Fish For A Fiddler Tank

[wodesorel]

Wondering if adding fish to the fiddler tank is a good idea. I've been reading up on it, and I can't seem to get a good consensus on whether it's safe or not. The fids are still very tiny, barely an inch wide legs and all, but are growing steadily. There are 7 females and 2 males, and they'll be moving into a 29 gallon paludarium next month, which is when I'd like to add fish. (Currently in a 20 long.)

I'm building the 29 now and it'll have a water-tight removable land section supported by PVC pipe, sand-covered ramps, and an open-water bottom. Probably 15-20 gallons of water all together. Whisper Power 60 filter (came with the used tank), and sand substrate. I'm looking into getting live plants as well.

I don't want anything that will eat the fids, and I don't want the fids to eat the fish. (Eating fry would be alright with me, though.) The tank will be against a very red wall, so as shallow as it sounds I'd like a fish that's noticeable against the red - preferably white or black. (I'd like to at least be able to watch them from across the room easily.)

I'd like to get Dalmation Mollies, but I think they'll get too large? Was thinking of getting a trio of them. Platies would be my next choice, with guppies in last place.

I would readily consider any other brackish fish that would work! (I realize that gobies and puffers are a huge no-no in a tank like this.)

If it would work, how would I acclimatize the fish to the already brackish tank? I'd special-order the fish and pick them up still bagged from the distributor, but I highly doubt they'll have been kept or shipped in brackish water.

 

[nmonks]

Wondering if adding fish to the fiddler tank is a good idea.

On the whole, no.

Feeder guppies or Endler guppies would be worth a shot though, as would small, inoffensive livebearers also suited to brackish water, such as Limia species. Small gobies like BBGs and rhinohorns might just work, too. But that's about it.

Cheers, Neale

 

[wodesorel]

I really like those Lamia species! It's not something I've ever seen in the fish stores around here - are they common in the trade? I'll be checking with my local pet shop to see if she's able to get any of the species. How many would you recommend for my size tank? I doubt that I'll be able to specify males or females and will just have to accept the pot-luck that the distributor sends.

 

[nmonks]

Limia are very neat. But don't overdo the salt; SG 1.005 is probably the tops for them.

Do also look at Micropoecilia, for example Micropoecilia parae melanzona, an extremely pretty species periodically traded. They're true brackish water fish and very adaptable.

Cheers, Neale

 

[wodesorel]

My pet store lady has called her distributor and they're trying to track down either species, but it doesn't look like they'll be able to find them. I'll probably have to go with guppies, which will make my hubby at least.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I kept a fairly large group of female guppies with my fiddlers and it was a wonderful setup. The crabs kept the tank extremely clean and the guppies were just fun to watch (I happen to like them because they're so curious, but still peaceful).

I'm planning on replicating the setup soon, because I recently got a 15g high tank which should be perfect. Please, please post photos of everything once you get it set up! I looked everywhere online trying to find a good "crabitat" but never did see anything that made sense.

Good luck!

 

[raptorrex]

Wondering if adding fish to the fiddler tank is a good idea. I've been reading up on it, and I can't seem to get a good consensus on whether it's safe or not. The fids are still very tiny, barely an inch wide legs and all, but are growing steadily. There are 7 females and 2 males, and they'll be moving into a 29 gallon paludarium next month, which is when I'd like to add fish. (Currently in a 20 long.)

I'm building the 29 now and it'll have a water-tight removable land section supported by PVC pipe, sand-covered ramps, and an open-water bottom. Probably 15-20 gallons of water all together. Whisper Power 60 filter (came with the used tank), and sand substrate. I'm looking into getting live plants as well.

I don't want anything that will eat the fids, and I don't want the fids to eat the fish. (Eating fry would be alright with me, though.) The tank will be against a very red wall, so as shallow as it sounds I'd like a fish that's noticeable against the red - preferably white or black. (I'd like to at least be able to watch them from across the room easily.)

I'd like to get Dalmation Mollies, but I think they'll get too large? Was thinking of getting a trio of them. Platies would be my next choice, with guppies in last place.

I would readily consider any other brackish fish that would work! (I realize that gobies and puffers are a huge no-no in a tank like this.)

If it would work, how would I acclimatize the fish to the already brackish tank? I'd special-order the fish and pick them up still bagged from the distributor, but I highly doubt they'll have been kept or shipped in brackish water.

I, would say no, for two reasons:

1, even in a 29g, with 2/3 land and 1/3 water. how will you get enough water in the tank, for fish?
fiddlers do not live in water, and climb out onto land occasionally. indeed the only time in nature a fiddler is in the water.(actually it isn't) is at high tide. when they are tucked up under the sand. they live, feed and breed at the water line.

2, fiddlers are not good with fish. and can be aggressive.

 

[wodesorel]

I've had the fids for a little over a month now in a classic sloped set-up. They spend about 75% of their time in the water and the other 25% on land. I hate the tank because there is so much wasted space with the sand, but the fids seem to be doing well in there - I've had several molts and a few preggie females.

I've got all the PVC cut and I need to get some PVC glue tomorrow to get it all put together, and then I'll post a skeleton photo to show what I'm talking about. Once the PVC pipe is coated with silicone and sand to hide it, all I have to do is add the plexiglass ramps (that have been sand covered as well) and fill with water. There should be at least 15 gallons of swimming space for fish, but I will leave it up and running with just the fids for a few weeks to make sure there's enough room for a few small fish.

 

[nmonks]

I agree, there's some wasted space there. One approach is to make the land part mostly tangles of bogwood, plastic plants, artificial mangrove roots, etc. You get more terrain for the crabs, and they'll explore it more willingly. A smaller area of sand, shored up using slates or stones, can be used for feeding and as a display area. Various plastic ornaments are available designed for turtle habitats that could also be used to create shelves with little "ladders" connecting them; these would all be used happily.

Cheers, Neale

 

[wodesorel]

Okay, the tank is set up! I'm using two smaller internal filters until we can afford one larger new one. Tank temp is 75 degrees. SG 1.010 (bit more than I was aiming for, but the fids aren't leaving the water so I think they're happy). Currently at 13 gallons of water due to problems with the land section, but will hold 15 gallons when I get that worked out.

Chintzy decoration will be changed out for driftwood and fake (possibly live) plants as our budget allows. I raided my fish storage container for the old stuff, and I think it works for now. Better than a boring bare-bottomed tank for the time being. Brings back memories, anyways!

Does anyone know wich Uca species they are? Trying to figure out if they are uca minax or uca pugnax so I can get the temperature right for them.

Unfortunately my last male died sometime last night before I got them moved, so I'm down to six females. We'll be getting one more male in the next few days. I really though they were all doing well - he had just mated with one of the females about a week ago (while I was doing a water change of course), and had molted a few weeks before that. Don't know what happened.


Anyway, still wracking my brain on what fish to get. I think I will end up with guppies since the hunt is not turning up anything else that I can get locally. Are there any other bottom dwelling critters (fish or otherwise) I could add? It's so empty with just the fids!


Oh! And I could use some help - the land section keeps flooding. *grr* I know there's no leak in it as I pulled it and tested it the first time it happened. Water level is now low and it's still happening. I think the sand I epoxied to the side is wicking the water up and over and into the container. Any thoughts on if another substrate like cocofiber or peat moss would do the same thing?