What are your experiences with Dartfish?

[Zionas]

Hi all, recently I have taken an interest in creating an Okinawa / East China Sea biotope and I am looking into a peaceful, second fish apart from my Pajama Cardinals. This has led me to discover the Scissortail, Blue Gudgeon, and Zebra Dartfish. I would like to keep a group of 4-6, maybe even mix species. I’ve never been that attracted to the Firefish and heard they don’t do well in groups.

I know they’re peaceful to other fish, my tank will hopefully be completely covered and knowing how skittish they are if I think I’m OK with these fish they’ll be the first fish in the tank.

Any difference in hardiness between the three species?

Are they hard to feed? I read somewhere they need an established refugium like Mandarins do.

Will the following selection of tankmates cause them trouble?:

-Halichoeres Wrasses

-Shrimp gobies

-Hawkfish

-One Spot Fox Face

-Yellow Pyramid Butterflies

-Ocellaris Clownfish

-Cardinalfish


Also, about their burrowing habits, I plan to have a 2-3” sand bed (for my gobies and Halichoeres too) but I heard they can’t make their own burrows like the gobies and wrasses and need PVC pipe?

Thanks.

 

[Zionas]

Also, regarding their lifespan, are they known to be able to live over a decade like some shrimp gobies?

 

[Billdogg]

I've had 2 or 3 of a few different types together in the past. I didn't have any troubles with them at all. Without a top you'll be picking them up off the floor. As for lifespan, dunno. That particular tank took a hard crash and I lost everything. Something about turning off the AC for a week while I was away. The last weekend of July. Lost the GF too.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hi all, recently I have taken an interest in creating an Okinawa / East China Sea biotope and I am looking into a peaceful, second fish apart from my Pajama Cardinals. This has led me to discover the Scissortail, Blue Gudgeon, and Zebra Dartfish. I would like to keep a group of 4-6, maybe even mix species. I’ve never been that attracted to the Firefish and heard they don’t do well in groups.

I know they’re peaceful to other fish, my tank will hopefully be completely covered and knowing how skittish they are if I think I’m OK with these fish they’ll be the first fish in the tank.

Any difference in hardiness between the three species?

Are they hard to feed? I read somewhere they need an established refugium like Mandarins do.

Will the following selection of tankmates cause them trouble?:

-Halichoeres Wrasses

-Shrimp gobies

-Hawkfish

-One Spot Fox Face

-Yellow Pyramid Butterflies

-Ocellaris Clownfish

-Cardinalfish


Also, about their burrowing habits, I plan to have a 2-3” sand bed (for my gobies and Halichoeres too) but I heard they can’t make their own burrows like the gobies and wrasses and need PVC pipe?

Thanks.

When available trimma from Philippines. Very tiny, live in communities together and only grow up to 3/4 of an inch. Tiny guys

 

[Zionas]

What about the Scissortail Dartfish? LiveAquaria says they’ll pick each other off but others say they can and should ideally be kept in a small group? If I do get them I plan to get maybe 4.

 

[Lizbeli]

I absolutely love my zebra barred dartfish. I have three and they are peaceful. But you need a good lid. Pictures don’t do them justice. They have beautiful pink bars on them. A little skittish, but over time mine stay out all day and beg for food. They have quite an appetite too.

 

[Zionas]

That’s really nice! They’re wonderful little fish! What size do they usually come in (where you are) and how long have you had them for?

 

[Billdogg]

The ones I had together were scissortail, barred, and blue gudgeon. Once they were accustomed to their new home they did just fine together.

 

[Lizbeli]

That’s really nice! They’re wonderful little fish! What size do they usually come in (where you are) and how long have you had them for?

They are pretty long actually, about 4.5in each. I got mine from Divers Den about four months ago. They found a spot under my rock thats like a cave. They dug out sand and its their home now. They hang out in the top half of the tank most of the day.

 

[Tiger Brown]

I picked up a bonded trio of zebra barred dartfish from DD about 3 weeks. ago. They are almost always out, front and center of the tank and are total hogs with anything that goes in as food. I have a very peaceful tank and these 3 are by far the largest fish (55 gallon) and they are super peaceful, a really nice addition.

 

[Zionas]

Do they have to be bonded for them to get along, or can I just pick up a couple at the LFS, put them in my tank and they’ll be fine together?

Glad yours are doing well!