[ecl08]

We currently have a 40 gallon bow front tank(that I got for free, people didnt want to deal with the maintence of it any more) with two dwarf Gouramis, a Bala Shark, another kind of shark according to the lfs( red spot on his face with black strip down his side),Dojo Loach(that we never see unless we are cleaning the tank), a sail fin pleco, a Barb( not sure what kind green on top and orangeish red on bottom), a Dragon Goby, and some catfish( no sure what kind black with white spots all over). Any help identifing the black with white poke a dotted catfish would be great, I got him with the tank and the people said they had had im for like 15 years but didnt know what he was or how long he would live.

Ive been looking around for a few days now and noticed every one says the dragon goby is brackish. If thats true why do pet stores sell them as fresh water, that and some one said they have had one in fresh water for around 2 years now with out a problem.

As for the tank set up its just natural looking gravel and rocks. I plan on getting some fake plants for now but want to give live plants another shot. Ive tried before and some times it was good and other times had nothing sprout. Ive been with this hobby since around 15ish, and have pretty much had a tank ever since( 24 now). Recently got married and now my wife is really getting into it, she picked out the Gouramis, the one shark(red with black strip) and the dragon fish, after our two angels dies from unknown reasons. We also have a 75 gallon which we havent set up since we are in a top floor apartment and not sure its a good idea. Ive been trying to research that idea and Im thinking about getting it set up and moving every thing into that tank and then going back to what I really like, Cichliids.

[iamntbatman]

Welcome to TFK!

As for a quick answer to your goby question: basically, stores just don't want to bother setting up brackish tanks, especially as they often use a central filtration system that would prevent them from having brackish tanks. That, and it's much harder to sell a fish to someone if you tell them they need to set up a special brackish environment for them and that they can't be kept with all of the freshwater fish. Dragon gobies are a brackish fish; due to their biology they can "survive" in freshwater but won't live nearly as long as they would in brackish plus they'll be much more disease prone.

[1077]

Originally Posted by ecl08

We currently have a 40 gallon bow front tank(that I got for free, people didnt want to deal with the maintence of it any more) with two dwarf Gouramis, a Bala Shark, another kind of shark according to the lfs( red spot on his face with black strip down his side),Dojo Loach(that we never see unless we are cleaning the tank), a sail fin pleco, a Barb( not sure what kind green on top and orangeish red on bottom), a Dragon Goby, and some catfish( no sure what kind black with white spots all over). Any help identifing the black with white poke a dotted catfish would be great, I got him with the tank and the people said they had had im for like 15 years but didnt know what he was or how long he would live.

Ive been looking around for a few days now and noticed every one says the dragon goby is brackish. If thats true why do pet stores sell them as fresh water, that and some one said they have had one in fresh water for around 2 years now with out a problem.

As for the tank set up its just natural looking gravel and rocks. I plan on getting some fake plants for now but want to give live plants another shot. Ive tried before and some times it was good and other times had nothing sprout. Ive been with this hobby since around 15ish, and have pretty much had a tank ever since( 24 now). Recently got married and now my wife is really getting into it, she picked out the Gouramis, the one shark(red with black strip) and the dragon fish, after our two angels dies from unknown reasons. We also have a 75 gallon which we havent set up since we are in a top floor apartment and not sure its a good idea. Ive been trying to research that idea and Im thinking about getting it set up and moving every thing into that tank and then going back to what I really like, Cichliids.

Sailfin Pleco and Bala sharks will outgrow the 40 gal tank. As for spotted catfish,You might google Spotted Raphael catfish and see if this is similar to what you have.

[ecl08]

thanks that is the same catfish we have. As to the pleco and shark out growning the tank I realized that but had them in a larger tank and moved them into this tank cause I wasnt sure if the apt could handle the 75 gallon. Im now rethinking that but not real sure yet.

[willow]

hello and welcome to you and your wife,
hope you enjoy it here as much a we all do.