Doc Aquatic Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 I have 15 of these flounders. I can’t find any information anywhere on them. I believe they may need to go to brackish tank but any information would be so helpful to me ! Thank you so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 These look hard to classify. Based on a little search I'm guessing either Achiris Achirus or Hypoclinemus mentalis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Do you no what species of flounder they are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 @Doc Aquatic; there is only one "Flatfish" Achirus Errans that can spend its' whole life in the home aquarium, all others live in salt or brackish water and swim into freshwater to spawn and do not do well in the home aquarium. Yours' looks like a fine specimen. They are blackwater fish that prefer warm ( 80 to 85 degrees), soft, and acidic water. They only eat live food so it's best to keep some feeder Guppies in your tank so they'll have babies for the Brazilian Freshwater Sole to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 @Doc Aquatic; I failed to mention that your fish will grow to about 4 inches and at that size, it will eat any fish it can fit into its; mouth. Sorry Gator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 (edited) That actually appears to be a tonguefish. I believe there are roughly 10 species in the aquarium trade masquerading as freshwater flounder. Tonguefish and flatfish are extremely hard to classify without the specimen in hand because you need to look at the accessory dorsal branch as well as gill raker count. Going off coloration alone is incredibly inaccurate. I want to put it in the Achirus genus though based off what I can gather of vague mouth details and eye distance. Species doesn't really matter here because all of them are indeed brackish fish that are found in estuaries. This means salinity doesn't necessarily need to be consistent or high. I've heard of people keeping them successfully at as low as 1.005 with bumblee gobies. Granted gobies are liable to be prey for this ambush predator. However, tonguefish are lazy and prefer easier meals of worms and other inverts they can find in the sand. They have quite an adept nose, but poor eyesight. Sand/mud is required substrate as these are very fragile fish and will cut themselves on any abrasives. I've heard of the true freshwater variety @Gator is referring to showing up in rare instances. However they are distinct in that they have cirri around their mouth. Those could be cirri at the tip of the mouth, but to my eyes I think it's the mouth. For reference "cirri" are the tufts on top of this blennies head that make it look like he just woke up. Photo credit: Florida Museum Edited November 14, 2021 by Biotope Biologist 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Aquatic Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevesFishTanks Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I caught one that looked alot like that about 10 years ago. I put it in a freshwater sand bottom community tank of natives and wild caught fish. It went straight to the bottom and burrowed in the sand. I only saw its eyes in the sand one other time about a week later. Not sure if it eventually died or was always hiding. When we took the tank down we didn't find it. I never caught another. It was collected from freshwater but there are storm drains that can introduce saltwater to the lakes/ponds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman12r Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Bringing up an old post, but I saw this Reddit post. Pic #7 is a freshwater flounder called a Hogchoker. @Doc AquaticJust in case you hadn't learned anything more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Aquatic Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Yes I think is hog choker. We have them in Narragansett bay here in RI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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