New brackish setup-fiddlers and mudskippers

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

Ryanstein

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 5, 2009
5
0
0
Canada
I've been planning an upgrade for my fiddler tank for quite some time now, and recently stumbled across someone throwing away a 65 gallon Exo Terra terrarium (model PT-2614). :drool: I plan on replicating tides within the tank, so the maximum water depth will be about 6", and the lowest around 3-4".

I would like to populate it with a small herd of fiddlers, maybe 6 at the maximum. Would fiddlers and Indian mudskippers coexist? My current fiddler is very large- 3 years living with me, with a claw almost 1.5" long. In the past he has killed feeder platys. My worry is he might endanger the mudskippers. Any thoughts?

I've read African dwarf frogs, Anoles, or other reptiles may be kept in a fiddler paludarium. Would this be safe?

Lastly, if I were to put brackish fish in the tank, are there any species that can survive in the above mentioned depth of water?

I would not populate the tank with all of these critters, but would really appreciate any suggestions for compatibility. And ideas are welcome!

Thanks in advance! :)
~Ryan
 
I don't really think there are any reptiles or amphibians available (especially anoles or frogs) that would do well with the brackish water.
Also, if your crab is killing platies, I wouldn't keep it with Indian mudskippers. They are very small. A larger species on the other hand, might do better, but then again it might also be too aggressive for the crab(s).
 
Anole would get eaten? By the fiddler? I would have thought he would sooner drown than get eaten... And the tank is 24" tall, giving plenty of arboreal space for climbing vines and plastic/silk plants. And anoles drink their water by licking water drops from leaves. Also, my fiddler did kill those platies before I upped his diet- I hadn't compensated enough for his growing.

Here's the tank: http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/glass_terrarium.php

Scroll down to "Rainforest Terrariums", and mine is the largest. Just to get an idea of the shape.

I've read several accounts of fiddlers and Indian mudskippers being kept together. I'll still have to do more research though (But I think the greater concern is keeping the water clean with such a large bio load).

I'll let you know what I find. :)

~Ryan
 
just get mud skippers and put your fiddlers in a different setup
 
You're a man after my own heart, Ryan! I hate to say it, but herps in a brackish paludarium are just not a good idea. It's an absolute no-go with frogs, they can't deal with saltwater. Anoles and most arboreal small lizards are prone to drowning. There are various turtles, snakes, large lizards, and crocodilians that would do well in brackish, but that tank will not accomodate any of them, nor are they good tankmates for crabs and skippers.

I don't know how difficult it would be for you to get them, but there are several brackish killifish species such as mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) that would work well in your tank. Mollies are another good option; wild-type sailfin mollies are gorgeous fish. You could also try to get some of the brackish ghost shrimp species such as Palaemonetes vulgaris or P. pugio.
 
Thanks for the ideas. :) I had read an article suggesting anoles or frogs, but I'm guessing the author was uninformed.

The thing with the fiddlers is I already maintain three tanks: hermit crabs, vampire crabs, and my fiddler tank. So I'm not about to start another setup... but with this upgrade for my fiddler, I'm hoping to find a compatible species, and prefferably a more land-based one.

One other idea is to divide the tank with a plexi glass divider, with holes at the bottom for water to pass through, thereby isolating the crabs from the skippers. Jus a thought. :)

~Ryan
 
Have you considered keeping the hermits and fiddlers together? I feel certain you could provide good habitats for both in a small space; the issue would be whether they'll get along, which I really don't know.
 
I know of someone who tried keeping them in the same tank, but eventually moved them because their habitat requirements are so different. And the (land) hermit crabs are prone to drowning.

Anyways, I've researched the skipper/fiddler setup more, and there seem to be a number of people who successfully keep them together, provided the skippers the Indian species, and not the African one (who eat crabs in their natural habitat and grow to well over a foot).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom