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.
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.
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.
As suggested by the common name, the Chandidae (Glassfishes) have transparent bodies which allow you to see the skeleton and many of their internal organs. Two species crop up every now and again in the trade: Chanda ranga (Indian glassfish) and Chanda wolffii. The larger of the two is C. wolffii at 20 cm (8 in) although it is most unusual for them to reach this size in captivity even if they are fed correctly.
Many gobies are brackish water fishes but there are some that are at home in fresh water. Most are bottom-dwellers, lurking among stones and roots, and scuttling from place to place in search of food.
There are some wonderful alternatives to goldfishes for the coldwater aquarium, such as the sun bass and darters. Both groups could be kept in a garden pool in the summer months, but because of their colour and/or lifestyle you would not see them very often.
If you have read through the catfishes chapter you will already be aware of Malapterurus electricus (Electric catfish). There are, however, several other fishes that are able to produce electricity.
Rainbow fishes have been known in the aquarium trade for many years but until recently only a few species have been commonly available. Of these only Telmatherina ladigesi (Celebes rainbowfish), Bedotia geayi (Madagascar rainbowfish), and Melanotaenia splendida (Eastern rainbowfish) have made any real impression. The last species is often referred to as Melanotaenia nigrans but the latter was probably not in the hobby until the end of the 1970s.
