Irresponsible for LFS to sell this fish?

[yousmellsfishy]

About a month ago I bought a fish from a LFS that they called a "neon red goby" He fit the bill for what I was looking for which was a tiny fish for my nano tank. He was less than an inch long. I just found out that he's actually a coral reef pygmy goby which holds the distinction in the animal kingdom as the shortest lived vertebrate in the world. Life span is 59 days max. I've had him now for 27 days. here's a link to the article about this species.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

After thinking about it, I guess it wouldn't exactly be irresponsible to sell the fish. If someone wants this species, OK, but they should disclose the longevity issue, right?

 

[plyr58]

Yup. You are right on with that one.

 

[seapug]

That's a different fish. The one in the picture is an Eviota. I've had one for over a year in my tank. That's longer than the lifespan of a typical healthy Neon goby that are tank bred and available everywhere. Here's my Eviota chillin' with its matching red Cynarina:

 

[axia55]

Yep, the one in the picture is an Eviota. I have had one exactly like that for 18 months.

 

[ConsultantERP]

Buyer beware, the LFS is in it for the money, and if it looks good, it sells. This is not saying LFS's are bad, or all bad, I am lucky enough to have some good knowledgable people at a local LFS. But they would sell me whatever I want, most will, they have to pay rent.

 

[Eklikewhoa]

I think it might be a bit more irresponsible for the buyer to purchase it without finding out it's needs/background.

 

[Gdevine]

Neon's have a short life span compared to other fish more on line with 2 years. Those caught in the wild could have a much shorter life span in the tank then those tank raised.

I have a shark nose cleaner that i just love and he's having a blast keeping my fish clean.

These are great fish for any sized tank!

 

[masterfuji01]

Eviota is a species of goby which includes the short-lived fish you are describing yousmellsfishy. However, the fish you have appears to be another one in the genus. The one in your picture bears little resemblance to the one with the very short life.

http://www.amonline.net.au/FISHES/faq/shortlived.htm

 

[Longchamp]

Just dont listen to them if you can. My LFS (considered to be a "good" one) sold my roommate a lunar wrasse assuring that it was reef safe.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12393923#post12393923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masterfuji01
Eviota is a species of goby which includes the short-lived fish you are describing yousmellsfishy. However, the fish you have appears to be another one in the genus. The one in your picture bears little resemblance to the one with the very short life.

http://www.amonline.net.au/FISHES/faq/shortlived.htm

The picture came from the article about the fish not from my tank. It appears to be the exact fish I have. I did inquire about the needs of the fish before I purchased it and was told it was the same as a tank raised neon goby (blue). It is good to hear, though, that it may well live well beyond what I had thought.

 

[seapug]

one that lives 57 days: Eviota sigillata
the one in the pic above and both you and I own: Eviota pellucida

I don't know the expected lifespan of the E. pellucida, but mine has been alive over a year-- longer than any regular neon goby I've ever kept.

 

[skey44]

i think if it was tank raised it will live much longer and definitely was not an irresponsible sale by your lfs. I think there have been a lot of how long did your goby live posts over time on RC and it has shown up that gobies live a lot longer in our tanks than they do in the wild.