Freshwater Blennies At Wholesale Trops

[nmonks]

You see these so rarely, I thought I'd mention this for anyone into smallish brackish water beasties. I'm pretty sure what they had were Omobranchus zebra, a 6 cm (2 inch) fish that requires strongly brackish (SG 1.010) to fully marine conditions. It will not adapt to fresh water permanently, despite being sold as such here. They were selling them for £9 a piece.

http/filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...ry.php?id=25046
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=410

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Fella]

You see these so rarely, I thought I'd mention this for anyone into smallish brackish water beasties. I'm pretty sure what they had were Omobranchus zebra, a 6 cm (2 inch) fish that requires strongly brackish (SG 1.010) to fully marine conditions. It will not adapt to fresh water permanently, despite being sold as such here. They were selling them for £9 a piece.

http/filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...ry.php?id=25046
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=410

Cheers,

Neale

I'd love a couple of these. When i last spoke to Terry he mentioned about posting fish in the warmer months, do they still offer that facility?

 

[demonmagus]

You see these so rarely, I thought I'd mention this for anyone into smallish brackish water beasties. I'm pretty sure what they had were Omobranchus zebra, a 6 cm (2 inch) fish that requires strongly brackish (SG 1.010) to fully marine conditions. It will not adapt to fresh water permanently, despite being sold as such here. They were selling them for £9 a piece.

http/filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...ry.php?id=25046
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=410

Cheers,

Neale

what would you say is a good tank size? do they need to be kept in groups?

thanks

 

[nmonks]

Fella -- I have no idea what services the offer. I'd suggesting e-mailing them.

demonmagus -- They're pretty small animals, so I'm sure a 10-20 gallon tank would be a fine home for a few of these beasts. Perhaps mixed with some gobies and other small fish, if you wanted to. Virtually nothing is known about their long term requirements, but by analogy with other "freshwater" blennies, I'd recommend plenty of oxygen above all other considerations. Diet, social behaviour, etc., should be similar to the marine species: small invertebrates and a bit of algae.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[demonmagus]

Fella -- I have no idea what services the offer. I'd suggesting e-mailing them.

demonmagus -- They're pretty small animals, so I'm sure a 10-20 gallon tank would be a fine home for a few of these beasts. Perhaps mixed with some gobies and other small fish, if you wanted to. Virtually nothing is known about their long term requirements, but by analogy with other "freshwater" blennies, I'd recommend plenty of oxygen above all other considerations. Diet, social behaviour, etc., should be similar to the marine species: small invertebrates and a bit of algae.

Cheers,

Neale

ok thanks, gonna look into getting some then

also, are they reef safe as they would make good nano fish, just realised

thanks

 

[nmonks]

also, are they reef safe as they would make good nano fish, just realised

I have absolutely no idea. I wouldn't assume so. They certainly eat small worms and crustaceans. They might also be unfamiliar with anemones and stinging corals, which would be painful...

Cheers,

Neale

 

[demonmagus]

okay, thanks for that, I'll look into getting some


also, are these guys quite delicate?

thanks

 

[nmonks]

I've only kept coldwater blennies, which are not delicate in the least. But that's by comparison with marine fish rather than, say, goldfish. So while I wouldn't say these fish are likely to be bomb-proof, provided you cared for them as you would something like a dwarf cichlid or puffer, and ensured the oxygen was high and the nitrates low, you should be fine.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[CAC]

May I just add, that using water that has a high pH would be a good idea, just under pH 8 I think?!?!
Allthough, they could be quite adaptable...

Correct me if im wrong

Mikey

 

[nmonks]

You're not wrong!

Provided you're using proper marine aquarium salt, the pH and hardness should take care of themselves.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[CFC]

I'd just like to mention that when we kept some brackish blennies (species unknown but probably the O.zebra) they were highly territorial and battled constantly within the confines of a 20g tank to the point where one was killed by the alpha fish, with two left they divided the tank but still had regular border skirmishes until we lost both of them over the summer when the tanks started over heating. (oh the joys of no longer living in a first floor flat )

 

[demonmagus]

so would you recommend just one blenny?

 

[nmonks]

Interesting. The heat thing is oxygen. That seems to be a constant with blennies. The coldwater species I kept (the shanny) came out and sat on top of the filter when the tank got too warm. I have no idea if this is normal for blennies generally, but shannies do it all the time.

The ones in WT didn't seem to be fighting, but they were spread out, with one or two hiding behind pipes and things. So that tallies with what you're saying.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[CAC]

Oh right, so you wouldnt need RO etc then

Though the pH might of been abit of a problem, but anyhoo

Mikey