| Monos Fingerfish, monodactylus argenteus, are | | | | provide it is hard water with a high mineral ion |
| members of the family Monodactylidae. They are | | | | content and an alkaline rather than acidic base. As |
| native to the coastal areas of the Indio-Pacific, | | | | monos mature they will venture further away |
| western Africa and Australia. These shallow water | | | | from brackish water until they become a true |
| dwellers are not initially true saltwater marine | | | | saltwater species. If you are keeping these fish in |
| species. They frequent the brackish water found | | | | a mono-species aquarium you will want to |
| in sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs when | | | | increase the salinity level as they mature. It should |
| young. Juveniles can even survive in freshwater | | | | be apparent that only more mature members of |
| environments. | | | | this species should be added to a community |
| Monos are medium to large sized triangular shaped | | | | saltwater tank. |
| fish. Their bodies are distinctly similar to those of | | | | Monos are moderately aggressive fish. Juveniles |
| freshwater angelfish. The two are not in anyway | | | | are timid in nature. These fish becomes more |
| related. They have white to silverfish bodies and | | | | aggressive with size. They will never become |
| frequently have two black vertical stripes on the | | | | assertive enough to be housed with truly |
| anterior region of their body. This vertical striping | | | | aggressive species. Mono fingerfish are omnivores |
| accentuates the similarity between them and their | | | | with voracious appetites. They are not picky |
| freshwater look-alikes. Juveniles are further | | | | when it comes to their eating habits in captivity. |
| accented with yellow trimmed fins. This coloration | | | | They will eat live foods, frozen or freeze-dried |
| vanishes with age. They can reach a maximum | | | | foods and flakes or pellets formulated for |
| adult diameter of 9 inches. | | | | omnivores. They will even nibble on freshly |
| This is a shoaling fish. Communal instinct runs high | | | | chopped vegetables if given the opportunity. |
| in this species. It is inadvisable to attempt to keep | | | | There is no visible difference between the males |
| a solitary mono. You will want to have a minimum | | | | and females of this species. There are no reports |
| of four monos in your aquarium. Given their size | | | | of monos being successfully bred in home aquaria. |
| you will require at least a 55 gallon tank for a | | | | However they are commercially tank-bred and |
| mono-species setup and 100 gallons or more if | | | | raised on fish farms in Florida and parts of the Far |
| you wish to keep them in a community tank. | | | | East. A commercially bred fish is always a better |
| They are very active mid-level swimmers and will | | | | alternative to a fish captured in the wild. Farm |
| require plenty of wide open spaces. Monos have a | | | | raised fish are often half the price and have up to |
| life expectancy of up to 10 years of age in | | | | a three times higher survivability rate. Farmed fish |
| captivity. | | | | tend to be more uniform in size. Your local fish |
| The juveniles of this species demonstrate | | | | store or any reputable online retailer will be able to |
| prevalence for brackish water. As already stated | | | | tell you if their stock is wild or captive bred. |
| they can survive in a freshwater environment | | | | |