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Others
/ Gobiidae / Mudskipper
Mudskipper
Periophthalmus barbarus | Pictures
Synonyms: Euchosistopus
koelreuteri,
Gobiomarus koelreuteri, Gobius barbarus,
Periophthalmus dipus, P. koelreuteri,
P. modestus
Physical description: The head is large and rectangular in shape.
The snout is flattened at the front
and the eyes stick out giving the appearance of an amphibian.
The eyes can be popped out which provides the
fish with excellent vision and to operate as a periscope ability.
The eyes can be retracted into their
sockets.
The body color is usually olive green to brown, while the belly is white to blue.
The fins are brown at the base turning
to blue and finally a red or white fringe.
The iris is orange to green.
Size/Length: To 6" (15 cm)
Similar species: Other Periophthalmus
species.
Habitat:
Brackish waters of tidal estuaries and mangrove swamps from the Red Sea to Madagascar;
Australia; India; Southeast Asia.
S: all and even land
Aquarium: A 36" (90 cm) or 35-45 gallon (132-170 L) tank is minimal.
The tank must have dry areas, bank or
beach is suggested or perhaps partially emerged wood.
The water level should not exceed 12" (30 cm) deep.
The air temperature should be the same
as the water, so there should be a tight-fitting cover.
Use plants that can tolerate brackish water such as young mangrove
trees.
Use a coral sand substrate.
The tank should have an efficient filtration system as this species
is a greedy eater.
Water chemistry: 7-8.5 (7.5), 10-25 dH (12), 77-86°F (25-30°C).
The Mudskipper requires a 1-2% addition
of salt.
Add 7.5-15 tsp. of salt per 10 gallons (10-20 g/10 L).
Social behavior: A territorial species that frequently leaves the water.
Do not combine with small fish as they
may be consumed.
Suggested companions: Anableps,
Toxotes, Scats, Monos,
Arius.
FOOD: Live; worms, crickets, flies, meal worms, beetles, small fish, crustaceans; flakes;
tablets
Sexual differences: Unknown
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10.
Has not been bred in captivity.
REMARKS: The species will leave water for long periods of time.
They breathe through the many blood
vessels located in the mucus wall of the mouth and pharynx.
The Mudskipper can control gill opening to create
more surface area, so more oxygen can be exchanged.
The gills must remain moist at all times.
The Mudskipper is well-known for its
ability to climb small shrubs.
The Mudskipper "walks" on its pectoral fins.
They are capable of making small jumps
from plant to plant.
The Mudskipper can become very friendly and trusting around humans. Mudskippers are not
usually available in aquarium stores.
Difficulty of care: 7.
An interesting species that requires much maintenance
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
How to save the world's oceans from overfishing
(7/8/2007) Global fishing stocks are in trouble. After expanding from 18 millions tons in 1950 to around 94 million tons in 2000, annual world fish catch has leveled off and may even be declining. Scientists estimate that the number of large predatory fish in the oceans has fallen by 90 percent since the 1950s, while about one-quarter of the world's fisheries are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion. Despite these dire trends, the situation is changing. Today some of the world's largest environmental groups are focused on addressing the health of marine life and oceans, while sustainable fisheries management is at the top of the agenda for intergovenmental bodies. At the forefront of these efforts is Mike Sutton, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation program: the Center for the Future of the Oceans. The aquarium, which has long been recognized as one of the world's most important marine research facilities, is pioneering new strategies for protecting the planet's oceans. Sutton says the approach has four parts: establishing new marine protected areas, pushing for ocean policy reform, promoting sustainable seafood, and protecting wildlife and marine ecosystems.
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