mystery fish (no pic)

[dbcb314]

My brother today bought another cichlid and gave me one of his non-cichlids in his tank because he believed (as did I) that is might be killed or picked on. There is one annoying problem however, he doesn't remember what it is called and that annoys me. I was there when he bought it, but the owner gave some long scientific name. Now I want to know what it is. Here is the descprition:


It has 9 black, vertical stripes with the middle one being very big (may be 2 stripes).

Its body color is silvery brown. THe tail is is clear.

It has a large dorsal fin, which is black, clear, and tan. It has a little dorsal fin also which is orange and black. Its bottom fins are black, clear, and tanish.

Right now it is about 6 inches.

It swims on its head, but if it goes really fast it will go horizantally.

It has a little head, big eyes (compared to its head), and little mouth.

It is very active, swimming around constantly.

The shape is narrow at the head, gets taller, and narrows back down a bit.

It is slender, not fat.



Do you have any ideas?

[ChilDawg]

Can you tell me if this is it? http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0543&view_records=1

[dbcb314]

No, thats not it, I have had one of those before though. The dorsal fin is not the high. It has more stripes too.

[ChilDawg]

Try this one: http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/graphics/tetra2.jpg

[dbcb314]

No, it is not the leporinus fasciatus. Thats what I thought it might be, but their body shapes do not match. That fish's body is too short and my fish is taller, and it is not yellow.


I thought it might be in the same family, but I have not been able to find any others.

[ChilDawg]

I'm going out on a limb here, but I see something similar, and hopefully we can work from there: http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/dpencil1.jpg

[dbcb314]

Stripes are going the wrong way.

[ChilDawg]

Try this link: http://www.*****************/catalog_pages/wild/distichodus.htm

[dbcb314]

No that is not it. I looked at some of its family members also, and it does not even look like the right family. I think the other thing was closer

[ChilDawg]

You might want to Google "pencilfish" then, b/c that's what that one was.

[VoodooChild]

I can't think of the latin names, but there's two species of African tetra, I believe usually called tiger tetras, that are similar to what you described. Very Leporinus looking.

[ChilDawg]

You aren't, by chance, thinking of Hydrocynus vittatus and H. goliath are you, Voodoo?

[JamisonBWolsh]

http://www.*****************/images_01/abramite_headstander.jpg



Im thinking its this....

[ChilDawg]

Dang, Jamison, I was having a lot of trouble finding a Headstander that looks like that, glad you found it, 'cos I'd guess you're onto something!

[JamisonBWolsh]

Any fish in the headstander family are aggressive. Loves to nips fins!

They are the only easy to get fish that swims at a major slant angle, I believe. To find this pic, All I did was go to www.google.com, press the "search Images" and type in "Headstander". Im sure typing in the scientific name would get more results on this fish. With just the word headstander, I got a guy standing on his head!

dbcb314
There are many different Variations of this type of fish...

another example:
http://www.whozoo.org/fish/teleosts/Characins/Headstander123101_11.jpg

This is NOT it, but another in the family:

http://www.freshwatertropicalfishkeeping.com/images/Spotted_Headstander_-_Chilodus_punctatus.jpg

[dbcb314]

jamison,

You got it, that is exactly what it is.

thanks for the help.

[dbcb314]

THe first link you put, thought I ought to be specific.