Fresh Water Flounder

[Pyzik]

Darn it, I just picked up a fresh water Flounder a little bit ago and just found out that it will need brackish water. I wish the fish store lady would have told me this (I know it's really my own fault for not reading about the fish first). I have no other fish that are brackish, so I don't want to add salt.

How quickly is it going to die?

 

[fifefish]

i thought they could survive in freshwater but they couldnt breed in it

 

[simonas]

I bought three the other day, mine are brackish however there are many different types and theyhave different requiremnts

I did a post the other week about sole, and Neale Monks pasted a link to these fish for me, do a search for that and you will get plenty of expert information. Maybe pm Neale Monks

 

[nmonks]

Darn it, I just picked up a fresh water Flounder a little bit ago and just found out that it will need brackish water.

With a few exceptions, yes, all the commonly traded flounders are brackish/saltwater fish. The hogchoker sole that is the ubiquitous flounder of the US tropical fish trade for example is a brackish water fish. Even in the UK, where more species are sold, truly freshwater species such as Euryglossa harmandi are very rare.

I wish the fish store lady would have told me this (I know it's really my own fault for not reading about the fish first).

Quite. If you go to a clothes store, you don't expect the clerk to tell you to get a pair of trousers that fit you correctly. Likewise, it isn't really a tropical fish store clerk's job to make sure you buy fish you can keep. It would be nice if they did, but realistically, you need to be sensible here and read up on oddball fish before laying down any cash.

I have no other fish that are brackish, so I don't want to add salt.

Then take back the flounder. Or else, set up a brackish water tank. Those are the two responsible, humane options. There aren't any others.

How quickly is it going to die?

Varies, but within a few months. You'll initially notice it swims about restlessly, particularly at night (most flounders are nocturnal) and eats very little. It slowly starves, and then eventually dies.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Pyzik]

Darn it, I just picked up a fresh water Flounder a little bit ago and just found out that it will need brackish water.

With a few exceptions, yes, all the commonly traded flounders are brackish/saltwater fish. The hogchoker sole that is the ubiquitous flounder of the US tropical fish trade for example is a brackish water fish. Even in the UK, where more species are sold, truly freshwater species such as Euryglossa harmandi are very rare.

I wish the fish store lady would have told me this (I know it's really my own fault for not reading about the fish first).

Quite. If you go to a clothes store, you don't expect the clerk to tell you to get a pair of trousers that fit you correctly. Likewise, it isn't really a tropical fish store clerk's job to make sure you buy fish you can keep. It would be nice if they did, but realistically, you need to be sensible here and read up on oddball fish before laying down any cash.

I have no other fish that are brackish, so I don't want to add salt.

Then take back the flounder. Or else, set up a brackish water tank. Those are the two responsible, humane options. There aren't any others.

How quickly is it going to die?

Varies, but within a few months. You'll initially notice it swims about restlessly, particularly at night (most flounders are nocturnal) and eats very little. It slowly starves, and then eventually dies.

Cheers, Neale

Thank you for approaching my question with a very respectful response. Too many times new people (to any hobby) are run off for asking dumb questions/doing dumb things. I have too often seen people revert to four letter worlds to respond to a post like mine. I had my "flame suite" on while posting.

I have found out many things that I am doing wrong with my tank through reading on this forum. I am going to return the flounder. I have goldfish in the tank along with mollies that I need to take care of as well.

Thank you again, I am beginning to grow quite a respect for this forum.

 

[nmonks]

Thank you for approaching my question with a very respectful response. Too many times new people (to any hobby) are run off for asking dumb questions/doing dumb things. I have too often seen people revert to four letter worlds to respond to a post like mine. I had my "flame suite" on while posting.

Oh.

I have found out many things that I am doing wrong with my tank through reading on this forum. I am going to return the flounder. I have goldfish in the tank along with mollies that I need to take care of as well.

I will make the point that guppies and mollies would thrive in a brackish tank alongside the flounder; indeed, they'd be perfect tankmates, since there'd be little competition for food. If the tank is less than, say, 30 gallons, goldfish aren't a great option, and I'd heartily recommend thinking about going brackish. Feral goldfish actually have quite a high tolerance of brackish water, but I don't really consider them good brackish water fish. Do take a peek at the flatfish section of my FAQ (link below).

Thank you again, I am beginning to grow quite a respect for this forum.

Nice to hear.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Loony Fish]

Some strains can live in fresh water.

 

[nmonks]

Strains of what? There are species that have evolved to live in freshwater, like E. harmandi as mentioned above, but any aquarium shop that tells you the hogchoker sole, Trinectes maculatus, is a "freshwater variety that doesn't need salt" is lying to you.

Cheers, Neale

Some strains can live in fresh water.