Freshwater Soles?

Question

I puchased a sole about eight weeks ago. The shop keeper told me it was a fresh water sole. Soles are quite rare apparently, and when i read up on them on the web, it said that most of them prefer brackish water as they get older. I went back to the shop and told the guy this but he didn't seem to know much. Anyway it lived for about three weeks then died. It did eat food so it didn't die of stravation as alot of them do. Anyway my boyfriend brought three more soles yesterday, they are babies, they are the same size as ten pence piece and the shop keeper told him they will only grow to four inches. Scott asked the shop keeper if they are def fresh water, and he assured him they were. The thing is how can we be sure. I don't want them to die from being in the wrong type of water. Is there anyone out there who knows about fresh water soles and wot they look like, so we know for sure they are the fresh water variety. Thankyou

Answer 1

Information on Freshwater soles:

Telling these families apart is generally not difficult: the Achiridae usually have rhomboid bodies with small heads but large, paddle-like tails. The Cynoglossidae are very elongate and leaf-like, with small, tapering tail fins but a large, shovel-shaped head. Finally, the Soleidae have a leaf-like shape similar to the Cynoglossidae though not always so elongate, and the head is small and rounded. The FAO fisheries guide to Sri Lanka includes some helpful diagrams for distinguishing typical examples of the Cynoglossidae from the Soleidae.

Achirus lineatus, the South American lined sole (prefers brackishor marine water)

Trinectes maculatus, the hogchoker sole (prefers brackish or marine water)

Family Cynoglossidae (tongue soles)

Cynoglossus spp., Asian tongue soles (includes some strictly freshwater species)

Family Soleidae (true soles)

Brachirus orientalis, the oriental sole (prefers brackish or marine water)

Brachirus harmandi, the freshwater sole (a freshwater species)

Brachirus pan, the true pan sole (prefers brackish water)

Brachirus panoides, the false pan sole (either fresh or slightly brackish water)

Synaptura salinarum, the salt pan sole (a freshwater species)

Answer 2

The problem here is that there are a number of fish that are sold under the name of "freshwater flounder" or "freshwater sole", and you'll need to know which you've got to know the exact conditions it needs. You might try asking at the store where they were purchased, to see if they have the scientific name for the species they carry.

The ones I'm most familiar with are Achirus lineatus and Trinectes maculatus , which get around 2-6 ". These are sold as "freshwater" (which they tolerate as juveniles), but they do need some salt in the water (1 teaspoon/gallon minimum) as they get older. They also should be kept in lower temperatures (low to mid 70s) than most shops and aquarists use for them.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I tried to find some info on the net too and was frustrated. It seems that all there is out there is info on the saltwater flatfish.

My solution for you would be to contact the college closest to you and talk to the biology professor regarding care of your fish. They may be able to shed some light on how to take care of them. As they grow you may need to slowly increase the salinity of your aquarium. When to start and how long to make it last, I have no idea.

I have some freshwater shrimp that continually lay and carry eggs but they never develop into shrimp because the larvae need to go back to salt water to grow from larvae to shrimp. Then they come back to freshwater to live their adult lives and spawn.

Answer 5

if you dont know why not go and ask your nears vets there to help on any thing.