Target Fish Terapon Jarbua

[the_evil_duboisi]

I found out a really hot place that sells these cool-looking fishes. It's no doubt that they are the orginal species then

Here's the clinch; I can't find any info on them, as much as the swamp eel. The only ones I found out are that it's brackish, can live in either fresh or salt water, is a greedy eater, and doesn't grow above 8 inches. Is this true?

Also, any additional info would be appreciated.

 

[nmonks]

Terapon jarbua is a very tricky fish to keep in captivity. Adults are (relatively) peaceful, schooling fish that migrate in and out of estuaries, living in open water. However, the juveniles are territorial and quite aggressive towards each other. They live in rock pools guarding caves. You'll find the basics in my FAQ (see below). Other than this odd switch in behaviour as they mature, basic care is identical to things like monos, though being more aggressive and much more predatory, tankmates should be chosen with care.

Maximum size in the wild is well over 30 cm; in the aquarium they are around half this size.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Freedom18]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but do they really stay that small? I've read that they get 14 inches long in aquariums, so I never even considered getting one...

 

[nmonks]

Never heard of them get nearly so big. 30 cm or so (about 12 inches) is maximum size in the wild. It's a lot like monos, I've always assumed: wild monos can get almost dinner plate sized, but you rarely see them anything like so large in aquaria. But you may be right; I've never kept them myself. Open to correction!

Cheers, Neale

Sorry to hijack the thread, but do they really stay that small? I've read that they get 14 inches long in aquariums, so I never even considered getting one...

 

[Freedom18]

hmm, I'll have to consider getting one then...

 

[nmonks]

If you do, be absolutely prepared for it. The juveniles are, by all accounts, very nippy and aggressive. There's some suggestion they feed on fins/scales from certain fish (apparently mullets). The adults are much more acceptable fish, but are broadly comparable with snappers in temperament, and do best in groups and when given plenty of swimming space.

I think there reason they're not common in the trade is that they're really not very good or rewarding aquarium fish. If you want a medium-sized to large perciform predator of some sort, then either a Siamese tigerfish or one of the snappers (Lutjanus spp.) would seem a better bet. Several of the snappers in the marine trade are brackish water animals, so a little time on Fishbase checking over the biology of the species available in your area can be rewarding.

There's also any number of excellent (and often colourful) brackish to marine cichlids, and these could be used alongside scats, monos, and all the other big brackish water community fish.

Cheers, Neale

hmm, I'll have to consider getting one then...

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

So what I've found out;

1. Water: Brakish I guess

2. Apparently greedy eater

3. Size is a bit bigger than I thought

4. Nobody gave me any extra info. Which I guess means they are easy to keep?

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

Oh yeah, do they harm plants? Or are pretty passive towards them?

 

[nmonks]

They couldn't care less about plants. They're carnivores, through and through. That said, you're aiming for SG 1.010, so plants aren't likely to be an issue because you won't be growing any.

Cheers, Neale

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

Why not?

 

[kanzaris]

Why not?

Because no plants suppose to survive at high salinity.
Mind you my tank is at 1.010 and my Java Fern has been happy in there for the last four month.


Sabby

 

[nmonks]

Sabby's right. There *are* freshwater plants known to do well at very high salinities, Java fern being one of them, and Samolus valerandi another (it's happy almost to seawater!) but on the whole people with high-salinity tanks don't tend to use real plants. For one thing, a lot of big brackish water fish eat them. Scats, for example, will (supposedly) eat Java ferns, which most other fish find distasteful. It's a lot easier to use plastic plants.

Cheers, Neale

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

I meant fresh water