I am considering starting a saltwater planted tank and am looking for interesting fish species to put in it. Does anyone know of any interesting native saltwater fish species? This question is open to anybody and everybody; please don't feel shy. I know absolutely nothing about saltwater and any advice would be appreciated.
What's your favorite saltwater native fish?
Started by
Guest_EricaWieser_*
, Feb 21 2012 11:00 PM
19 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Ken_*
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Posted 21 February 2012 - 11:11 PM
Hippocampus Erectus is my favorite since I use to raise them. But since you haven't worked with saltwater I wouldn't suggest them for a beginner, Maybe this but they seem to be brackish according to this article. http://www.fishchann...r-pipefish.aspx
Edited by Ken, 21 February 2012 - 11:12 PM.
#3
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 12:43 AM
I agree, sea horses are cute and a favorite of many people. 
It's nice that they'll breed right in the tank.
Here's a picture I probably should have uploaded in the first post. It's a plan for the tank: http://forum.aquatic...file.php?id=326
But regardless what the tank plan is, I'd like to hear about all of your favorite native fish. The plan for the tank is flexible.
It's nice that they'll breed right in the tank.Here's a picture I probably should have uploaded in the first post. It's a plan for the tank: http://forum.aquatic...file.php?id=326
But regardless what the tank plan is, I'd like to hear about all of your favorite native fish. The plan for the tank is flexible.
Edited by EricaWieser, 22 February 2012 - 01:16 AM.
#4
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 08:23 AM
I haven't kept too many saltwater natives, but I have to chime in for Sheepshead minnows and naked gobies. I had a trio of sheepshead a few years back and they were very attractive, well mannered, and generally awesome interesting little fish. I currently have 3 naked gobies that live in my reef tank and despite being tiny, I always see them doing something, and they aren't too terribly shy until my full grown watchman goby comes around.
#5
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 08:34 AM
Chasmodes blennies are cute. And who doesn't love Fundulus?
#6
Guest_NCNativeFish_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 09:13 AM
Lagodon rhomboides. They're easy to catch and fun to watch.
#7
Guest_decal_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 11:20 AM
Gobies and blennies are always fun. Pipefish will go great in a saltwater planted aquarium since your flow rates shouldn't be as high as a coral setup. They have to be fed more often than your average fish, though. Don't forget inverts, they're half the fun of saltwater. Peppermint shrimp for some tropical looking beauty in a native tank (not sure if y'all have them out there), decorator crabs if you don't mind a little rearrangement of your plants, porcelain crabs constantly filtering the water, etc.
#8
Guest_Ken_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 12:35 PM
Eel grass would be nice for a saltwater tank.... I used it quite a bit for my seahorses and critters.
#9
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 12:51 PM
It's very pretty. Do you have a source for it? I looked online but all I found was that 90% of it has been depleted in the past 70 years (so I probably can't find it in the wild and shouldn't harvest it anyway even if I do) and couldn't find any seed vendors.Eel grass would be nice for a saltwater tank.... I used it quite a bit for my seahorses and critters.
The caulerpa species that I was thinking of using was Caulerpa prolifera, if that's legal. It looks a lot like eelgrass but isn't endangered or anything.
Edited by EricaWieser, 22 February 2012 - 01:08 PM.
#10
Guest_dredcon_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 03:24 PM
I think my favorite saltwater species I have kept would have to be emerald sleepers (hard to find - spinycheek sleeper is easier to
find), frillfin goby (they were always looking for trouble), or spotted scorpinfish ( I lovd ambush predators ). I think any of the
sleepers would do well in a planted tank.
find), frillfin goby (they were always looking for trouble), or spotted scorpinfish ( I lovd ambush predators ). I think any of the
sleepers would do well in a planted tank.
#11
Guest_blakemarkwell_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 03:50 PM
I've always had a particular fondness for blennies, especially the blenniids (combtooth blennies). However, I also love the miniature serranids (sea basses) like the hermaphroditic Serraniculus and Serranus. The antennariids (frogfishes) will always have a special, goofy spot in my heart; and like Nathan said, it's hard not to love Fundulus.
Disclaimer: I have no idea how well any of these adjust to aquarium life.
Disclaimer: I have no idea how well any of these adjust to aquarium life.
#12
Guest_dredcon_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 06:26 PM
I've always had a particular fondness for blennies, especially the blenniids (combtooth blennies). However, I also love the miniature serranids (sea basses) like the hermaphroditic Serraniculus and Serranus. The antennariids (frogfishes) will always have a special, goofy spot in my heart; and like Nathan said, it's hard not to love Fundulus.
Disclaimer: I have no idea how well any of these adjust to aquarium life.
I have kept sargassumfish (Antennariidae) before. They are really cool if you like weird ambush predators like I do. I did not have too much luck getting them off live food though (did not try too hard since I always had live food avaible). As far as the serranids go I have not kept any yet, but will soon. I am going with whitespotted soapfish ,Rypticus maculatus, as soon as I get in my new house and get my saltwater tank up. I see them every summer when fishing offshore and have always thought they were a cool little fish.
#13
Guest_rickwrench_*
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Posted 22 February 2012 - 11:38 PM
Poecilia latipinna are good small marine tank fish. Guppies/Poecilia reticulata, are -sort- of North American (Caribbean), thrive in salt water. Adinia xenica can be simply beautiful.
Rick
Rick
#14
Guest_FirstChAoS_*
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Posted 23 February 2012 - 04:03 AM
My favorite is the lumpfish, they are sort of goofy looking and have an odd habit of clinging to rocks. However I heard you need a chiller for them. Videos by lumpsucker owners on youtube tend to be quirky and fun.
I may keep mummichogs if I ever plan on raising a saltwater native as they can live in fresh water, are very hardy, legal as bait, and good for mosquito control if what I read is right. All you got to do is find a way to rise them to be big enough to eat and you get an ultimate utility fish.
I may keep mummichogs if I ever plan on raising a saltwater native as they can live in fresh water, are very hardy, legal as bait, and good for mosquito control if what I read is right. All you got to do is find a way to rise them to be big enough to eat and you get an ultimate utility fish.
#15
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 04 March 2012 - 03:00 AM
Alot of good answers already with lots of good ones still to go....
Planted tanks just beg for blennies. I've never kept them but they look so cool and natural in a well planted marine tank. Some are good grazers. Several are native to inland southern atlantic coast.
Rainwater killies are a dear favorite of mine. They are great for nano sized tanks but are tough enough for large [preditor free] community. Males are very pretty. They live in and around plants in the wild so will do well in the planted marine tanks. They will breed like crazy but eat fry. Can go from salt to fresh without acclimation. I have a 3 year old male [extreme age] which has gone both ways once, both without acclimation.
Maybe the most telling answer from me, of all the marines, tropical and temporate that I've kept, the one species I still keep after down sizing is Poecilia latipinna as has been suggested. I can't think of a better marine planted tank species. They will breed like rabbits and will be almost self sustaining on the algae that will grow on your plants. My colony is six years old and currently thrives on the crap algae and diatoms that grow in my marine tank. I toss flake one a week and green hair algae from freshwater tanks when I think of it. They get almost no care beyond that. Evap sometimes makes the water stronger than seawater before i replenish. They never mind. Beyond some floating fake plants, I do nothing to help or encourage breeding or add baby food yet for six years they've kept up their numbers and quality on their own. They can also thrive in full fresh water but I wouldn't try it without a slow drip acclimation. I've had success with a drip that took 24 hours to fill a five gallon bucket. Watch temps with these guys. A heater is highly recommended.
Planted tanks just beg for blennies. I've never kept them but they look so cool and natural in a well planted marine tank. Some are good grazers. Several are native to inland southern atlantic coast.
Rainwater killies are a dear favorite of mine. They are great for nano sized tanks but are tough enough for large [preditor free] community. Males are very pretty. They live in and around plants in the wild so will do well in the planted marine tanks. They will breed like crazy but eat fry. Can go from salt to fresh without acclimation. I have a 3 year old male [extreme age] which has gone both ways once, both without acclimation.
Maybe the most telling answer from me, of all the marines, tropical and temporate that I've kept, the one species I still keep after down sizing is Poecilia latipinna as has been suggested. I can't think of a better marine planted tank species. They will breed like rabbits and will be almost self sustaining on the algae that will grow on your plants. My colony is six years old and currently thrives on the crap algae and diatoms that grow in my marine tank. I toss flake one a week and green hair algae from freshwater tanks when I think of it. They get almost no care beyond that. Evap sometimes makes the water stronger than seawater before i replenish. They never mind. Beyond some floating fake plants, I do nothing to help or encourage breeding or add baby food yet for six years they've kept up their numbers and quality on their own. They can also thrive in full fresh water but I wouldn't try it without a slow drip acclimation. I've had success with a drip that took 24 hours to fill a five gallon bucket. Watch temps with these guys. A heater is highly recommended.
#16
Guest_AquaticEngineer_*
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Posted 06 March 2012 - 10:40 PM
Heres some pictures of the tank I am getting ready to setup in my house for pipefish and seagrass native to the west coast. Its a 1" thick arcylic tank, 1/10th horse chiller, Iwaki pump and DIY'd mini fridge auto feeder. I'll probably put other easy going fish like grunt sculpins in there, and some bi-valves like some scallops, just no stinging celled animals like anemones in this one. Still gotta skin the exterior with sheets of black acrylic and cover the filtration areas with black acrylic, but you get the idea 
Edited by AquaticEngineer, 06 March 2012 - 10:47 PM.
#17
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Posted 06 March 2012 - 10:41 PM
Let me know if you want any west coast species, I'm legal to collect and sell out here.
#18
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 06 March 2012 - 11:42 PM
Okay, thanks. I'm still considering various fish species and haven't settled on one in particular.
#19
Guest_jeffreyconte_*
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Posted 08 March 2012 - 01:18 PM
I'm a big fan of mummichogs.
#20
Guest_soccer_*
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Posted 11 March 2012 - 06:07 PM
I have quite the list... Lined seahorse, northern/dusky pipefish, naked/seaboard gobies, striped/feather blennies, hogchoker, cunner, sheepshead minnow, mollies, and various grunts found around Florida, the french grunt being my favorite of the grunts
Edited by soccer, 11 March 2012 - 06:19 PM.
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