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Biotope tank, Lembeh Strait, fdg.
Ablabys 7/5/10 Butterfly Waspfish?
4/7/10 GSPs & Butterfly Goby (Neovespicula depressifrons) 4/24/08 <Hi again, Scott> Thanks for the reply. I think I had an overprotective mother type situation, because the patch does in fact seem to be going away on its own. <Good news!> I am keeping two GSPs in the 30 right now but plan to upgrade to a 55 gallon when I move if I feel that the two fish will get along ok together or stay out of each others way, which ever works. Right now the smaller one is no more than 1 1/2" max and the bigger one is maybe 2", but I think smaller, I am guessing. <They really should be moved into larger quarters soon. If they have been paired together as juveniles, there is a pretty good chance they will get along into adulthood.> The butterfly goby is bigger than the smaller GSP but will eventually be moved into something else when the SG gets up there. I wonder if you know anything about that fish actually, I have found very little information on it, I can't even find a scientific name on it, but I guess it is sold as 'butterfly goby' in the US. What I did find listed it as brackish, which is why I got it. Anyway thanks again. <Here is what I found on the goby: http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpages/Predatory_fish/(4k)butterfly-go.html ~PP> Scott Butterfly goby with swim bladder disorder? Hi all, You guys get all my hard questions...thanks in advance for the help. I've got a butterfly goby (Vespicula depressifrons) that is acting like it has a swim bladder disorder. (I didn't think these fish even had swim bladders.) It's swimming like it's trying to keep itself from floating to the top of the tank. The fish is head standing, fins paddling madly, but it still tends to drift upwards. It is also slowly spinning like a top, but not like it has whirling disease (which is a much faster spin). The fish also looks a bit "inflated" around the belly. I'm not quite sure how long this has been going on, as I haven't seen it in a few days: it's been in the straight-Fw planted tank (which was overgrown with Val's) at the old place, and I've just moved it to a temporary tank at the new place. What I can do to help this fish? Would moving it into a brackish tank help? <This fish should be in brackish or marine.> (The reason I ask about the brackish tank: I have a molly who got pop-eye four times when I had him in a Fw tank. Each time, I'd put him in a hospital tank, add Epsom salts, and then top off the tank with old brackish water. That fixed his eye every time. Now I just keep him in brackish conditions, and he hasn't had pop-eye since.) <If the fish is new the behavior could be from a stressful transport. The inflated around the belly part indicates a disease however. medication in a quiet dark tank would be best. Furan based drugs, salt, stable temps, etc. Best of luck, Gage> Thanks, Ananda Mainly brackish gobies Hi Bob! Well, the spinning molly died a couple of days ago. She wouldn't eat, even when I tried live black worms, so I wasn't surprised. <Sorry to learn of your loss> The ghost shrimp experiment is going well. They seem to be tolerating the SGs up to 1.008 without much difficulty once they get past the initial transition period. Some of them haven't survived the transition, but in those cases, the gobies haven't complained about the extra treats. Oddly enough, the candy-striped gobies aren't interested in the shrimp, even though they are easily large enough to eat them. I had an entertaining time watching one of my so-called "butterfly gobies" trying to eat a ghost shrimp that was bigger than itself. The shrimp got away for a while, and then goby was "stalking" the shrimp. Quite amusing. I don't know what the "butterfly gobies" really are, but they definitely aren't true gobies. They look sort of like miniaturized dwarf lionfish, mottled brown and beige and about 1" long, and nothing like the marine butterfly goby, Amblygobius albimaculatus. Do you know if this fish is a sculpin, or a Scorpaenidae, or is it something else entirely? <Beige mostly? Maybe Stigmatogobius: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brgobioids.htm> LMK if a photo would of my fish would help; I don't have a photo of them yet since it's hard to get the digital camera to focus on them (it's a bit *too* automated). <Check to see if you can "turn off" the automated (focus) feature... Bob Fenner> Thanks, Ananda Keeping BW Fish in FW 1/4/07 Hello, <Hi, Pufferpunk here> I was wondering if the Leaf Goblinfish (Neovespicula depressifrons) could adapt to a completely freshwater environment. I have read that they are found in freshwater, brackish, and even fully marine waters. Most sites have them listed as mainly brackish, can they thrive in a freshwater tank or even adapt to it? <This species is considered BW. Many BW species do swim throughout the 3 systems (FW/BW/SW). Since you will be keeping it in an enclosed system, where it cannot swim up & down the salinities as it chooses, it is best to keep it in BW. Although it will "tolerate" a life in FW, it will be happier, healthier & longer-lived (stronger immune system) in BW. ~PP> Thanks
Re: Waspfish ID 2/7/06 Bob, from the looks of it this is a "sea goblin", from either genus Chirodactylus or Inimicus. <Mmm, don't think so... does have the general appearance of a Waspfish...> Either way it's a cool fish. Perhaps the guys at www.grimreefers.com will have an idea -- they have forums devoted to scorpionfishes. They have beasties similar to this one from time to time at my LFS. Regards, Dan <That and Scott Michael... send your pix along to both. Cheers, Bob Fenner> - Breeding Habits of Wasp Fish - I have two wasp fish. <I'm guessing you mean the freshwater variety as the saltwater variety are rather rare in the trade.> I have had them for at least three months. My question is how do tell the different sexes between the fish if it is even possible? <From everything I could find, it's not possible to tell the difference externally.> Also what conditions must be met in order for them to breed or mate? <Likewise, very little information available about their breeding habits. Would suggest you do like I did and search the web using your favorite search engine.> And lastly what type of birth do they have? Is it live or in eggs. and what do they look like? <Sorry... three strikes and I'm out. They seem to be very neat fish, but I just don't have a bunch of information on them. If we're lucky one of our readers will send us a chunk of their knowledge.> Thank you, Gfishman <Cheers, J -- > - Breeding Habits of Wasp Fish, Follow-up - Thanks.
<My pleasure.> I wasn't very detailed in my question. I have
two salt water fish which I don't think makes a difference since
you said,"<I'm guessing you mean the freshwater variety as
the saltwater variety are rather rare in the trade.>"
<Yup... still the case.> Anyway I have tried to research the web
using every search engine I know of and I came up like you, a strike
out! <Do check on fishbase.org - but again, are relatively rare in
the trade. I'm still some of my previous statements still apply -
difficult to sex, unknown breeding habits.> But I thank you for even
replying to my questions. I enjoy your web site and maybe some one can
answer my question. <Again, will be posted on the dailies where
perhaps someone with more knowledge than me can chime in. Keep your
eyes out there.> Yo fave fishman, GfishmanC
Mysterious death of "butterfly gobies" (06/04/03) <Hi! Ananda here tonight...> Hi, I recently wrote you (today actually) about my saltwater aquarium and now I have a quick question about my fresh. I recently purchased two 'butterfly gobies' (however I now know they are the venomous freshwater Waspfish) and fell in love! <They are cute little things. If you have the same type of "butterfly gobies" I had, it's those first three spines on the dorsal fin that are the venomous ones. Mine were Vespicula depressifrons.> One of them stayed on the bottom mostly and the other swam around - both seemed healthy and content. However, when I came home from work tonight I realized one was dead and the other seems near! I'm frantic! I have absolutely no idea what's wrong. <Check your water quality... ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temp, pH, etc. One thing to consider: what was the pH at the place you got them, compared to your tank pH?> The one who was swimming around is still alive but will fall to it's side or end up upside down as if he can't stabilize himself. I know that these fish are considered 'brackish' but I only purchased them for my freshwater tank after reading an article on wetwebmedia.com stating that they are considered mainly fresh. <There are a couple of species that are called "freshwater Waspfish".... I'm not finding the page you're referring to -- this site just keeps on growing!> (your site is my main information site) I would ask what to do, but I'm afraid that he'll be gone by the time you write back. Any ideas what caused this? <Other than significant differences in tank conditions between your LFS and your home tanks...not really, unfortunately.> I would really appreciate the info since I would really like to try keeping this intriguing fish again. Thank you once again, -Tara- <If you still have the fish, please send a photo -- it will help determine if they are indeed the same fish I had. Then I will have a better idea if my experiences might be helpful info for you. --Ananda> "Freshwater butterfly grouper"? (04/13/03) A few years ago I found a few strange fish in a small store by my home called freshwater butterfly grouper. They were not doing well so the store keeper said I could have the lot to play around with. They had symptoms like a lot of salt or brackish when kept in wrong pH. I was moving to grad school at that time and revived the little evil fish then gave them back to the store owner. By the time I came back a few years latter the shop closed and could not find out more information. The only fish that comes close would be the Bullrout. Page 1082 seems like the best representative photo (Axelrod's atlas). <Not a book that I have, unfortunately...> I used to work part time at a wholesale fish store, I know that the names can be converted many times. i hope that you can trace the " fresh water butterfly grouper" that was given from the wholesaler. <This sounds kind of like a fish I used to have. It was called a "butterfly goby", though it was definitely NOT a goby! Mine turned out to be Vespicula depressifrons. Other "common" names for this fish include "freshwater Waspfish" and "leaf goblinfish". Try a Google search on "vespicula"; the first hit should have a photo. --Ananda> Rockfish and cockatoo Waspfish Hi, Bob! Greetings from your
great fan here in Hong Kong ! <Hello there. Soon, gung hay fat
choi!> I recently bought a Cockatoo Waspfish <I keep missing
taking this species picture, Ablabys taenionotus...> and ordinary
Stonefish from the Philippines. I put them on my 80 gallon tank with
some angelfishes and butterflies. I was browsing your website, but
didn't find any articles touching extensively on these two
beautiful fishes. <I do need to "move up" my writing
schedule to include them... sooner!> However, I learnt that they are
venomous, which I understand is different from poisonous. <Yes>
Anyway, my concern is: --Will any of these two fishes introduce any
toxins into the aquarium which may kill all the other co-inhabitants?
If yes, when do they release these? <Related questions/answers. In
general, no direct release of toxins... these are "squeezed
into" a victim by mechanical force (stepping on them,
biting/squeezing them in the mouth of a predator...), but can be
potentially a problem should the fishes die, dissolve in your system
w/o detection... unlikely> When they are attacked or when they die?
<Ah! Both> My 9 year old son enjoys the critter looks of these
two creatures as contrasted to the traditional angels and butterflies.
But my daughter insists that they should be segregated, but I have no
other tank for the moment. --What are the precautions I should take on
these two creatures? <Really just to "keep an eye on them"
daily... as when you feed your tank, and are working in it...>
Warmest regards and wishing you the Cheers of the Christmas Season!
Rgds
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