Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis!!!!!!!

[LordJoshaeus]

I finally - FINALLY!!! - got my hands on this gem of a fish. Let me explain...I found an aquabid seller who was offering a group of these rare euryhaline rainbowfish, so I soon got in a bidding war trying to acquire them. Then, about an hour ago, the Wet Spot Tropical Fish updated their stock list - and they had them too! I ultimately canceled my bid on aquabid and ordered ten of them from the Wet Spot. Tomorrow they should email me with the shipping date...

ANYHOW! I will be starting them at relatively low salinity in a modified, cycled 5 gallon freshwater tank (with 1 tablespoon instant ocean added per gallon, likely enough to keep the pseudomugils happy without crashing the filter). I'm hoping they will breed like that, but if not I will set up a higher salinity (perhaps even full seawater strength) 10 gallon to house these magnificent rainbowfish I have coveted for so long. I will document the process on this thread...this shouldn't be very hard, as P. cyanodorsalis fry are large enough to take baby brine shrimp from birth and the species seems to be quite resilient so long as you don't try keeping them in straight freshwater. (Side note...what is the consensus on instant beneficial bacteria products for saltwater? I stumbled across one fellow who found that none of the freshwater products worked, but he did not test the saltwater products).

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Hi everyone! I set the 5 gallon up today with a cycled filter and 1 tablespoon instant ocean per gallon...however, that will not be their final home. I did some research and found (from rainbow fish legend Gary Lange) that this species looks and spawns far better at a salinity of 20 ppt or higher...so I will be setting up a 10 gallon as a full strength seawater tank! I'm a little nervous about it, as I've had poor luck with saltwater setups in the past, so general setup advice would be lovely.