The Brackish Tank • African Mono Genus: Monodactylus Species: M....

African Mono
Genus: Monodactylus
Species: M. kottelati

See below for care details

Maximum Size: 3"
Aggression: Low to Mid, Social
Temperature: 72-80 F
pH: 7.2-8
Hardness: 15-25 dH
Brackish Tolerance: 1.005-1.025
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Feeding: Will accept most foods; flake, high quality pellets, brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, frozen shrimp/krill, pieces of fish, earthworms
Notes: The African Mono is very similar in appearance to the much more common (and much larger) Silver Moony (M. argenteus). Indeed, more African Monos are sold erroneously as Silver Moonies than under their actual names. The best way to distinguish the two is that, in the case of the African Mono, the anal fin is larger than the dorsal fin (as opposed to being the same length as with M. argenteus).

The African Mono does best in large groups but within the confines of an aquarium become quarrelsome within their group. Having large easy-going fish (such as Sailfin Mollies) seems to diffuse this behavior and prevents any one fish from becoming dominant. Smaller, boisterous tankmates like Orange Chromides, Sheepshead Minnows, and possibly Sergeant Majors make good tankmates as well.

The African Mono seems to do best in settings with high carbonate hardness, a common trait among Marine fish. They appreciate the use of crushed coral either in the substrate or used as filter media. In higher salinity systems, the use of live rock is also beneficial.

Sources

Scats and Monos:Classic Fish for the Brackish Water Aquarium, Neale Monks

FAQs about Monos or Fingerfishes, Family Monodactylidae, Wetwebmedia

Monodactylus argenteus, The Aquarium Wiki

(3a) Monos (family Monodactylidae), Neale Monks

(Image Source)