I just got back from fishing and I'm totally fascinated by the Diplectrum formosum. Those fish are seriously stunning. I'm now obsessed with the idea of setting up a marine tank just for one of them.
The Sea Robins are pretty cool too.
I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with either of these species. Keep in mind, this tank is just a pipe dream for now – I don't have the funds or space to make it happen anytime soon.
Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
Re: Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
I think keeping a Diplectrum formosum in a home tank is definitely possible, but it's gonna be a challenge. For a tank setup, I'd recommend going with a vertically compressed one, since these fish are deep-water dwellers. Fine sand and minimal rock would be ideal, as they like to dig and forage for food. As for feeding, live marine shrimp would be a great option, they're nutritious and should be suitable for your Formosum.
Re: Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
When you say vertically compressed, I'm assuming you mean a tank that's more shallow but wider, rather than one that's really tall and narrow.
Re: Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
Hmm, I'm thinking the tank size would be a major concern for housing these guys. I mean, we're probably looking at a minimum of 120 gallons, right? I was also wondering, what's the average size of Sand Perch? And hey, wessley.
Re: Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
I've been reading up on the size of Sand Perch, and from what I've found, they typically range from 3-6 inches, with some larger ones reaching up to 11 inches. Given that, I was thinking a 75-gallon tank could work for a pair, as long as we're talking sufficient filtration and water movement. A sand bottom with a rock cave at one end and a grass bed at the other could provide some nice visual interest and hiding places.
Re: Keeping marine sea robins and sand perch in a live tank
A larger footprint is ideal for any marine setup.
When selecting a species, keep in mind that a smaller one could thrive in a 75-gallon tank, but if it's expected to exceed 9 inches, a bigger tank would be more suitable due to their inherent nature. This would also provide the opportunity to introduce some tankmates, such as scorpionfish, which could complement the Formosum nicely.
Overall, your idea sounds promising. It's great to see someone enthusiastic about these unique fish – they're definitely one of my favorites.
When selecting a species, keep in mind that a smaller one could thrive in a 75-gallon tank, but if it's expected to exceed 9 inches, a bigger tank would be more suitable due to their inherent nature. This would also provide the opportunity to introduce some tankmates, such as scorpionfish, which could complement the Formosum nicely.
Overall, your idea sounds promising. It's great to see someone enthusiastic about these unique fish – they're definitely one of my favorites.