yay found some brackish fish atlast!!

[Paul_MTS]

I went round a few shops today being the normal 2 in colchester- seapets and swallows then treked up to the Minions local Rats, Cats and Elephants.

was very surprised when I got to seapets and found quite a healthy dragon goby which is around 9inch, I'm surprised it survived him trying to catch it though, first he just shunted a piece of slat out the way without a care then he chased it aorund for ages rather than using 2 nets, it was in with small senegal bichirs aswell so probable would of been battered fairly quickly if I didn't get it.

Oh and before he caught it he said to me "do you have any baby guppies in there" what a stupid question, although I suppose at least he tried.

and then for my next purchase we went off to RCE and found a freshwater moray. although he told me he wasn't too sure on it etc but passed on the scientific to me for it. I'm going to give him a bell tomorrow to fill him in on the details. but he's around 11".

there both going into my 20(UK) gallon brackish at 1.004 at the moment.

a full size on the Gymnothorax Tile would be good, and I'll get some pictures on the goby for a proper ID.

oh and they also usually have Orange Chromides so I'll probable go back to them when they have them in again.

 

[CFC]

Gymnothorax tile can be expected to reach at least 24 inches and possibly bigger, my G.tile "goldspot" is currently about 20 inches long and under a year old. These fish are highly predatory and will take chunks out of passing fish if they are hungry, the G.afer i had until it recently died once filleted the entire side off of a 4 inch shark cat when i hadnt fed the fish for two days.

What is the colouration on your G.tile?

If you are planning on keeping the moray and orange chromides together i would strongly recomend you dont, orange chromides only grow to around 4 inches max and would be easy snacks to a hungry moray.

 

[Paul_MTS]

it's exactly the same as this one-

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=74363

pale with white spots.

what size tank is the eel going to need when fully grown?

depending on that I might consider getting another larger brackish tank for the moray and then get some larger brackish fish like mono's.

is there another slightly larger brackish fish i could keep with my moray if it can stay in the 20g.

also depending on species....will my dragon goby beable to take the morays strength of SG oh and the flounder??

narrowed the Goby down to; Gobioides broussonnetii and Gobioides peruanu. seems more like to be the G. broussonnetii but i haven't got a full shot of the other so not sure yet.

 

[CFC]

A 20 is nowhere near big enough to house the moray when adult, a 80g (rio 300 size) or larger will be needed.

There shouldnt be any problems with all the fish being able to tolerate the same SG as all 3 species will move in and out of full sea water in the wild, however there is no guarentee the moray wont eat them.

 

[Paul_MTS]

hmmm will have to think about that one....

don't think the parents will be keen on another tank (yet). How long do you reakon I have? assuming the moray doesn't rip them apart in the near future!!??

don't really want to get rid of the fella reminds me of my tulip eel.

oh and he's more like 14inch.

 

[CFC]

Morays grow lightning quick and if healthy have huge appetites, my old G.afer held the record after eating 17 whole whitebait in one feeding. You can expect your moray to grow to 2 feet within the next 6 months with proper feeding.
At 14" your moray should already be moved into quite heavilly brackish water, when kept at low salinities their appetite lessens and the fish become lethargic and unhealthy looking (healthy morays should be active and always looking for food), the SG should be at around 1.010.

 

[Paul_MTS]

whats the best way to raise it to this?

should i place them in a bucket and aclimatise them by adding some of the stronger water every now and then over a few hours?

 

[CFC]

I would just add a little more salt dissolved in tapwater each day until the SG reaches your desired level.

 

[Paul_MTS]

oki dokey, oh and he's still quite small on the girth at the moment only 1-2 cm thick.

just about to do feeding time so will see if he can manage lance fish/how many lance fish!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'ved taken the saltyness up to about 1.006 now.

and his actual size is 11inch. he just fits in the black tube which is tad over 11inch, so unless he's curled up inside thats his length.

was tired last nigth after the drive in heavy rain...thats my excuss for adding a few inch