Stonefish

[Ludwig Venter]

There is a 4" Stonefish available at my local pet shop..... I intend to get this for a friend's tank (which I'm upkeeping)

The Pet shop has no Idea what it is that they have there, so they've priced it well below market, (& I'm not telling them)

I intend putting it in with 4 Oscars, (12 to 15"), 3 x Convicts (5"), A Giant Gourami (11") and approximate 15" Pleco.... The tank size is 1,100Liters.

Will my fish be OK??

 

[three-fingers]

It shouldent be a threat to the other fish, but I'm not sure how well the stonefish would do.

As far as I'm aware, they need to live in brackish water long term, are much more prone to infections and such when kept in freshwater.

Other thank that it should be OK, provided you were to give it loads of cover on the bottom like caves and such, so it can have a territory and so the Oscars don't pick at it.

 

[Colin_T]

I gather it is something like a bullrout rather than a true marine stonefish. Regardless of that it might get hammered by the oscars when it first goes in but they should quickly work out it isn't food. Then there is the giant gourami. They are pretty well natured until they get big (18inches). Then they can get really obnoxious and kick hell out of everyone in the tank. The convicts might pick at it now but it should get bigger and could end up eating them.

Make sure you tell your friend you have added a poisonous fish to their tank

 

[Ludwig Venter]

And here I was worrying about my other fish, & you all worry about the Stonefish??.... My other worry is, will it be satisfied with a normal diet??... At times, I do feed prawns & chicken liver, but will he/she be satisfied "at times".....

IMO,.... This is an extremely unique acquisition & will make a hit with the general public (as the tank is a display in a restaurant).... - especially here where you cannot get any stocks of rare breeds in S.A..... So, I'm keen on including this one, but would not like to make a mistake...... This will negatively affect upon the Lodge.....

 

[shroob]

I too thought the stonefish was a marine inhabitant or atleast brackish. That is if we are talking about the 'stonefish' I'm thinking of, as I think 'stonefish' is also used to refer to a group of fish but I think they would all be brackish/marine.

I think theres a common name for a fish which is 'freshwater stonefish' but these are actually brackish I think.

Either way I wouldn't advise buying them until you get a positive ID and know what conditions they need.

EDIT: Another thing to watch out for, if you do buy them would be their huge, cavonous mouths and should not be underestimated, I would be wary of the cons, as even though they are 1" bigger I don't think it would stop a stonefish from trying.

 

[three-fingers]

Unless you want to remove the other fish and keep the tank low-end brackish with marine salt, then IMO I wouldn't bother trying it, it would be a waste. A dead fish isn't pretty and could ruin the rest of the tank with an ammonia spike or disease.

They are very inactive fish anyway, so wouldn't be very suited for a display. With competition from the other fish for the fresh food, it could also starve. They can be a pain to get to eat non-live food sometimes, so in that tank it would barely get any food.

Overall IMO, a in a completely freshwater public display tank with big relativity boisterous fish and infrequent feedings is a recipe for disaster.

Unless you want to set up a smaller brackish species tank for this fish, leave it in the store. A 30-50gal would be more than adequate. They can reach about a foot long, but as mentioned, don't move much.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I think From what my wife describes (hav'nt seen it myself) this is it....

 

[raptorrex]

I'm with three fingers, this guy is BRACKISH and will not survive without. its an indolent and passive fish (for Aquaria). i did see one, in Australia, kept with mature Redclaw cray. it was quite happy, in 6ppm salt, much less and it starts to suffer. (6ppm is about the most salt a redclaw can stand)

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Now, my concern is,... at the pet shop,.... they've got it in normal fresh water from their borehole, & according to reports, the price is so low because they have problems getting rid of it.... (apart from me, there are about another 5 guys in town keeping fish) the price is lowered because they've had it for about 3 months, and it is not selling???

 

[three-fingers]

In your position, I'd set up a small brackish tank then, and get a pic of it for a proper ID.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

You don't need to go set up and cycle a brackish tank if it is in freshwater currently(just cycle a freshwater), however getting it into the proper salinity is important and should be done as soon as possible.

 

[raptorrex]

Now, my concern is,... at the pet shop,.... they've got it in normal fresh water from their borehole, & according to reports, the price is so low because they have problems getting rid of it.... (apart from me, there are about another 5 guys in town keeping fish) the price is lowered because they've had it for about 3 months, and it is not selling???

these things are like Banjo catfish, 90% of the time they look like they are dead! its, eventually, big. its, undoubtedly ugly, and for the most part its immobile. not hard to see, why they don't sell.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I actually went out there this morning to get the fish, but FORTUNATELYthe shop was closed... I'm having second thoughts about it now & think I'd rather not get it.... The only attraction to it really, is it's bizarre uniqueness, which would not be the right reason for keeping it.

Anyways all..... Thanks for your input...... I hope it finds a suitable home.

 

[raptorrex]

I actually went out there this morning to get the fish, but FORTUNATELYthe shop was closed... I'm having second thoughts about it now & think I'd rather not get it.... The only attraction to it really, is it's bizarre uniqueness, which would not be the right reason for keeping it.

Anyways all..... Thanks for your input...... I hope it finds a suitable home.

perhaps best i don't think these things are bred in captivity (please don't shoot me if they are lol). perhaps they are better where they are, in the shop, it will stop them buying more.

 

[Colin_T]

I actually went out there this morning to get the fish, but FORTUNATELYthe shop was closed... I'm having second thoughts about it now & think I'd rather not get it....

Perhaps the shop being closed is a sign you weren't meant to have it

The gourami will make a pretty impressive display when it is mature. They have big teeth and get a bit ugly but the kids and most adults will be enthralled by it. The other thing you could look at would be a catfish of some sort. I was thinking electric eel but then you will lose most of the others (and possibly the odd worker). I'm sure there are plenty of catfish that grow to about 10inches that could add some variety to the tank.