Anablepidae - Four Eyed Fish

[kanzaris]

Hi

I came across these fish today at our local Maidenhead Store in their 4x4x4 Brackish Show Tank. They are fascinating fish. The main guy wasn’t there today and all I found out is that they can grow up to 12 inch. I have not found much info on the net, so has anyone ever kept them and what do you know about these fish?

Thanks

Sabby

 

[Dany]

Iv not kept them before. they do make an interesting addition to a brakish tank though. ideally, you are looking for a simular sized tank of 4x4x4 for a few speciems maybe about 4? . A large Surfaced area tank is an neccessity due to their top dwelling habits. a ten inch specimen seems more common than 12".
Probably no help to you at all. But i have nothing really more to say.

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[nmonks]

Hello Sabby,

The "art" to anableps is to keep them in a tank especially designed for them. For example, they need surface area, not depth, so a tall, thin tank is useless. Just as important are "resting places". These fish almost haul themselves out on land in the wild, resting on sand banks. In the aquarium, a broad slate resting on a couple of flowerpots makes a perfect substitute. It needs to be under just enough water that the fish can rest on it, covered in water, but with their eyes poking out.

They are nervous, skittish fish that do best kept with peaceful tankmates or on their own. Gobies, flatfish, and small livebearers would probably be the best companions. In terms of diet they are omnivorous, but it has to be floating food of some kind. Breeding is a pain because not all males and females are compatible (some are "left handed", others "right handed").

Wildwoods had a batch of superb anableps a few months ago that all went off to London Zoo (I believe). Very active, sturdy fishes. But when kept in freshwater for too long they seem to get sickly quite quickly. As an alternative there is an excellent "false anableps" Rhinomugil corsula, an Indian mullet that gets to about 15 cm in aquaria and looks and behaves in a very similar way. It is a fresh or brackish water fish. I've kept this species, and it is delightful but easily bullied by aggressive tankmates.

Cheers, Neale

 

[kanzaris]

Hi

My tank is 6 1/2x2x2 but I have got a spraybar. The guy in Maidenhead has a waterfall in their tank.
My only concern is my 7 Monos they are very boisterous.

Thanks

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

There is an anableps living with monos and scats and green chromides at the London Aquarium. Now, there are two explanations for this. Firstly, they only bought one, and it has done fine. Secondly, they bought a whole bunch of them, but only one survived.

Depends really on the size of the anableps, but my gut feeling is that this wouldn't be a great combination. The false anableps certainly mixes with monos and scats (done this myself) but I just feel the true anableps is a shade too skittish and demanding.

Cheers, Neale