Gobioides Broussometti

[ocellatus]

Does any one keep blue dragon gobies? I saw them in my LFS for $7.50 CDN, and they're keeping them in FW, yet I've read conflicting accounts of keeping them in brackish, FW or acclimating them to full SW. One site said they'd had them for a year in FW and they thrived (?).

If possible I'd like to keep one in FW w/ added salt. Any experience out there on if this is possible, or what the minimum salt conc. would be?

I've read they get 20" , but haven't found a pic of one anywhere near adult size. A 20" goby would be pretty cool...

 

[Hakon]

I think it will thrive in FW. I know two who keeps the fish and one of them keep it in freshwater.
pH: 6,5 - 8
Size: 23 inches in nature but smaller in captivity.
Live food, can eat small fish.

 

[guppy]

Also called violet gobies or dragon gobies, they prefer lightly brackish and stay healthier with at least some salt, they also grow larger. They are not aggressive and in tanks with active fish often have problems getting enough food. They will often scoop up and spit out sand or gravel, they feed on detritus, black and tubifex worms, brine shrimp, soaked flake food, and even filter sludge. I recently read of a large one, about 18", killing a 6" pleco by grabbing it and smacking it around because the pleco was slime sucking but other than that they are harmless. I have not done it but they can be acclimated to full salt, in the Gulf of Mexico they are sometimes found on silt bottoms up to 100 feet deep.

 

[ocellatus]

Thanks for the assistance. I think I'll bump up the salt without going true brackish and give one a try.

 

[guppy]

Even the 1 tablespoon salt per 5 gallons of water that is used to help promote healthy slime coats will help and that doesn't bother most plants or even cory cats.

 

[ocellatus]

Well, I've got him. About 5" right now, and I've added the 1 tbl spoon salt / gallon. He seems comfortable onder the big roots, but hasn't eaten that I can tell. Slime coat looks good, so I'll just wait and see.