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[nmonks]

I thought this would be useful, a quick excerpt from the Aqualog brackish book describing this fish. As you say, completely freshwater. There are a few purely freshwater flatfish, this one from South America, and at least a couple more from Asia and Australia. So the idea they all need brackish is not true; most of them do, but not all, and if you choose the right species, they're fine in freshwater.

Your problem is going to be feeding. These fishes don't seem to feed well in community tanks. I had an Asian freshwater sole for about 6 months, and it never really seemed to feed properly, and apparently starved to death. The odd thing is I've kept marine plaice in aquaria, and they eat anything, even catfish pellets, and will feed by day, quite greedily. So I'm not sure what the deal is with the small freshwater species.

A subtropical tank sounds ideal. Any ideas on tankmates? I'd definitely stick to stuff at the surface level. No loaches or catfish. Just barbs, minnows, etc., that sort of thing.

The Aqualog book has about three pages on flatfish, and is perhaps the only useful book on them currently in print.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[The-Wolf]

main inhabitants of my river tank will be
assorted danios, WCMMs, maybe a few barillius of some kind.
I was thinking of loaches, but will re-evaluate that given your info.

 

[The-Wolf]

managed to get these two tonight, just before it disapeared into the sand again

 

[jayjay]

much better pics! did they settle in well?

how big are they now?

 

[nmonks]

Mr. Wolf,

Are you sure these fish are what you think they are? They look an awful lot like Brachirus panoides to me. I tell you what the giveaway is: Achiridae soles tend to have large, paddle-like tail fins distinct from the dorsal/anal fins that go around the sides of the body. Brachirus spp. soles tend to have smaller tail fins that are indistinct from the dorsal/anal fins and almost blend into them.

Achiridae thumbnails at FishBase

Thumbails of Asian Soleidae at FishBase

Cheers,

Neale

 

[The-Wolf]

I am assured by Neil Hardy himself (UK biggest importer/wholesaler/exporter/adventurer)
that these are C.jenynsii.

I guess that it is not outside the realms of possibility that they are something else,
but one can only go on what one is informed by experts.

I think when I move these into my river tank, when I get it set up, I'll put them in a
container and get some decent pics for a difinative ID.

I really hate the thought of keeping brackish fish in FW.

 

[nmonks]

Definitely worth taking some decent pictures. Without seeing the tail fin, I'm nervous about that identification. Experts have been known to make mistakes... Be sure you look over those FishBase pictures.

Cheers,

Neale