bam Advanced/Expert level

Creek in Pandaan Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia

Indonesia, East Java, Bakalan, Durensewu, Pandaan, Pasuruan Regency

The biotope I recreated this time is a mountain stream in the Pandaan area, Pasuruan, East Java. Although this is a small stream, the current tends to be very fast, which is the habitat of such a fast-swimming fish as Barbodes binotatus, Mystacoleucus obtusirostris and others.

This river interested me also because it is the habitat of a very beautiful Rhinogobius sp. which looks like Rhinogobius similis. This fish is still often found in some regions of East Java, such as in Mojokerto, where mountain streams always have this fish.

Hopefully this biotope aquarium will inspire others to recreate a habitat for Rhinogobius sp. fish in the aquarium.

Submitted by: MAA Rafsanajani
Approved by: Heok Hee Ng & Greg Martin

GPS: -7.6673112, 112.6859360

Geographical region: Southeastern Asia
Drainage Basin: Java Sea
River catchment: Bekacak River
Water body type: Creek
Water body name: Pandaan
Water body part: Waterfall
Water body course: Headwaters
Water body: tributary of: River
Tributary name: Bekacak

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: fresh-water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: Medium
Concentration of sediments: Medium
Water temperature: 24 °C
Water flow/curent: Strong

Chemical parameters

pH: 7
Conductivity
GH: 100 mg/l
KH: 90 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen: 90 %

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

February, 2023

Aquarium decoration

I used river stones taken directly from the location, and added roots and branches like in the natural habitat. For the aquarium background I used river art print paper. I put the aquarium lights in a position that can make a light effect like when diving in a river.

Aquarium equipment

Spotlight Kandila 1M used for the effect of sunlight
Gutter filter filled with sponge and synthetic cotton Pump engine: takari 1800, 1600 L/H, 30 Watt
Wave Maker Recent AA WM 24000, 24000 L/H, 25 Watt for use once a week once a day, fast water mode
Kandila S500, Spotlight Kandila S200 used for the effect of sunlight.

Fishes:

Puntius binotatus (Cyprinidae)
Rhinogobius (Oxudercidae)
Mystacoleucus (Cyprinidae)

Fish care

I make enough room for the fish to swim and feed. I also make cracks for the spawning places of all the fish in the aquarium (can be seen in the video). I keep the water temperature low at 22-26°C.

Plant care

Water care

20% water change once a week.

Dimensions

Length: 100 cm
Depth: 40 cm
High: 40 cm
Volume: 150 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand: Black
Pebble/Gravel: Mixed
Stone: Mixed
Stone form: Roundish
Silt/Mud: None
Leaves
Driftwood: Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation

Bibliography

→ E.J. Brill. Leiden, 1916 - The Fishes of The Indo-Australian Archipelago III:186-189 by Weber, M. & L.F. de Beaufort
→ Skripsi Fakultas Perikanan IPB, 1979 - Makanan ikan keprek, Mystacoleucus marginatus (C.V.) dan beberapa jenis ikan Puntius sp. di Waduk Lahor, Malang, Jawa Timur by Ridwan
Ichthyological Research, 2015 - Redescription of Rhinogobius similis Gill 1859 (Gobiidae: Gobionellinae), the type species of the genus Rhinogobius Gill 1859, with designation of the neotype by Suzuki, T., Shibukawa, K., Senou, H. & Chen, I-S.

Sitography

→ FishBase

Comment by the expert

Heok Hee Ng: Rhinogobius is not native to Java, so this is a poor choice for this biotope theme (you should be using Stiphodon, Sicyopterus or Awaous instead).

Greg Martin: Almost faultless – well done.

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