TankBud

Freshwater sole

Brachirus panoides

Also known as Freshwater tongue fish

FreshwaterFish

Freshwater sole (Brachirus panoides)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
55 gal
208 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Soleidae
Origin
Malay Peninsula, Thailand

Overview

The freshwater sole is a peaceful, solitary flatfish for a broad tank with plenty of open sand. It is for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The freshwater sole all but disappears in the aquarium, shuffling down into the sand until only its eyes remain in view. It hides through the day and forages in the dark. It feels along the bottom for small invertebrates with the sensitive underside of its head.

Caring for the freshwater sole

Give the freshwater sole a broad tank of at least 55 gal (208 L) for the floor space it needs. Lay a large area of deep, fine, soft sand for it to bury in. Keep the decor open so it can glide and settle across the bottom. It wants gentle flow and quiet, clean, well-oxygenated water.

Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is usually kept in fresh water and does well there, though it appreciates hard, neutral to slightly alkaline conditions.

Feed after the lights go out. The main challenge is getting it to eat, since it often wants live bloodworms and small worms before it accepts frozen fare.

The freshwater sole is peaceful and ignores anything it cannot eat. It may take tiny fish or shrimp resting on the bottom at night. Keep it with peaceful mid-water and upper-level fish rather than bite-sized bottom dwellers. Aquarium breeding is not documented.

Good to know

The freshwater sole belongs to the family Soleidae, the true soles, a group of flatfishes. Like all soles, it begins life as an upright, symmetrical larva. One eye then migrates across the head as the fish settles onto one side to live flat against the bottom. Its small, hidden mouth and mottled brown skin suit a life spent lying camouflaged on the substrate. Freshwater soles for the aquarium are collected from the wild.

In the wild

The freshwater sole lives along the bottom of the lower rivers and estuaries of the Malay Peninsula and Thailand. It moves over soft mud and sand in slow, silty water, and it comes from tidal reaches.

Common questions

What size tank does a freshwater sole need?

A freshwater sole needs at least 55 gal (208 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a freshwater sole need?

A freshwater sole is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a freshwater sole eat?

A freshwater sole often wants live bloodworms and small worms before it accepts frozen fare. It may also take tiny fish or shrimp resting on the bottom at night. Feed it after the lights go out.

How big does a freshwater sole get?

An adult freshwater sole reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species