I'm heading down to the river soon where I catch a TON of small flounder and tongue fish cast netting. I'm pretty sure some are baby flounder while the others only get to about 4-5 inches. I'm just wondering, is it possible to keep a baby flounder? Tank size? What about the tonguefish? How many can go in a thirty gallon? I don't do brackish much so what would the salinity have to be at? Food? Feeder fish? Thanks.
Flounder???
- Thread starter Destroyer551
- Start date
If you keep a baby flounder, what will you do with it when it outgrows your tank? If you're going to eat it, that's fine, but some people get too attached to their fish to do that. Check fishing regs too; if flounder have a minimum length limit, then being caught with an undersized fish could get you fined.
That said, be aware that there are several flounderlike coastal flatfish species that stay small; hogchokers are one of the best known. The fish you are catching may be one of those species, in which case you could keep some for life in a moderate-sized tank.
I haven't kept flatfish yet, but I've been doing some research on them. It looks like most of them, even the ones that come into estuaries and streams, do best in full marine conditions. What tank size you need depends on the species you have. I'm sure a breeder or other large footprint tank would work well.
That said, be aware that there are several flounderlike coastal flatfish species that stay small; hogchokers are one of the best known. The fish you are catching may be one of those species, in which case you could keep some for life in a moderate-sized tank.
I haven't kept flatfish yet, but I've been doing some research on them. It looks like most of them, even the ones that come into estuaries and streams, do best in full marine conditions. What tank size you need depends on the species you have. I'm sure a breeder or other large footprint tank would work well.
I was only talking about keeping a baby flounder because I really don't know which one is which. They all look different, some can suction themself to flat surfaces, others have no tail, and even more are a diamond shape with a tail. So I might keep one on accident. But I'll try and get the ones the suction themselves, I think those are the hogchokers. They get about 4-5 inches right? I do have a 40 gallon breeder that's empty, was going to put them in a 30 tall. But whatever's best for the fish. Have any pictures of juvie flounder? And what foods do you feed them?
If you keep any of your catches, go for the tongue fish (also known as tonguesoles). Some from Asia occasionally come around into pet stores and are relatively easy to keep, not to mention they shouldn't get too large - however, I'd do some research about what species live off your coast.
They normally love to any any benthic inverts they can find - so earthworms, river shrimp and bloodworms should work, they might eat some fish too. If you can, test the salinty of the water somewhere between high- and low tide, and then try to keep your tank at that SG.
Hogchokers are also really cool, and you can find quite a bit of info on them on the net: LINK and LINK.
They normally love to any any benthic inverts they can find - so earthworms, river shrimp and bloodworms should work, they might eat some fish too. If you can, test the salinty of the water somewhere between high- and low tide, and then try to keep your tank at that SG.
Hogchokers are also really cool, and you can find quite a bit of info on them on the net: LINK and LINK.
Hogchokers' eyes are small and placed on the right side of the head and they lack pectoral fins; flounders' eyes are large and placed on the left side (right side in winter flounder, which I don't think is found in your area) and they have pectoral fins. Some of the flounders are also small and would be good tank species. Check your PM box.