New Brackisk

[Theodinking]

I have a 55 gallon saltwater i'm converting to brackish with the idea of housing Sailfin mollies. Any suggestions as far as suitable inhabitants to join them. I already have a reef tank and several freshwater tanks so i don't want any fish that will require larger accommodations later. I would like a nice attractive arrangement though. I was thinking of using driftwood and java fern for the decor...any info would be great as i am just starting to research this project.

Theodinking

 

[penguinpimp1990]

as far as tank mates maybe some bumblebee gobies, figure 8 puffer, glass fish. maybe knight gobies but depending on their individual personaltites because some are just territoral while others are aggressive fin nippers and very territorial. Look up other possible tank mates, those were just the ones i thought of off the top of my head. There are also brackish tolerant species like platy's and kribs, in nature they are primarily live in freshwater, but on occasion they do enter slighty brackish waters. As for the java fern it will only tolerate a lower sg level, but some have found succes in higher sg levels with extra care. Since you have saltwater tanks you know about sg and all that stuff, try google and youll find tons of other info on brackish tanks. Also if you havent seen the pinned articles on top of this forum check them out

by the way mollies like lower-ish sg levels

 

[nmonks]

For sailfin mollies you don't need much salt, so you can be fairly liberal with plants. The Brackish FAQ (see link) below summarises some of the best brackish-tolerant plants.

One idea is to do a tank based on the South-Eastern United States, choosing plants and animals that fit into that scheme. Consider killifish, gobies, sleeper gobies, and livebearers as possible tank mates. Although not the same species as those in Florida, halfbeaks are very common in this habitat, so the dwarf Dermogenys halfbeaks would be excellent additions. Vallisneria, Sagittaria, and Bacopa are all typical plants. Bogwood would fit in nicely in such a scene, as would a few snails like Malayan livebearers and those really neat Nerites going about at the moment. A specific gravity of around 1.002 to 1.005 would be about right for all these things.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i'd pass on the sleeper gobies if i were you. i had been recently tempted by one but was informed that anything under 3 inches would be lunch. i doubt you'd have great luck mixing them with mollies.

 

[nmonks]

Hello,

Only if you're keeping the wrong sleeper goby! The one you're talking about -- Dormitator maculatus -- does ger rather large, up to 70 cm in the wild. But if you substitute with one of the smaller species, such as the almost identical African species, Batanga lebretonis, you will have a species that barely reaches 10 cm, an ideal size for keeping with mollies. OK, it's not an American species, but unless someone tells you it isn't Dormitator maculatus, you'd never know. They're that similar.

Cheers,

Neale

i'd pass on the sleeper gobies if i were you. i had been recently tempted by one but was informed that anything under 3 inches would be lunch. i doubt you'd have great luck mixing them with mollies.