Re: [RML] Pseudomugil cynadorsalis Melanotaenia pygmae
Dave & Robyn Wilson (rwilson at octa4.net.au)
Fri, 1 Jun 2001 00:18:51 +0930
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Re: [RML] Pseudomugil cynadorsalis Melanotaenia
pygmae
Danny,
I will try answer some of that. I have
collected Pseudomugil cynadorsalis in Broome as well as here in
Darwin. I have never found them above tidal influence or outside
estuarine creeks in the open ocean. They are very common
in all the small tidal creeks around Dawin. These small creeks
run fresh for three or more months per year during and after the wet
season then gradually return to salt water after the rains stop.
Can anyone tell me if
P.cyanodorsalis is found in any permanent freshwater,
(land locked) or are they just seasonal bouts of freshwater,
and are they also found in open sea areas or sheltered harbours
and eustary.
Also is their colour
enhanced by being in salty water?
What can I expect
the life span in captivity is?
Their life expectancy at my place is very short because I feed them to
baby mangrove jacks and small gudgeons. I have never kept them
long term
As I guess they would be
pretty well annual in the wild.
In the creeks near here there are always millions of smaller
specimens with very few larger models among them, so assuming them
annual is probably reasonable. They are not in a very safe
position in the food chain. There is a magnificent little algae
eating shrimp from the Atyid family among them, the shrimps convert to
fresh and will clean up an algae problem in a planted aquarium very
quickly.
In our shop I have some
in a very small display tank with 50/50 brackish and they colour
pretty good in the natural sun light.
I don't think there is a need to be rigid with your salinities
because they get fluctuations where they live.
Cheers
Dave