Bumble Bee Goby  Brachygobius doriae

a.k.a. Doria's Bumblebee Goby, Golden-banded Goby

Size: up to 2",  pH: 7.0 - 8.5 (7.5 ideal)  dH: 10-30 (14)  Temp: 75 - 86F  Origin: India, Asia, Thailand

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Additives,  Aquarium Salt under Fish Meds

Food: New Life Spectrum "Small Fish Formula" "Finicky Formula" and "Zoo Plankton" found at Fish Foods

A 1-1.5% addition of salt is recommended for best results of this fish. Add up to 7.5 - 11 tsp. of salt for every 10 gallons (10-15 g/10 L).  A peaceful, quiet fish that can be kept in a fresh or a brackish water tank with small to medium sized fish.  This species can be very territorial towards others of its own species, although we suggest keeping it in larger groups/schools as this disperses aggression.

Size at shipping:  about 3/4"  Ships well

Bumble Bee Goby YOUR COST 3.98 each  

Dwarf Puffer  Tetraodon travancorius

a.k.a. Gold Puffer, Malabar Puffer, Avenie Pufferfish

Size: up to 1",  pH: neutral  GH: 8,  Temp: 68 - 86F  Origin: India, Asia, Burma

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Additives

Food: New Life Spectrum "Small Fish Formula" "Finicky Formula" and "Zoo Plankton" found at Fish Foods

This is the smallest puffer fish in the world! Really, really small, no kidding!  Actually, full grown they are just about the size of a penny...maybe!  Not to be confused with aggressive Figure 8 Puffers or Green Spotted Puffers you might see at the pet store or all of the know-it-all's on the internet forums claiming these are aggressive. These are peaceful, and very beneficial in the aquarium as they eat small (we mean small) snails, mosquito and dragonfly larvae, and other aquatic bugs like mantis shrimp and plant leeches and other micro organisms.  Remember, these are a schooling fish.  KEEP THEM IN GROUPS, BIG GROUPS!  Perhaps the people that have had aggressive dwarf puffers kept them secluded without any buddies, or maybe they had only a pair, where they were only defending themselves or their eggs.  Other instances of fin-nipping might occur due to improper water parameters, lack of territorial borders, or a lack of quantity!!

You can supplement feed bloodworms or live black worms if needed, but in a healthy planted aquarium, they'll find plenty of things to feast on their own.  They won't harm your Amano shrimp because their mouths are just too tiny. We house some of our's with Red Cherry shrimp, and everyone knows how small they are.  Again, keep them in a large school for best results. Yes, puffers are known to be in brackish water but these fellas are fine without the heavy salt just move them to brackish for spawning.  Click here for a group pic.   

Size at shipping: small, almost full grown about the size of dime, Ships good

Dwarf Puffer YOUR COST 4.98 each  

Glass Eel  Pisodonophis boro

a.k.a. Rice Paddy Eel

Size: up to 36" in 10 years+  pH: vary Temp: 68 - 86F  Origin: Indo-West Pacific: Somalia, Tanzania to Natal (South Africa), southern India and Sri Lanka. Also widespread elsewhere from the east Indian coast through Indonesia to Polynesia.

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Additives

Food: New Life Spectrum "Small Fish Formula" "Finicky Formula" and "Zoo Plankton" found at Fish Foods

This is a harmless eel found in lagoons and estuaries, entering freshwater and paddy fields. Common in tidal reaches and nearby upstream areas of coastal rivers. Lives in holes in the river bottom and banks and actively forages for small microorganisms at night.  Reported to spawn in rice-paddies during the rainy season   Can acclimate from freshwater to brackish to marine waters fine.  This eel lives in colonies, please order no less than 4 please

Size at shipping: 1.5" +

Glass Eel YOUR COST 2.98 each

Silver-Tip Shark Arius seemani

aka: Colombian Shark, Shark Cat

Size: up to 12"  pH: 6.8- 8.0 (7.6 ideal)  Temp: 72 -81F Origin: North, Central, and South America; estuaries of tidal rivers and lagoons from Southern California to Peru on the Pacific Coast
 

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Additives

Food: New Life Spectrum "Community and Surface Floater Formula Foods found at Fish Foods

The body is elongated and silver in color and the belly is white. The fins are black and white-tipped. The head is broad, with a large mouth. The eyes are large and protrude from the head. The Shark Catfish possesses three pairs of barbels; one on the upper jaw and two on the lower. The color contrasts fade with age. Keep these peaceful fish in groups of 4 or more for best results.  Compatible with most any of the fish on this page.  Females more plump in size. 

Stocking Rule, no less than 4

Size at shipping: Full grown about 2"

Silver Tip Shark YOUR COST 6.49 each 

Tiger Goby  Valenncienna wardii

Size: up to 2",  pH: 7.0 - 8.5 (7.5 ideal)  dH: 10-30 (14)  Temp: 75 - 86F  Origin: India, Asia, Thailand

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Additives,  Aquarium Salt under Fish Meds

Food: New Life Spectrum "Small Fish Formula" "Finicky Formula" found at Fish Foods

A 1-1.5% addition of salt is recommended for best results of this fish. Add up to 7.5 - 11 tsp. of salt for every 10 gallons (10-15 g/10 L).  A peaceful, quiet fish that can be kept in a fresh or a brackish water tank with small to medium sized fish.  Keep it in larger groups/schools as this disperses aggression.

Size at shipping:  about 1"+  Ships well

Tiger Goby YOUR COST 9.98 each  

 Instant Ocean® is the most carefully formulated synthetic sea salt in the world...the preferred choice of hobbyists and professionals. And it's scientifically tested and performance-certified by Marineland Labs - your assurance of superior quality, consistency and value.

Instant Ocean contains every major, minor, and trace element necessary for the health of your marine animals. It provides a clear solution in minutes...quickly achieving and maintaining the perfect pH for your aquarium. The convenient one-part formulation is ideal for mixing complete packages or small quantities easily - no special additives required.

BRACKISH SALT LEVELS- Around 1 to 2 tablespoons of marine salt per gallon of water or a specific gravity of 1.005-1.010 will be adequate for the full lives of most of these fish. Puffers prefer saltier conditions with around 3-5 tablespoons of marine salt per gallon of water or a specific gravity of 1.010-1.020.

Instant Oceon 3 Pound Box   YOUR COST 6.99 each 

Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer

The unique design of the Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer allows hobbyists to take water samples at six inches in depth without submerging their hands in the water, thus avoiding the possibility of contamination. Samples taken at six inches in depth have been proven to result in a more accurate salinity reading than surface samples.

Every unit is calibrated, tested and certified for accuracy. Each Deep Six Hydrometer is then assigned its own individual certification number.

Dimensions: 6.25" x 1" x 11"

BRACKISH SALT LEVELS- A specific gravity of 1.005-1.010 will be adequate for most brackish fish

Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer  YOUR COST 6.98 each 

TFH Books - Brackish-Water Fishes  YOUR COST 29.95 each 

BRACKISH 101

Where the ocean meets outward flowing rivers, saltwater and freshwater mix. These areas are called estuaries, mangrove swamps, and salt marshes. The water, which is part saline and part fresh, is referred to as brackish. These brackish waters are home to an amazingly diverse and unique group of animals, some of which are commonly available to keep in the home aquarium. These fish include archers, scats, monos, certain livebearers, gobies, and many others.

Why should you choose a brackish aquarium? Brackish water aquariums are unique. They are usually conversation pieces and allow your aquarium to be different than most others. They are easy to maintain since the fish from brackish waters are designed to withstand frequent salinity and water parameter changes unlike both fresh and saltwater fish.

Plants:
Anubias, Vallisneria, Hairgrass, and Java Fern are best.

Temperature:
78-84 F