Amazing spearer at LFS -- Need ID! (pic)

D

DanInSD

New member
This amazing steel-grey to light-blue spearer, with purple highlights, about three inches long, is at Aquatic Warehouse in San Diego.

The guy there says the wholesaler has lots of 'em and that they get up to about six inches long. It is gorgeous. Stunning.

This beast is not on Roy's list!!

Dr. Caldwell, any ideas?

Sorry for the picture quality, this was taken with a phone and then enhanced in PhotoShop.

http://home.san.rr.com/dkgweb/images/SilverSpearer.jpg

Enjoy,
Dan
 
Over the past couple of weeks these have been showing up. Until I get one under the scope, I can't make a positive ID. All I can say is that it is a squilloid. If I had to guess on a genus, I would say Chlorodopsis. However, There are several other possibilities. Regardless of what the species, these will be difficult to keep in a home aquarium. They are burrowers in mud and are not particularly happy in pvc. If they are the species I think they are, they also do best in cool water.

Roy
 
Roy,

Do you think I could keep one of these guys in my unheated 55G Mangrove Tank, it has a deep substrate of a pottingsoil/sand mixture?
 
Can you further specify "cool water"? I'm under the impression that you mean Sub-Tropical rather than Temperate. Might this be another one of those substrate burrowers that will spend almost all it's time in the burrow lying motionless?
 
Squillids are typically nocturnal, but not inactive.

Without a positive ID on the animal or its origin, I can't really give advice about temperature. There are squilloids that live at 45 degrees and others at 85. I would probably assume that it is not temperate and go for the low 70's.

Roy
 
Dr. Roy, I can purchase the beastie and arrange to have it shipped to you, if you would like to have a "closer inspection".
 
i just purchased one of these spears! i have him in a 10 gallon tank with lots of rock work and 20lbs of fine grain sand. he seems to be dooing well. he has only taken one silverside from me, and i had to give it to him late at night, like an hour or so after the lights have been turned off. he is not very active, mainly nocturnal only coming out after hours. he made a mess digging and sculpting the tank. he seems to have gotten it to where he likes it. the temp is a constant 77 degrease. and only 40 watt pcs on him. there is a long decrative vase in the middle of the tank that he pearches at the head of often. i think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread! i hope i can keep him alive!! i have pics further down on the main page.
luscien
 
luscien,

You might find it enjoyable to invest in a quality moonlighting system. That's what I plan to do if I get one of these spearers. I personally like the Fishbowl Innovation Moonlight with Lunar Phase Controller. It's a great way to watch your fish at night and makes them feel comfortable. It also greatly aids me in feeding my nocturnal fish... my hogchocker sole will only feed at night.
 
what a great idea! im gonna do that, last night i had to wwait until 11pm befor he would take a food item. but when he does, he takes it like a champ!
thanks for the tip!
luscien
 
Now that I have one in hand, I can positively id it. As I suspected, this is Cloridopsis dubia, a squillid that is found in mud flats from the Carolinas to Brazil.

Roy
 
Like other mudflat species, it will need a burrow. It would be best if it could dig its own in mud. Sand will not work. They will occupy pvc, but make it 3 or 4 times the body length.

This is a nocturnal species, so you won't see that much during the day. Temperature should be moderate - low 70's would be good. Food would be mostly shrimp and crabs. They will also eat pile worms and thin-shelled clams such as Donax.

Roy
 
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