Violet Goby aka Dragon fish

[Silverfox91429]

Hello my brother just bought a dragon fish thinking it was freshwater and then did some research and found out it was actually a brackish water fish
There dosen't seem to be much information about these fish.
Does anyone know a bit about them?

 

[Gobioides]

How big is your tank? The fish grows to and over 24" long, sometimes in only a year. While they're small they are generally very peaceful, but upon maturity may begin eating small tankmates. Mature violet gobies are also very territorial. They may even kill each other.
For substrate, you need to use a soft sand so the fish's fins aren't damaged. Your goby will try to dig. Give it a cave or wood to hide under.
As you found, it is a brackish fish. Even though it may take years for the lack of salt to do any real damage on the fish's body, I would recommend moving it to brackish as soon as possible.
Your goby's diet should consist of small live or frozen meaty foods like bloodworms and shrimp, as well as veggie foods like algae wafers. I've seen my violet goby eating algae off the walls of the tank.

Anything else?

 

[Lycanthropic]

They do need a big tank. And it can take less than a year for a goby to die in freshwater.. as they get ulcers and sores... it's not pretty. I suggest if you can't get him into a brackish tank... please find another home for him.
They also like snail jello... alot. mine with just munch on it.. They also prefer to be more active at night... like to build sand dunes and are really nice fish. Mine did start eating guppies... and nipped at a few mollies, but only because they were eating his food XD
They like to show off sometimes... oh yeah!
Be careful! These lil guys like to jump! mine can jump almost a clear foot if he is inclined enough....
As well... hiding places! and lots of them... pvc tubes work well.... If you have any other questions feel free to ask

 

[Silverfox91429]

we are in the process of setting up a brackish tank (30 gallon though we can set up a larger one when needed) Would it be better to set it up as brackish or gradually change it from FW to brackish? We read somewhere that it is better to do it gradually when they have been in freshwater as not to shock the fish.
What would be good tank mates?

 

[Lycanthropic]

Gradual change of 0.02 salinity at a time I would suggest. Mine is currently in a 30 gallon, and he will be okay until I move hom to his 135 gallon ^.^ Personally in my opinion, mollies are not good tankmates for dragons over 8 " long. As I've said before, my mollies would get nipped at etc etc.
I've heard that monos and scats are good as well as bumble bee gobies. Guppies are an okay tankmate... but mine kept dying off and I had alot of small ones.. so I was worried that they could get a disease that could kill my goby, or he would just eat them, so I rehomed them all.
You may feel remorse for keeping him in fresh and acclimatizing him to brackish, but think, it's all for his better health.
Any other questions?
I would suggest a 30 g tank for as short a time period as possible... I sugegst something more like 55 g or upwards... especially if he exceeds 9"... It will help him grow

 

[Gobioides]

Personally, I would set up the tank brackish and just drip acclimate the goby into its new home. That wouldn't take nearly as long as cycling the tank and then slowly upping the SG.