Milkfish - Brackish 10cm

Milkfish - Brackish 

Now, this is a species that is usually kept in public level aquariums and is almost never seen in the general aquarium hobby. The milkfish is a torpedo-shaped, open water fish that can reach lengths of around 6 feet long, because of this they are a popular sports fish in Australia and are a popular food fish as well.   The milkfish is also quite unique in the fact that it can thrive in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater environments but complete its full cycle in saltwater. They are however found most commonly in saltwater settings which is why they are often in large public aquariums. 

The Milkfish is best compared to a torpedo, these fish have a very streamlined body with a large head that narrows down to their forked tail. Though they spend most of their time simply cruising around in the water, the milkfish can really pick up speed with its muscular body which is why they make for such a popular sports fish. They often leap out of the water and make for a real challenge to catch, this behavior though not all that common in the home aquarium still pose a potential problem. The milkfish also have a fairly simple aesthetic as they are mostly a gradient of silver with the top half of their body ranging in grey, green or blue.  

The Milkfish is often a solitary species in the wild and is generally a gentle giant that feeds on greens for the most part. The biggest issue is their size which not many people can accommodate, if this challenge is managed then this fish will be a true rarity in the aquarium which is not commonly seen or experienced by most. Breeding the milkfish has not been recorded in a home aquarium but these fish are farmed commonly overseas as a food species. They are known to be egg scattering fish that is generally bred in natural ponds.

Tank Recommendations for your Milkfish

The milkfish will easily reach a maximum size of around 1 meter and have been reported to reach a maximum size of around 1.6 meters. Because of this they really do need a large aquarium with a minimum length of around 4 in meters length and 3 meters in width, this ensures they have the space to thrive.

They are also an open water species that do not take much care of the hardscape elements used in the aquarium. They are however avid herbivores meaning that any plants in the aquarium will be an easy feast for this fish.  Milkfish is also a tropical species which are best kept at 24-26 degrees.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The milkfish is a peaceful species that can be housed with a range of large growing species. They may potentially eat smaller fish however they are by no means a hunter, so this may be a rare occurrence. 

Usually Compatible

Tarpon, barramundi, lungfish, eel-tail catfish, larger estuarine species like perch, and similar species.

Sometimes Compatible

Large to medium aggressive species such as Dovii, predatory catfish, Murray cod, and any species that may pester the milkfish on a regular basis. 

Rarely Compatible

Small species such as tetras may become an accidental meal for this large fish. The milkfish may also outcompete any slow species.  

Feeding your Milkfish

The milkfish is a herbivore in the wild that is feeding on aquatic vegetation. They will also take to a range of aquarium foods though and can be herbivore-targeted aquarium pellet with additional supplementation of greens in their diet.