The Puffer Forum

Went to a LFS I don't usually go to, but have chatted to one of the women who works there who keeps puffers and they often have some cool stuff, so I drop in now and then. I got some river shrimp for the puffs while I was there (my nearest LFS doesn't get them in). It was 40 for £5 and I've got a tank set up for them at home. When the guy started counting them out by hand I knew I would be there a while. Wandered off to look at the displays. Ended up with about 30 and several long dead ones. I shoulda watched him. Anyway...

I get home, put the shrimp in the aquarium, do a head count, fish out the dead ones (while cursing the LFS guy... I know it's a pittance, but I'm the customer, ya know?) and spot something out of place...





What the heck is this? Mudskipper?

It was getting harassed by the RS, so I put it in with my Ceylon puffer... he's very placid and already lives with some lyre tail mollies who've just given birth... he doesn't bother them and the babies aren't disappearing, so I figured the mystery fish was safer in a well decorated tank than in a small one with dozens of shrimp. I know that if it is a mudskipper I'll have to rehome him, but if it's not and it can stay, it may as well. Thank in advance.

Looks like some kind of Goby

I don't think it's a mudskipper. Other than that, can't help you.

I have no idea... but to help narrow it down, does it perch or free swim?

I'm with hobbes, it looks a lot like some species of Goby. I've worked a bit with fw gobies at the museum I work for not enough to be able to identify exact type but it does look a lot like a kind of goby to me. I could be wrong though although it really doesn't look much like a mud skipper. How big is it? Does it like to hang out on the bottom? If I get a chance tomorrow I'll ask my boss, she would know right away what it is.

How long is it?

@Jase: it perches. It darts around rather than swims in open areas -- it's very quick, too. That's why I wondered if it were some kind of mudskipper.

@qt and lil: it's about 5cm/2in or not much more.

@qt:it hangs out in the bottom but also swims to the surface. It's all over the place right now. I just hope it's not in distress. I'd be glad of a positive ID if you can get one from an expert. Cheers.

Thanks all.

Not a goby. I think this is a species of Gudgeon fish. From the family Eleotridae. I am going to try and narrow it down if I can.

Send a PM to Neale Monks. He may be able to give you the answer you are looking for. I am thinking if this came in with shrimp that it is not something we see commonly in the fish trade.

I have no idea what it might be but it really is kinda cute.
I looked up Gudgeon fish and this is what came up. It looks pretty similar imo!

@yunachin: sent a PM to Mr Monks and eagerly await a reply. Thanks for the tip about it possibly being a gudgeon fish. I'm doing some reading up now.

@katty: yes, it does look like a gudgeon fish from the pics I'm looking at. I'm anxious now that I might have a freshwater fish in brackish (he came in brackish with the shrimp, though). He seems quite happy for now, so until I get a positive ID, I'll leave him. He's quite fun to watch, actually.

Looks very much like this chap: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/subs/fish-info/n ... dgeon.html

If you got this [a] in the UK and within a mix of coldwater river shrimps, then these are gobies of the genus Pomatoschistus, either P. microps or P. minutus. Both very common in the Thames Estuary where river shrimps (usually Crangon spp.) are collected. These gobies are hardy and easy to keep in an unheated brackish/saltwater aquarium.

They won't live in freshwater indefinitely, but above 50% seawater salinity you should find them easy to maintain. They eat bloodworms, brine shrimp, etc. They are covered in my Brackish FAQ as well as in the chapter on coldwater brackish fish in my book.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks very much, Mr Monks. I'll pop him back in with the shrimp.

I figured if anyone would know, Neale would in this situation. Glad you got a positive ID.