Toadfish Identification, Care requirements?

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Laticauda

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 16, 2010
1,400
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Central Oklahoma
If you watch the "General Aquaria" forum, you will know my situation.
I'm trying to buy a 125g from a guy, but he's housing a toadfish in it right now, and I think he wants her to go with it. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out if I could keep her in a smaller tank (55 gallon is the biggest I have that wouldn't be in use, but I worry it would be too narrow.)

So, here's her picture that he sent to me from his phone. Her name is Sprocket (which I love, reminds me of the dog from Fraggle Rock.)

I realize it'll probably be hard/impossible to identify her by this picture, but it's worth a shot.

Any idea where I could go to find more information on the care?

Sprocket_Toadfish.jpg
 
I know the most basic information about them. We learned about them in school in Virginia. I've always been fascinated with them, but it seems my husband says "no." You would think he'd be more about it, since it's an "ugly man-fish" as I've heard it described.

All that stuff (links) doesn't really give specifics, but I'm gathering that these guys aren't often kept, and even rarer is someone who can keep them alive. I wonder how long this guy has had her. I've asked him all these questions, just waiting to hear back from him.

I'm pretty sure he is keeping her brackish, since he has mangroves in the tank with her.

I was hoping I could find a genus species name so I could do a more specific google search. What mostly comes up are things like "stone fish backgrounds" like paper with rocks printed on it, even when I type in "toadfish." Lame...

Anyway, thanks for the information, anyone else have anything for me? The people who have already replied, can you give me more detailed information on your husbandry/setups for your toadfishes?

Oh, and the 55 gallon tank is not the "column" type, but instead the really long and narrow one. About 12 inches from front to back, if that. I guess they would never have a reason to turn around, because if they wanted to, I doubt they'd be able to turn around without bumping the glass? I have mollies that I could put in there, but they probably wouldn't last long! No matter, I got them for free (well, basically for free, gave away a handful of endler's live bearers, and anyone who is familiar with them, KNOWS you practically have to pay people to take enough off your hands!)
 
Okay, I have convinced my husband that we should take her, and he's finally agreed.

They said the species name is "Batrachomoeus trispinosus" but she also said that she got the name from googling "freshwater lionfish" so I'm not sure how "scientific" her decision was, since there are many species by that common name. She said she's 6-7" and they have had her for a little over a year. They are keeping her at "half of what saltwater is" whatever that means...

RE: water changes!
How do I bring the salt content up during water changes, I use a home made water changer to bring the water (brought to temp) straight into the tank from the faucet. Can I just add the salt as I go, or should I do it after? I'm really new to brackish fish, so have no idea what I'm doing, admittedly.

Thank you for any tips/comments/suggestions/HINTS from your personal experiences. I know you guys can help teach me before I bring this fish home.
 
Its always best to mix salt before adding it to the tank. just try to match up to what the tank is or to what you want the tank to be. Make sure you have a hydrometer or tool to measure salinity. and take it with you to look at the fish. This way you can find out for sure what salinty you need to make your tank. Use marine salt mix not aquarium salt. i kept 2 of these for about 2 years and they did great at about 1.007- 1.011 - good luck to you and feel free to ask more questions if i didnt answer completely
 
oh and freshwater is 1.000 , marine will be 1.020 and up and everything between is considered brackish
 
Brackish is 1.012.

Have you looked ALLENBATRACHUS GRUNIENS up?
 
Cool! I was just at an LFS yesterday and i saw they had just stocked something that looked like Sprocket here although the pair i saw were much darker in color.
 
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