I got Dwarf Mudskippers! (aka Coolest Oddball Fish Ever)

I just set up a 20-gallon long brackish aquarium but couldn’t decide what centerpiece fish to get. After much consideration and polling of my audience, the Indian dwarf mudskippers (Periophthalmus novemradiatus) won by a narrow margin! Thanks to @TazawaTanks for all the great videos on his channel teaching me how to keep brackish water and mudskippers.
🌿 RESOURCES
▶ Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium: reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-0...
▶ Reef Aquarium Water Parameters: reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0....
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Members Only content: / @girltalksfish
▶ Instagram: / girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Matt Gray at www.grayfamilyfilms.com/ and / mentalityfilms
ATTRIBUTION
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#girltalksfish #mudskippers #aquariumfish
0:00 Centerpiece fish for new tank
1:20 Preparation for the mudskippers
2:30 Getting the new mudskippers
5:24 Problems with nitrite

[@GirlTalksFish]

*What kind of questions do you have about my new mudskippers? I'll try to include them in my care video about them.*

[@aquacollege101]

Definitely the foods you feed them would be great to know

[@GirlTalksFish]

@@bengreen171 From what I've read, the burrows are quite deep at around 2-3 feet and wouldn't be possible in most home aquariums unless you have a monster tank. Also, mud makes for a very poor viewing experience. 😅

[@canada6618]

Not about your mudskippers, but I was just wondering have you made any videos on the walstad method aquariums, and if not why? Love your content btw keep up the good work

[@hylkevanderwerff]

​@@TheMainVillagerhow often do you do water changes, and how much water at a time?

[@hylkevanderwerff]

​@@GirlTalksFishI feel like the fact they make deep tunnels in the wild isn't really a reason to deny them at least shallow tunnels in captivity

[@wilbee6272]

the reason the third didn't eat is that they all need land. just because they can cling to the side doesn't mean they can survive this way. imagine trying to stand up 24 hours a day - that would be the equivalent. you should either have three landing platforms or better is to have a substantial platform with prominent stone or wood on it to break up line of sight

[@GirlTalksFish]

I didn't get into all the details in the video, but unfortunately the third one came to me already very underweight and was clearly having major health issues. Based on his deportment that I observed compared to the other two healthier mudskippers, I don't believe he would have survived even if there was more landing platforms.

[@rat9094]

@@GirlTalksFish Even with those issues I don't think that's the case, he was fighting for food as he didn't have any land, mudskipper are quite territorial, and fight over food a lot so that why he wouldn't be able to bulk up. Please add some more land and change substrate.

[@IamBraads]

I hope the mudskippers are taken away from her. this is animal cruelty.

[@twohandsmcgee]

@@IamBraadslol

[@IamBraads]

@@twohandsmcgee I know =) but seriously, this is not a suitable setup

[@Coffeetheegreat]

Those guys are so cute haha if I had one I would name it Mudkip!

[@Coffeetheegreat]

@@JosephsJungle8 yes but because it’s not the exact species it’s based on, does that mean I can’t name it mudkip?

[@BuzzingPlants]

OMGGG best name

[@Coffeetheegreat]

@@JosephsJungle8 neither does taking a fish name so seriously😂 go along Joseph

[@mcduck6627]

I love mudkip he is such a dapper lil guy

[@missbunga6543]

Mudkip evolve to what? 🤭

[@eldragonrojo42069]

Generally with mudskippers you need 1/3 to 1/2 land mass normally from side to side sloping into the water or from the back down, you should also include an area where they can dig on land or make pre-made tunnels or put in some pleco tunnels in the land are for them to mimic tunnels they'd have in the wild

[@IamBraads]

Yepp. Awful setup for these little guys. I really feel sorry for them.

[@Guthix198]

you guys have zero clue as to what your talking about and it shows ^^^

[@eldragonrojo42069]

@@Guthix198 woah watch out we're in the presence of the King of all knowledge look out everyone he knows more than you all but never let's you know what he knows.... enlighten us all knower?

[@IMaqua]

They are on my "most wanted" list, would love to keep them in the future. Cheers Irene

[@myplantedfishtank]

The fish at 6:15 is like: I cant swim here

[@laurabustos6560]

What a bummer that mudskipper #3 didn't find it's forever Minecraft home. Definitely a cool video. Thanks for sharing!! 🙏✌️

[@pagewhite8177]

They are adorable! Great info about the nitrites in the brackish water.

[@GreenPhantomPleco]

That's awesome Irene! I learned a lot and can't wait for updates! One day I'll get some of these guys!

[@shannarafryer3111]

I didn’t know they could live in a setup with so much water

[@carbon9599]

They never should

[@shannarafryer3111]

@@shuckleuser4285 ah, I had a feeling it was but I didn’t want to assume since I don’t know much myself

[@catpoke9557]

Yeah they def need more land. They're primarily terrestrial. Even when in water they're usually in holes with water pooling in rather than a full on pond.

[@endoroboto]

I used to never quarantine but an ich infestation that wiped out the smaller fish almost overnight in one tank caused me to realize the wisdom of the quarantine tank and taking the time to treat new fish for parasites.

[@bugboyyyy]

Thank you for making these videos!! I’m just getting back into the hobby, and your videos always make me so excited to get my own fish :)

[@CarolynnMc01]

Such interesting little fish! I wish you all the best with these guys. They are adorable!

[@fledgedfeathers]

Anyone else notice at 6:13 with the water change, the right hand side lost all water and one of the fish, not one of the mudskippers, was left flopping on land? I don’t know much about the species, and although the water change was somewhat quick, does anyone know if that species is hardy enough to be out of the the water for a while? Asking in curiosity

[@vanessaclark5927]

I personally would have moved the fish into the area where water remained, but based on how the fish seemed to instantly recover when the water was refilled, it doesn't seem to be a major concern

[@jenxu2]

I love, love, love mudskippers. I had them back in the 80's. They were the most fun fish I ever kept.

[@carolebraswell982]

Love love. Love mudskippers. Thanks for the educational video !

[@jordanbabcock9349]

This setup is very interesting considering Tazawa has or had mudskippers..and both if you work for Aquarium Co-op. You should ask him for somw pointers on your set up.

[@wanaa66]

A member of my local aquarium club has a tank with these in! Mesmerising fish!

[@lmnoqrst4067]

I love them ! Can't wait for the update

[@vanessaclark5927]

Love the video, can't wait for the follow up! My local fish store has been stocking them lately and they've been on the back of my mind... This video may be a sign 😂

[@shitzuation]

So cool!! Love mudskippers ❤😍❤

[@legosam2067]

They’re so cute and derpy. I love em

[@P1xls-lp8hf]

Lol, I love this video the mudskippers guys are so cute!

[@dennisdonovan974]

saltwater does test for nitrites mostly during the cycling process

[@MT-oh4fw]

Congratulations, mudskippers are so much fun!

[@Masked_edit]

Looks amazing! :)

[@seansmith6372]

Hi Irene. I love you and your content. Your videos are fun and easy too follow. I didn't even know what a mudskiper was..lol

[@angiebear8727]

They are adorable!!! This type of hierarchy happened with my African dwarf frogs. Had 3 but the weakest one just wouldn’t eat despite my multiple attempts to hand feed him. Unfortunately he passed away but have had the other two for about a year and a half and they are doing great. Hope you have the same luck with your mud skippers. They are definitely on my aquatic life bucket list.

[@GirlTalksFish]

They're totally worth it! I've actually never had African dwarf frogs before, so I'll definitely have to try them someday. 🐸

[@shannarafryer3111]

I had African dwarf frogs and I never had them establish a hierarchy but then again I was hand feeding them for a while like only hand feeding them all

[@angiebear8727]

@@shannarafryer3111 yeah I needed them to learn to eat the live food offered and from a dish so when I travel my house sitters will be able to care for them easily. Or maybe it was the fact that I had two males and one female? I’m not sure. Might add another female in the future but don’t want to rock the boat😊 bravo to u for hand feeding them all every time. I’ve heard that some of them will only accept prepared food that way but I’ve been lucky with mine. Mine were bred in captivity and very young when I got them but I think, much like bettas, they all have their own distinct personalities 💙

[@angiebear8727]

@@GirlTalksFish hope you do. They are super cute and peaceful. Mine live with a large colony of shrimp which I established first so they’d always have food available just in case. A beautiful and chill male betta and a school of otos in a well planted 20 long with very fine sand. Put aqua soil under the sand in media bags to build up the back, help the plants, and take away the risk of them accidentally consuming unsafe substrate. While not a all of my shrimp make it to adulthood(obviously) enough do to keep the colony going and I’ve never seen my frogs bother the adults. It’s funny sometimes because the adult shrimp don’t seem frightened of them. As a matter of fact they’ll walk right onto them when they are being still waiting to ambush hunt. Occasionally the shrimp will clean up their backs a bit. Looks like they are giving the frogs short massages. lol

[@Quantumm12313]

I love mudskippers I'm so happy for you

[@Jack-gh3vs]

I absolutely love Aqua Imports. I got my group of African butterfly fish from them and they’ve done absolutely awesome. I’m currently on their waiting list for vampire shrimp.

[@MandyJane123700]

Those are the cutest. I would love to set up a brackish tank, but I don't think I have room for it in the house. lol

[@ConeFail]

I got my mudskippers from aqua imports too! I got mine online, but its cool to see they have a storefront too

[@Spac3d_Out]

So cute!

[@tristanconnolly3428]

Did anyone else notice the stranded goby during the water change😭

[@Ishan.patel.]

They are adorable and delisouse

[@bluthecockapoo7545]

Great setup! 😸

[@amogusmusic8710]

Its litterally not? mudskippers need 1/3 to 1/2 land area and THAT is waaay to little

[@garg4531]

Sounds like there was a bit of a rocky start but here’s hoping they keep doing well! 👍 Also wonder what other weird projects you might try in the future ^w^ You’ve done African cichlids, brackish, maybe one day we’ll see saltwater! ;)

[@aquaticpimp]

Honestly your smart, pretty and have good quality content. Some of the best fish content ive seen on youtube. Such interesting information. I hope things are going ok for you and life if amazing for you and your family.

[@bobmorgan476]

I think you made the right choice. Years ago, I had bumblebee gobies, hogchoker soles (a.k.a. freshwater flounders), and green spotted puffers. One by one the puffers started eating every other fish in the tank. Don’t know if figure eights would do the same, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk.

[@kyles5960]

Awesome video

[@realangiechrist]

In my experience the Aquarium Co-op testing strips aren't that accurate for the Nitrite & Nitrate tests, so you should keep that API Master Test Kit as well, and when you get those readings w/ the strips, do an additional test w/ the drops and compare. I often had zero readings from the drop test even when the strips had turned much darker than what you showed here. I find the strips most useful for water hardness testing and ph so I know when it's time to add more buffer. The skippers are cute, glad it's working out so far :)

[@GirlTalksFish]

Haha, my water is the opposite. Test strips are pretty accurate for nitrite/nitrate/GH, but I have a hard time reading pH on any test strip (Tetra, ACO, etc). I found out that my local water treatment plant uses some specialized lime slurry process to raise the pH while stripping the minerals, so I think that's why I get hard-to-read results.

[@Jack-gh3vs]

@@GirlTalksFish​​⁠ I’m not sure what part of Colorado you live in, but where I’m at in the Mead/Longmont area my local water treatment plant just changed the parameters of my tap water. It still comes out at 7.2 pH like before, but there is essentially no KH within the water now. My tanks that I did big water changes on were experiencing extreme pH drops over just 24 hours, going from around 7 to 6 (or possibly lower, my test kit doesn’t go lower). I’ve had to order crushed coral in from aquarium coop, which just arrived today. Aqua imports helped me determine the issue was KH, they’re the best.

[@sseeaahhaawwkkssrule975]

This was a very interesting video

[@pencilpauli9442]

Never knew the thing about bubbles, but I noticed a big bubble in my apple snail's tank but that was *after * a big water change 🤷‍♂🤷‍♂

[@XXS-Tomcat]

Wow amazing fish

[@thejoeyjoey]

wow these are so cool!!!!!!!

[@dalcon555]

mudskippers are my dream fish but I don't think i got the skills yet as a hobbyist to do so well

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

How dare you own them smoochums! Frickin these and spiny box puffers are my favorites!

[@theboabros9724]

DUDE I LOVE AQUA IMPORTS

[@adambeck7]

Cool seeing Aqua Imports on here, that's my LFS too!

[@jackisperu9766]

they clingin on the glass indicates that they want more land space (common sense too)

[@Glenn_AE6YT]

Great video! What level of salinity do you keep your brackish water tank at? What do you use to check your salinity? I use a refractometer--the type you hold up to the light--as that's what we used on board the college Research Vessels when I was a Marine Biology student. I like it, as it's accurate and doesn't need batteries. Take care.

[@k.w.6304]

Any advice on keeping puffers? Have you ever kept pea puffers? Thanks for your content, I appreciate your fun, factual videos. 🙂

[@darrylmoore5847]

Very cool

[@WhyamIstillwatchingyoutube]

I've nvr used any chemicals after the initial setup. I've put a few varieties of house plants at the top to root but other than that nothing. 4 yr tank and no issues. It is freshwater so not sure that helps. Maybe a mangrove shoot or 2 would help?

[@vicktorgunandar3726]

A plant to be considered planting in a brackish water aquarium , Acrostichum speciosum / Acrostichum aureum , get the smallest size you can and put it in the tank , they can survive with low light but they can also groe to be a monster of a plant but otherwise great plant for animal home

[@IanPyle]

I love your videos! Would you ever consider reviewing people's fish tanks like fishforthought does? I'm sure a lot of people would like you to see their tanks. And also I'm sure it could boost interaction and views too!

[@squamsh122]

I love aqua imports. Have you been to aqua rocks in Commerce City?! Some amazing aquascapes and the best hardscape.

[@letyourselfrest8932]

i wanna do a paludarium biotope for these guys so much lol, working on a Krishna River biotope currently

[@XIxCaptainKRulLT]

I know this has nothing to do with the video, but I have a genuine question... I've got a tank I've had sat up for about 8 months. I decided to use it for neocaridina shrimp a few weeks ago, but I'm having some issues with shrimp dying for no specific reason. Nitrites and nitrates are fine (0 and 5 respectively), ammonia's at 0, PH is a bit high, but the place I got them from has high/alkaline PH as well. I thought it was the copper from my fertlizer at first (it's about 0.0001% of the total mixture), and I haven't seen any planaria. Well, I fished out a "dead" shrimp and put it into one of my observation cups I had out to make sure an apple snail of mine actually died or not (it did, sadly). Nitrites and nitrate both have a positive reading (5 and 40), unsure about ammonia, and the tankwater I havs in there uses the same fertz. Somehow, over the span of a couple hours, the shrimp regained consciousness, and even starting grazing the bit of biofilm on the bottom of the cup. That's where my question comes in... Do you have any idea what's going on? It doesn't make any reasonable sense to me. I'm gonna check in with my local shop as well, 'cause I'm absolutely confused.

[@kikisummer7776]

I wonder if they would enjoy a scape with more out of water sections:)

[@hassanminbaghdad]

so cute

[@johncameron4194]

They are cute

[@zaleththetoast4357]

Hi this isn’t about this but my mom got me a Top Fin' Silenstream" PF20 Power Filler and I was wondering if that is a good filter for a axolotl. One person said I should combine a sponge filter to it if I’m worried about the flow but I don’t know how😭💀

[@robertsmith8795]

Love the idea of this but the water change scares me. How much preparation is needed for brackish water? Fill from the tap and salt at the same time or have to prepare the water before hand? Love the scape!

[@claire28748]

Tap water shouldn't be used for brackish or salt, you need an RO unit and to premix the RO water and salt before adding it to the tank.

[@robertsmith8795]

@@claire28748 😲 I'm out! Love what you've done with it though ❤️

[@sasi8333]

Can you make a video how to mix brackish water and maintaining it?

[@carlespr]

You have supernice voice!

[@Greenhenben678]

How available are they in regular fish stores?

[@garg4531]

From what I’ve heard I’d say it’s very unlikely to find them

[@eveningclicks7767]

What are the regular fish in the water swimming around?

[@0fficialr3d]

You could plant a red mangrove they can even grow in salt water. Atleast if you slowly raise salt levels. Starting of brackish schould be fine tho

[@davidr.wilson8194]

I'm looking forward to,maybe in about two weeks,a video on how the new fish infected their tankmates...........which,of course I'm joking about😊Honestly I hope all goes well ,and mudskippers are a cool choice for aquarium fish.🐟

[@aleksgames9696]

yea you threw something off when you changed the tank that’s why that one mudskipper you took back wasn’t doing good by the way where did you get the suction cup decoration thing??

[@tomer9952]

Was it suffering from a disease or being deprived of food as a result of being the weakest which ultimately led to his condition? Or some third mysterious evolutionary reason that somehow correlates stress to not eating?

[@darkwo0d]

Yesss👍

[@emmaemanuelemmanuelandrews5054]

Can you do a top 10 stem plants?

[@Matt-du9ez]

theyre so cute, hard to source in australia!

[@Charles-xu7pu]

I think the mudskippers need a lot more land than this

[@fishballs333]

Is wild collection of mudskippers sustainable?

[@mattercolini7451]

An amazing video can't wait to hear about the update! Please I need help! I have 2 black phantom tetra and 5 blue Mickey Mouse platty I have 8fry as they grow they all have one or two single stripes on their body and are grey( black phantom tetra)BUT their tails look totally different in fact the body shape look like the blue platties. I'm totally aware that these two breed totally differently but is it possible it's a cross of both?

[@laurenlettiere1381]

That one literal fish out of water from 6:14 to 6:25 ;-; I don't mean to shame but how did you not notice you had a fish flopping around on the exposed substrate? It skipped before I could see if the fish was okay 😭

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh my goodness, I didn't even notice! I was so panicked about getting the nitrite removed that I was rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off. Luckily the water changed happened fairly quickly so it definitely recovered from the ordeal.

[@laurenlettiere1381]

@@GirlTalksFish Good to hear!

[@lumberfoot_jpg]

These look so durpy :3

[@nathansaquaticsexotics9239]

aren't those the one type of bumblebee goby (BRACHYGOBIUS XANTHOMELAS) that does best in freshwater?

[@lcatw]

Just makes me want to read dungeon crawler Carl again

[@FirstLast-numba1]

i love her

[@yilz123]

They’re soooooo weird I used to see them all the time in mangrove forests

[@lizdyson3627]

What size tank is it Irene?

[@easy_fishkeeping.]

Now that you have amanos in brackish water, any success on breeding these guys?

[@quitlife9279]

Even if the eggs survive and hatch they're gonna get eaten if there's fish though.

[@easy_fishkeeping.]

@@quitlife9279 oh I completely forgot about the fish 😅

[@GirlTalksFish]

I only have 1 amano shrimp but it might be fun to add more!

[@easy_fishkeeping.]

@@GirlTalksFish Yes it will!

[@Sanyasi_Baba_01]

Hi mam What is the difference between male and female Indian dwarf mudskipper 😊

[@pencilpauli9442]

So jelly! They are wonderful ❤ Gobis and mudskippers are too cool 😎 Maybe one day a having a gobi may well be a thing but I somehow doubt mudskippers will be.

[@opethmike]

I have many saltwater tanks; we definitely measure for nitrite during cycling. 0 is the aim.

[@Anne_Onymous]

There's definitely not enough land in that tank for them

[@MrMudskipper17]

This is not about mudskippers but I have two fancy goldfish in a 10 gallon tank and I want a 40 gallon because that is the right size, but my mom won’t let me. What should I do?

[@memeboi6017]

What do you mean specifically, is it the physical size of the tank she dislikes, or the cost. To the cost issue, you can simply use one of those tough totes from Home Depot, or just get a 40 gal that’s on sale, they can be very affordable

[@sophistiq8ted]

I thought you got mudskippers already from Zenzo at tazawa tanks.

[@mattdunits7288]

Black ghost knife still the best oddball

[@justahomosapien985]

That is soooo cool btw im from india❤

[@booomkalani]

I'll stick to fresh water aquariums, thanks! 😂

[@Firefenex1996]

Salt bro here. I never measure nitrite lol. Just nitrate phosphate and the other salt usuals lol.

[@klausjager2161]

👍👍👍

[@69marrr]

Please add more landing area… beautiful tho…

[@mikefisher4834]

It’s 4 months later Is there an update video on this?? If there is I didn’t see the notification

[@NeksGenLyfe]

Amanos should be good to breed in there.