Freshwater flounder

[xmikeox]

Hello all, I recently visited a local fish store and found something quite interesting.

well I bought two dozen ghost shrimp @ 6 for $1

and some other small random fish blah blah

Then I saw this weird thing at the bottom of one of the tanks and asked the person working there what it was. She told me it was a flounder!... A flounder! in freshwater!

Anyway I think this is just the coolest thing, and he seems pretty happy in my 10g tank clinging to walls, plants, etc.

on a sidenote... 11 of my ghost shrimp have gone MIA...:ssuprised:

anyone know much about these? max. size, prblms w/ other fish?

[zackish]

I don't know much about the shrimp but I would say there is a different name for that fish you saw but still cool nonetheless.
Do you have a lot of plants in your aquarium? If you do my guess is the shrimp are hiding somewhere in there.
Or, what kind of filtration are you using? If the shrimp are really small they may be stuck somewhere.

[xmikeox]

lol they're all gone cept for one er two, no big deal though ghost shrimp are dirt cheap.

[RobbieG]

What size is the flounder?

If he's much larger than the shrimp he probably ate them.

If he really is a flounder also may require at least some salt in the water to be healthy. They also prefer sand to gravel as far as substrate goes.

[Rue]

I'd have to check...but I think flounders get very large...need tanks with fine substrate to bury in...and are not good with plants, since their burying results in the plants being dug up...

...but give me a minute...

[Rue]

I have to leave soon...so I just 'stole' this for you...

Common name/s: freshwater flounder, freshwater sole, hogchoker

Scientific name: Trinectes maculatus (trinectes= "3 swimming" 'referring to the dorsal, ventral and caudal;' maculatus= spotted)

Family: Achiridae (Greek root, Acheir= no hands)

Origin: Estuaries from Massachusetts to Venezuela, most being found around the gulf of Mexico

Maximum size: 6" but much bigger specimens reported in the wild. Usually sold at around one inch

Care: Contrary to their popular name, these guys are brackish fish that can only survive in freshwater for short amounts of time. like most brackish fish, they are born upstream in freshwater and make their way to the ocean throughout their life, hence, the amount of salt (marine salt of course) should be increased as they grow older-eventually full marine conditions are needed.
A sand substrate is imperative as they like to bury themselves, they can cut, crush or trap themselves under gravel. Minimum tank size- 5 gallons (for juvenile flounders), minimum tank size for adults- 29 or 20 long.
They are peaceful bottom dwellers that may prey on very very small slow fish (i lost a bumblebee goby to a larger flounder once.) I keep ghost shrimp with them and they ingore them (but i probably wont be surprised if one ends up being lunch one day).

Feeding: Meaty foods that sink. in the wild, they feed on small crustaceans and worms. They are nocturnal and are more likely to feed at night. a favorite of my flounders is tetra natures delica bloodworm gel. frozen foods, live grindal worms, bloodworms or brine shrimp, clean earthworms for larger specimens. Eventually they can be weaned onto sinking pellets. Once i saw one go for an algae wafer when he was very hungry....or very confused. (algae wafers do contain fish meal but they are not an acceptable food source for flounders)

Breeding: Only in the wild. in the summertime these guys make a trip upstream into freshwaters to spawn. The fry look like normal fry but as they get older, one eye starts to migrate to the right side.

Comments: Colours and patterns can range from fish to fish. (see the picture below.) there are several species in the aquarium trade bearing the name "freshwater flounder." Trinectes maculatus is the most common although they are often mislabeled as Achirus Lineatus. Always ask for the scientific name of the fish you are purchasing. T.maculatus is often confused with Achirus achirus, Achirus lineatus, Achiropsis nattereri and even a less common New Zealand variety known as Rhombosolea retiaria. These are amazing and unique fish but they definately arent for everyone. If given the right conditions (brackish water, sand substrate, peaceful tankmates) and the correct foods, flounders are actually quite hardy and certainly rewarding to watch.

[cocoa_pleco]

good info rue. i would say min. 33g fullgrown.

[zackish]

good info rue. i would say min. 33g fullgrown.

And I would have to guess these are a peaceful bottom dweller so you could fill up a nice community aquarium with one of these.

[cocoa_pleco]

if you wanted tankmates i would say a 40g long or a standard 55g is best

[Fishguy2727]

Definitely one of the cases where 'freshwater' in the label is trying to convince you, even though it's a lie. When one guy that used to work at the LFS I work at bought some for his brackish tank, he did a drip acclimation. As soon as the brackish water started hitting the water in the bag all three went straight over to it.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

they look so cool!!! i want one!!!:hmm3grin2orange: