Dragon Fish, I Think...

[karin15]

my local pet store has had this weird looking dragon fish thing in the store since forever it is in a tank full of blood parrot cichlids it looks healthy the guy at the pet store said he is well aclimated to fresh water, I wanted to know if this is bull or not

worker: he would do beter in brackish water but if you were to put him in a brackish tank now he would probably die from shock since you have to slowly acumulate the fish, also he dosn't see any reson to worry about it since they have had the fish in fresh water for mounths now and he has been thriving.

do you think I could keep him in a fresh water tank? or do you think hes just trying to make a sale?
he said he has kepted dragon fish in fresh water before. (I highly doubt this)

 

[QuotheRaven]

Is it this?? http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/dbimag...%20goby2(1).jpg

The Dragon Goby

 

[nmonks]

my local pet store has had this weird looking dragon fish thing in the store since forever it is in a tank full of blood parrot cichlids it looks healthy the guy at the pet store said he is well aclimated to fresh water, I wanted to know if this is bull or not

Violet gobies such as Gobioides broussonnetii can survive in freshwater indefinitely, so it is perfectly possible to see a healthy specimen in such. A lot depends on the pH/hardness and how well the fish is cared for in terms of diet. There are also a number of species, and some tolerate freshwater better than others. None are "true" freshwater fish though, and all are healthier in brackish water and certain to live longer and remain in generally better condition.

worker: he would do beter in brackish water but if you were to put him in a brackish tank now he would probably die from shock since you have to slowly acumulate the fish, also he dosn't see any reson to worry about it since they have had the fish in fresh water for mounths now and he has been thriving.

This isn't how it works at all. Brackish water fish don't "become" freshwater fish, they merely adjust to freshwater conditions in the same way our bodies can either shiver or sweat depending on the ambient temperature. Shivering doesn't make as polar animals any more than sweating makes us desert animals; these adjustments merely allow us to tolerate extreme conditions over the short term. So a brackish water fish in freshwater may be healthy enough, but it can be quickly adapted to salty water, and once adapted, will be much healthier.

do you think I could keep him in a fresh water tank? or do you think hes just trying to make a sale?

Some people have, but most people who try, fail. Instead, go for a low SG, say 1.003-1.005, and keep with mollies, guppies, glassfish, bumblebees, orange chromides, and any other low salinity brackish water fish you like. Or keep at a higher salinity and mix with monos, scats, archerfish, etc.

Cheers,

Neale