Dragon Fish

[IHadSexWithAllTheseFish]

I'm going to upgrade to a 29 gallon tank in a month or two and was thinking of putting a dragon fish (dragon goby, violet goby, whatever you want to call it) in. They seem like cool fish to have around, very prehistoric looking. Anyone have any experience with these fish? I'd like to hear about it. I hear they do well with swordtails, and will eat ghost shrimp (among other things).

[Osiris]

Well unless your getting at least a 55g, then i wouldn't suggest it. They are BW fish, petsmart tends to sell them as FW but their immunity levels drop greatly basically putting them in their death beds unless u get them back into BW slowly increasing SG levels over several weeks. As for eating ghost shrimp, not really they are more filter mouth feeders and peaceful, target feeding would be best as their smal eyes dont see far. Keep SG 1.014 or so. They eventually will need bigger tank as they grow.

[IHadSexWithAllTheseFish]

Everything I've read has said that they thrive equally well in freshwater and Brackish water. They do eat regular food, but pet stores suggest you keep a few ghost shrimp on hand in case the other fish eat all the food before the dragon fish even sees any.

[Osiris]

No, they do not thrive in FW, they thrive in BW their immune systems go weaker in FW and are much more suscpticle to diseases and death then. You can try ghost shrimp, i didnt have much luck with them, other fish ate them instead. Mysis, brine, and other frozen foods is good route to go. Using a turkey baster to target feed if need be with other fish in there. If they thrived in FW then why would they be in BW? They do go into FW but do not live in it.

[IHadSexWithAllTheseFish]

Originally Posted by MalawianPro

If they thrived in FW then why would they be in BW?

That's the most astute observation I've ever heard. Good arguement.

[shev]

Violet gobies, or dragon gobies/fish, but if you research more go by their scientific name: Gobioides broussoneti theyre brackish water fish. They can be kept in FW, but problems occur much much more, like red tumor and problems with their slime coating., BW is best. they can get 2 feet long but most fish grow 50% larger in the wild. they originate ariund the atlantic coast-ish areas, and top of brazil. they can be kind of picky eaters, i feed mine frozen/live brine shrimp and blood worms, and a earthworm "popsicle" frozen earthworms that were put in a blender also daphnia and cyclops, tubifex worms and such. they have poor eye sight, and primarily use smell (but they suck at that too) so you may have to hand feed at first, or use a turkey baster and blast them with food, or tongs, tweezers, pipettes. just make sure he gets some, and the other fish dont eat it all before he does. they are nocturnal, and like to hide. they are filter feeders, they get large mouthfuls of crap and sift out tiny insects and crustaceans and stuff. inspite of their gigantic mouth they don't eat very much, and can't swallow too large of food, so they wont eat any fish that may fit in their mouth. well maybe they might at their full length. along with most gobies they have modified ventrl fins, which allows them to "cling" to the glass.

but since they are brackish fish they may go upstream into FW conditions, but not to stay.

[SouthernJustice]

I like the idea of keeping one in a larger tank a lot, but I wish they were more colorful. Is there a colorful alternative you guys can think of?

[euRasian32]

For something similar in shape, hardier appetite, better vision, good in fw, and prehistoric - but needs a bigger tank; a ropefish (polypterus) or a bicher.

edit - not compatible with swordtails

[SouthernJustice]

Thanks, those look awesome

[IHadSexWithAllTheseFish]

Those are cool.

[azenpride]

my friend had one of those fish he bought it at pet world, he didnt know they were brakish water fish, 3 days later the fish started going crazy and died.

[starrfish71]

another consideration would be spiny eels- yellow or peacock. They wouldn't eat the swords, at least not the adults.
something I learned after keeping the dragon gobies is that they dig! Alot! So, they might not be ideal for planted tanks, assuming you have a planted BW tank

[batray girl]

I have 2 pearl colored bichirs and a peacock eel living together. The flourescent lights in a typical aquarium seem to really add a cool, but subtle pinkish-orangish glow to the bichirs. I vote for a bichir. I love them. The only negative thing I can say is that I had one that ate rosy reds while he was only about 3/3.5" long. He died a long time ago and I've never had once do that since him, so you should be safe.
You'll love watching them swim. Their little spines go up and their pectoral fins flutter like little tiny wings. It's so cool. Go for it!