Any have experience with a flying gurnard?
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rykna
Active Member
Flying Gurnard
Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)
A Flying Gurnard at a depth of 10m, Fly Point, Port Stephens, New South Wales. View larger image.
A 12cm long juvenile Flying Gurnard at a depth of 4m, Watsons Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, September, 2001. The Flying Gurnard is easily recognised by its huge pectoral fins. These fins are covered with dark spots and wavy lines. They have feeler-like leading rays and extensions from each fin ray.
The pectoral fins are usually held against the sides of the body. When the fish is disturbed, it quickly expands its pectoral fins, often retracting them before swimming off at speed. Despite its common name, the Flying Gurnard does not fly. It can however "walk" on the bottom by alternatively moving the pelvic fins and short pectoral fin rays.
This species grows to 38cm in length. It has a blunt head and a grey to brown body that is covered with dark brown to black spots.
The Flying Gurnard lives in a range of habitats including estuaries, coastal bays and deep sandy areas. It is often seen in water less than 10m in depth, but is also caught in trawls down to 100m.
It occurs from East Africa to Polynesia. In Australia it is recorded around the northern half of the country from the central coast of Western Australia to southern New South Wales. ***)
Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829)
A Flying Gurnard at a depth of 10m, Fly Point, Port Stephens, New South Wales. View larger image.
A 12cm long juvenile Flying Gurnard at a depth of 4m, Watsons Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, September, 2001. The Flying Gurnard is easily recognised by its huge pectoral fins. These fins are covered with dark spots and wavy lines. They have feeler-like leading rays and extensions from each fin ray.
The pectoral fins are usually held against the sides of the body. When the fish is disturbed, it quickly expands its pectoral fins, often retracting them before swimming off at speed. Despite its common name, the Flying Gurnard does not fly. It can however "walk" on the bottom by alternatively moving the pelvic fins and short pectoral fin rays.
This species grows to 38cm in length. It has a blunt head and a grey to brown body that is covered with dark brown to black spots.
The Flying Gurnard lives in a range of habitats including estuaries, coastal bays and deep sandy areas. It is often seen in water less than 10m in depth, but is also caught in trawls down to 100m.
It occurs from East Africa to Polynesia. In Australia it is recorded around the northern half of the country from the central coast of Western Australia to southern New South Wales. ***)
rykna
Active Member
The body of the Eastern Gurnard is elongated, nearly round, and tapers to the tail. The head and eyes are quite large, and the mouth is small. From a side view the head looks something like a frog. The body has what you might call armor, as the fish is covered with tough scales that are rather prickly. Near the gills are two large hook-like spurs.
It has enormous fan-like pectoral fins that distinguish this fish from any others. The top dorsal fin is split. The two pelvic fins are far forward under the body and the fish uses them as "legs" to walk to ocean bottom. On the top of the head behind the eye area it has a long, flexible moving appendage.
The body can appear to be of a light hued greenish color, or mixed light and dark tanish colors, with a white underbelly, and the body is marked with darker spots. The pectoral fins are marked with dark spots that have orange edges.
This fish can grow quite large, up to 16 inches. The Gurnard Family, Dactylopteridae (Cephalacanthidae), includes only two or three species. The Dactyloptena orientalis species is found in Hawaiian waters. The distribution of this fish extends from Hawaii and Japan southward to central Polynesia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies, and across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa.
Characteristics
This fish likes to inhabit areas of shallower waters where there are sandy bottoms. It walks along the bottom with the two small leg-like pelvic fins looking for food. The pectoral fins are not actually "wings" and it does not have the capability of flying, but it can use its "wings" to move through the water in quick, short, "flights". When alarmed it spreads its "wings" increasing its appearance in size as a threat to predators. This also helps the fish blend into its bottom surroundings. Be sure to keep a cover on the aquarium. If the fish is startled or excited it can jump out of the tank easily.
Diet
It is a carnivorous bottom dweller eating inverts, crustaceans, and possibly other smaller fishes. In tank life we have had success with feeding this fish dried or frozen (thawed) shrimp, shells included, along with pieces of fish, crab, etc. This fish is a good scavenger and can help keep the tank bottom cleaned.
Guides' Notes
The Flying Gurnard is a fascinating fish to keep. It is a beautiful, entertaining fish to watch and easy to care for. However, because this fish can grow to a large size, it should only be kept if you have a big aquarium to give it the room it needs.
Use caution when handling this fish. Whether small or large, this fish is extremely strong and can thrash around a lot. The prickly like armor can cut or scrap a person causing injury. Because of the characteristic armor and the two hook like spurs near the gills, this fish gets snagged in nets easily. We have had experiences where we have had to cut the net to to get the fish out of it.
More to come... ***)
It has enormous fan-like pectoral fins that distinguish this fish from any others. The top dorsal fin is split. The two pelvic fins are far forward under the body and the fish uses them as "legs" to walk to ocean bottom. On the top of the head behind the eye area it has a long, flexible moving appendage.
The body can appear to be of a light hued greenish color, or mixed light and dark tanish colors, with a white underbelly, and the body is marked with darker spots. The pectoral fins are marked with dark spots that have orange edges.
This fish can grow quite large, up to 16 inches. The Gurnard Family, Dactylopteridae (Cephalacanthidae), includes only two or three species. The Dactyloptena orientalis species is found in Hawaiian waters. The distribution of this fish extends from Hawaii and Japan southward to central Polynesia, westward through Micronesia and Melanesia, through the East Indies, and across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa.
Characteristics
This fish likes to inhabit areas of shallower waters where there are sandy bottoms. It walks along the bottom with the two small leg-like pelvic fins looking for food. The pectoral fins are not actually "wings" and it does not have the capability of flying, but it can use its "wings" to move through the water in quick, short, "flights". When alarmed it spreads its "wings" increasing its appearance in size as a threat to predators. This also helps the fish blend into its bottom surroundings. Be sure to keep a cover on the aquarium. If the fish is startled or excited it can jump out of the tank easily.
Diet
It is a carnivorous bottom dweller eating inverts, crustaceans, and possibly other smaller fishes. In tank life we have had success with feeding this fish dried or frozen (thawed) shrimp, shells included, along with pieces of fish, crab, etc. This fish is a good scavenger and can help keep the tank bottom cleaned.
Guides' Notes
The Flying Gurnard is a fascinating fish to keep. It is a beautiful, entertaining fish to watch and easy to care for. However, because this fish can grow to a large size, it should only be kept if you have a big aquarium to give it the room it needs.
Use caution when handling this fish. Whether small or large, this fish is extremely strong and can thrash around a lot. The prickly like armor can cut or scrap a person causing injury. Because of the characteristic armor and the two hook like spurs near the gills, this fish gets snagged in nets easily. We have had experiences where we have had to cut the net to to get the fish out of it.
More to come... ***)
rykna
Active Member
Quick Stats: Oriental Helmut Gurnard
Family: Dactylopteridae
Range: Indian Ocean
Size: Up to 14 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Sandy bottom; Minimum coral or rock, plants
Reef Compatible: No
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Minimum Tank Capacity: 180 gallon
Light: High
Temperament: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Bottom
Care Level: Moderate
The Oriental Helmut Gurnard is also known as the Flying Gurnard. It is a light-brown color with orange to dark-brown spots. The pectoral fins can be flared out into an impressive display of fan-like wings, with spines extending beyond the flesh at the tips. The tips of the wings are tinged with a blue.
A 180 gallon or larger aquarium with a large unobstructed swimming area and a sandy bottom without much rockwork will provide a suitable environment. Aggressive tank mates should be avoided as well as bottom dwellers.
The diet of the Oriental Helmut Gurnard consists of small bottom-dwelling fish, black worms, shrimp (mysid or brine), and other meaty foods.
How's that?? :happyfish
Family: Dactylopteridae
Range: Indian Ocean
Size: Up to 14 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Sandy bottom; Minimum coral or rock, plants
Reef Compatible: No
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Minimum Tank Capacity: 180 gallon
Light: High
Temperament: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Bottom
Care Level: Moderate
The Oriental Helmut Gurnard is also known as the Flying Gurnard. It is a light-brown color with orange to dark-brown spots. The pectoral fins can be flared out into an impressive display of fan-like wings, with spines extending beyond the flesh at the tips. The tips of the wings are tinged with a blue.
A 180 gallon or larger aquarium with a large unobstructed swimming area and a sandy bottom without much rockwork will provide a suitable environment. Aggressive tank mates should be avoided as well as bottom dwellers.
The diet of the Oriental Helmut Gurnard consists of small bottom-dwelling fish, black worms, shrimp (mysid or brine), and other meaty foods.
How's that?? :happyfish
