|
Home | Marine Aquariums |
Freshwater Aquariums |
Planted Aquariums |
Brackish Systems |
Ponds,
lakes & fountains |
Turtles & Amphibians |
Aquatic Business |
Aquatic Science |
Ask the WWM Crew a Question |
Please visit our Sponsors | ||||
This fish is an absolute delight. Pholidichthys
leucotaenia, variously called the convict or engineer goby/blenny
is neither a goby or a blenny, but still a very interesting aquarium
specimen. Most folks have only seen this
fish when it's small, when it greatly resembles the common eel
catfish, Plotosus lineatus in both appearance and behavior. Both are
eel-shaped, social animals that "hang out" near rocky areas.
The engineer goby is also overall blackish with a silvery white dorsal
body line as juveniles… becoming more striped (convict suit-wise)
with growth. And yes this fish can grow. Almost always in good
health, and amongst the last to perish from disease, poor environment
or catastrophe, Pholidichthys is never "late to the dinner
table"… and can grow to more than eighteen inches in
length… in your reef to fish-only system.
Selection:
Is
eminently easy with this species. Most all specimens are in superlative
health. Pholidichthys ship and adapt well to captive conditions. Look
for and buy them in a small group (they are social animals), of three
or five individuals if your system has sufficient size.
Habitat:
A
good-sized system (at least a hundred gallons for three specimens) with
plenty of rock d?or that is, importantly, set right on the bottom in a
secure manner. All heavy objects should be set in the tank first, and
substrate placed after… to prevent toppling as this species is
superb in its undermining activity (hence the name
"engineer"). Foods/Feeding:
Engineer gobies eagerly consume all types of foods. Getting them to
feed on novel items is simply a matter of introducing them down near
their favorite haunt/s. Disease:
This
is a scaleless species that doesn't take well to exposure to harsh
chemical treatments. Usually copper or formalin-containing medications
are more toxic than a parasitic disease. Best to avoid having to use
these altogether by quarantining new fishes for a good two weeks,
assuring yourself that you've excluded the common external
complaints of reef fishes. Compatibility:
Engineer gobies are unusual amongst coral fishes in their total lack of
antagonism toward other fishes or invertebrates. They will eat very
small fishes, crustaceans and worms, but otherwise leave
larger-than-mouth size organisms totally alone. Reciprocally, all but
the meanest of fishes leave them be, letting "live and let
live" with the Pholidichthys residing in their dug out caverns and
caves. Reproduction:
This
fish has spawned in captivity and the young reared (see Wirtz 1991).
Apparent pairs are formed that produce clutches of 400-500 young of
about 6 mm. in length that lack a planktonic phase and are protected by
their parents for about a month and a half. After this time they young
are disbursed by the adults. Cloze:
Though indeed an "oddball" as marine fishes go, the engineer
goby, convict blenny, whatever you call Pholidichthys leucotaenia is a
gem of a marine fish for aquarists. It's hardy to the extreme,
accepting of almost all food and tankmate situations, intelligent and
interesting behaviorally. It's only downside as a captive specimen
is its prodigious digging behavior, and this is easily checked by
careful arrangement of large rockwork being set solidly on their tank
bottom to prevent toppling. Bibliography/Further Reading:
Chlupaty, Peter. Undated. Pholidichthys
leucotaenia- the white-striped eel goby. Aquarium Digest Intl.
#34. |
|
Features: |
|
Featured Sponsors: |