Freshwater Flounder (Sole) or Achirus achirus

[Bloo]

I have just bought 2 of these little chaps Achirus achirus though I can find precious little information about them other than really what is in that link. I have found some information here on TFF as well in this link but other than that not much. Does anyone have any of these? If so, I'd like to hear more about them please.

Edit: Ah, I've just found this website too which so far provides the most info, but still I'd love to hear from any others who keep them.

 

[Bloo]

Many 'freshwater' soles are another example of a fish that spawns in rivers then moves towards the sea as it matures.

Because they are collected as babies in freshwater, they are sold as freshwater when in reality they do not live very long at all unless moved to a brackish enviroment soon after purchasing.

I had such a faint suspicion oh well, might as well set up a brackish water tank then they are only teenie weenie at the moment (about the size of a 20p), so guess they should be fine as they are in the freshwater for a week or so and then I'll slowly introduce them into light brackish water.
So much for the chap at the lfs assuring me that they are freshwater ! I really should have known better and not buy on impulse . Luckily I have a spare tank I've been cycling and it's just ready now so I'm OK.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i went to a different chain LFS yesterday and noticed a tank labeled as containing "freshwater flounder". i saw a couple on the glass in the front and i was like "cool!" and moved on. as i was walking back the other way, i noticed a couple more and took a better look--there had to be nearly a hundred of them plastered all over that tank!! i couldn't believe i originally only thought there were 2 of them just goes to show what effective camoflage a flat fish can have...

shame about how they need to grow up in brackish; i doubt a single one of those will end up in a brackish tank--especially considering the "freshwater" right there in the name...

 

[CFC]

True Achirus achirus are actually a fully freshwater fish and are collected from the Amazon where they along with other fish normally assosiated with marine enviroments such as stingrays and needlefishes (Belonids) were marooned by receeding seas hundreds of thousands of years ago.

I would be able to give you a 99% accurate identification as to whether they are Achirus achirus with a clear photograph of the top view of the fish.

 

[Bloo]

CFC, I'd be delighted if you were able to do that ! I had to put them in a small bowl to take the pics, otherwise they'd be entirely lost in the sand. However, here's one pic - if it's not good enough let me know and I'll post some more. Thanks !

 

[CFC]

The rounder body shape points me to believe that they are Achirus achirus though i would only be able to say this 80% for certain due to their small size. The brackish flounders found in the lfs are usually from the Brachirus genus which have a longer more diamond shaped body.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks CFC - I've measure them and they are about 1 - 1.5" at the moment so rather tiny. I have amended the pic to zoom in more if that helps. Mmmm - not sure if I should wean them onto a brackish tank then or not

 

[Ell-Ess-Dee]

Yep, i have had mine about 2 years now, still going strong.. Not brackish at all no matter what peeps tell you, unless caught from brackish waters. Getting a nice size now, about 4".. Amazing watching them eat, try and get some photos of it happeining.. Can see the size of it from the Ram in the background..

Underside

 

[Bloo]

Yours are lovely ! Thanks for sharing though can you remember if yours looked the same as mine when they were juviniles ? It's just that the fins / rays look quite different
Edit: what do you feed yours ? The chap at the lfs told me to feed plenty of live foods - which I do anyway...

 

[Ell-Ess-Dee]

Yep, live food, bloodworm and frozen, loves daphnia also... Did not have mine when they were as small as yours though...

 

[Ben]

looks very cool
if you dont mind me hi-jacking...
whats the recomended minimum tank size for one of these guys?

DD

 

[CFC]

Bloozoo as your are so small you can keep them in freshwater without any problems for at least another 3 months even if they do turn out to be a brackish species. There is a very high chance that yours are true Achirus achirus, the fact that the lfs actually had a scientific name for the fish and that they do not seem as elongated in shape as the juvinile Brachirus salinurem that i have (sorry no pics) points that way IMO.

DD, when adult they are about 6 inches long and wide so a 36x12x15" tank (aproximately 30 gallons/100 litres) would be fine for one or two.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks CFC - I'll do exactly that and report back in 3 months time - or when they are quite a bit bigger. Chances actually are that that LFS was telling the truth, is quite probable, as it's a specialist tropical shop and the whole family have run it for years - so I guess they really "should" know what they are talking about.....

 

[CFC]

Wholesale Tropicals by any chance?

 

[Bloo]

uh....kinda