Mudskipper setup help!

[JK47]

Hey all-

Just picked up a used 55 gallon for $50. Lights, stand, heater everything. I'm pretty pumped! My wife has been begging me to get the African mudskippers (4) at an LFS near us and I would like to use them (2-3 unless 4 would fit) in the new tank. I am starting from scratch (not purchased anything wet yet) so I am wide open on ideas for setup, just not as wide open on the budget. Have a up & running 280 bio-wheel tons of bogwood/rocks etc... to get me going.

I am asking for thoughts and opinions from anyone whom has kept these either currently or in the past. Layout, filtration, substrate and pics if anyone has any. THANKS!!!

The LFS has them in full freshwater right now FYI... Bastards.

 

[Goanna]

Arent the african species the ones that are pretty territorial when they get older? Not always communal in other words.

I am setting them up with archer fish in a paludarium. I am using Great Stuff foam to build a natural looking background, and I am covering it with Coco Fiber and using upside down manzanita wood to simulate mangrove roots. I would recomend that method as a cheap and very natural looking way of setting up the tank.

Just make sure you clean the glass very well beforehand with rubbing alcohol (or everclear if you have it) and let it dry completely, or you will run into the problem I am having now where the foam could pull away from the glass when water is added.

Here's my Build Gallery so far.
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/e892c636cc4c3e9d379e0569e6a1fc35

Here's a good link with information on the process,
http://www.blackjungle.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2108

And here's another similar method, but instead of silicon and coco fiber, the foam is covered with concrete. Some say you can mix the coco fiber witht he concrete to get the same look without having to deal with the silicon, and also the weight of the concrete keeps the foam from floating.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php

 

[JK47]

Goanna-

That manzanita wood looks amazing! I will be pirating that for sure if you don't mind! The LFS was not sure if the MS'ers were Indian or African. I went with the latter to avoid any supprises until I can confirm. The LFS is an hour drive so I have only seen them a couple of times. Now that I have been doing some research I will know what to look for better. I'm glad I avoided an impulse buy for once. =)

I figured since I am setting up the 55G initially or permanently as a species tank, I may be able to accomodate for territory somewhat.

What size is your tank you are setting up? Do you plan on only keep 1 mudskipper? Chosen substrate? Thanks again!

 

[JK47]

Oh BTW, that build is looks wonderful! Sorry for not metioning that first!

 

[Goanna]

Goanna-

That manzanita wood looks amazing! I will be pirating that for sure if you don't mind! The LFS was not sure if the MS'ers were Indian or African. I went with the latter to avoid any supprises until I can confirm. The LFS is an hour drive so I have only seen them a couple of times. Now that I have been doing some research I will know what to look for better. I'm glad I avoided an impulse buy for once. =)

I figured since I am setting up the 55G initially or permanently as a species tank, I may be able to accomodate for territory somewhat.

What size is your tank you are setting up? Do you plan on only keep 1 mudskipper? Chosen substrate? Thanks again!

I will probably only keep one of the larger species as I only built one small ledge as I didnt want to take away too much swimming space for the archer fish. The shelf is built with a piece of plexi glass covered in expanding foam sealant, and then covered with coco fiber. The tank size is 65 Gallon.

 

[JK47]

Hmm, food for thought. Seems like I may have better luck with only one if they are actually African. I saw the ledge but since I am not planning any fish (maybe a ghost shrimp or crabs) will be mostly focused on land area.

Kind of why I wanted to start this thread, see if anyone else was using more land space or water etc... I am hoping opthers may jump in with some photos of their setup and hopfully gain some ideas. Thanks again Goanna.

 

[JK47]

UPDATE-

They are Periophthalmus Barbarus. Made the hour long treck to the LFS, purchased them and they are holding them tilll Sat. Only purchased two. The setup will be a species only tank.

I made them test the water perams for me and the guy says "just throw a handful of salt in and you should be fine" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They didn't even know if it was marine or aquarium salt! After testing, current params are:

PH: 7.2
Marine Salinity: 1.001
Fresh Salinity: "handful"

Does anyone know what the effect of having both aquarium salt as well as small amounts of marine salt can be? This is going to be a real "fun" acclimation!

 

[sploke]

I kept one for a few years until my green spotted puffer killed it...I'll be getting another one as soon as I set up the new tank for the GSP. I had a P. barbarus as well, a female I believe. I kept it at SG 1.010. I started off with a 40 breeder tank with a raised platform that covered about 1/3 of the tank surface. I moved it into a 75 gal and the only thing in there was a Zoomed Turtle Dock (medium size) that she hopped around on. Even when she had the whole raised platform, she seemed to spend most of her time on the gradient with her tail in the water and her head poking up. I've never tried multiples together but most of what I've read indicates that they can be pretty territorial.

 

[JK47]

Finished the setup and picked them up. They are small, around 3-4" each so I would rather buy them both and set up seperate systems for them in the near future than have someone take one home and plop in with the kids goldfish. This LFS just didn't seem to know or care about anything other than selling them so I felt pretty obligated.

Link to my build in the DIY forum.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170957

I'm not completly done yet but getting there.

 

[cichlaguapote]

That's your filter on the left hand side right? Looks good..