Origin: This Argenteus originally lived along the coast of Asia, where they sometimes live in saltwater and sometimes swim upstream in rivers to freshwater to spawn.

Many of the young are trapped by fish collectors, as they swim back down stream to the ocean and end up in aquariums throughout most of the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums they can grow to be about 10" long, which is very large for most home aquariums.

So if you get one and take very good care of it with excellent water and premium foods, it will almost surely outgrow your aquarium, and you might need an upgrade in tank size somewhere down the line.

Behaviors: This is a very active swimmer that can be aggressive to other fish and eat small fish.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, other Brackish Water Fish such as Archer Fish, Mono. Sebae, Scats, and large Mollies. and other varitities of the Mono. family.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Mono. Argenteus can live pretty well from about 70 to 80-degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 75 to 78-degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when small and Premium Pellet Food when larger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: Mono. Argenteus seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Probably a pH of about 7.8 with moderate hardness and some marine salts is best, when they're young.

Most water in the US seems to be OK just need some marine salts, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

As they get older they need proportionately more marine salts in their water. Eventually they need to live in saltwater like the water in the Ocean, where their parents lived as adults.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: When young and less than 3" long, it's probably best to house one in at least a 30-gallon tank, but bigger is better.

They'll soon need 50 to 60-gallon aquarium. Then an aquarium with 100-gallons, 150, 200, and maybe bigger.

Decor: Mono. Argenteus do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but Mono. Argenteus constantly need more marine salts in their water, and those salts will soon kill the freshwater plants.

Click here for more about live Aquarium Plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start, when they're small, but a Penguin 350B Filter is the right size for a 30 to 50-gallon aquarium.

When Mono. Argenteus grow to be 6" long they'll need to live in an aquarium with at least 80-gallons of water and have a couple of Penguin 350B Filters along the back edge of that aquarium.

The bigger aquariums will need proportionately more Penguins.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Mono. Argenteus live for many years with excellent water and premium food.

Gender: It's not easy to tell the males from the females, when they're young and sometimes, even as they mature.

As females mature they often fill with eggs and become plumper, which may be a clue to their gender.

Breeding: Apparently there are reports of observations of this fish breeding in the wild, but no such reports about them breeding in aquariums.

Popularity: In spite of the comments above about their eventual size, Mono. Argenteus have been popular for many years.

We like to tell our customers what we know about each type of fish, then let each customer decide, which fish to buy as pets.

Names: The scientific name of the Mono. Argenteus is Monodactylus argenteus.

Variations: There is another variation called the Mono. Sebae, which we also sell from time to time.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Mono. Argenteus, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.