The Puffer Forum

I was really bummed out to find my biggest male Mudskipper dead yesterday (Thursday). He was 8" long and really cool. I think he must have died either very early Thursday morning, or late Wednesday evening. He actually had a smile on his face, I kid you not, and that made me feel good. He was really large, so maybe that was the end of his natural life, although I've read that they can live anywhere from 5-7 years. I have no idea how old mine was when I got him, but I had him a year, and it was a pleasant year too!
I don't know if any of you have ever kept Mudskippers, but they are very unique fish. I am fortunate that I've gotten to have the experience of having them. I did have 3, but one of them jumped out and landed in a container with extra aquarium supplies and I didn't find it until I was looking for something. I didn't notice that it was gone because they've got a big platform that they hide under, so I had no idea he was gone. So that left just the two of them. Now, with my big male dying, I'm down to just one Mudskipper. I'm trying to locate more as I really enjoy having them, and aside from what some literature says, I think they enjoy having company. Mine never fought, but if you read some articles, they will tell you that they will kill each other -- baloney!!
Anyway, I've still got my Dwarf Mudskippers, but just something special about the big guys. Maybe it's just so odd to see a fish that's 8" long sitting up out of the water, peering out of the tank at me, watching what I'm doing!
I will miss that big guy, but at least he died with a smile on his face!

Sorry for your loss

Thank you Malabar Front

So sorry, Schismy007! They sound really cool.

Thank you Lil' Swimz$, they ARE really cool, and my big guy was very special.

Sorry to hear the sad news

Sorry to hear that he passed. At least you gave him a good life.

Thank you redspotowner and qtrhorse89, II appreciate your comments.

I have 2 of the barbarus species as well, I've had them for almost 2 years now and the largest is around 6.5-7 inches, I did split them up for a while when they were in a smaller tank with only one platform (the smaller could only come up for air once in a blue moon), but once i got a larger tank and set it up as mudskipper only and so that a crossing between one side and the other was only worth carrying out a couple of times a day it has been a very entertaining tank and they both seem safe and happy.

I've found that the more dominant they are the quicker they seem to grow, they are both really tame now and when I'm in the room they will come over to the side of the tank and watch what I'm doing. An absolutely lovely fish

Yes, the ones I have are barbarus, well now just the one, but they are really amusing aren't they? When I had the first two, the big male (the one that just died) was very domineering, but then when we got the 3rd, he seemed to mellow out completely, and then when the one jumped and went missing and died from being out of the water, the 2 remaining ones got along just fine, never fought, never any problems. That's why I want to get another, because I think they enjoyed being together. So we will see if I can find any others. If anyone knows where I can get any, please let me know. Thanks.

they tend to have them in my lfs... do you want me to check when bf is next up your way and ask them to hold one for you?

Ahh, poor mudskipper. I wonder what he was smiling about - is the other one a lady mudskipper??!!

The other one, the one that's left, was supposed to be a female, but we're not sure. They did get along well together, but I think Mudskippers are hard to sex, it's something about the dorsal fin.

They are cool - I can't see myself without 1!

The girlfriend is adamant that she can sex our mudskippers and reckons our smaller one is a female "because she looks pretty......."

Yeah I agree totally with you, Iliveinazoo, I think, aside from my puffers, that they are the coolest living thing I've ever had the pleasure of owning. I definitely want to get another one and I'm sure after looking around in all the right places, I will eventually find one.

We took the word of our LFS that we had bought a pair (male and female) and I'm sure the one that died was definitely a male, he was huge, not just long, but really massive all over. I'm just not sure about the one that's left, but I feel a bit sad when I look in there and he/she is sitting there looking around as if thinking "where's my mate?"

Sorry, but that bit about your girlfriend made me laugh -- and that's a good thing!