Novelty Freshwater Aquarium FIsh

[Seaman]

well i like to think that i have a good group of "novelty" fish I like fish that arent common.

Currently in my 55g I have:

10 Exodon Paradoxus "Dwarf Piranah" (have a mouthfull of teeth)

2 African Leaf Fish (VERY good at camoflauge)
.

2 Butis Butis

1 Moray Eel

also in the tank are 4 spotted cories, one BIG crayfish, a pictus catfish, and 4 ottos

 

[Jeffd1979]

My LFS has some Gar.. i think those would be a sweet addition to that tank.

 

[Demtro]

Seaman, I like the look of some of those, however the pictures did not come across for the last 2 or 3 posted. But I was wondering do you have a freshwater or saltwater aquarium? I was thinking FReshwater till you mentioned for Moray eal. That would hint at Salt? Also post the pictures again.
thanks

 

[Seaman]

its FW but i have started to add small amounts of saltwater to raise the SG a little to make the eel more comfortable. I do have plants so i dont even plan on going but JUST to the bottom limit of brackish. I love my eel! But the butis butis are cool as hell also!!!

 

[Demtro]

What are the chances of the eal surviving in freshwater? or would i need to add some salt? I am really looking to keep this simple but unique, I like the idea of the butis butis, that is kewl as well as the leaf fish.

 

[cdawson]

Those are all Brackish water fish, they'd need an SG of about 1.008 to be comfortable in the long run. The eel is actually a SW fish and requires SW throughout it's adult life.

 

[Seaman]

first off the leaf fish and the exodon are NOT brackish fish. The butis butis has a history of spending multiple years in FW before going brackish and thats only barely brackish as it is, and he has been happy and healthy in FW for over 4 years.....he used to be in his own 20g long. And yes I know technically the eel should be in BW but like I said in a previous post, the owner of the LFS has 2 in a 500g FW display tank that are over 8years old and are BIG and very healthy, the only difference in not keeping them in BW is their immune system isnt as good.....FWIW mine has had no problems in 2 years, and the ones at the LFS have NEVER had a disease/parasite problem in 8 years of FW. So yes IMO they can do great in FW.

Take it FWIW but actually Gymnothorax tile isnt pure SW when its an adult, yes it will venture out to sea sometimes, but mainly it is brackish, sometimes going full SW and sometimes full FW in search for food and breeding. I think its a very adaptable creature.

 

[OxyBomb]

while on the topic of odd fish, what are some intersting fish that stay relative small, 5 inches or less or so. I have changed my mind about what I want to do with my next tank.