Everyone tries their hand at keeping Betta splendens (Siamese fighter) at some time in their aquatic career. Although they are often kept in community aquaria, this is not the right place for them, particularly not for the males.
Two species of cichlid are found almost exclusively in brackish water: Etroplus suratensis (Green chromide, 45 cm (18 in)) and Etroplus maculatus (Orange chromide, 10 cm (4 in)). Both occur in coastal regions of southern India and Sri Lanka, chiefly in brackish estuaries and lagoons. The salinity of both types of habitat is variable, depending on the state of the tide and the fresh water input, which varies with the seasons.
Now for something a lot smaller. Brachygobius (Bumblebee gobies) are suitable for those of you who cannot keep a large brackish water aquarium, because they will be quite happy in a 60 x 30 x 30 cm (24 x 12 x 12 in) tank. Although these fishes are small, we do not recommend using anything smaller than this because it is more difficult to maintain good water conditions in a small body of water.
Most people regard catfishes as purely freshwater fishes but there are marine and brackish water species as well. Imported under the names Arms seemani and Ariusjordani, they are collectively known in the trade as the shark catfishes, and have been a regular, if somewhat seasonal, import over the last twelve years or so. Their common name probably derives from their vague resemblance to sharks when they are swimming.
No one can fail to be intrigued by a fish that shoots down its prey, and in public aquaria there is almost always a small crowd of people around the archer fish tank, all hoping that the fishes will perform.
Monodactylus argenteus (Monos) and Scatophagus argus (Scats) have been grouped together as they are both shoaling fishes which will live in harmony in a large brackish-water aquarium.
Mudskippers are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity because of the demands they place on the aquarist. Species imported include Periophthalmus barbarus, Periophthalmus catonensis, and Periophthalmus kaelreukeri, but these names are often confused-and identification is uncertain.
Retail outlets tend to stock only a few brackish water fishes because people usually want either marines because of their flamboyant colours or freshwater as they are easiest. The main brackish water fishes available are Scats, Monos, Archers, Arius catfishes, Mudskippers, Anableps, and Brachygobius, plus, if you want to see them at their best, Sailfin mollies (Poecilia sp.). This last group has been dealt with in the Cyprinodonts chapter.
Remarkably few European native fishes are kept by aquarists and yet some meet all the criteria of a good aquarium fish, that is, small size, pretty colours, and interesting behaviour. The sticklebacks meet all these criteria in full and yet are very rarely even thought of when choosing aquarium fishes.
