Brackish Needlenose Fish?

[JawsA10]

my brother is wanting a needlenose fish but wants to know if they absolutely need brackish. can they do without?

 

[Opcn]

Generally if its listed as brackish it needs brackish, many brackish fish will make it a month or two without salt without any major problems, but when you think about it, you could probably make it a month or two without a shower, no fun though.

 

[CFC]

The fish commonly traded as needle nose gar is Xenentodon cancila which is a freshwater fish that does not "need" salt to survive. The myth probably stems from that the wholesalers in Asia add salt to the bags when shipping them to help ward against fungus which this fish are quite subceptable to. They are quite tollerant of some salt in their water because they are members of the Belonidae family which is cheifly marine based but are eveolved to live in completely and even very soft freshwater.