Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

They are very active, bold, and can be boisterous. They interact well with their owners and beg for food aggressively. Care must be taken to avoid their venomous dorsal spines.

Diet

Omnivore

They are highly omnivorous but need a lot of vegetable matter. They will quickly decimate any live plants in the tank. Feed them spirulina, blanched spinach, and high-quality pellets.

Sex ratio

Solitary

Keep them in a group of 4 to 6 to minimize aggression. They form a pecking order within the group. A single specimen may become highly aggressive towards other species.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Feed them two or three times a day. They are greedy eaters and will gorge themselves if given the chance. Ensure their diet remains balanced with plenty of greens.

Bioload

This large brackish fish creates a very heavy bioload. Robust filtration and a large water volume are strictly necessary. Consistent maintenance is required to keep nitrates in check.

Flow

Stagnant

They enjoy strong water flow and highly oxygenated environments. Powerheads should be used to mimic their natural river mouth habitats. They are energetic swimmers that thrive in a current.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Breeding this species in an aquarium setting is undocumented. Their complex life cycle between fresh and marine waters is too difficult to replicate. Captive breeding is currently not viable.

Compatibility & tankmates

They can be aggressive towards smaller or more docile tankmates. Best kept with robust brackish species of similar size. They are voracious and will eat anything that fits in their mouth.

Tank level

Middle

They are highly active fish that utilize the entire water column. They will swim at the surface, middle, and bottom constantly. They need a very large tank to accommodate their activity.