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Amongst conspicuous fish groups that divers come
across in shall tropical and subtropical seas; sandperches are an
anomaly in the aquarium trade. Why aren’t they offered for sale as
ornamentals? Many are brightly patterned and colored. They’re certainly
humorous in their wide-based pelvic fin scooting behavior, ever-curious
as to what is going on in their world. On sandy and mixed rocky bottom
settings where they occur they do so in abundance… and for petfish
collectors, they’re less difficult to gather than many popular blennies
and gobies.
All told the family Pinquipedidae comprises five recognized
genera and about sixty species... with only a few occasionally showing
up with scarce occurrence in pet-fish markets. Sandperches occur on both
sides of the tropical Atlantic, and widely throughout the Indo-Pacific.
All Sandperches share the same general body plan; a slightly
near-cylindrical elongated shape, long continuous dorsal and anal fins,
a square to lunate caudal. They have large upward and forward eyes and
large terminal mouths. Like Lizardfishes and Blennies that they’re often
mistaken and labeled as, most Pinquipedids spend their time on the
bottom, perching at times on rock, corals to espy the small
invertebrates and fishes they feed on. Behavior:
Other than their comical perching, jetting about on the bottom, a major
attraction to these fishes underwater is their foraging fish following
behavior. Sandperches will attend digging fishes hoping for an exposed
meal item. They learn to accompany divers that frequent spots for this
same purpose and one can become a “pied piper” of fish by accommodating
diver-unafraid followers by occasionally flipping over stones or running
your fingers in the substrate.
Compatibility:
I’d like to draw a comparison between this family of fishes and the
oh-so-popular Clownfishes; both in terms of compatibility and stocking.
Both groups members are protogynous hermaphrodites; that is, first
females, synchronously becoming males. All are territorial, with
Sandperches being haremic; one dominant male in association with a few
to several females and undifferentiated juveniles.
Can they be kept in reef systems? Yes; with some warnings. Sandperches
eat small invertebrates and fishes in the wild, so you must be sure to
have either expendable tankmates or ones that are large, smart and fast
enough to avoid being picked up. Small worms, including sizable
Bristleworms, Featherdusters, snails, crabs, and shrimp may be inhaled.
They won’t pick at corals but may set upon them at times.
Pinguipedids make for ideal rough and tumble fish only and fish only
with live rock systems. They can hold their own with most large wrasses,
puffers and triggers. Inhalers of fishes, like Anglers, fish-eating
Morays and larger Scorpionfishes will try to suck up Sandperches. Stocking/Selection:
For most all hobby systems, a single individual of one species of
sandperch is recommended. Males will fight and there can be trouble if
there are not several square feet of bottom to share even among
individuals of small size. IF you intend to try a grouping either one
larger specimen or a few of small size (a few inches) is suggested.
Males are often physically and color/pattern-wise different from
females; being larger and more colorful, distinctly marked.
As these are territorial species, it’s best to place them last in your
stocking plan; and take care to not have crustaceans of other fishes
present that are smaller than mouth size.
Genus Parapercis (Indo-Pacific) Sandperches on Parade!
Systems:
As with most captive systems, the larger the tank you have the better
for stability and flexibility reasons. Pinguipedids can be kept in a
three foot long system, but do far better in bigger environments. Though
they spend the majority of time on the bottom, any type and depth of
substrate will work for Sandperches. More important is that the gravel
be suitable for your other purposes, functional and aesthetic.
Useful décor is important to these fishes; so do provide a few choice
spots for yours to perch and scoot under out of sight when they feel the
need. You will find, indeed enjoy the fixed pattern antics of your
sandperch moving about its physical environment.
As far as out of the tank escaping, Sandperches are top in their class,
and will launch themselves out of any suitable gap in the aquarium
cover, during feeding, cleaning the system or at night. Assure you have
complete coverage. Disease:
As tropical reef fishes go, Sandperches are typically hardy and
resistant to parasitic and infectious disease. Nonetheless they should
be quarantined and given prophylactic pH adjusted freshwater baths ahead
of introduction to main displays. Should they contract the usual
Protozoan complaints, they are not overly sensitive to copper
medications.
Cloze:
In the course of decades in both the aquarium trade and dive-travel
adventure content business, I have encountered several groups of
organisms that have gone underutilized to totally neglected in the
ornamental aquatics side. The Sandperches are definitely to be included
here. They’ve evidently just “never made it onto the list” of proffered
livestock from the wild; and folks in the hobby have not known to ask
for them.
Call them Grubfishes, Weeverfishes, Weevers, the Sandperches deserve
more placement in the aquarium trade. They’re hardy, interesting
behaviorally, beautifully marked, and they eat Bristleworms! Bibliography/Further Reading: Fishbase family info.:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=371
Michael, Scott W. 2008. Sandperches; often overlooked.
Marine World (UK), 6,7/08 |
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