A Few Questions About Setting Up A Mudskipper Tank

[erk628]

Ok first let me tell you guys my plans. I have a 30 gallon long I plan on keeping 6 Indian Mudskipper Periophthalmus novemradiatus here is a link to them and the place I plan on ordering them.
http/www.franksaquarium.com/brackishwater_fish_farm.htm

Now I plan on having white play sand that slops up to land for them to go on. Some driftwood and any other decor I can think of, Now for my questions.

1. How much room should I leave for water and land. I was thinking about a little over a quarter of the tank for water then slop up to land and have the rest of the tank land. Would this be good or should I do it another way.
2. I'm thinking of getting the smallest heater I can find that is submersiable and putting it in the water completly sidways. Next the filter I was thinking of using is a string ray filter a link to this is here.
http/www.ukpetsupplies.com/detail.aspx?ID=1528
Does this look like a good idea or should I go another route.
3. Seeing how my whole tank will not be water and they will spend most of the time on land will I have to cycle the water in my tank first.
4. What kind of top will I need for this tank. Will I need just the hood like a normal fish tank or will I need a screen top like you would have with snakes. I'm thining a screen top and then just setting the lights from the hood on top of the screen, seeing how they can jump very high and there will be things like crickets tha tare alive and and holes in a regular hood would allow them to get out unlike a screen top.
5. Now I know they are braskish water fish but how much salt would be good for them, I'm thinking 1.005 am I right on this and also would marine salt be what I want to use.

Thats all the questions I can think of right now if I think of any more I'll post them. Thanks for your replies.

erk

 

[erk628]

Someone out there has to have a mudskipper tank or atleast know something about them anyone??

 

[mlawson]

Ok first let me tell you guys my plans. I have a 30 gallon long I plan on keeping 6 Indian Mudskipper Periophthalmus novemradiatus here is a link to them and the place I plan on ordering them.
http/www.franksaquarium.com/brackishwater_fish_farm.htm

Now I plan on having white play sand that slops up to land for them to go on. Some driftwood and any other decor I can think of, Now for my questions.

1. How much room should I leave for water and land. I was thinking about a little over a quarter of the tank for water then slop up to land and have the rest of the tank land. Would this be good or should I do it another way.
2. I'm thinking of getting the smallest heater I can find that is submersiable and putting it in the water completly sidways. Next the filter I was thinking of using is a string ray filter a link to this is here.
http/www.ukpetsupplies.com/detail.aspx?ID=1528
Does this look like a good idea or should I go another route.
3. Seeing how my whole tank will not be water and they will spend most of the time on land will I have to cycle the water in my tank first.
4. What kind of top will I need for this tank. Will I need just the hood like a normal fish tank or will I need a screen top like you would have with snakes. I'm thining a screen top and then just setting the lights from the hood on top of the screen, seeing how they can jump very high and there will be things like crickets tha tare alive and and holes in a regular hood would allow them to get out unlike a screen top.
5. Now I know they are braskish water fish but how much salt would be good for them, I'm thinking 1.005 am I right on this and also would marine salt be what I want to use.

Thats all the questions I can think of right now if I think of any more I'll post them. Thanks for your replies.

erk

Hi, Its me again.

You could have half land, half water or two thirds land and a third water. It may
be possible to have a quater land, three quaters water but there may not be
enough water for them to swim happily.

Conditions:
SG 1.002 to 1.007 (Use salt aimed for Marine tanks)
pH 7.8 to 8.4 (I am using a coral sand,silica sand mix to buffer the water)
GH up to 20
Temp - 25 to 30C, 77 to 86F

In regards to filtration, Mudskippers are sensative to water quality so I would cycle the tank
for at least a month. You must make sure there is a minimal amount of Nitrates present in
the water and carry out partial water changes of 20-30% a week. I would not recommend
using a Elite Stingray filter because as far as I know they dont' have a powerful flow rate
and Mudskippers prefer a strong current that laps against the beach area to mimic their
conditions in the wild. A strong powerfilter would be ideal. However make sure the filter
fits the requirements to the amount of water present.

With my Mudskipper set-up I am using a thick glass cover with 4 T8 tubes mounted over
the top. I would strongly recommend using a cover with no gaps as these fish can really
jump!


Hope this helps,

Mike

 

[erk628]

Ok first let me tell you guys my plans. I have a 30 gallon long I plan on keeping 6 Indian Mudskipper Periophthalmus novemradiatus here is a link to them and the place I plan on ordering them.
http/www.franksaquarium.com/brackishwater_fish_farm.htm

Now I plan on having white play sand that slops up to land for them to go on. Some driftwood and any other decor I can think of, Now for my questions.

1. How much room should I leave for water and land. I was thinking about a little over a quarter of the tank for water then slop up to land and have the rest of the tank land. Would this be good or should I do it another way.
2. I'm thinking of getting the smallest heater I can find that is submersiable and putting it in the water completly sidways. Next the filter I was thinking of using is a string ray filter a link to this is here.
http/www.ukpetsupplies.com/detail.aspx?ID=1528
Does this look like a good idea or should I go another route.
3. Seeing how my whole tank will not be water and they will spend most of the time on land will I have to cycle the water in my tank first.
4. What kind of top will I need for this tank. Will I need just the hood like a normal fish tank or will I need a screen top like you would have with snakes. I'm thining a screen top and then just setting the lights from the hood on top of the screen, seeing how they can jump very high and there will be things like crickets tha tare alive and and holes in a regular hood would allow them to get out unlike a screen top.
5. Now I know they are braskish water fish but how much salt would be good for them, I'm thinking 1.005 am I right on this and also would marine salt be what I want to use.

Thats all the questions I can think of right now if I think of any more I'll post them. Thanks for your replies.

erk

Hi, Its me again.

You could have half land, half water or two thirds land and a third water. It may
be possible to have a quater land, three quaters water but there may not be
enough water for them to swim happily.

Conditions:
SG 1.002 to 1.007 (Use salt aimed for Marine tanks)
pH 7.8 to 8.4 (I am using a coral sand,silica sand mix to buffer the water)
GH up to 20
Temp - 25 to 30C, 77 to 86F

In regards to filtration, Mudskippers are sensative to water quality so I would cycle the tank
for at least a month. You must make sure there is a minimal amount of Nitrates present in
the water and carry out partial water changes of 20-30% a week. I would not recommend
using a Elite Stingray filter because as far as I know they dont' have a powerful flow rate
and Mudskippers prefer a strong current that laps against the beach area to mimic their
conditions in the wild. A strong powerfilter would be ideal. However make sure the filter
fits the requirements to the amount of water present.

With my Mudskipper set-up I am using a thick glass cover with 4 T8 tubes mounted over
the top. I would strongly recommend using a cover with no gaps as these fish can really
jump!


Hope this helps,

Mike

Thanks Mike I was hoping you would reply. What type of fliter you going to be using. I'm thinking about a canister fitler but there not cheap, it would makethe ideal current though. My PH in my main tank is 7.8 when I add it from the tap. Would this ok or should I add a mix of coral like you are to take it up some. I just don't want to get my PH to high. I was thinking of a screen cover but a glass cover would probaly do just as good and cost about the same. I was reading online and they said to keep the tank about 80-85 degrees. Now I know the heater will keep the water temp warm, but I was thinking of putting a heating pad under the rest of the tank to get it around 80-85 at all times. I'm also setting up a tank for some snakes and will be using a heating pad instead of a heat mat, heard heating pads do much better. Would this be a good idea. Also I would get a theormastae thing to monitor the degrees in the tank. Also with the heating pad I would have it cover everything but were there was water since there will be a heater in there. Thanks for replying!

 

[mlawson]

Hi,

Originally I was going to use a canister filer, but there is no need for filters with larger
filter capacities as there is not that much water. A canister filter would still be good and
there would be less clutter in the tank. Either way make sure you have quite a strong
current.

A Ph of 7.8 should be OK, though check out your GH as this is just important, aim
for a GH of around 20. They would be happier with a Ph of 8-8.2 but its not too
important. I used a mix of 2/3 silica sand to 1/3 coral sand and some fine quartz.
If you are using coral sound you wont need that much, I am using it because I
have a Ph of 7.4 and quite soft water. If you have RO water available that would be great.

I don't know much about Heater Pads but it may be a good idea. If your tank is positioned
in a warm place then you generally wont need one, but if the area is cool then it could help
prevent condensation on the sides of the glass. If you can control the temperature of the
Heater pad then aim for a temperature slightly warmer than that of the water.


Thanks


Mike