> here's a list of the smallest most suitable fishes (for tanks) to
> catch in the Swan estuarine:= according to "The Marine and Estuarine Fishes
> of South-western Australia" 1983 False Tasmanian Blenny Parablennius sp,
> Bridled Goby Amoya bifrenatus, Japanese Goby Tridentiger trigonocephalus,
> Long-finned Goby Favonigobius lateralis.
> Gobbleguts Apogon rueppellii (looks like a glassfish Ambassidae)
Bridled goby = Arenogobius bifrenatus. I've never seen it referred to as
Amoya. There should also be some nice blue spot gobies (Pseudogobius
olorum) in the Swan too (I think they go that far around the coast) which
are another really neat species.
Actually, it also is two seperate unrecognised species. It has
a massive distribution from a little north of Brisbane southwards to
north of Perth. The eastern species occurs as far west as western
Victoria and the western species is from there west. I've never ventured
down to see if there is a series of intergrades or a distinct break and
where that break occurs. I know for sure though that the blue spots in
Melbourne are quite different to those in south eastern South Oz. For
those on the east coast who want to compare their fish to the western
species, take a look at the P. olorum photo in Allen 1989 FW Pisces of
Oz. It's a dead fish but it is obviously differnt. They have larger
fins, larger body size and much better colour too. Hopefully Rudi Kuiter
will describe them one of these days. Another favourite of mine is
Redigobius bikolanus. Everyone noticed that little fish in my gudgeon goby
5X2X2 ft tank with over 100 fish in it. Another great fish is Mugilogobius
palladus which was probably introduced to Victoria (the only place you
find it is Western Port Bay, a major shipping port). The fish also
occurs in NSW and Qld. Very similar in shape to a desert goby, it has a
dark body when aroused with yellow fins and the characteristic blue spot
on the first dorsal fin. The guys in Townsville have it made though when
it comes to gobies, they have recorded around 40 species from the one
spot over a year or three time period!
> One question I have for every one near coastal rivers. Has the Japanese
> Goby reached your river? Throughout Australia this goby has "settled down"
> in many ports. And a second follow-up question, has the fish affected
> noteablly its new-found ecosystem?
It was first recorded from Sydney back in the 1970's I think (or 80's).
It is also found in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. I was unaware it was
also in WA. You may want to check that the Museum there has some
specimens as I'm sure they would appreciate some if they don't have any
and it would be a good one to record. No one knows what affect, if any
it has occured. It certainly can get abundant and may displace other
gobies but who works on goby ecology? This same species also occurs in
San Fransciso Bay. They have some really interesting problems there.
Exotic organisms introduced via shipping include several clams, fish, and
crustaceans (cyclops type critters). Today, when a new exotic
establishes it doesn't displace any natives typically (many are gone),
but it just displaces some other exotic organism!
> btw the Japanese Goby I think makes a great "personality" pet.
Most gobies and gudgeons do. :-) (unlike rainbows....)
GOBIES RULE
Peter Unmack