Need Some Help..

[darkevilmonkey666]

I picked this guy up at a local fish store..they had him in fresh water but I have heard they are brackish. Does anyone know specifically what they require? He is currently in a freshwater tank with some salt added but not as brackish..as medicinal only cuz he had some fungus. Any info would be great. Thanks!

 

[CFC]

As you already have found it is a Dorminator maculatus and it is in very poor shape, when healthy these are very chunky robust fish. Luckily they are the garbage disposals of the goby world and will eat practically anything so fattening it up shouldnt be a problem, shrimp and other meaty foods like mussels and cockles are preffered favourites though. Raise the SG up to around 1.010 over the next few weeks by adding small ammounts of dissolved marine salt each day.

 

[darkevilmonkey666]

Thanks. He does look sickly. At least he is still alive so theres a chance he can make it. I will follow your directions and post some pics of him later. Thanks for the reply.

 

[nmonks]

To be honest, these fish make more sense kept in marine tanks. I've seen nice specimens kept with things like panther groupers and morays. They're not the most attractive things to put in a marine tank, but I suppose they have a certain charm.

Another option might be keeping them with the brackish water garpike. They come from the same habitat and get along very well. Lepisosteus oculatus does well in brackish water (SG 1.005 to 1.010). I've seen them around mangroves in Florida feeding on small mullet. At university, I kept both these species along with some young Arius shark catfish in a 200 gallon tank and it looked pretty cool.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[darkevilmonkey666]

Thanks. I think I will be keeping him alone as a solo pet. He is cool all by himself B)