![\"Monodactylus](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/argenteus-mono-fish.jpg\")
<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Some fish thrive in these conditions and spend their entire lives there. Others spend one stage or another of their lives in brackish water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A brackish aquarium can be a fun undertaking. Just as a reef tank<\/a> has saltwater fish adapted to that environment<\/a>, a brackish aquarium has a range of water conditions and fish adapted to various salinity levels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can adjust these levels using commercial aquarium marine salt<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintaining consistent salinity is vital to your fish’s health, and regular use of a refractometer or hydrometer can help.<\/p>\n\n\n For your aquarium, you need to select fish that can tolerate and thrive in brackish water. The following is a list of 19 brackish water fish to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae<\/em>)<\/a> has a black body with vertical stripes that are clear to yellow or orange and bright yellow\/gold on the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their native habitat is Southeast Asia<\/strong>, specifically Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. This tiny species grows to a maximum length of one inch<\/strong> (2.5 cm).<\/p>\n\n\n In addition to their brackish water needs, there are some challenges to keeping bumblebee gobies. These fish can be picky eaters<\/strong> and may refuse dry food or only take live, meaty foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to their small size, it is difficult to find brackish water tankmates that will not view them as food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.010 to 1.012<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The sleek body and pointed dorsal fin of the Colombian shark catfish<\/a> (Hexanematichthys seemanni<\/em>) may trick you at first, but it is indeed a catfish<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has a silver body and white-tipped fins on its underside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fish start their lives in freshwater in the wild, but to thrive, must move to brackish or marine conditions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This fish gets big, up to 14 inches<\/strong> (35 cm) in length. It loves to school and is most comfortable in groups of at least three to four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Colombian shark catfish is active during the day, is peaceful<\/strong>, and will get along well with similarly sized fish of a gentle nature. They can live up to 15 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.010<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 110 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The archerfish (Toxotes jaculator<\/em>)<\/a> hunts<\/strong> by forcefully spraying water into the air, hitting its insect target, and predicting where its prey will land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They gauge the distance to their target and adjust the water stream accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This fish comes from the waters of Asia, India, and the Philippines. It has silvery sides with vertical black bars, large eyes, and a turned-up mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They grow to 12 inches (30 cm) in length in the wild, but in an aquarium, they are in the five-to-seven-inch<\/strong> (12 to 18 cm) range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because they love to hunt, they do well in a paludarium<\/strong>, a tank with above and below water features.<\/p>\n\n\n This allows you to place plants above the water line and feed your archerfish by placing live insects in the enclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.005 to 1.020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 20 to 30 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many varieties of mollies within the genus Poecilia<\/em>, with differences in colors, body shapes, and fins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wild mollies grow to a length of five inches (12.7 cm). However, those bred for aquarium trade max out at three to four inches<\/strong> (7.6 to 10 cm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mollies<\/a> do well in groups and produce a good amount of waste, so consider a larger tank with a decent filtration system.<\/p>\n\n\n The<\/strong> molly is both a<\/strong> brackish<\/strong> and<\/strong> freshwater fish<\/strong>. Talk with the breeder to determine in which type of water they were raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are warm-water fish, needing a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees C). Install a heater<\/a> to keep the temperature consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.020 to 1.025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Scat fish come from the coastal regions of Australia and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their green to brown colored bodies are compressed and square-shaped with spots of either black or brownish-red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take care with this fish, as its dorsal rays contain a mild poison<\/strong>. Another large brackish water fish grow to 10 inches<\/strong> (25 cm) in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because they love to school in groups of six or more, they will require a large aquarium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are active swimmers, so make sure there is plenty of open swimming space. Do not include java ferns, as they are toxic to scat fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The mono fish (Monodactylus argenteus<\/em>) has a diamond-shaped body<\/strong> with pointed dorsal and anal fins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its body is silver in color, blending into yellow on the fins with two vertical black stripes near the front half of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are strong, active swimmers that, in the wild, navigate coastal mangroves and tidal rivers in the Indian Ocean region.<\/p>\n\n\n This hardy fish grows to a maximum length of 11 inches<\/strong> (28 cm) and requires a large tank<\/strong>. Keep them in groups of six or more<\/strong> to allow natural schooling behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They require moderate water movement and regular tank maintenance to keep the water clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.003 to 1.015<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (for a single mudskipper)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These creatures have adapted gill covers to permit extended periods out of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their modified pelvic, anal, and pectoral fins allow them to scoot across land and even climb!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although wild mudskippers can grow up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length, the aquarium trade varieties typically reach six inches<\/strong> (15 cm). The males of the species can be very territorial<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n This fish will require a paludarium<\/strong> with areas dedicated to dry land and to water. Make sure that the water gets shallow toward the land areas to provide easy access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fish prefer warmer waters, anywhere from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 29\u00b0<\/strong>C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.010 for orange and 1.005 to 1.012 for green<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (orange) 100 gallons (green)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many wild cichlid species<\/a> enter brackish water from time to time; however, only the orange<\/strong> (Etroplus maculatus<\/em>) and green cichlid<\/strong> chromides <\/strong>(Etroplus suratensis<\/em>) are fully brackish<\/strong> water fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hailing from South Asia’s waters, they get along well together when they are not breeding but can become territorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The orange chromide is the smaller of the two, measuring 3.1 inches<\/strong> (8 cm). This versatile fish can be kept singly, in groups, or in pairs.<\/p>\n\n\n However, the green chromide gets much bigger, maxing out at almost 12 inches<\/strong> (30 cm). Keep this one in a large aquarium with a group so it can school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Indian glass fish (Parambassis ranga<\/em>) is a member of the glass perch family and grows to a maximum length of three inches<\/strong> (7.6 cm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its body is translucent, and you can easily see its spine and organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this transparency, some sellers will inject the fish with a fluorescent dye<\/strong>. This practice makes the fish prone to infection and significantly shortens their lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While many glass fish are kept in freshwater, you can keep this fish in brackish water with low salinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The glass fish has energy to spare, is quite playful but not aggressive. It does best in groups of five or more to allow schooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.003 to 1.010<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 4 gallons (for 3 guppies, add one gallon for each additional guppy)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The guppy<\/a> is another from the genus Poecilia<\/em> that can live in both freshwater and brackish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This tiny fish has a very small bioload and can be kept in smaller tanks but still loves room to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They do best in groups of a minimum size of three and are very active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are hardy fish<\/strong> that can tolerate a water temperature range between 50- and 84-degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 29 degrees C), although consistent water parameters are important to their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guppies are popular with aquarium keepers due to their graceful fins, stunning array of colors, and lively personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.005 to 1.20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The green spotted puffer<\/a> (Tetraodon nigroviridis<\/em>) is an active, intelligent fish with the personality of a great, interactive pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This fish comes from the waters of Borneo and Sumatra. It has a white belly and a green-tinted back with numerous black spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This carnivore\u2019s beak-like teeth grow continuously and must be ground down by the crustaceans and snails that are an important part of its diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The green spotted puffer grows up to six inches<\/strong> (15 cm) in length and can be quite aggressive as an adult. They are long-lived and will be a part of your aquarium for up to 10 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.005 to 1.008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons (for one fish), 10 gallons more for each additional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Figure 8 puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus<\/em>), also known as the eyespot puffer<\/strong>, originates from brackish streams in Asia and India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has a dark green or brown back, white underside and is accented with black spots and swirls outlined in bright yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eyespot puffer grows to a maximum size of three inches<\/strong> (7.6 cm) and has a long lifespan of up to 15 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fish are classified as semi-aggressive<\/strong> toward their own kind and can be fin nippers with other species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As such, they are best kept singly or in a species-only tank. If you plan to add more puffers, make sure there are plenty of hiding places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.020 to 1.025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The stars and stripes puffer (Arothron hispidus<\/em>), also known as the white-spotted puffer, hails from the Indo Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is predominantly dark-colored with numerous bright white dots on its back and horizontal lines on its belly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fish are very smart, highly interactive, and grow to a size of 16 to 18 inches<\/strong> (40 to 46 cm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These fish are hardy<\/strong> and can be kept with larger, quick-swimming tank mates. Although it is a large fish, it is gentle<\/strong> and should not be paired with aggressive tank mates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plan on installing a decent filter as they produce a fair amount of waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.002 to 1.007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Siamese tiger fish (Datnioodes pulcher<\/em>) comes from the Mekong, Mae Klong, and Chao Phraya basins’ waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A large brackish species, the Siamese tiger fish reaches 18 inches (45.7 cm) in the wild but may stay around nine to twelve inches<\/strong> (23 to 30.5 cm) range in an aquarium setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This carnivorous fish is yellow-brown in color, with five to seven vertical black bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are predatory fish and are labeled semi-aggressive, although they do well in tanks with similarly sized species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They require a large tank with low salinity, a good filtration system<\/a>, and regular water changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific Gravity: 1.000 to 1.022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A third Poecilia<\/em> member that is great for brackish water<\/strong> aquariums is the Endler<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capable of living in both freshwater and brackish, this small fish is ![\"Brackish](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/archer-fish-aquarium.jpg\")
1. Bumblebee Goby<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Brachygobius](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/brachygobius-doriae.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Brachygobius](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/bumblebee-goby.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2. Colombian Shark Catfish<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"School](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/columbian-shark-catfish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n3. Archer Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"School](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/archerfish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Group](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/archerfish-toxotes.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n4. Mollies<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/sailfin-mollies-poecilia.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/sailfin-mollies.jpg\")
5. Scat Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Scatophagus](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/scat-fish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n6. Mono Fish (Monodactylus)<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/silver-mono-fish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Schooling](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/monodactylus-argenteus.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n7. Mudskipper (Indian and African)<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Indian](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/indian-mudskipper.jpg\")
![\"Periophthalmus](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/mudskipper-periophthalmus-barbarus.jpg\")
8. Cichlid Chromides<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Etroplus](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/green-chromide.jpg\")
![\"Etroplus](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/orange-chromide.jpg\")
9. Indian Glass Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Parambassis](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/indian-glass-fish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n10. Guppies<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/fancy-guppy.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n11. Green Spotted Puffer<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Tetraodon](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/green-spotted-puffer.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n12. Figure 8 Puffer or Eyespot Puffer<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Dichotomyctere](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/figure-eight-puffer.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n13. Stars and Stripes Puffer or White-Spotted Puffer<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Arothron](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/stars-and-stripes-puffer.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n14. Siamese Tiger Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Datnioodes](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/siamese-tigerfish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n15. Endlers<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Endler's](\"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/endler-fish.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n