I read said that the flying gurnard needed at least a 180 gallon tank, and in the size description it said that they were from 1.5 to 3.5 inches. Perhaps I looked at the wrong size description, or maybe the 180 gallon guideline is generalized. I don't recall seeing anything about a 1 foot + size.
Upper right hand corner says the size they grow to. the 1.5" to 3.5" is the approximate size they will be when you purchase one.