Do You Know This Fish?

[ChickenoftheSea]

I am fairly new to this hobby so my knowledge is limited. My son and I went to a local tide pool in WA and we discovered a few small fish that look to be Gobies but I can't find anything on the net, including a site dedicated to Puget Sound species, that can tell me what these nice looking little guys are. CAN ANYONE HELP ME?

 

[Stumped]

Possibly a juvenile of some species of sculpin. I know there are a lot that are native to PS, but can't really help with a better ID than that.

 

[jbonez]

might be a scotter blenny?

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Possibly a juvenile of some species of sculpin. I know there are a lot that are native to PS, but can't really help with a better ID than that.

:thumbsup:

Oligocottus maculosus - Tidepool Sculpin
http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=0&ID=4128&what=species&TotRec=3

 

[ChickenoftheSea]

You did it!

You did it!

You are exactly correct. It is Tidepool Sculpin. Does anybody have any opinion about keeping these fish? I have read they are very sturdy but do you think they will be ok in my FOWLR tank?

 

[Stumped]

You are exactly correct. It is Tidepool Sculpin. Does anybody have any opinion about keeping these fish? I have read they are very sturdy but do you think they will be ok in my FOWLR tank?

Unless your FOWLR happens to be a cold water tank, the sculpin won't do very well long term. Nothing from the PS area is going to do well at the tropical temps most people run their tanks at (77-82). Those temps are a good 20 degrees higher than species native to PS would be comfortable with.

 

[ChickenoftheSea]

Puget Sound Temp

Puget Sound Temp

I have read on several sites that the Tidepool Sculpin can withstand a large range of temperatures. I would assume since they are found in tide pools that this is true. I would imagine that the temp in a small tide pool could change fast and get pretty warm during the day and cold at night. I could see logically that during the middle of summer in the heat of the day those pools could reach high 80's pretty easily.

 

[Stumped]

I have read on several sites that the Tidepool Sculpin can withstand a large range of temperatures. I would assume since they are found in tide pools that this is true. I would imagine that the temp in a small tide pool could change fast and get pretty warm during the day and cold at night. I could see logically that during the middle of summer in the heat of the day those pools could reach high 80's pretty easily.

Doesn't much matter. They are still a cold water fish and don't thrive in the tropical temperatures most people in this hobby maintain their tanks. The thing about tide pools and tide pool fish is that while it is true they can withstand swings in temperature, salinity, etc. what you're suggesting is entirely different. You are going to be maintaining them in a constant environment that is at the upper end of their threshold.

Just think about it for a minute. How many hours of their life do you expect they are living in 80 degree water relative to <70 degree water? It's probably a safe bet that they spend <10% of their time in water that would be considered a tropical temperature.

Anyway you're obviously free to do what you want, but the overwhelming majority of the time people that attempt to keep cold water or temperate water fish in full tropical temperatures fail to do so.

 

[ChickenoftheSea]

I see your point. So suggestion is to probably put them back where I found them?

 

[namxas]

You could always get a chiller and run a temperate tank.

We have a temperate lionfish tank that runs at 63*F, and we've been able to keep a bluefin/blackfoot lion (Parapterois heterura) alive and well for over a year now.

Do you ever see any grunt sculpins? We've been after one of them for awhile, but don't know of anyone collecting them.

 

[ChickenoftheSea]

You could always get a chiller and run a temperate tank.

We have a temperate lionfish tank that runs at 63*F, and we've been able to keep a bluefin/blackfoot lion (Parapterois heterura) alive and well for over a year now.

Do you ever see any grunt sculpins? We've been after one of them for awhile, but don't know of anyone collecting them.

I don't think I'm ready for a second tank just yet. Had a time just trying to get the one I have up and running. I will see if there are people in my area who may be interested in taking these fish though.

I haven't seen any grunt fish in our exploits, although we will probably be frequenting the beach a lot this summer so I will keep an eye out.

 

[small alien]

We have grunt sculpins at the Seattle Aquarium where I am a volunteer. They're in a tank with a bunch of empty giant barnacle shells. Greg, you probably know this, but their body shape and finnage have evolved to resemble a barnacle including the fin rays which look a lot like the feeding appendages of barnacles. Another awesome little temperate guy from from round here is the Spiny Lumpsucker. So awesome.:bounce1:

 

[small alien]

And, of course, we have tons of tidepool sculpins as well.

 

[namxas]

They have a cool little temperate tank at the AoP and it's stocked with grunt sculpins, clingfish, warbonnets, etc. That's where we first saw the grunt sculpins.

They also have a slant-top tank with about 6 football-size stonefish of various species.

Then again, Renee and I have a LOT of fish the AoP doesn't have...