Questions about some fish (Farlowella and Gobies)

Hi All. On Saturday I bought some new fish. These include 10x Celestial Pearl Danio's (Danio margaritatus) aka Galaxy Rasbora at R39ea, 2x Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) at R39ea and 3x Royal Farlowella at R169ea, I am not sure of the scientific name, could be Farlowella gracilis, Farlowella acus or Farlowella vittata (are all three types available in SA? Maybe someone could confirm this for me? Pics won't help as they are not even 5cm). Does anyone have any experience with or advice concerning the Farlowella, soon as I don't. I would love to get them to a breedable size, just hope I have at least a male and a female. At the moment I only have kribensis, ancistrus, keyhole cichlids plus some fish other but I have never kept any "delicate" fish, so any advice would be welcome. I am also considering revisting the same shop as they had some peacock gobies (R95ea) and I would love to get some of those. I know most gobies are brackish, but everything I read online says these are freshwater. Again could someone confirm this for me? If I buy these I will buy 5-6 (if I can afford it) and hopefully breed them so if anyone has experience with keeping and breeding them any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, FishMad.

 

Hi FishMad

Where about are you situated?

 

Hi, I am in East London.

 

Ok, not sure if it helps, but there are currently 'Farlowella Acus' available on a supplier's list here in Cape Town.

[TABLE="width: 149"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 199, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

Ok thanks. I tried to ID them but they're still a bit small. So i thought there may be only one type available in SA, making an ID easier.

 

Hi @Reedfish, thanks for the info. I was a bit nervous buying these fish as most of my fish R30-R40 fish not R169, so for me it was quite expensive. Also a lot of money to pay for something thay may just die when I bring it home, but I've had them for three days now and they seem to be doing alright. I also don't have much experience with these types of fish but I really like them. The lps around EL don't often get very interesting fish in so I really hit the jackpot.I keep and breed a number of ancistrus and I can't imagine the Farlowella being much different, maybe a little less hardy. At the moment they are only in a 45cm narrow tank 30L, as quarantine with the Galaxies and Rainbows, but I will hopefully move them into a bigger tank soon. I think I will just wait until they are bigger before I try and identify them. Google is relatively helpful but only with mature specimens. The younger ones all look the same. Thanks again for the help.

 

Hey @FishMad. I wondered when you would show up on here...
Yes, this time the twigs were expensive. A month ago they were R99each but for some reason they have been marked up. I'm sure they would be able to breed in a tank with relative ease, if its a species only tank. Maybe phone Pioneer and ask what they came in as? This may help. I know they were Campcon fish...

The Gobies will be fine in freshwater, as long as they have quite a lot of flow. Have a look at Razor2007's tank. He got some of his to breed...

 

Hi @Firefly. I wish I had seen them at that price I could've bought 5. The Farlowella were labelled as "Royal Farlowella", but when I go get the Gobies (yes I decided that I will buy them) I will ask for a scientific name. As far as the Gobies are concerned, I know they will be alright in freshwater, just as bumblebee gobies can survive in freshwater. What I am trying to find out though is whether they are brackish or not. If they are naturally brackish like the bumblebees, then I would like to try and replicate that. BTW @Firefly I discovered that albino ancistrus in a cave with about 25-30 fry.

 

@FishMad: Bumblebee Gobies are brackish, they are often sold as fresh water fish. They do survive but they end up having a very limited live span due to being kept in fresh water.

 

Thanks @Swagasaurus. I know that the bumblebees are brackish, I was just using them as an example. I am trying to find out whether the Peacock gobies are brackish or freshwater...

 

Thanks @Reedfish, there are no search results for the link. I always find that a book is so much nicer than a webpage as it contains way more information.

 

@FishMad, I currently have Peacock Gobies in my one 3ft tank and they are most definitely FRESH WATER. I did a lot of research before I got mine. I unfortunately only have males but I'd like to get a few females and see if I can't get them to breed. Stunning fish with loads of personality and character, I love mine and I know you will love yours too...

 

Thanks @Skye01 for confirming that, I would also like to get them to breed. Now I just need to go buy them before they sold out. @Reedfish Thanks that link works. Looks like a very interesting book, I'll see if I can find it locally.

 

So... I may have gone to another lps today... and well... they had some more whiptails:nuts:. Some Farlowella (although I believe they are not the same as mine) for R150, about 6cm. They also had one for R400 virtually fully grown. And some other whiptails which I believe to be Rineloricaria parva, also R150. I did not buy any of these. Later, when I got home I realised my mistake and phoned them up. They are now keeping four Rineloricaria parva for me. Again, does anyone have any experience with these fish? Very nice fish, and I've never had the opportunity to buy whiptails locally so I've really hit the jackpot in the last few days. They also had a Royal Panaque for R500, but I decided against it. @Reedfish it looks like I'm definitely going to have to buy that book at this rate.

 

Just bought the fish, almost certain they are Rineloricaria parva. The bag is still floating in the tank while the fish acclimatize.

 

Some pics of the new fish still in the bag
There is also a Farlowella on the side of the bag in pics 2,3,4