Clingfish experience

[Cthulukelele]

Does anyone have any experience keeping clingfish? They have been popping up on Divers Den recently. They look odd and would be a great fit for my odd and unusual fish tank, but I wondered how they behaved.

Thanks!

 

[Pbh-reef]

@Paul B has one - I’ve seen a video of it eating live black worms from a pippette in his tank. I seem to recall him saying they don’t aggressively come for food and need to be spot fed.

 

[mort]

Which species of clingfish? You see the flat all most freshwater plec type that have been captive bred and are pretty easy, and the yellow stripe clingfish which are very difficult. I've only kept the later and it didn't go well. I found mine near impossible to feed and the only thing it would eat was cleaner shrimp eggs straight off the cleaner. I had to remove it due to this aggression. I've seen people have some success but wouldn't personally try another. On the other hand if I saw the flat place like species I'd jump at the chance to buy one.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Which species of clingfish? You see the flat all most freshwater plec type that have been captive bred and are pretty easy, and the yellow stripe clingfish which are very difficult. I've only kept the later and it didn't go well. I found mine near impossible to feed and the only thing it would eat was cleaner shrimp eggs straight off the cleaner. I had to remove it due to this aggression. I've seen people have some success but wouldn't personally try another. On the other hand if I saw the flat place like species I'd jump at the chance to buy one.

These are the flat plec-like ones--specifically the Carribean Black Clingfish that looks like a cross between a toadfish and a plec. It has white speckling patterns.

So if you are looking for one def keep an eye out on divers den right around 6pm each weekday (they get picked up quick). There isn't one scheduled today, but they had one yesterday and the day before. Must be the season to collect them!

 

[mort]

So if you are looking for one def keep an eye out on divers den

I'm a little further afield than dd send. We do get the odd import over here but I haven't seen ay for a few years.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

I saw one on DD last night and now I'm curious if I'll be able to find one in Canada... I thought I figured out what I was doing with my nano until I saw the little guy, I know they aren't related but they look like a toadfish/lumpfish hybrid and the result is adorable;Hilarious

Forgot to add, I only really started reading up on them an hour ago but this is what I've gathered-

They are carnivores eating various amphipod like crustaceans in nature and seem to take well to frozen mysis but seem to eventually become garbage disposals eating whatever is offered. Most species stay within 1.5-3 inches although there are exceptions to that. They seem to wag their tail when excited or when they see another of their own kind.

Their suction cup is the result of fused pelvic fins and are covered in microscopic hairs that much like the feet of geckos allowing them to hold onto things ridiculously well (a dead specimen was a applied to a rock and its suction held a stone 300 times its own weight!)

A fairly recent discovery in 2014 led to another species being described and also found that some species have a venom gland associated with their subopercular bone although I haven't found anything regarding potency

Some species have been bred in captivity by sustainable aquatics and Felicia McCaulley detailed her experience breeding them in an article for Coral magazines 2012 March/April edition (Comes up when you google stippled clingfish).

I'll let you know if I find anything more helpful!

 

[Jeremy K.A.]

I have a yellow striped clingfish, but can't comment on care because I just got it about 2 weeks ago. Am also curious for more tips on care requirements