View Full Version : FW Fish Profiles
Rbishop
10-02-2008, 5:15 AM
Place your FW Fish profiles in this thread, as individual posts. Use the scientific name as the post title.
Through Post #77.....
Banded Tiger Loach Syncrossus helodes
Clown Loach Chromobotia macracanthus
Hillstream Loach Beaufortia kweichowensis
Kuhli Loach Pangio kuhlii
Orange-Finned Loach Yasuhikotakia modesta
Skunk Loach Yasuhikotakia morleti
Yoyo Loach Botia almorhae
Gold Severum Heros severus
Striped Raphael Catfish Platydoras costatus
Licorice Gourami Parosphromenus deissneri
Samurai Gourami Sphaerichthys vaillanti
Sparkling Gourami Trichopsis pumila
Bucktoothed Tetra Exodon paradoxus
Pink-Tailed Chalceus Chalceus macrolepidota
Adonis Tetra Lepidarchus Adonis
Striped Anostomus Anostomus anostomus
Benny Tetra Creagrutus beni
Black Diamond Gold Piranha Serrasalmus spilopleura
Black Skirt Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Blind Cave Tetra Astyanax mexicanus
Black Pacu Colossoma macropomum
Bloodfin Tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi
Cardinal Tetra Cheirodon axelrodi
Cochu's Blue Tetra Boehlkea fredcochui
Lesser Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon socolofi
Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi
Pepper Tetra Axelrodia stigmatias
Rummy-Nose Tetra Hemigrammus bleheri
Rummy-Nose Tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Rummy-Nose Tetra Petitella georgiae
Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon serape
Silver-tipped Tetra Hasemania nana
Socolof's Tetra Gymnocorymbus socolofi
Redtailed Barracuda Acestrorhynchus falcatus
Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus
Black Neon Tetra Hemigrammus herbertaxelrodi
Columbian Tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus
Buenos Aires Tetra Hyphessobrycon caudovittatus
Black Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus megalopterus
Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri
Dwarf Redfin Rasbora Boraras brigittae
Dwarf Spotted Rasbora Boraras maculates
Australian Arowana Scleropages jardinii
Black Darter Tetra Poecilocharax weitzmani
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare
Deep Angelfish Pterophyllum altum
Longnosed Angelfish Pterophyllum leopoldi
Discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Blue Ram Microgeophagus ramirezi
Bolivian Ram Microgeophagus altispinosa
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma cacatuiodes
Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma agassizi
Borell's Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma Borelli
Bumblebee Oscar Astronotus orbicularis
Oscar Astronotus ocellatus
Leichardt's Arowana Scleropages leichardti
Asian Arowana Scleropages formosus
Jaguar Cichlid Parachromis managuense
Gulper Catfish Asterophysus batrachus
Starry Woodcat Trachelyopterus galeatus
Oto Catfish Otocinclus affinis
Whiptail Catfish Rineloricaria parva
Royal Whiptail Sturisoma panamense
Farlowella gracilis Farlowella gracilis
Black Banded Leporinus Leporinus fasciatus
Apollo Shark Luciosoma pellegrini
Golden Shark Leptobarbus hoevenii
Diamond Tetra Moenkhausia pittieri
Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozona
Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens
Giant Gourami Osphronemus gorami
Pearl Gourami Trichogaster leeri
Dwarf Gourami Colisa lalia
Honey Gourami Colisa chuna
Moonlight Gourami Trichogaster microlepis
Cherry Barb Puntius titteya
Syncrossus helodes
Common name: Tiger Loach, Green Tiger Loach, Banded Tiger Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 12 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates: Available in this link (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1640626#post1640626). Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: Due to their slow growth rate, a 75g can handle 6-8 of these fish. An upgrade in tank size will be needed once they reach six inches in length as they tend to cover large areas as they clash to settle territorial disputes.
Narrative:
Syncrossus helodes is one of the loaches of the Syncrossus genus that is available from time to time although not as popular as the others like the Yasuhikotakia morleti. They are the largest in their genus growing to 12 inches looking more bulky in appearance as they mature. Their color fades away slightly as they mature. Just a few hints, they can be distinguished from Syncrossus hymenophysa by counting the number of stripes which is 10-11 vertical stripes whereas the latter has more than that. The stripes of Syncrossus helodes from the head to dorsal fin are slanted towards the tail whereas it is otherwise in the case of the Syncrossus hymenophysa.
These fish tend to burrow crevices under boulders so make sure the rock placement is stable otherwise you will know what disastrous consequences will be if you do not follow the precautions stated above.
Chromobotia macracanthus
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/Blue_076/ClownLoach.jpg
Common name: Clown Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 16 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 26-30 degrees Celsius (78-86 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Indonesia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Available in this link (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1640626#post1640626). Recommended tankmates usually include large species of danios, barbs and peaceful cichlids as long as they can handle the powerful currents the clown loaches require. They should not also be mixed with extremely aggressive cichlids as they cannot take brutal beatings easily.
Angelfish and discus may not be suitable tankmates at all as clown loaches are rather inquisitive fish and their actions may simply stress the cichlids and even possibly nip their fins.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: Due to their slow growth rate, a 75g can handle 6-8 of these fish. An upgrade in tank size will be needed once they reach six inches in length.
Narrative:
Clown loach is considered to be the most gregarious of all well-known loaches. It has been the most popular member in the loach family yet a lot of people fail to realize how large this fish actually grows and very few aquaria can readily accommodate their requirements. Allow a bare minimum of 75 gallons when keeping a small group of clown loaches. They require very powerful and efficient filtration systems, strong currents provided by the powerheads, frequent water changes and more attention to the cleanliness of their environment.
Tank should have subdued lighting, soft substrate and numerous hiding places. Plants should also be strong enough not to be easily uprooted. Do not expect most of your plants to survive. Clown loaches (including all other botiine loaches) have a habit for punching holes on the foliage thus damaging the plants. Plants with soft foliage are more vulnerable to such damage in comparison to tougher ones. Java ferns and vallisneria species are almost always guaranteed to survive the loaches' nasty habit along with anubias species.
Clown loaches have little or no scales at all so they fall under the category of scaleless fish where all scaleless fish will succumb easily to various medications if use at heavy doses. It is always advisable to treat with only half of the recommended dosage so as not to further endanger the health of the fish. Do not use salt if you intend to treat the loaches. The same thing applies to almost all bottom dwellers as salt can burn their skin.
When buying clown loaches, please be very observant with their behavior and body structure. You are advised to avoid at all costs clown loaches that appear to have chronic skinny disease. Symptoms will include their obvious skinny appearance where the skull and spinal column are almost visible and concaved stomach. Recommended treatment for this is Levamisole hydrochloride. Ask your local fish store for their sources. This should be applicable to all loaches and more particularly, those that are caught directly from the wild.
Sexual dimorphism is not apparent until spawning season wherein females are often perceived to be taller in body shape comparative to the males if well-fed. Clown loaches do not reach sexual maturity until several years.
Breeding: There has been a few breeding records however a lot of this were not properly documented or successful.
Beaufortia kweichowensis
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/Blue_076/IMG_0033-2.jpg
Common name: Hillstream loach, Borneo sucker, China sucker, Butterfly pleco, Stingray pleco, Hong Kong pleco
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH range: 6.5-7.5
Temperature range: 18-24 degrees Celsius (68-76 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Borneo, Sumatra
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Available in this link (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1640626#post1640626).
Tankmates should be able to tolerate very low temperatures and fast flowing currents. White cloud mountain minnows and several species of danios and devarios make suitable tankmates along with peaceful Schistura species and other hillstream loach species.
Diet:
Diet consists mostly of algae and aufwuches which harbor the algae. This, in short, makes us think hillstream loaches are indeed omnivores. They have been fed so far with bloodworms, mosquito larva, shrimps and plenty other foods. Small artificial foods will also be appreciated by this fish.
Tip: In order to ensure the continuous supply of algae, the use of sunlight, fertilizers/fish food and dechlorinated tap water in a bucket/spare aquarium (not the main river aquarium!) are very important and will be sufficient enough to grow algae in a few days. Simply place a few rocks inside the bucket of water. Put a pinch of fish food or dose it with fertilizer designed for aquarium plants. Once you are done with the above, place the bucket under direct sunlight. Wait patiently for a few days and you should expect green algal growth among the rocks. Alternately use the rocks by placing a few ones at a time in the main aquarium for the hillstream loaches to feed. Return the rocks to the bucket and use the others thus ensuring you will not run out of the supply of algae which is very important to the well being of the fish.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g minimum for a group of 8-10.
Narrative:
There are several species of hillstream loaches available all around Asia, however, details will be posted for specifics. They are easily distinguished from Gastromyzons by their smaller mouth shape and wider body appearance. A lot of these species can reach to 2-3 inches maximum size although smaller in captivity.
This fish has long been called in several other names including Borneo Sucker, Stingray Pleco, Butterfly Pleco and China Sucker. While they do closely resemble the plecos, the truth is they are neither plecos nor can they be considered as catfish. They are loaches thus falling under the cyprinids category.
Hillstream loaches inhabit fast-flowing streams with boulders and this must be replicated in captivity to satisfy their needs. In short, a tank with substrate and smooth rocks coated with algae make a suitable environment for them. Keep them at a temperature ranging 65-76 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher than that can result in inactivity and reduction of oxygen supply. Plants may be recommended as well to ensure excellent water quality as this fish actually prefers very clean water as evident in their habitat. Provide powerful currents and surface movements to ensure very high oxygen supply and continuing comfort in their home. They will not last long enough if the oxygen is greatly depleted or if any of their requirements are not met at all.
Sexing is not easy and may actually vary depending on the species. As far as breeding, some species have been successfully bred. One species worth mentioning is Sewella lineolata, one of the species well known for its beautiful reticulated patterns.
On tank maintenance, doing 20-30% water change on daily basis is recommended. Small frequent water changes are far more safer for this fish than big water changes at different time intervals as they will not be happy with the tremendous changes in water conditions.
Lastly, it has been acknowledged so far that hillstream loaches can last as long as five years provided they are not deprived of the requirements that will allow them to thrive in your tank happily.
Pangio kuhlii
Common name: Kuhli loach, Eel loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Indonesia (varies with most species)
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Available in this link (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1640626#post1640626).
Small peaceful tankmates such as Microrasbora erythromicron and Danio margaritatus are very suitable with kuhli loaches.
Diet:
These fish do not eat snails contrary to other people's belief. The shape of their mouth is not designed for such task at all and would be less effective when compared to the botiine loaches. As these fish have a rather small mouth, make sure to feed them tiny morsels. It is advisable to feed them mainly at night as these fish are rather nocturnal.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g minimum for a group of 8-10.
Narrative:
Pangio spp. have a rather serpentine body shape and grow up to four inches in length. They are quite suitable for community setups and as these are rather sociable fish, do not keep them in less than five in number or you will never be able to see them. They prefer a tank with plenty of hiding places, soft substrate and subdued lighting. They are also quite adept at avoiding being caught due to the fact they can bury themselves under substrate and can even slip behind decorations with ease and inside filter intakes so make sure all filter intakes have been blocked. Do not use rough and sharp objects for the tank containing Pangios as these are prone to injuring themselves in their dash.
Yasuhikotakia modesta
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/Rollinkaddy/Picture1111.jpg
Common name: Red-finned loach, Orange-finned loach, Yellow-finned loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 10 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates: Available in this link (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1640626#post1640626). Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.
Due to their attitude, they may be best kept in a tank with Yasuhikotakia morleti, Yasuhikotakia eos, Syncrossus spp and other large and aggressive loaches.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: Due to their slow growth rate, a 75g can handle 6-8 of these fish. An upgrade in tank size will be needed once they reach six inches in length as they tend to cover large areas as they clash to settle territorial disputes.
Narrative:
Yasuhikotakia modesta is another popular loach although second only to the Chromobotia macracanthus. They are extremely aggressive so it is unwise to try them in community setups where they will inflict physical damage on their fellow tankmates. A large tank should be in order due to their potential size and as they are rather feisty, they need a very spacious tank where they can mark their boundaries and establish social hierarchy.
These have long been confused with Yasuhikotakia lecontei. They are quite discernable due to the fact Yasuhikotakia lecontei has a more slender body shape and are almost silvery in color compared to the Yasuhikotakia modesta who has a more compact body shape appearance. Several morphs are available often with orange to yellow fins and a few times, some have rather pink body.
Be careful when attempting to catch them because like all other botiine loaches, they have a spine found under each eye as a means of defense mechanism.
Lastly, there have been dyed specimens circulating around. Why they were dyed despite their natural coloration is not understood. These fish do not need improvement in their natural coloration. There is no reason to condone such act of cruelty. These are quite easily distinguished by splotches of color around the body which is quite different from the ones that are not dyed.
Scientific Name: Yasuhikotakia morleti
Common name: Skunk loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.
Due to their attitude, they may be best kept in a tank with Yasuhikotakia modesta, Yasuhikotakia eos, Syncrossus spp and other large and aggressive loaches.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g minimum for over 15 skunk loaches with several hiding places for them to establish territories.
Narrative:
Do not let this fish's diminutive size and cute appearance deceived you. They are, by far, one of the nastiest loaches you can ever see despite their size. Due to their attitude, they do not make good community fish at all and will inflict physical damage if care is not taken in selecting their tankmates properly.
Like all other loaches, they form a social hierarchy enjoyed by most hobbyists. In a large aquarium with plenty of hiding places provided, they will forever clash against each other often making loud clicking noises. They can be kept with larger aggressive loaches such as the Yasuhikotakia modesta, Yasuhikotakia eos and Syncrossus spp.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/CSIcru/P1040721.jpg
Scientific Name: Botia almorhae
Common name: Yoyo loach, Pakistani loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 6 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Bangladesh, India, Nepal
Temperament: peaceful to slightly aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Slow moving and long finned specimens will not be able to handle the feisty nature of these loaches so keeping them with barbs, danios, rasboras and other fast moving species is hugely recommended.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 40g minimum for a group of 3-5.
Narrative:
Botia almorhae is one of the most commonly available loaches in the hobby. It is very fortunate that they grow no more than six inches which makes them quite suitable for smaller aquarium setups (although it should be no smaller than 40 gallons). They are one of the most boisterous loaches. They are not as nocturnal as the other loaches and will often be seen interacting a lot with each other most of the day. They are also recorded to be one of the fastest growing loaches.
No two fish have similar markings. As they grow, you will notice that the patterns between the two loaches tend to differ. Some may eventually develop reticulated patterns branching out from what seemed simple yoyo patterns.
No successful captive breeding has ever been reported despite several female specimens found to be filled with roe. Males usually are identified by the redness found around their mouths.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/Blue_076/YoyoLoach.jpg
Heros efasciatus
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49434&d=1209604296
Common name: Gold Severum
Care Level: easy
Size: 8-10 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 23-27 degrees Celsius (74-80 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Amazon basin, South America
Temperament: peaceful to slightly aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Severums are fairly peaceful for cichlids. They should, however, be kept with similar-sized fish, as they may pick on smaller, slower moving fish. Ideal tankmates would be similar-sized South American cichlids, plecos and possibly large tetras. The tankmates should nevertheless be big enough not to be regarded as treats. Giant danios, plecos, synodontis, other cichlids, loaches and Mastacembelus often make fine tankmates.
Diet:
Severums are not fussy eaters and will consume almost everything provided. As these are omnivores, they will eat plant matter and meaty foods. Please do make sure the rest of the fish can get their fair share of foods as these severums do tend to outstrip their competition for food.
Tank Size for Adult:
Due to their fast growth rate which eventually slows down the moment they reach six inches, it is recommended that a 40g be provided as a start for one severum. A 55g will accommodate a pair of severums.
Narrative:
Severums originated from Amazon River basin in South America where water is soft and acidic although captive-bred severums can adapt well to different water conditions when acclimated properly.
Heros efasciatus are often confused with the Heros severus. The difference is H. efasciatus are substrate spawners whereas as H. severus are mouthbrooders.
They are often sold as juveniles in pet stores and are not as expensive as the adults are. It will be worth your while buying them as juveniles and raise them to adulthood. This species can grow 8-10 inches and this must be considered before you purchase them. Growth rate eventually slows down the moment they reach 5-6 inches.
The tank must be large enough with 40 gallons as the minimum when keeping one. A tank should be furnished with plenty of driftwoods, substrate and plastic plants. Ideally, Java ferns and anubias may work. Several live plants will not last a long time as the severums will eventually shred them to pieces.
Males and females are very difficult to distinguish although females do have shorter anal and dorsal fins. Females are also reported to have slightly lighter coloration than males with few or even no squiggle marks on their faces.
During spawning season, like all other cichlids, males should have ovipositors with the tip shaped rather pointed and positioned almost forward whereas females will have a round tip and positioned backwards. These are open water breeders and will lay eggs reaching 500 and more. They tend for their fry afterwards.
Platydoras costatus
Common Name: Striped Raphael Catfish
Care Level: easy
Size: 8 inches
pH range: 6.5-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin:
Widely distributed around Brazil particularly the Amazon basin, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable with plenty of community fish although care must be taken not to mix them with fish that may appear tempting for them to eat. They, like other fish, can be opportunistic and may try to gorge fish that will fit their mouths.
Diet:
These fish will appreciate all aquarium foods given.
Tank Size for Adult: 40g
Narrative:
Striped Raphael catfish are relatively easy to keep. Care must be taken when handling this fish as it has sharp pectoral fins which can cause serious damage to the fish nets and even the hands if not handled properly.
They are not fussy with water conditions at all and will appreciate a tank with plenty of hiding places. Take note that it is always advisable to provide plenty of hiding places for these fish to avoid long-term stress which can be detrimental to their health. At first, these fish are shy and will often not show up for a few weeks, even months. Later on, they will eventually show up parading almost in front of the tank looking for foods, if not during feeding time.
These fish tend to gorge anything you give them so feed them sparingly or you will see them appear to have eaten a golf ball.
Sexing and breeding are not known so far.
Parosphromenus deissneri
Common Name: Licorice Gourami
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 4.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-29 degrees Celsius (76-84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin:
Eastern Malaysian Peninsula and north of Southern Thailand
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Considering this fish cannot really compete well with other fish for food, I would recommend keeping them with other small fish making sure they are equally competitive. They can be mixed with Corydoras panda, Corydoras paleatus, Sturisoma panamense and sparkling gouramis (Trichopsis pumila). Other suitable tankmates will include the chocolate gouramis (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides), samurai gouramis (Sphaerichthys vaillanti) and the wild betta species such as Betta coccina, Betta smaragdina, etc.
Diet:
For this fish, live foods are a must and are very important. The food menu must also be varied. They will appreciate bloodworms, mosquito larva, daphnia, brine shrimps, mealworms and commercial foods. They cannot and will not live on commercial foods alone and have the tendency to starve themselves to death.
Tank Size for Adult: 6-8 adult licorice gouramis can fit in a 15g minimum.
Narrative:
Licorice gouramis hail from the eastern Malaysian Peninsula and north of Southern Thailand. The water there is very soft and acidic. They live in parts of the river system where water is very slow-moving but well-oxygenated.
A few things to keep in mind, this fish naturally thrives best in soft, acidic water, so your best bet is to make sure the tank water is filtered through peat. Driftwoods and Indian almond leaves are also a must. For the sake of this fish, learn to accept and bear with the appearance of your yellow water. The tannins themselves are what makes the fish healthier and less prone to fungal and bacterial infections. For more information on tannins, please see this entry (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=111).
The next thing to proceed with is tank size. Many people claim smaller tanks are more unstable in terms of water conditions than large tanks. While this is true, there are benefits with keeping smaller tanks as well. You should know how to keep everything stable without panicking. A tank size of 15 gallons is the minimum I would recommend although even smaller than that will work. The biggest tank I would surely recommend is 25 gallons. Larger than that will not be recommended as the fish will simply feel "lost" in its environment.
For a 15 gallons tank, you should be able to keep 8-12 of these fish. The tank must be furnished with leaf litter (Indian almond leaves), driftwoods, pipes (yes, pipes) and several plants. Substrate will not matter but do make sure it is inert and won't affect the pH. Java moss is very important and is much appreciated by this fish as a means of refuge. Filtration should not produce too much currents as this fish will certainly not appreciate the currents. A sponge filter should be sufficient.
On tank maintenance, doing 20-30% water change on daily basis is strictly recommended. Small frequent water changes are far more safer for this fish than big water changes as they will not be happy with the tremendous changes in water conditions.
Sexing is not very easy however it has been mentioned that the males could have longer ventral fins in comparison to the females. Also, males appear to be more colorful than the females.
Unlike other anabantid species, licorice gouramis are cave spawners and will not create bubblenests near the surface. Instead, they will construct a bubblenest inside the cave they pick (which is why I recommended pipes and eventually Java moss for added security and comfort). For more information on breeding, you can click this link (http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Drew_Parosphromenus_paludicola.html).
Sphaerichthys vaillanti
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=53742&stc=1&d=1213880357
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=53744&stc=1&d=1213880357
Common Name: Samurai Gourami
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 4.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 26-28 degrees Celsius (78-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Kalimantan River in Borneo
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Boisterous fish species must be avoided as they will not do well in company of those. If other inhabitants must be provided, make sure they are equally quiet and peaceful. Microrasbora sp., Boraras sp., Pangio sp. and most Corydoras sp. suit well in a tank containing these gouramis.
Diet:
Like their cousins, Sphaerichthys vaillanti may also be picky when it comes to foods so you will be lucky if your own fish manages to consume commercial foods without too much hesitation otherwise be prepared to keep a constant supply of live foods and frozen foods. They will forever relish mosquito larva, daphnia, brine shrimps and bloodworms. Freeze-dried foods may not be taken easily as they will with live foods and frozen foods.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 6 adults
Narrative: Many people believe a lot of gouramis are very easy to keep and care for however it must be remembered that hundreds of other species have clearly not been known yet and some may have requirements more complicated than others. There are quite a few species of gouramis that have such requirements including the popular Chocolate Gouramis (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides osphromenoides) and the Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus deissneri) (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141554).
There is one gourami however that is not as sensitive as the Chocolate Gouramis (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides osphromenoides), yet, should still be treated with great care. It is the Sphaerichthys vaillanti which has been found in the hobby from time to time although they are still not commonly available. However, a few hobbyists are lucky enough to encounter them given the fact they are able to source them from reputable dealers online globally.
Sphaerichthys vaillanti is one of those fish that is categorized under Anabantidae. Though several species of gouramis are already popular around the trade given the fact they have the ability to survive oxygen-depleted environments and even deteriorating water conditions, most species have yet to be discovered while several others are now extinct or under threat due to increasing human activities which leads to the destruction of their native habitats.
The Sphaerichthys vaillanti hail from the Kalimantan River in Borneo. The water there is very soft and acidic with a pH as low as 4-5. They live in parts of the river system where water is very slow-moving. Visibility is slightly poor owing to the fact the water is amber in color from the rotting leaves surrounding their habitat.
In an aquarium similarly, driftwoods must be put in placed to serve as refuge for these fish. Water must be filtered with peat, oak leaves or Indian almond leaves to maintain the acidity required. They may be acclimated in pH higher than that of their native habitats however best results are always found in conditions replicating their native habitats. Fungal infections are far more common in cases where they are kept in water conditions far from the conditions their native habitat has provided them. Dim lighting is also a must as these are very timid fish. Likewise, providing more plants always helps as this allows the fish to feel secured enough in their surroundings that you will see them showing their best. Temperature must be maintained at 26-28 degrees Celsius.
These gouramis are a bit larger than most of their sensitive cousins growing to 7-8 cm. These are best kept in a small group rather than pairs with a tank minimum of 20g for a group of six. They are very peaceful fish that will dwell in the middle to lower regions of the tank. It is often observed that a pair may established a large territory although no serious damage nor dominance behavior will occur as it does to their more popular cousins. Boisterous fish species must be avoided as they will not do well in company of those. If other inhabitants must be provided, make sure they are equally quiet and peaceful. Microrasbora sp., Boraras sp., Pangio sp. and most Corydoras sp. suit well in a tank containing these gouramis.
Sexing may be a little tricky however if you are observant, the female may have vertical red and green bars. Males are usually plainer in looks with a pale gray or brown tint. The colors become more intense during spawning period. Sphaerichthys vaillanti are mouth-brooders. Their breeding ritual seems far the opposite of what most anabantids do. Females are the ones who usually will defend their territory whereas the male broods the eggs. The male will be unable to eat as he will keep the eggs inside his mouth for nearly two weeks until they hatch.
Trichopsis pumila
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=41006&d=1202098840
Common Name: Sparkling Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 4.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 25-29 degrees Celsius (77-84 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Origin:
Sparkling gouramis originated from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. They live in tropical ditches, small ponds, rice paddies and slow-flowing rivers and streams where water is often very low in oxygen levels.
Compatible Tankmates:
Considering this fish cannot really compete well with other fish for food, I would recommend keeping them with other small fish making sure they are equally competitive. They can be mixed with Corydoras panda, Corydoras paleatus, Sturisoma panamense and sparkling gouramis (Trichopsis pumila). Other suitable tankmates will include the chocolate gouramis (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides), samurai gouramis (Sphaerichthys vaillanti) and the wild betta species such as Betta coccina, Betta smaragdina, etc.
Diet:
For this fish, live foods are a must and are very important. The food menu must also be varied. They will appreciate bloodworms, mosquito larva, daphnia, brine shrimps, mealworms and commercial foods. They cannot and will not live on commercial foods alone and have the tendency to starve themselves to death.
Tank Size for Adult: 3 sparkling gouramis can fit in a 5g minimum.
Narrative:
Sparkling gouramis are very easy to keep and are not fussy with the water conditions as long as they are acclimated properly. A trio of sparkling gouramis can be kept in a planted 5 gallons tank.
The tank can be furnished with leaf litter (Indian almond leaves), driftwoods and several plants. Substrate will not matter but do make sure it is inert and won't affect the pH. Since their habitat is mostly composed of vegetative matter, they will appreciate a heavily-planted tank with plenty of floating plants. Filtration should not produce too much currents as this fish will certainly not appreciate the currents. A sponge filter should be sufficient.
On tank maintenance, doing 20-30% water change on daily basis is strictly recommended. Small frequent water changes are far more safer for this fish than big water changes as they will not be happy with the tremendous changes in water conditions.
There is no easy way of distinguishing their sexes unless you are very observant of the differences between the possible male and female.
Sparkling gouramis will spawn in the same fashion as bettas although the bubblenest is usually created under a large leaf so this is very important when attempting to breed them.
Exodon paradoxus
Common Name: Bucktoothed Tetra
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 4 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Northern Brazil and the Guyanas
Temperament: aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
In the aquarium, bucktoothed tetras are best kept with other large characins, such as silver dollars and red-tailed characins. Catfish of all sizes also make good tankmates. They can only be kept with each other in groups of more than ten. If kept in groups smaller, there will be plenty of fighting and you will end up with a bunch of bucktoothed tetras missing fins and eyes. They damage fairly easily, so very aggressive tankmates are out of the question. An aquarium of 50 gallons designated to a shoal is the best way to go. They might even breed in this sort of situation.
Diet:
Give them food, and lots of it, in the form of live insects and worms. They require plentiful amounts (to put it in prospective, a 2" specimen can completely devour a full grown cricket bite by bite). Live fish are also avidly eaten. Once in a while it is good to give them vegetable matter in the form of oatmeal, or cucumber. The aquarium should have plenty of swimming space and areas of cover and shade. Do not keep these fish with other fish smaller than half their size, for they will surely be eaten bite by bite.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 6 adults
Narrative:
The Bucktoothed Tetra is a unique and beautiful shoaling Characin from tropical South American rivers and tributaries.
The body shape is typical of all tetras, except the jaws and teeth are heavier and more well-developed. The coloring and pattern are striking and unusual. There are 2 pairs of huge, black occellatus spots - one covering the caudal penduncle, and one just under the upper-back. The rest of the body is white-silver which is tanged with either violet-blue or violet-red. The fins are often pigmented with red or yellow.
These fish shoal in groups of no less than a dozen and no more than 50. Larger schools are often comprised of younger fish. Insatiable insectivores, they will tear apart any invertebrate unfortunate enough to fall in the water or get in their way. The jaws are strong enough, and the teeth (particularly the enscissors) sharp enough to bite a clean hole out of most organisms. A nip from a larger individual is capable of drawing blood.
These Characins have no special requirements when it comes to water conditions. A neutral pH and common water temperature will suffice. They are hardy fish that thrive under most conditions.
Breeding has only been accomplished several times in captivity and details are sketchy.
Chalceus macrolepidota
Common Name: Pink-Tailed Chalceus
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 10 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: The Amazon, Guianas and Surinam
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
As these are predatory schooling fish, they are best kept with large characins and even Exodon paradoxus. Catfish are often ignored provided these are large enough to avoid predation.
Diet:
Give them food, and lots of it, in the form of live insects and worms. They require plentiful amounts (to put it in prospective, a 2" specimen can completely devour a full grown cricket bite by bite). Live fish are also avidly eaten. Once in a while it is good to give them vegetable matter in the form of oatmeal, or cucumber. The aquarium should have plenty of swimming space and areas of cover and shade. Do not keep these fish with other fish smaller than half their size, for they will surely be eaten bite by bite.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g for a group of 3 adults
Narrative:
The Pink-tailed Characin is a predatory fish that should not be kept with smaller fish. This is a slender, silver fish with pink\red fins. The body is covered with large scales that can be easily plucked.
This fish shoals near the surface in search of food. They are carnivorous and like a diet of meat and live foods, but can also be adapted to eat pelleted foods. They thrive in aquariums provided they are kept in large tanks with clean water and a good water current. Keep the tank covered, as the Pink-tailed Characin is a great jumper. This fish scares easily, and so dim light levels with floating plants are recommended. They will not bother plants.
The Pink-tailed Characin has been bred in Japan and Hong Kong. A 19-year-old specimen was recorded at the Hellabrunn zoo in Munich, West Germany. In South America this is a food fish.
Lupin
10-07-2008, 10:37 PM
Lepidarchus adonis
Common Name: Adonis Tetra
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 1 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Western Africa
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Best kept in small community setups where fish will not easily prey on them. Corydoras pygmaeus, Corydoras habrosus and ember tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae) to name a few examples are fine tankmates.
Diet: Insectivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 5g for a group of 5-6.
Narrative:
A small Characin that should be kept in small groups of five or six. It's preference of an acidic pH keep it from being seen in more community tanks. The water should be soft, with the aquarium being heavily planted.
Lupin
10-07-2008, 10:42 PM
Anostomus anostomus
Common Name: Striped Anostomus
Care Level: easy
Size: 7 inches
pH Range: 5.8-7.8
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Upper Amazon
Temperament: peaceful to moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable in a community tank with silver dollars, plecos, flagtail catfish and other peaceful characins.
Diet:
The Striped Anostomus is herbivorous and so should be fed accordingly. Recommended foods are blanched lettuce, algae tablets, peas, and some live foods.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g for an adult.
Narrative:
The Anostomus is an elongated characin, closely related to the Leporinus and Headstander. The body is striped horizontally with alternating yellow and dark stripes. Fins are transparent, the dorsal and caudal fins having some red to them. The fish's main defense is its speed, which is indicated by its heavily forked tail and streamlined body. Keep in large groups or they will fight.
These fish should be kept in schools, in a large aquarium that provides plenty of free-swimming space. Driftwood and plants with tough foliage are also recommended. Anostomuses spend much of their time slanted with their head pointed down and their tail up in the air.
This fish is hardy and can live in a wide variety of water values such as a pH anywhere between 5.8-7.8. Use a neutral pH with a dGH of up to 20. Temperature range should be kept in the common area of 72-82 degrees F.
Little is known about the breeding habits of the Anostomus but it has been achieved.
Lupin
10-07-2008, 11:00 PM
Creagrutus beni
Common Name: Benny Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-79° F)
Origin: Lakes of Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and the Amazon basin
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable in a community tank with silver dollars, plecos, flagtail catfish and other peaceful characins.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 6.
Narrative:
A small community fish that should be kept in groups of five or more. The water should be slightly acidic to neutral, and the aquarium should be stocked with plants and other small fish.
Lupin
10-07-2008, 11:02 PM
Serrasalmus spilopleura
Common Name: Black Diamond Gold Piranha
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 11 inches
pH Range: 6.2-6.8
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Widespread through the Amazon basin
Temperament: aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
These are best kept by themselves only.
Diet: Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g for an adult.
Narrative:
Serrasalmus spilopleura is a rare Piranha with several common names. The fish is a model definition of fin-nipper; any S. spilopleura trusted with other fishes will surely make a meal of their fins and scales. This species is said to be less aggressive than S. nattereri and S. rhombeus.
If you are fortunate enough to purchase one of these gems, keep it alone. Unlike other Piranha species, S. spilopleura is a loner and will attack even its own kind. The aquarium must be large and provided with many caves and hiding places. A powerful filtration system is required.
These Piranhas are carnivorous and must be fed accordingly. Chunks of beef heart are relished, as are earthworms and most other types of meat.
S. spilopleura will tolerate a wide range of water conditions in the aquarium. An acidic pH of 6.2-6.8 is appreciated, along with a general hardness range of 5-20 dH.
Breeding has been accomplished in such public aquariums as the Duisburg Aquarium in Germany and the Cincinnati Zoo. Reports say the fish spawn among roots of plants, the eggs hatching just days later. Just over a week later the fry become free-swimming and can be fed newly-hatched brine shrimp.
Related Article: Report on Serrasalmus spilopleura (http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/spilop.shtml)
Lupin
10-07-2008, 11:24 PM
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Common Name: Black Skirt Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Paraguay and Guapore river basins
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Community setups.
Diet: Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 6.
Narrative:
The Blackskirt is a small sized fish that almost always establishes and maintains a pecking order within its own species' group. The body is silver with dark bands running vertically. The anal fin is large and black. A long-finned variety is also available. Mature fish may be a faded gray.
Blackskirts should be kept in the same manner as most other tetra species; in schools of five or more. Tank size should not be of concern for such a small fish, and the aquarium should be decorated with plants and bogwood.
Blackskirts move with great speed as they pick off food from the surface. They are omnivorous and thus enjoy both live and vegetable-based foods.
These Characins have no special requirements when it comes to water conditions. A neutral pH and common water temperature will suffice. They are hardy fish that thrive under most conditions.
Blackskirts are egg scatterers that have been successfully bred in the aquarium. Males have a more narrow and sharper dorsal fin than females. The female lays her eggs amongst plants, and should then be removed from the tank along with the male or else they may eat the eggs. The fry hatch in 24 hours and should be fed newly hatched Brine Shrimp.
Lupin
10-07-2008, 11:51 PM
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Common Name: Bleeding Heart Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Paraguay and Guapore river basins
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Community setups.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 6.
The Bleeding Heart tetra is a small, schooling Characin. The body is fairly elongated and pink. A small red spot is present on the center of the fish's body, hence its common name of "Bleeding Heart." The fish has a red dorsal fin with broad, black stripes edged in white.
These tetras are active and hardy, making a great addition to the community tank. Provide a good amount of swimming space. A school of at least five is recommended per tank. The aquarium should be well lit and decorated with plants for shelter.
The diet for the Bleeding Heart tetra should consist of vegetable matter. Live foods are appreciated.
Bleeding Heart Tetras should be provided with clean, well-filtered water. The pH value should be between 6.0-7.2 with a dGH up to 12. A general temperature range from 72-82 degrees F will suffice.
Females are bigger than males, but males have a more pointed, elongated and larger dorsal fin. Breeding information is limited.
Lupin
10-08-2008, 12:12 AM
Astyanax mexicanus
Common Name: Blind Cave Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Widespread from Mexico to Panama and Texas
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates: Community setups.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 4-5.
Narrative:
This is definitely an odd fish that will capture the attention of most anyone not expecting to see a fish a pink body and no eyes. They aren't too particular about water conditions, and are a good fit in the community aquarium.
Colossoma macropomum
Common name: Black Pacu
Care Level: easy
Size: 24 inches
pH Range: 5.8-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Amazon basin
Temperament: moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
A large setup of over 500 gallons is required due to their powerful swimming movements. Tankmates should not be small enough to be eaten.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 500g.
Narrative:
Black Pacus are very big Characins. This species requires the same care as its cousin the Redbelly Pacu, except that these fish get twice as large or more. Closely related to the Piranha, they generally lack the aggressive quality of their relatives. The body is dark grey with tiny scales; the belly and anal fin being dark grey, black, or slightly orange in juveniles. The fish may fade in color with age. Pacus are deep-bodied fish that are too large for most home aquariums and so are often seen in public aquaria. C. macropomum is the largest Pacu, reaching a length of 2 feet under the right conditions. Their bodies are more elongate than those of the Redbellies.
Large aquariums of 500 gallons or more are required to hold such a monster of a fish, and even then an adult will eventually grow too large. Provide them with plants and lots of shelter in which to hide. When Pacus get frightened, they dart away from danger using their powerful speed. In the home aquarium, this can leave gallons of water on the floor, heaters broken, and tank decorations destroyed. It is advised that you plan ahead and don't buy a Pacu unless you have at least a five foot long, two feet wide tank tank. Single species are often kept, but they do like the company of their own kind, especially when young.
In nature, Pacus enjoy eating the fruit that falls off of the trees of the Amazon. In the aquarium, they will eat a large variety of foods including grapes, peas, cichlid pellets, live foods, meaty foods, cherry tomatoes, and vegetable matter. If it looks edible, the Pacu is sure to give it a try.
They can handle a large variation of water conditions such as a pH from 5.8-7.5. However, slightly acidic pH is recommended.
Little is known about breeding these creatures.
Aphyocharax anisitsi
Common name: Bloodfin Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-26 degrees Celsius (74-80° F)
Origin: Parana River, Argentina
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Bloodfin tetras are moderately peaceful and can be kept in a community setup however care must be taken in selecting their tankmates as they are liable to harass long-finned specimens.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g.
Narrative:
This small, peaceful species is very hardy and can live in a wide variety of aquarium conditions. They should be kept in schools of six or more in a heavily planted aquarium.
Cheirodon axelrodi
Common Name: Cardinal Tetra
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Widespread from Brazil to Eastern Colombia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Cardinal tetras make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 10.
Narrative:
The Cardinal tetra is an old aquarium favorite. Often confused with the smaller Neon tetra, these Characins display striking colors of blue and red usually only seen with Marine fish. Their bodies are slender; the upper half being blue and the lower half being red. All fins are transparent.
Cardinal tetras make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Being small fish, Cardinal tetras need small foods such as flakes and small aquatic invertebrates, live or frozen. They are omnivorous fish.
Cardinals need an acidic pH with soft water. A temperature between 72-79 degrees F is appreciated.
Sexing is possible; males are generally slimmer than females. Spawning happens during the evening on brushy plants such as Java Moss. The females lays around 500 eggs. For more information see the breeding habits of the Neon tetra.
Boehlkea fredcochui
Common name: Cochu's Blue Tetra
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-26 degrees Celsius (72-79° F)
Origin: Widespread from Brazil to Eastern Colombia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 6.
Narrative:
Keep these little guys in soft, slightly acidic water with plenty of hiding areas through the use of plants and driftwood. They prefer the company of their own kind, and thus should be kept in groups of five or more. Their coloring may be faded in unsuitable water conditions.
Hyphessobrycon socolofi
Common Name: Lesser Bleeding Heart Tetra
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Northwest Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 6.
Narrative:
This schooling Characin is sometimes also known as the Spotfin Tetra. These fish should be kept in groups of at least six in a community aquarium. Decorate the tank with plants and driftwood. They are sensitive to poor water conditions, so weekly water changes are recommended.
Paracheirodon innesi
Common Name: Neon Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-26 degrees Celsius (72-78° F)
Origin: Peru, Colombia and Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
The Neon tetra is one of the most popular aquarium fishes. These are small characins that are similar to the Cardinal tetra, except the Neon has a white pectoral area and the Cardinal has a red pectoral area. The back of the Neon is blue and the anal and caudal areas are also blue.
Neons are perfect for any comunity tank. A large school for six or more neons is always pleasing to the eye, providing a brilliant show of colors. These fish come from the Peruvian Amazon where they live in shaded jungle waters. Neons should therefore be housed in a semi-dark aquarium with the bottom and sides in dark colors. Black tissue can be taped to the sides of the aquarium to sumulate the natural environment. Light the tank dimly from above and, if needed, use floating plants to reduce the light.
In the Neon's jungle habitat, the water is replenished frequently by soft, fresh rain. To provide comparable conditions in the aquarium, frequent water changes should be made. These fish are shoalers, the schools swimming in the middle to lower strata. They are peaceful towards other fish of similar size. Neons are susceptible to the Neon tetra disease.
Viewed from above, a ripe female Neon is broader than the male. The female lays up to 130 eggs on the substrate, and should then be removed along with the male. The fry hatch after 24 hours.
Axelrodia stigmatias
Common Name: Pepper Tetra
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 1 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-79° F)
Origin: Amazon basin
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g for a group of 15.
Narrative:
Despite being small and harmless, this fish likes a diet based mainly on meaty foods and relishes small live foods. Should be kept in soft, acidic water with a gentle flow and plenty of plants and other hiding places. Keep in groups of five or more.
Hemigrammus bleheri
Common Name: Rummy-Nose Tetra
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 26-30 degrees Celsius (78-86° F)
Origin: River systems of Colombia and Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
This small species gets its common name from its color patter, although its whole head is a red color, not just its nose. The fish has a silver-blue elongated body and a spotted caudal fin. It's not a particularly hardy species, and can be difficult to keep healthy in the aquarium. They should be kept in groups and in soft, slightly acidic water. They are particularly sensitive to high nitrate levels, so frequent water changes and good filtration are required.
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Common Name: Rummy-Nose Tetra
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 26-30 degrees Celsius (78-86° F)
Origin: River systems of Colombia and Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
This small species gets its common name from its color patter, although its whole head is a red color, not just its nose. The fish has a silver-blue elongated body and a spotted caudal fin. It's not a particularly hardy species, and can be difficult to keep healthy in the aquarium. They should be kept in groups and in soft, slightly acidic water. They are particularly sensitive to high nitrate levels, so frequent water changes and good filtration are required.
Petitella georgiae
Common Name: Rummy-Nose Tetra
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 26-30 degrees Celsius (78-86° F)
Origin: River systems of Colombia and Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
This small species gets its common name from its color patter, although its whole head is a red color, not just its nose. The fish has a silver-blue elongated body and a spotted caudal fin. It's not a particularly hardy species, and can be difficult to keep healthy in the aquarium. They should be kept in groups and in soft, slightly acidic water. They are particularly sensitive to high nitrate levels, so frequent water changes and good filtration are required.
Hyphessobrycon serpae
Common Name: Serpae Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-79° F)
Origin: Central Amazon basin
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Avoid keeping these fin-nipping fish with long-finned specimens.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
The Serpae Tetra should be cared for in much the same way as other small, schooling Tetras. It should be kept in groups of at least six, and in a community aquarium with plenty of plants and active tankmates. Feed flake foods.
Hasemania nana
Common Name: Silver-tipped Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Avoid keeping these fish with long-finned specimens as they may try to harass them and even nip their fins.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
A small, attractive fish from Brazil which is gold in body color with silver tips to all its fins, hense its common name. Keep the aquarium stocked with plants and the water neutral in pH and with a good flow. These fish should be kept in groups of five or more. Males are more colorful and slender than females.
Gymnocorymbus socolofi
Common Name: Socolof's Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 22-25 degrees Celsius (72-77° F)
Origin: Meta River in Columbia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet: Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
Young specimens are colorful and prefer the company of their own kind, while mature fish tend to fade in color and become loners to a certain extent. These fish can be shy and should be provided with low light levels and floating plants for added security.
Acestrorhynchus falcatus
Common Name: Redtailed Barracuda
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 10 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-27 degrees Celsius (75-82° F)
Origin: South America
Temperament: aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Species such as Ctenolucius hujeta (Freshwater Barracuda) and Boulengeralla maculata (Spotted Pike Characin) also make excellent companions, and to see all of these exotic fish in one healthy aquarium in loose schools is a breath-taking sight. Cachorros are aggressive and can keep their own ground, but their frail body cannot support constant entanglements with other aggressive fish such as Oscars or other large cichlids. If you must keep a Cachorro with something just as aggressive make sure that other fish is smaller, but not too small or you will see it inside the Cachorro the next day.
Diet:
For food, you will have to feed them live fish (no more than 1/3 the size of the Cachorro) for they will not except anything else. After a big meal, allow a few days of fasting. Cachorros of the same size get along well together, providing security and companionship.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g for one.
Narrative:
The Spotted Cachorro is a member of a specialized group of piscivoric characins which live in the tropical rivers of South America.
Their appearance is somewhat elongated and tetra-like, with a long snout full of canine teeth. These teeth are nearly transparent and can be easily seen, even when the mouth is fully closed. All fins are triangular and taper to a point, giving the fish an almost stealth-like appearance.
Cachorros are among the most beautiful of all freshwater fish and easily rival marines in color. The Spotted Cachorro is a good example of this beauty. The tiny, fine scales reflect a dark silver-gold from above which fades in layers to a deep fluorescent blue then to a pink-violet, and finally the belly is a translucent white. The fins have distinct orange-gold markings, and the cadual fin is usually more brilliant with an almost red tang to it. Their is two jet-black ocellatus marks on the fish; one just behind the gill plate, and one just behind the caudal penduncle. These two markings are centered in the middle of the fish, and are perfectly aligned with each other. Overall, this fish is incredibly shiny and can even reflect faint dots of light in the aquarium. When the lay person first sees a Cachorro, the image that comes to mind is a deep sea viperfish.
The teeth of Cachorros are not used for grasping, holding, lacerating, or chopping prey. They are used to lock a prey item in the mouth, much like the bars of a jail cell. Usually the teeth never penetrate the prey item. Once the prey is secured in the mouth, the Cachorro quickly swallows it, and a most peculiar thing happens; you can see the victim through the slightly transparent sides of the fish. After several hours of digestion, the area where the prey item could be seen, now turns a dark grey. After a day or so, there is no trace of the victim. Cachorros hunt by catching a live morsel in their mouths after a chase which usually doesn't last long.
Despite the Cachorros amazing hunting and eating abilities, this should not be the prime reason for keeping them, for they can be an expensive hassle. Among the most delicate and sensitive of fish, Cachorros are easily extinguished from life and must be handled with more care than a shard of glass the thickness of a needletip. Therefore you must take special precautions like catching the fish in a plastic bag, and keeping it in utter darkness during times of stress. All specimens are imported, and all have had their share of stress and abuse. Most are suffering from severe scale damage, shredded fins, disease, and many other physical and mental ailments. Once you receive your Cachorro it will have been through hell. You will have to place it in a quarantine or hospital tank in order to nurse it back to health. This means plenty of stress coat, and absolute darkness for about a week. This is done by wrapping a thick sheet of paper around the tank with a peephole which will be made bigger and bigger over time until the Cachorro gets used to external movement, and lighting. Many frown on the idea of buying sick fish and nursing them back to health, but this is the only way to keep Cachorros. By far this is the worst, and trickiest stage of owning these living jewels.
Once these fish have settled in, and gotten used to aquarium surroundings, you can release them into your main tank. This tank should be of an appropriate size, nothing less than 50 gallons. Keep the water clean and moving, for these are river fish and prefer aerated water. They are sensitive to water changes, so let your water age before introducing it. Neutral to slightly acid water with a temperature between 75 - 82 degrees F. is preferred. For food, you will have to feed them live fish (no more than 1/3 the size of the Cachorro) for they will not except anything else. After a big meal, allow a few days of fasting. Cachorros of the same size get along well together, providing security and companionship. Species such as Ctenolucius hujeta (Freshwater Barracuda) and Boulengeralla maculata (Spotted Pike Characin) also make excellent companions, and to see all of these exotic fish in one healthy aquarium in loose schools is a breath-taking sight. Cachorros are aggressive and can keep their own ground, but their frail body cannot support constant entanglements with other aggressive fish such as Oscars or other large cichlids. If you must keep a Cachorro with something just as aggressive make sure that other fish is smaller, but not too small or you will see it inside the Cachorro the next day.
There are about a dozen species of Cachorro (Acestrorhynchus), some more colorful than others, but all represent a group of fish that are rare, expensive, sinister, and beautiful all in one. If you achieve this fish, it is living gold. Treat it this way, and it will be an experience in the hobby like none other.
Scientific Name: Phenacogrammus interruptus
Common Name: Congo Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 3.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-27 degrees Celsius (75-82° F)
Origin: Congo, Africa
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
Congo tetras are one of the most commonly available tetras from Africa. These fish are very unique and can be compared with even the prettiest tetras of the South American rivers. These fish are open-water swimmers gracing the tank. They are rather boisterous swimmers often dwelling around the surface in search for insects to eat.
Scientific Name: Hemigrammus herbertaxelrodi
Common Name: Black Neon Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-29 degrees Celsius (75-85° F)
Origin: South America
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
Sporting an iridescent silvery-white stripe contrasted by a black stripe beneath it, the Black Neon makes an excellent contrast fish to similiarly shaped and sized tetras such as the Rummy Nose or Neon Tetra.
Reference: http://freshaquarium.about.com/
113918
Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon columbianus
Common Name: Columbian Tetra, Blue and Red Tetra, Neon-backed Tetra, Ghost Neon Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (71-83° F)
Origin: Rio Acandi, Colombia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
A good captive diet for H. columbianus consists of a mixture of balanced flake foods, brine shrimps, bloodworms, and other tiny foodstuff. While Columbian tetras may live for years in a captive environment withiout ever eating anything other than flakes, it is highly recommended supplementing their diet with live/frozen foods as the H. columbianus will never attain their full flush of beauty and color if they eat only flakes.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
According to Phil Purser of the Tropical Fish Magazine, the Columbian tetra was first discovered in a few small streams in the Rio Acandi basin of northern Colombia in the early 1990s. It was initially labeled as Hyphessobrycon ecuadoriensis which was a mistake considering to anybody's knowledge, no such species exists in the waters of Ecuador. Some hobbyists suggested the taxonomic stratregy of scrapping the genus Hyphessobrycon altogether and substituting it for Astyanax, which already includes some large tetras such as the blind cave tetra. This proposal was not however accepted. Finally in 2002, Zarske and Gery stepped up and officially described them as Hyphessobrycon columbianus.
It must be noted however that most distributors do not use scientific names which are more valid than the common names often shared by more than one species. This can be frustrating especially as the customers try to order such fish and end up receiving another species instead much to their dismay.
Since 2003, the Columbian tetras have grown more popular and large scale breeding projects in captivity have given the wild populations new hope to avoid them from going on the brink of extinction which could happened to species where demand is quite astronomical. The projects since then also lowered demand thus bringing down the selling prices.
Growing to a maximum adult length of just over 2.5 inches, H. columbianus is a high-backed species. This fish is more laterally flattened than many of its elongate tetra cousins. The dorsal fin is quite tall, even for a tetra, and sweeps back on the dorsal surface. The portion of the back anterior of the dorsal fin is oftentimes raised or humped slightly. Some specimens may have a dorsal fin that is yellow to orange in coloration. The head of H. columbianus tapers to a rounded spearpoint mouth that is lined with surprisingly large teeth and powerful jaws for such a small fish. The large eyes (proportionally larger than most tetra species) suggest these are active predators whose keen vision is helpful both in spotting prey and avoiding predators. With a narrow muscular caudal peduncle and a tall, sharp-edged caudal fin, H. columbianus is a powerful swimmer builty for short bursts of rapid speed. The pectoral fins are also anchored in relatively heavy musculature.
The dorsum and upper portions of the sides are bathed in a gentle wash of slightly iridescent pastel blue that will, under superior water conditions, extend downward to encompass the entire lateral surface. Particularl striking specimens will also sport a bright blue swath of the coloration streaking down in the middle of the dorsum. The lower flanks of H. columbianus are bright metallic silver, and they may act as mirrors in certain lighting situations, catching the blue from higher on the dorsum and reflecting; thus thuis fish may appear entirely blue.
The belly and caudal fin of this fish comprise the red half of the equation. Brginning at the anterior edhe of the anal fin (which is elongate in both sexes of the species), a red coloration fringes the rays, and deepens as it progresses backward. A sort of residual pinkish glow low along the body just above the anal fin (again owing to the mirror-like qualities of the scales along the lateral portions of the body) is also evident in some specimens. The caudal fin, however (and even the caudal peduncle in some specimens), is absolutely awash with fiery bright crimson coloration. As is true with most tropical fish species, these colors may be brighter and more vivid when H. columbianus is exposed to superior water conditions. Conversely, they will display washed-out or faded coloration in poor water conditions or when otherwise, stressed.
These fish are however tough enough to survive relatively wide ranges of pH and temperature, H. columbianus are definitely leading competitors for stocking in the beginner's aquarium, as they provide both beauty and longevity (as long as five years). They will thrive in pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 and will tolerate from 71 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mid to upper level swimmers, these little tetras are highly active during the daylight hours, and perhaps even more son on moonlit nights. In the wild, H. columbianus often feeds on aquatic insects and larva. To catch these foods, the fish sometimes must leap out of the water or make quick dashes to the top of the water column-acts that may lead to fatal leaps from your tank. Even a covered tank is not absolute security, however, as these little rascals can get quite raucous around feeding time. So take care not to lift a glass lid too high or leave it open when you feed, as it is very easy for a Columbian tetra to jump out of the tank even with you standing right there.
These fish do best in heavily planted tanks and/or those with ample amouts of driftwoods or other hiding places. In their native environment, predators are all too common and any H. columbianus that cannot find quick cover are easy targets. Lack of driftwood and underwater vegetation will severely stress these fish, as too much open water is not in their porgram for survival in the wild. In fact, a lack of adequate wooden, stone or vegetative cover may also increase the fish's propensity for leaping out of the water; even with a lidded tank that prevents escape, a fish may still be injured if it hits a glass lid on a jump.
A good captive diet for H. columbianus consists of a mixture of balanced flake foods, brine shrimps, bloodworms, and other tiny foodstuff. While Columbian tetras may live for years in a captive environment withiout ever eating anything other than flakes, it is highly recommended supplementing their diet with live/frozen foods as the H. columbianus will never attain their full flush of beauty and color if they eat only flakes.
According to Phil Purser, it seems that H. columbianus have attained themselves the reputation of being devious, fin-nipping, and generally riotous members of the tetra family. Some hobbyists tell tales of these fish chasing nad harassing larger barbs, tetras, poeciliids and even catfish. Some even reported outlandish incidents of these fish having a fiery enough temper to actually bully the mouth and lips of larger fish in order to force that fish to spit out food it had jsut eaten. After the harassed fish surrendered its mouthful, the H. columbianus would feed on the spit-out bits.
These fish can certainly be overwhelming to slow-moving specimens. Mix them with fast moving tetras such as neons, rummynoses, danios and barbs. H. columbianus also mix quite well with most catfishes and loaches. Most H. columbianus simply will not dive to the lowermost depths of the aquarium, and so don't typically cross paths with the bottom-dwelling fish.
These fish are listed as 'egg-scatterers'. Females are not very picky about deposition sites. In the wild, females will deposit their eggs directly into the currents of the stream, thus scattering them as far as the flowing water will carry them. These manner avoids predation which however is another story if done in captivity.
Reference: Purser, Phil ; Tropical Fish Hobbyist (Jan 2008).
Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon caudovittatus
Common Name: Buenos Aires Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 3.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-27 degrees Celsius (75-82° F)
Origin: La Plata region of South America
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Community setups. Keep them away from long finned specimens.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
Found in the La Plata region of South America, the Buenos Aires Tetra was first described by Ahl in 1923 as the Hemigrammus caudovittatus. This is one of the more active Tetras and can become a bit of a fin nipper if kept with smaller fish. Growing to about 3 inches in length, the Buenos Aires Tetra has a silver body with a black vertical stripe just behind the gill plate and a black streak at the base of the tail. The fins have a touch of yellow and red coloration, with the males showing more intense colors. This Tetra will eat plants so care should be taken if placed in a Planted Aquarium.
Tetras are one of the standard fish of the aquarium. Schooling fish, they will do best when there are more than 3 fish in the school. Generally peaceful, they can match up with just about any other type of fish that is not large enough to eat them. While the Tetra might prefer softer, acidic water conditions, most can adapt to a wide range of water parameters. Most are now raised in Florida and SE Asia under conditions very different than their natural habitat in South America.
As an omnivore, Tetras will eat most aquarium prepared foods, darting to the surface for floating food and picking sinking food out of the water as it descends. They will be more at home if there is a fair amount of cover to dart into if they feel threatened. While it is possible, most Tetras will not spawn in the home aquarium. If they do, several males will chase the female as she scatters the eggs among the plants. Relatively hardy, care should be taken when treating Tetras with parasitic medications.
References: www.petsolutions.com (http://www.petsolutions.com)
Scientific Name: Megalamphodus megalopterus
Common Name: Black Phantom Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.75 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
An attractive and peaceful member of the tetra family, Black Phantoms make an stunning contrast fish to their red hued cousins such as the Red Phantom, Jewel, or Serpae tetras. Their flat oval body is silvery gray with a distinctive splash of black edged in white just behind the gills. The fins of the male are edged in black, while the fins of females have a reddish hue which somtimes causes them to be confused with other species of tetras.
References: www.freshaquarium.about.com
Scientific Name: Nematobrycon palmeri
Common Name: Emperor Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.75 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g for a group of 8.
Narrative:
Emperor tetras are well known for their elegant appearance due to their flamboyant finnage. They have been around the aquarium trade for almost forty years already and are among the most popular in their family.
The dorsal and caudal fins of the male are noticeably longer and more pointed than the female. Also quite noticeable in the male, is an extended ray in the middle of the caudal fin that gives the tail the appearance of a trident. The female is smaller, and plumper in the body than the male.
Fins of both sexes have a yellow hue, and are edged in black on the outer periphery, and red where the fin meets the body. The body of the fish is blue-gray with mauve tones, and displays an almost iridescent sheen. A dark stripe runs horizontally from mouth to tail. The body is lighter in color below the stripe.
Emperors favor dense vegetation and subdued lighting that mimics the Colombian rivers from which they originate. Dark substrate, and a heavily planted tank will go far to make them feel at home. Although peat filtration is often recommended, they will thrive in even moderately hard water as long as it is changed frequently to maintain purity.
Emperor tetras have long been confused with the new species, kerri tetra (Inpaichthys kerri) due to almost similar appearance. The only way to distinguish them easily is emperor tetras lack the adipose fin found between the dorsal and caudal fins which the kerri tetras have.
Reference:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/
Scientific Name: Boraras brigittae
Common Name: Dwarf Redfin Rasbora
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.25 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Indonesia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium although best kept in a species tank. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g for a group of 15.
Narrative:
The rasbora genus Boraras is a small group of very small fish. None of them are over 1 1/4 inches in length at maximum size; and the redfin dwarf rasbora (Boraras brigittae) is one of the smallest members of the gigantic family Cyprinidae (the carps and minnows). They all are colorful, and each species is interesting in its own right. They make excellent members of either a dedicated species tank or a tiny fish community tank, and are perfect residents for one of the desktop aquaria that are so popular now. None of them will do well in community tanks with large or boisterous fish. In such situations, they spend all of their time hiding and trying to avoid being eaten.
Boraras brigittae is a stunning little fish. It has a solid greenish-black stripe down the lateral line, over which is a bright red/orange stripe. The line ends in a separate wedge-shaped black dot at the base of the caudal fin in both species. Some males have deep red coloration throughout their bodies, which intensifies with age. Males have bright red fins outlined in black, and females have pale pink/orange fins and lack the deep red on their flanks, with only a hint of pale orange in the body. At least with my fish, the dominant male B. brigittae developed an almost glowing bright red sheen over the entire body but only when he reached about one year old. The subdominant males don't display this glowing coloration.
Several of the Boraras species are often confused with one another in the trade. You can often find B. uropthalmoides being sold as B. brigittae. These are the two species of Boraras that are similar, but when one learns the differences, they are easily distinguishable. There appear to be several populations of B. uropthalmoides, and some are more colorful, some less so. Boraras brigittae are very different fish and there is no way of confusing even the females. Boraras. Brigittae are much larger (relatively speaking, of course) at about 1 1/8 inches, nearly twice the size of adult B. uropthalmoides, which reach just over three-fourths of an inch. While the B. brigittae have a bright red or orange stripe over the lateral stripe, B. uropthalmoides have a green or gold stripe running over that stripe, depending on the population. In addition, the spot on the caudal peduncle is wedge shaped in B. brigittae, but this spot is round in B. uropthalmoides.
Reference: www.aquariumfish.com (http://www.aquariumfish.com)
Scientific Name: Boraras maculatus
Common Name: Dwarf Spotted Rasbora, Pygmy Rasbora
Care Level: easy
Size: 1 inch
pH Range: 5.8-6.3
Temperature Range: 23-26 degrees Celsius (75-79° F)
Origin: Indonesia , Western Malaysia, Singapore
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium although best kept in a species tank. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g for a group of 15.
Narrative:
The rasbora genus Boraras is a small group of very small fish. None of them are over 1 1/4 inches in length at maximum size; and the dwarf spotted rasbora (Boraras maculatus) is one of the smallest members of the gigantic family Cyprinidae (the carps and minnows). They all are colorful, and each species is interesting in its own right. They make excellent members of either a dedicated species tank or a tiny fish community tank, and are perfect residents for one of the desktop aquaria that are so popular now. None of them will do well in community tanks with large or boisterous fish. In such situations, they spend all of their time hiding and trying to avoid being eaten.
Reference:
www.aquariumfish.com (http://www.aquariumfish.com)
www.thatfishshop.com (http://www.thatfishshop.com)
Scientific Name: Scleropages jardinii
Common Name: Australian Pearl Arowana, Saratoga Jardini, Gulf Saratoga
Care Level: easy
Size: 30 inches
pH Range: 7.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 23-30 degrees Celsius (75-86° F)
Origin: Jardine and Adelaide Rivers, New Guinea, Australia
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Compatible tankmates are basically selected by trial and error. Due to their extremely aggressive nature as they mature, they are best kept by themselves rather than placing any fish within their territory at all. Only a few fish such as giant gouramis, peacock bass and clown knifefish have been known to live unscathed with the jardini arowana although do not keep your hopes up that they will live together permanently.
It has been known that if their tank is provided with several hiding places especially driftwoods and vegetation, aggression can be minimized although do not expect your community tank to last while the jardini arowan is around.
Diet:
Like other species of arowanas, jardini arowanas are carnivorous often relishing live and frozen stuff. They should be weaned on commercial foods at a young age due to their picky nature which may simply be very frustrating for the owner.
Tank Size for Adult: 125g.
Narrative:
Jardini arowanas are one of the meanest specimens of their family. They are commonly available in the aquarium trade and have been bred in the Far East thus relieving stress of the poaching in their native habitats. They are also considered legal in many areas and are often good substitutes to the Asian arowanas which are listed by CITES under endangered status currently due to high demand and poaching in their native habitats.
This species (altogether with the Scleropages leichardti) were once known as barramundis although this practice has been widely discouraged since then due to the confusion it has wrought to the true barramundis (Lates calcarifer). The genus Scleropages means hard leaves which is in reference to their scales. The species Scleropages jardinii after the collector, Mr. F. Jardine.
Their bodies are very laterally compressed with a large upturned mouth, large scales and barbels on their lower lips. To differentiate between the third species of the genus, the Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), the number of scales in the lateral line is 32-35 in S. leichardti and S. jardinii while S. formosus has only 21-25. The saratogas are greenish-grey to brown on the back and coppery gold (S. jardinii) or silvery green (S. leichardti) on the flanks. One to three red-orange spots can be found on each scale of S. leichardti, while S. jardini appears to have minimal body spots, the majority of these scale spots appear to have fused creating line markings instead. The fin colours are similar to, or darker than its body colour. Both species have spots present on their fins and tail, with S. leichardti having numerous small spots-in-lines and S. jardini having less but larger spots. The spots may be yellow to orange to red for S. jardini, with spots usually red-orange for S. leichardti. The more northern species (S. jardini) commonly shows a pattern of squiggly lines and or dots on and bordering its gill plate, this is not present (to my knowledge) in the southern species (S. leichardti). Another characteristic of S. jardini is its head which slopes downward from it's back often making it's head look smaller in comparison to it's body. On the other hand S. leichardti shows no sloping head and is generally more level with it's back.
Reference:
http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/
Scientific Name: Poecilocharax weitzmani
Common Name: Black Darter Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 5.0-6.5
Temperature Range: 23-30 degrees Celsius (75-86° F)
Origin: Solimões, upper Negro, and upper Orinoco River basins
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These are best kept by themselves.
Diet:
Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Black darter tetras have small elongated and slender body with a bold lateral black line running from the gills to the caudal fin. The rest of the body is pale yellow-brown and slightly iridescent.
These fish grow to no more than 4 cm and are best suited in a heavily planted tank by themselves. They are found in the blackwaters of Solimões, upper Negro, and upper Orinoco River basins. Water conditions are best replicated similarly to their native habitat for best results.
Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare
Common Name: Angelfish
Care Level: easy to moderately difficult
Size: 6 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Amazon river, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Angels are in general peaceful for cichlids and are suitable for community setups although be very careful in selecting their tankmates as they will often prey upon fish that will fit their mouths especially neon tetras which are their natural food in the wild.
Diet:
Omnivorous. They will eat anything you can provide them including commercial foods, bloodworms, earthworms and mosquito larva.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g.
Narrative:
Angelfish are one of the most popular cichlids in the aquarium trade. They have been around the aquarium trade for several decades already. They are often seen gracing the tank with their flamboyant fins. These fish are generally peaceful although they can often be aggressive during feeding time and may outstrip every tankmate for food.
Tall tanks are often best suited for these fish. The height must be at least 18 inches minimum. A 20g minimum is suggested for a breeding pair or a single adult but do make sure the dimensions provide ample space for them to swim around. The tank should be furnished with driftwood and heavy vegetation for them to seek refuge.
In the wild, angels often have black to brown vertical bars which help them camouflage among the reeds. Their habitat, in reality, barely has plants and mostly dominated by hairgrass (Eleocharis vivapara) along with tree roots. They are often seen stalking among the tall reeds looking for prey which comprises of insects, small fish and other aquatic creatures that will fit their mouths.
Angelfish have long been bred in captivity for decades so you will find that they are widely available around the trade in different strains ranging from the hardy koi, marble and zebra strains to the delicate double blacks. Genetics often play their role in the longevity of the angelfish strains. Veiltails and super veils are also widely available and require larger tanks than the minimum tank size given to provide space for them to be able to swim around well.
These fish are not sexually dimorphic until they spawn. Try to start a small group of young angelfish to grow on and let them pair off. They are rather choosy about their partners. Once the angelfish become sexually matured, they begin to choose their partner and once satisfied, they start choosing a spawning site and harass other tankmates as they defend their new territory.
Males are easily distinguished when you look at their vents which should be pointed and positioned forward whereas females have round edged vents and the vents are positioned backward. Anything else suggested to indicate their sexes such as humps on their heads and fins may not be perfectly accurate at all.
Breeding is not that difficult at all. After they chose their spawning spot, the female then starts laying her eggs on the spot and the male tries to release his milt to be able to fertilize the eggs. Sometimes, first time spawners will eat their eggs so you need to be patient when this happens. It takes time before the angelfish learn how to take care of their eggs properly. Sometimes two females will also pair off, not knowing their genders so it is wise to remove one of the females and let her choose another candidate as her partner.
Scientific Name: Pterophyllum altum
Common Name: Deep Angelfish
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 6 inches body diameter ; 15 inches dorsal and ventral fins height
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Deep angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) are in general peaceful for cichlids and are suitable for community setups although be very careful in selecting their tankmates as they will often prey upon fish that will fit their mouths especially neon tetras which are their natural food in the wild.
Diet:
Omnivorous. Like the P. scalare, they will almost anything you can provide them provided these are in excellent health conditions.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g.
Narrative:
Since the early 1990s, the P. scalare has long been bred in captivity and still until present, very popular with dozens of strains available. There are two other species that have not been given as much attention as the P. scalare.
The word "altum" is a Latin word meaning "tall" and is quite appropriate for this species due to their body structure wherein their fins are unusually erect reaching 12-16 inches in height.
Pterophyllum altum is a close relative to the common freshwater angelfish known as Pterophyllum scalare and can be found in a relatively large area around Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia. It has long been thought and it is still a popular myth, even among experts that the altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) only can be found in Rio Orinoco however this is proven incorrect by studies of specimens in different museums that has been collected in a much larger area.
P. altum is easily distinguished from P. scalare by the sharp indentation just above their eyes, unusually erect dorsal and ventral fins and brown bars (rather than black which is the case for most P. scalare).
The altum angelfish are not widely available in the trade and command a very high price as these are very sensitive to water conditions especially when not acclimated properly. They are often shipped in vast numbers that the mortality rate is often very high and only a handful reach the dealer's tank alive although a few may succumb later on due to the stress factors brought by the transport. Add to that the fact these have never been bred in captivity at all.
Claims that these fish have been bred in captivity have yet to be proven true. Most of the time, the resulting angels claimed to be pure P. altum are actually crosses of P. scalare and P. altum rather than the pure specimen itself. Peruvian scalare angelfish are also sold as P. altum so you must be cautious when buying these fish to make sure you are not paying a high price for a wrong specimen.
Keeping these fish successfully is rewarding but may require efforts on your part. You must ensure the fish is acclimated properly and carefully as these are wild specimens that may be unable to tolerate the water conditions different from their native habitat. Tall tanks are recommended and should be no shorter than 24 inches. The tank must be furnished heavily with driftwoods and vegetative growth. The use of subdued lighting along with tannins are greatly suggested as these are very shy fish that will not tolerate bright lighting at all.
These fish are far different from P. scalare. The choice of tankmates may be more limited as their jaw structure is far wider and permits them to swallow even fish larger than how their mouths appear. These are best kept with fish that will not fit their mouths such as bronchis, plecos, discus, rams, deep-bodied tetras and apistogrammas.
Reference:
www.finarama.com (http://www.finarama.com)
www.aquaticcommunity.com (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com)
Scientific Name: Pterophyllum leopoldi
Common Name: Longnosed Angelfish (formerly Pterophyllum dumerilli)
Care Level: easy
Size: 6 inches body diameter ; 15 inches dorsal and ventral fins height
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Solimões River, Amazon River, and Rupununi River
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Longnosed angelfish (Pterophyllum leopoldi) usually have nastier temperament compared to the other two angelfish. They may be suited i community setups but you have to carefully select their tankmates as they may become a menace and even eat small fish that fit their mouths.
Diet:
Omnivorous. Like the P. scalare and P. altum, they will almost anything you can provide them provided these are in excellent health conditions.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g.
Narrative:
Compared to the P. altum, these fish are found to be rather easy to keep. These are distinguished from the other two species by their slightly more elongated body structure and the black band which goes through the fish's eye does not sweep backwards towards the dorsal fin (as seen in P. scalare), but rather goes straight over the head and joins up on the other side. These are rarely seen in captivity so if you have an opportunity to grab these fish, be sure to be well prepared before you grab a bunch of these fish. They can be very expensive as well.
Reference:
www.finarama.com (http://www.finarama.com)
www.answers.com (http://www.answers.com)
Scientific Name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Common Name: Discus
Care Level: easy to moderately difficult
Size: 7-8 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 28-30 degrees Celsius (82-86° F)
Origin: Amazon, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These are suitable for community setups although care must be taken when selecting their tankmates. These fish are easily stressed so boisterous tankmates must be avoided. Similarly, fish that have a tendency to nip others' fins should not be kept together with this fish.
Diet:
Omnivorous. Discus in excellent health conditions will eat almost anything although avoid excessive meaty foods which may result in digestive upsets as proteins are not easily digested by their body system.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a pair.
Narrative:
Discus is considered the king of all the aquarium fish due to their elegance and regal movement. These are regarded as the most beautiful of all tropical fish. For decades, these have been bred to develop dozens of strains to satisfy the hobbyists wishing to keep these fish.
Discus hail from Amazon basin of Brazil and can be found swimming together with the angelfish. For a fish with deep and laterally compressed body, they can be found in shallow portions of the rivers often stalking amongst the tall reeds and tree roots looking for prey. Water there has subdued lighting due to the tannic acids released by decaying vegetative matter found on the forest floors. The water has very little movements thus these fish are unable to tolerate any currents as dictated by their body structure.
Discus can reach almost 8 inches in body diameter so deep tanks are recommended when attempting to keep a group. The tanks must be furnished with driftwoods and heavy plant matter for them to be able to seek refuge. The temperature must be kept steady at 28-30 degrees Celsius as they become more vulnerable to pathogens if kept in temperature lower than what is required.
For beginners, it is best to obtain your fish from local breeders rather than your local fish store as the quality of the stocks you get are guaranteed to be in excellent health condition compared to the ones found in your local fish store. It is generally recommended to keep young discus (with body size no bigger than four inches) in barebottom tanks where maintenance is much easier as they require plenty of feedings on daily basis and water changes to compensate for the amount of wastes produced as these fish can easily stunt their growth if their requirements are not met properly.
Most people keep discus in planted tanks where they look quite stunning as they parade around the tank in a regal manner. However, it must be noted most plants lack tolerance for high temperature. This is also similarly applicable to tankmates. Boisterous and nippy tankmates are best avoided. Angelfish, rams, apistogrammas, corydoras and tetras generally make fine additions provided the selected tankmates can tolerate 28 degrees Celsius and above.
Discus are not sexually dimorphic so sexing is not possible until spawning stage. Discus tend to be choosy in picking their tankmates so allow the juveniles to grow and as they grow, they begin to select their partners and eventually pair off as they become sexually matured. Like the angelfish, males are distinguished by their pointed ovipositors which are positioned forward whereas females have round ovipositors positioned backward.
Breeding is not the same as the angelfish as they are a little more difficult to breed. After they chose their spawning spot, the female then starts laying her eggs on the spot and the male tries to release his milt to be able to fertilize the eggs. Sometimes, first time spawners will eat their eggs so you need to be patient when this happens. It takes time before the discus learn how to take care of their eggs properly. Most breeders use upturned terracotta pots when breeding these fish. Other alternatives are PVC pipes and slates. The resulting fry should never be removed from their parents as they rely on their parents' slime coats in order to grow. This mistake was what had baffled some breeders in the 1980s thus leading to frustrating experiences until the actual feeding behavior was discovered.
Scientific Name: Microgeophagus ramirezi
Common Name: Blue Ram
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Scientific Name: Microgeophagus altispinosa
Common Name: Bolivian Ram
Care Level: easy
Size: 3 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-26 degrees Celsius (74-78° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Scientific Name: Apistogramma cacatuiodes
Common Name: Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Scientific Name: Apistogramma agassizi
Common Name: Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Scientific Name: Apistogramma borelli
Common Name: Borell's Dwarf Cichlid
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-27 degrees Celsius (74-79° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Scientific Name: Astronotus orbicularis
Common Name: Bumblebee Oscar
Care Level: easy
Size: 12 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82° F)
Origin: South America
Temperament: moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Oscars are large, but not usually aggressive fish. Tankmates should be chosen with care. Remember, anything that can fit in an Oscar’s mouth will probably end up eaten within a short period of time. Tankmates should also not be aggressive unless the particular oscar can hold his own. The tank must also be large enough to withstand the bioload placed on it by the added mates. For instance, in a 75g you may be able to have an armored catfish provided you keep up your maintenance and it does not grow larger than 12-13’’.
Diet:
Because it is suspected that nutrition deficiencies in Oscars (as well as many other fish) may lead to the dreaded disease, Hole in the Head (HITH), a varied diet is invaluable. A high quality stable, preferable a pellet, should be used. This diet should be supplemented with things like bloodworms and various other live/frozen/freezedried foods. Care should be taken with feeder fish. They should be quarantined at least 3 weeks prior to feeding if bought from the LFS, but a better option may be breeding your own. Fish like guppies can easily be raised for use as the occasional feeder in a 20g tank. Either way, the feeders should be fed a quality diet as well so that they have nutritional value.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g.
Narrative:
Oscars are probably one of the cichlids that get the most attention. As little ones, they inspire many at the local fish store with their wiggly bodies and big puppy-dog eyes. The adults are quick attention getters, and everyone who visits a home with an adult oscar is fascinated. They are one of the most intelligent fish in the hobby, with a great personality to boot. However, many unfortunate Oscars end up in the wrong homes like many of their furry cousins (puppies).
Oscars are native to the tropical Amazon region in South America, and therefore should be given temperatures typically found in their locality. Temperatures should range between 75F-80F, so a heater will be needed in most situations. However, they seem to have little prefrence in pH or hardness.
The next part is where you typically see problems in the care of Oscars. Oscars are typically bought small but grow to a large size in a very short time requiring heavy filtration with a big tank to keep their water clean and to keep them happy. Dimensionally wise, Oscars should be give at least a 4’ tank that is at least 18’’ wide. Often, 55g tanks are recommended for Oscars, and, while their volume is acceptable, their dimensions are not. A standard 55g tank is 12’’ wide, shorter than the length most Oscars attain, so these fish would not have much in the way of turn around space. Therefore, they would not be in comfortable conditions; in other words, not thriving. Also, Oscars need regular water changes, at least 50% once a week, although water quality should be monitored so that nitrates do not rise much above 20ppm. If nitrate levels become higher, additional water changes are in order.
Scientific Name: Astronotus ocellatus
Common Name: Oscar
Care Level: easy
Size: 12 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82° F)
Origin: South America
Temperament: moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Oscars are large, but not usually aggressive fish. Tankmates should be chosen with care. Remember, anything that can fit in an Oscar’s mouth will probably end up eaten within a short period of time. Tankmates should also not be aggressive unless the particular oscar can hold his own. The tank must also be large enough to withstand the bioload placed on it by the added mates. For instance, in a 75g you may be able to have an armored catfish provided you keep up your maintenance and it does not grow larger than 12-13’’.
Diet:
Because it is suspected that nutrition deficiencies in Oscars (as well as many other fish) may lead to the dreaded disease, Hole in the Head (HITH), a varied diet is invaluable. A high quality stable, preferable a pellet, should be used. This diet should be supplemented with things like bloodworms and various other live/frozen/freezedried foods. Care should be taken with feeder fish. They should be quarantined at least 3 weeks prior to feeding if bought from the LFS, but a better option may be breeding your own. Fish like guppies can easily be raised for use as the occasional feeder in a 20g tank. Either way, the feeders should be fed a quality diet as well so that they have nutritional value.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g.
Narrative:
Oscars are probably one of the cichlids that get the most attention. As little ones, they inspire many at the local fish store with their wiggly bodies and big puppy-dog eyes. The adults are quick attention getters, and everyone who visits a home with an adult oscar is fascinated. They are one of the most intelligent fish in the hobby, with a great personality to boot. However, many unfortunate Oscars end up in the wrong homes like many of their furry cousins (puppies).
Oscars are native to the tropical Amazon region in South America, and therefore should be given temperatures typically found in their locality. Temperatures should range between 75F-80F, so a heater will be needed in most situations. However, they seem to have little prefrence in pH or hardness.
The next part is where you typically see problems in the care of Oscars. Oscars are typically bought small but grow to a large size in a very short time requiring heavy filtration with a big tank to keep their water clean and to keep them happy. Dimensionally wise, Oscars should be give at least a 4’ tank that is at least 18’’ wide. Often, 55g tanks are recommended for Oscars, and, while their volume is acceptable, their dimensions are not. A standard 55g tank is 12’’ wide, shorter than the length most Oscars attain, so these fish would not have much in the way of turn around space. Therefore, they would not be in comfortable conditions; in other words, not thriving. Also, Oscars need regular water changes, at least 50% once a week, although water quality should be monitored so that nitrates do not rise much above 20ppm. If nitrate levels become higher, additional water changes are in order.
Scientific Name: Scleropages leichardti
Common Name: Leichardt's Arowana, Southern Saratoga, Australian Spotted Bonytongue
Care Level: easy
Size: 36 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Asia
Temperament: aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Compatible tankmates include fish of similar size or even larger such as giant gouramis, peacock bass, datnoids and clown knives.
Diet:
Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 300g.
Narrative:
This species (altogether with the Scleropages jardinii) were once known as barramundis although this practice has been widely discouraged since then due to the confusion it has wrought to the true barramundis (Lates calcarifer). The genus Scleropages means hard leaves which is in reference to their scales.
Their bodies are very laterally compressed with a large upturned mouth, large scales and barbels on their lower lips. To differentiate between the third species of the genus, the Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), the number of scales in the lateral line is 32-35 in S. leichardti and S. jardinii while S. formosus has only 21-25. The saratogas are greenish-grey to brown on the back and coppery gold (S. jardinii) or silvery green (S. leichardti) on the flanks. One to three red-orange spots can be found on each scale of S. leichardti, while S. jardini appears to have minimal body spots, the majority of these scale spots appear to have fused creating line markings instead. The fin colours are similar to, or darker than its body colour. Both species have spots present on their fins and tail, with S. leichardti having numerous small spots-in-lines and S. jardini having less but larger spots. The spots may be yellow to orange to red for S. jardini, with spots usually red-orange for S. leichardti. The more northern species (S. jardini) commonly shows a pattern of squiggly lines and or dots on and bordering its gill plate, this is not present (to my knowledge) in the southern species (S. leichardti). Another characteristic of S. jardini is its head which slopes downward from it's back often making it's head look smaller in comparison to it's body. On the other hand S. leichardti shows no sloping head and is generally more level with it's back.
Scientific Name: Scleropages formosus
Common Name: Asian Arowana, Dragon Fish
Care Level: easy
Size: 36 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Asia
Temperament: moderately peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Compatible tankmates include fish of similar size or even larger such as giant gouramis, peacock bass, datnoids and clown knives.
Diet:
Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 300g.
Narrative:
Asian arowanas are firm favorites in the world of arowanas. They grow to 36 inches in length. Based on wikipedia, Asian arowanas have long bodies; large, elongate pectora fins; dorsal and anal fins located far back on the body; and a much larger caudal fin than that of their South American relative, the silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. The mouth is oblique with a very wide gape. The prominent lower jaw has two barbels at its tip. The gill rakers are stout. Asian arowanas bear teeth on many bones of the mouth, including the jaws, vomer, palatines, pterygoids, parasphenoid, and tongue.
Their bodies are very laterally compressed with a large upturned mouth, large scales and barbels on their lower lips. To differentiate between the third species of the genus, the Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), the number of scales in the lateral line is 32-35 in S. leichardti and S. jardinii while S. formosus has only 21-25. The saratogas are greenish-grey to brown on the back and coppery gold (S. jardinii) or silvery green (S. leichardti) on the flanks. One to three red-orange spots can be found on each scale of S. leichardti, while S. jardini appears to have minimal body spots, the majority of these scale spots appear to have fused creating line markings instead. The fin colours are similar to, or darker than its body colour. Both species have spots present on their fins and tail, with S. leichardti having numerous small spots-in-lines and S. jardini having less but larger spots. The spots may be yellow to orange to red for S. jardini, with spots usually red-orange for S. leichardti. The more northern species (S. jardini) commonly shows a pattern of squiggly lines and or dots on and bordering its gill plate, this is not present (to my knowledge) in the southern species (S. leichardti). Another characteristic of S. jardini is its head which slopes downward from it's back often making it's head look smaller in comparison to it's body. On the other hand S. leichardti shows no sloping head and is generally more level with it's back.
Asian arowana scales are large, cycloid, and, in some varieties, metallic coloured, with a distinctive mosaic pattern of raised ribs. The lateral scales are arranged in horizontal rows numbered from the most ventral (first level) to the most dorsal (fifth level), with dorsal scales designated the sixth level.
Asian arowanas are distinguished from Australian congenerics S. jardinii and S. leichardti by having fewer (21-26) lateral line scales (versus 32-36 for the Australian species), longer pectoral and pelvic fins, and a longer anterior snout.
Green arowanas are dark green on the back, silvery or golden green on its sides, and silvery or whitish on its ventral surface, with dark greenish or bluish patches visible through the lateral scales. In mature fish, the top of the eye and the head behind the eye are bright emerald.
Both grey-tailed and yellow-tailed silver Asian arowanas are dark grey on the back and silver on the sides, with dark ring patches on the lateral scales and a silvery or whitish belly. In yellow-tailed specimens, the fin membranes are yellowish with dark grey rays. In grey-tailed specimens, the fins are uniform dark grey.
Mature red-tailed golden arowanas have brilliant metallic gold lateral scales, gill covers, bellies, and pectoral and pelvic fin membranes, although the back is dark. In juveniles the areas destined to develop golden colour start out metallic silver. The anal fin and the bottom portion of the caudal fin are light brown to dark red.
Mature gold crossback arowanas are distinguished from the red-tailed golden arowanas by having metallic gold crossing the back completely. This variety also lacks the reddish fins of the red-tailed golden.
In mature super red arowanas, the gill covers, lateral scales, and fin membranes of these fishes are metallic red, with the exact hue varying from gold-tinged to deep red. The back is dark brown. In juveniles, the darker the dorsal colouration, the deeper the red will be on maturity.
The Asian arowanas are listed as endangered by the 2006 IUCN Red List, with the most recent evaluation taking place in 1996. International trade in these fishes is controlled under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), under which it was placed on Appendix I, the most restrictive category, in 1975. S. formosus is one of only eight fish species listed on Appendix I. There are a number of registered CITES breeders in Asia and the specimens they produce can be imported into several nations. Other nations restrict or prohibit possession of Asian arowanas; for example, the United States has listed this species under the Endangered Species Act, and therefore it cannot be possessed in that country without a permit.
Declining habitat is a major threat. For example, Asian arowanas are now uncommon in the Malay Peninsula, where they were once widely distributed, due to environmental destruction. Inclusion in the IUCN Red List was originally based not on biological reasons but on practical ones: though widely distributed throughout southeast Asia, they have been harvested heavily by aquarium collectors. However, habitat loss is likely a greater threat than aquarium collecting.
There is no recent evaluation of conservation status by IUCN. Additionally, considering the current confusion as to number of species as well as the wide distribution, conservation status needs to be reconsidered. All strains are probably endangered, but some more critically than others.
The Asian arowana's high value as aquarium fish has impacted its conservation. Its popularity has soared since the late 1970s, and hobbyists may pay thousands of U.S. dollars for one of these animals.
Beginning in 1989, CITES began allowing Asian arowanas to be traded, provided certain criteria were met, most notably that they were bred in captivity on a fish farm for at least two generations. The first of these farms was in Indonesia. Later, the Singapore government's Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (then called the Primary Production Department) and a local fish exporter collaborated in a captive breeding program. Asian arowanas legally certified by CITES for trade became available from this program in 1994.
Captive-bred arowanas that are legal for trade under CITES are documented in two ways. First, fish farms provide each buyer with a certificate of authenticity and a birth certificate. Second, each specimen receives an implanted microchip, called a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT), which identifies individual animals.
Genetic fingerprinting has been used to assess the genetic diversity of a captive population at a Singapore fish farm in order to improve the management of this species. DNA markers that distinguish among different strains and between sexes have been identified, allowing aquaculturists to identify these characteristics in immature animals.
Reference:
http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/ (http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/)
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Scientific Name: Parachromis managuense
Common Name: Jaguar Cichlid
Care Level: easy
Size: 24 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-30 degrees Celsius (76-86° F)
Origin: Central America
Temperament: aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Compatible tankmates include fish of similar size or even larger such as giant gouramis, peacock bass, datnoids and clown knives.
Diet:
Feeding is not a problem as jaguar cichlids will readily accept commercial foods, krills, mussels and anything else you can provide them.
Tank Size for Adult: 125g.
Narrative:
Jaguar Cichlid has a bad reputation, just like many of the other large predatory cichlids. This reputation is to a large part undeserved, and besides, the positive sides to these fishes more than well make up fore any negative ones. Not to mention that an adult jaguar cichlid is incredibly beautiful.
This species grows to almost 60 cm (24 inches). Absolute minimum would be 120 gallons per adult although the larger the tank, the better. The aquarium should be decorated so that natural territory boundaries are created. Larger rocks should be placed directly on the bottom of the aquarium since this species digs a lot and can move large stones. Use silica too glue caves and stone formations together so that they don’t fall down.
This species are relatively undemanding and will become accustomed well to various water conditions. They can be kept with other cichlids from the region as longs as they aren’t too small and can stand up for themselves. This is true for most cichlids species from Central America.
Sexing jaguar cichlids is usually easy. Females are smaller and rounder in comparison to males. Breeding them in captivity is not that difficult either. The biggest problem however is deciding what has to be done to a resulting large number of fry as each batch can come up with 2000-3000 fry.
Reference:
www.aquaticcommunity.com (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com)
Scientific Name: Asterophysus batrachus
Common Name: Gulper Catfish, Ogre Catfish, Gupler Driftwood Catfish
Care Level: easy
Size: 11 inches
pH Range: 5.6-7.0
Temperature Range: 24-29 degrees Celsius (76-85° F)
Origin: Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
While gulper catfish are rather peaceful in nature, be very careful when selecting their tankmates. These are best left by themselves rather than mixing (and even risking) other tankmates. Fish even larger than them have been reported to end up in their stomach. There are some cases where arowanas and crenicichlas thought to escape their gulping behavior have been instead found inside the stomach of the fish with the fish looking grotesquely humongous in comparison to its original size.
Diet:
Carnivorous. Gulper catfish will eat anything you can give them regardless of the size of its foods. Anything new introduced to their tanks will be followed by these fish and eventually eat them.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g.
Narrative:
Gulper catfish are one of the most impressive predatory catfish. These fish are found in the blackwaters around Brazil and several other countries. They can be seen lurking around looking for prey and eventually ambushing them regardless of their size. Even if the prey is bigger than it, it will attempt at all costs to keep swallowing it until it succeeds its ordeal.
According to planetcatfish.com, the skin of these catfish is rather thin and flexible thus enabling these fish to swallow anything and look abnormally large for their actual size.
Reference: www.planetcatfish.com
Scientific Name: Trachelyopterus galeatus
Common Name: Starry Woodcat, Van Gogh Catfish, Driftwood Catfish
Care Level: moderately difficult
Size: 9 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 20-26 degrees Celsius (70-78° F)
Origin: Amazon basin across South America even reaching Peru and Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are very boisterous by nature especially as they prowl around at night and therefore should be kept with fish of similar size and nature. Most tankmates may be unable to handle their constant movements.
Diet:
Feeding is not usually a problem as this fish will practically eat everything you can provide them. Frozen and live foods are taken greedily although commercial foods are also appreciated.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g.
Narrative:
These fish have been named after Van Gogh due to their ability to camouflage on anything almost perfectly, most especially if kept among a collection of driftwoods making them challenging to spot in your aquarium. The pattern and colouration of this fish varies a lot depending on the environmental factors and being widely distributed around South America, there is bound to be various color patterns.
Accoridng to planetcatfish.com, males have a slightly concave anal fin, which is slightly convex in the female. The leading rays of the male's anal fin are fused to form a urinogenital organ used in internal fertilization of the female. This modification of the anal fin does not manifest itself until the fish is at least 75% grown. Breeding has never been recorded in captivity until today.
Reference:
http://www.planetcatfish.com
Scientific Name: Otocinclus affinis
Common Name: Otocinclus Catfish
Care Level: moderately easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 18-27 degrees Celsius (68-79° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Community setups.
Diet:
Otocinclus will not normally accept flake food or meat based foods. They are herbivorous fish that prefer to eat solely on algae. The amount of algae that the otocinclus need must be constantly supplied. There are few types of algae involved that an otocinclus cannot consume which includes the blue-green algae (better known as cyanobacteria) and green spot algae.
There are foods however that can compensate for the lack of algae supply. This involves peas, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini and plenty other vegetable matter. Preparation of vegetable matter is done in many ways. They can be blanched in a microwave oven in a bowl of water for a minute or so. Place the food into the aquarium by tying, weighing or using a clip specially designed for this matter. Leave it for a few hours afterwards. If the otocinclus refuses to eat, the food must be removed. Repeat again in a few days until the otocinclus becomes completely accustomed to it.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Otocinclus has been given numerous number of names. This includes names such as the oto, otto and algae eater. Otocinclus can reach a maximum of 2 inches and has a typical bottom feeder shape. They prefer a heavily planted aquarium with water that is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and slightly soft to slightly hard water. They thrive in water maintained at a temperature between 68-79 degrees Fahrenheit. They are best kept in a group of four or more.
There are some cases where otocinclus often die within the first month of being introduced to the aquarium. It is widely believed stress is involved from the manner of catching them in the wild and how they are transported. It must be remembered that fish are often caught in large numbers and most do not make it to the supplier. In a few days, they are again repacked and then transported to dealers until they reach the buyer’s tank. The whole process brings tremendous stress to the fish thus the mortality rate is unsurprisingly high.
Before even purchasing these fish, make sure the tank has finished cycling phase and the water quality is up to par. When purchasing an otocinclus, ask the store manager for details how they have been doing and examine them making sure they are in good health condition.
An issue worth mentioning when it comes to otocinclus is that they may likely get caught in the netting. Do not attempt to pull the fish free. Either let it free itself or carefully cut away at the netting.
Otocinclus will not normally accept flake food or meat based foods. They are herbivorous fish that prefer to eat solely on algae. The amount of algae that the otocinclus need must be constantly supplied. There are few types of algae involved that an otocinclus cannot consume which includes the blue-green algae (better known as cyanobacteria) and green spot algae.
The trick to a constant supply of algae is obtaining rocks that are safe for aquarium use. Place them in a container with water which is then placed under strong lighting or even better, direct sunlight. In a few weeks, algae will start to form on the surface of the rock. You can then place a few rocks in the tank and once all algae is eaten, return the rocks into the container and replace with more algae covered rocks.
There are foods however that can compensate for the lack of algae supply. This involves peas, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini and plenty other vegetable matter. Preparation of vegetable matter is done in many ways. They can be blanched in a microwave oven in a bowl of water for a minute or so. Place the food into the aquarium by tying, weighing or using a clip specially designed for this matter. Leave it for a few hours afterwards. If the otocinclus refuses to eat, the food must be removed. Repeat again in a few days until the otocinclus becomes completely accustomed to it.
Breeding involves laying their eggs on plant leaves which may take up to 72 hours to hatch. The fry can accept very fine live foods and green foods.
113919
Scientific Name: Rineloricaria parva
Common Name: Whiptail Catfish
Care Level: easy
Size: 6 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable for community tanks. Discus, angelfish, tetras, rasboras, corydoras and other small plecos make suitable tankmates. They should not, on the other hand, be kept with very boisterous species.
Diet:
Green matter and occasionally meaty foods are appreciated. Excessive proteins must be avoided.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g.
Narrative:
Whiptail plecos are relatively easy to keep. A tank furnished with several driftwoods, plants, leaf litter and fine grain substrate makes a fine environment for the fish. Like other plecos, these are also heavy waste producers which means substrate must be vacuumed frequently to remove unsightly feces.
Males develop cheek bristles and are smaller and narrower in comparison to the robust females.
Reference:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/
Scientific Name: Sturisoma panamense
Common Name: Royal Whiptail
Care Level: easy
Size: 8 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable for community tanks. Discus, angelfish, tetras, rasboras, corydoras and other small plecos make suitable tankmates. They should not, on the other hand, be kept with very boisterous species.
Diet:
Green matter and occasionally meaty foods are appreciated. Excessive proteins must be avoided.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g.
Narrative:
Whiptail plecos are relatively easy to keep. A tank furnished with several driftwoods, plants, leaf litter and fine grain substrate makes a fine environment for the fish. Like other plecos, these are also heavy waste producers which means substrate must be vacuumed frequently to remove unsightly feces.
Reference:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/
Scientific Name: Farlowella gracilis
Common Name: Royal Farlowella, Farlowella gracilis
Care Level: easy
Size: 8 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Amazon basin, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable for community tanks. Discus, angelfish, tetras, rasboras, corydoras and other small plecos make suitable tankmates. They should not, on the other hand, be kept with very boisterous species.
Diet:
Green matter and occasionally meaty foods are appreciated. Excessive proteins must be avoided.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g.
Narrative:
These plecos are relatively easy to keep. A tank furnished with several driftwoods, plants, leaf litter and fine grain substrate makes a fine environment for the fish. Like other plecos, these are also heavy waste producers which means substrate must be vacuumed frequently to remove unsightly feces.
Reference:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/
Scientific Name: Leporinus fasciatus
Common Name: Black Banded Leporinus
Care Level: easy
Size: 12 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Central and South America
Temperament: moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
They are suitable in a community tank with silver dollars, plecos, flagtail catfish and other peaceful characins.
Diet:
Tank Size for Adult: 55g.
Narrative:
The name Leporinus is a French word meaning "little hare". Close examination of the fish will explain why they were given this name, as they have two prominent front teeth much like a hare. Tolerant of other fish, most live in schools but are known to quarrel among themselves from time to time. This is particularly true when kept in small groups rather than large schools.
In nature, they live in rocky river beds, and are accustomed to strong currents. Because a strong current is important, the use of a power head is recommended. They position themselves head down in rocky clefts and fissures, and should be provided with similar conditions when kept in an aquarium. Substrate will not matter as they have very little use to it.
Care should be taken to use a tight fitting cover to prevent the fish from jumping out of the tank. Use plastic plants or plants with tough foliage as these fish will not hesitate to take a bite on live plants tearing them down within minutes.
Reference:
http://www.freshaquarium.about.com/
Scientific Name: Luciosoma pellegrini
Common Name: Apollo Shark
Care Level: easy
Size: 10 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Asia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are rather boisterous swimmers occupying mostly the surface level so try to focus on middle and bottom levels for tankmates. They should be of similar size or even larger so the Apollo sharks won't attempt to eat anything else that will fit their mouths. Doradids and most large barbs such as tinfoil barbs (Barbus schwanfeldi) are suitable tankmates.
Diet:
Feeding is not a problem as these fish are not picky about their food at all. Meaty foods are greatly devoured by these fish such as bloodworms and earthworms.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g.
Narrative:
Apollo sharks are very large reaching 25 cm in length. They are excellent jumpers which means tight cover is strictly recommended. A planted tank is often a suitable setup for these fish.
Scientific Name: Leptobarbus hoevenii
Common Name: Golden Shark, Sultan Fish, Redfinned Cigar Shark
Care Level: easy
Size: 24 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Fish of similar size make suitable tankmates with these fish.
Diet:
Red-Finned Cigar Sharks are omnivorous feeders and should be fed a balanced diet of both meaty and green foods. Prepared foods such as flakes and pellets, as well as vegetable matter such as algae tablets, blanched lettuce and peas are all ideal foods. Live foods are highly appreciated.
Tank Size for Adult: 150g.
Narrative:
The Red-Finned Cigar Shark should be kept in a large aquarium measuring at least 6 feet in length. These fish travel in schools and thus should be kept in groups of 5 or 6 in the aquarium, meaning the tank must be very spacious. Because their natural instinct is to dash quickly away from danger, they can often be timid fish in the aquarium. For this reason they should be provided with solid structures for shelter such as tall rocks and driftwood pieces. In the event that the fish gets startled it may injure itself on sharp decorations. Plants also make good decor in the Cyprinid aquarium. Use a tight-fitting canopy as this fish is a jumper. The fish appreciates strong water current which can be achieved through the use of a power head or similar device.
Scientific Name: Moenkhausia pittieri
Common Name: Diamond Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Amazon, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g.
Narrative:
Keep these little guys in soft, slightly acidic water with plenty of hiding areas through the use of plants and driftwood. They prefer the company of their own kind, and thus should be kept in groups of five or more. Their coloring may be faded in unsuitable water conditions.
Scientific Name: Hemigrammus erythrozona
Common Name: Glowlight Tetra
Care Level: easy
Size: 1.5 inch
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Amazon, Brazil
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They make a great addition to the community aquarium. It is highly recommended to keep these fish in schools of six or more. The aquarium should be dimly lit with floating plants and driftwood if available. These fish are only to be kept with other smaller fishes such as other tetra species and corydoras.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 10g.
Narrative:
Keep these little guys in soft, slightly acidic water with plenty of hiding areas through the use of plants and driftwood. They prefer the company of their own kind, and thus should be kept in groups of five or more. Their coloring may be faded in unsuitable water conditions.
113920
Scientific Name: Betta splendens
Common Name: Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Mekong basin of Southeast Asia
Temperament: peaceful to moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Tankmates are selected based on trial and error as it is not easy to determine how a B. splendens will behave in community setups regardless of their genders. It is however best recommended they be kept with rasboras and tetras that will not be tempted to nip their fins such as glowlight tetras provided there is enough space to avoid the B. splendens from harassing its tankmates due to the cramped quarters. Most bottom dwellers such as corydoras often work.
Specimens with flamboyant fins such as gouramis and guppies are best avoided as they may be marked by B. splendens as rivals and may only end up being constantly harassed.
Diet:
B. splendens are carnivorous by nature relishing insects and small fish in the wild. They can be seen lurking around floating vegetation in shallow ditches while looking for their prey. In captivity, most B. splendens tend to be fussy over foods although meaty foods such as bloodworms are often accepted but do not stick to only one food as a staple as these fish are rather prone to bloat caused by excessive proteins since proteins are not easily digested even by carnivorous specimens themselves. Vegetable matter must also be added to their diet so they can gather fiber that will allow them to excrete wastes without risk of constipation or bloat, both disorders that may prove fatal to the fish's health.
Tank Size for Adult: 2.5g.
Narrative:
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as the "betta fish" or just "betta", is one of the most popular species of freshwater aquarium fish however these are also the ones often largely misinterpreted in terms how they are cared for by their owners.. It is native to the Mekong river basin in Southeast Asia and called pla-kad or pla-kat ("Biting Fish") in its native Thailand.
B. splendens usually grow to an overall length of about 6.0 cm (~ 2.3 in), though some varieties reach 8.0 cm (3.5 in.) in length. In recent years breeders have been able to create "Giant Bettas" that exceed 8.0 cm (3.5 in.) due to the manipulation of a mutant gene. Although bettas are known for their brilliant colors and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of B. splendens is a dull green and brown, and the fins of wild specimens are relatively short. However, brilliantly colored and longer finned varieties, such as veiltail, delta, superdelta, and halfmoon have been developed through selective breeding.
The betta is a member of the Gourami family (family Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes, but was formerly classified among the Anabantidae. Although there are nearly 50 other types of bettas, B. splendens is the most popular species among aquarium hobbyists, particularly in the United States.
B. splendens are carnivorous by nature relishing insects and small fish in the wild. They can be seen lurking around floating vegetation in shallow ditches while looking for their prey. In captivity, most B. splendens tend to be fussy over foods although meaty foods such as bloodworms are often accepted but do not stick to only one food as a staple as these fish are rather prone to bloat caused by excessive proteins since proteins are not easily digested even by carnivorous specimens themselves. Vegetable matter must also be added to their diet so they can gather fiber that will allow them to excrete wastes without risk of constipation or bloat, both disorders that may prove fatal to the fish's health.
Tankmates are selected based on trial and error as it is not easy to determine how a B. splendens will behave in community setups regardless of their genders. It is however best recommended they be kept with rasboras and tetras that will not be tempted to nip their fins such as glowlight tetras provided there is enough space to avoid the B. splendens from harassing its tankmates due to the cramped quarters. Most bottom dwellers such as corydoras often work.
Specimens with flamboyant fins such as gouramis and guppies are best avoided as they may be marked by B. splendens as rivals and may only end up being constantly harassed.
Natural Habitat and Housing
An important thing to know when housing a B. splendens is that most metals are lethal, and never should metal decorations be used unless they are marked for this purpose. Copper is especially dangerous. Nonetheless, to keep an individual B. splendens, a minimum tank size of 3 U.S. gallons at least is recommended, if it will be kept in a warm room. Decorations can provide hiding places, especially important when two males are housed in a divided tank, or when the betta is living in a community tank. Every decoration must be free of rough areas or sharp points which can damage the delicate fins of the betta. For this reason, silk rather than plastic plants are recommended. Live plants will improve the water quality. Also, since the betta obtains oxygen from the air, the tank must not be covered with an air-tight lid and the betta must be able to easily reach the surface. (Note that some bettas enjoy leaping out of tanks, so a breathable lid is highly recommended.) If the betta has no access to air, it will suffocate.
In Canada and the United States, the Betta is sometimes sold in a vase with a plant, with the erroneous claim that the fish can feed on the roots of the plant and that it can survive without changing the water. This is dangerous for the betta in two ways. First, the betta has a labyrinth organ which allows it to take in oxygen from the surface air, similar to the human lung. If the betta can not reach the surface of the water, which can be the case if a plant's roots are covering the surface, the betta will suffocate in a matter of hours. When kept in a small container such as a vase, the fish need frequent water changes, and the container must be kept in a warm room. A larger tank with a heater will provide better living conditions. Wherever the fish is kept, water must be treated with an appropriate water conditioner before use.
There is a stereotype that in the wild, bettas live in tiny muddy pools, and therefore that it is acceptable to keep them in small tanks, but bowls are usually too small. In reality, bettas live in vast paddies, the puddle myth originating from the fact that during the dry season, the paddies can dry out into small patches of water. It is not a natural state of affairs by any means, and in the wild, fish trapped in such puddles are likely to die in a short period of time when they dry out.
According to Horst Link who wrote a book specially for bettas, "In my opinion, the natural distribution range is very much smaller than had been supposed until now and is, in fact, restricted to central, western, and northern Thailand...Betta splendens lives in paddy fields and associated ditches, in marshes and flooded grass pits and in the klongs (canals) of the residential parts of towns and villages. At different times of the year, they may be very numerous."
These fish are largely misunderstood in where they exactly originated. The view that B. splendens often live in mudholes and therefore can be kept in such conditions is not really tenable. The fish will exhibit their full finery in a well-established, balanced aquarium and it is only under such conditions that their keeper will be able to appreciate their beauty at its best.
To maximize the lifespan of the fish and ensure their well being, they should always be kept in appropriate sized tanks. Bettas ideally should be kept in a filtered tank 10 gallons or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish. Although these conditions are ideal, with proper care and filtration, a betta can be happily kept in a smaller tank.
Klong
http://gregoire.leclercq.free.fr/en/travels/asia/thailand/0038%20-%20Bangkok%20-%20Klong%20by%20boat.JPG
Paddy field
http://www.aquarticles.com/images/ZhouHang/pThailand/61%20thailand_paddy_field_canal.jpg
Other good links:
http://www.ikanpemburu.com/html/field/pontian.htm
http://www.ikanpemburu.com/html/fiel...itam_last1.htm (http://www.ikanpemburu.com/html/field/Ayer_Hitam_last1.htm)
http://www.ikanpemburu.com/html/field/Thailand2.htm
Sexing and Breeding
Male bettas are often known to have rather long fins. While this is in fact a common sight, wild male bettas have shorter fins and are even drabber than what they are now. Their short fins allow them to swim across the currents whereas long finned specimens often have problems swimming due to their fin structure. In short, it is not always correct to assume that the fins indicate their sexes. According to Bcaquatics.com, under the head area, where the gills meet, males will have an extra skin that forms under the fish. Females are distinguished by their white dot or the egg tube found between their ventral fins.
References:
Link, Horst (1991). Labyrinth Fish: The Bubble Nest Builders, published by Tetra.
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://betta.tasarin.net/aquarium.php
http://bcaquatics.com/
Scientific Name: Osphronemus gorami
Common Name: Giant Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 27 inches +
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-80° F)
Origin: Asia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
They are predatory but are often called a gentle giant and can be kept with a large variety of fish species as long as they are large enough to not be eaten.
Diet:
Giant gourami are omnivores with an enormous appetite and can grow very quickly. They will eat a wide range of food including but not limited to: flake food, pellet food, feeder fish, fruit and most vegetables.
Tank Size for Adult: 300g. +
Narrative:
There are 3 main species of giant gouramis, giant gourami (Osphronemus gorami), Siamese gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) and kissing gourami (Helostoma temmincki).
This beautiful fish can reach sizes of 70cm (28") or more, but in captivity rarely reach sizes over 40cm(16"). They have an oval body shape and their color ranges from gray to white with some spotting or dots. Giant gouramis have a strong personality and very intelligent even to the point of recognition. They have been known to live for 20 years or longer with appropriate care.
These fascinating fish have a special organ called a labyrinth organ which allows them to breath air from the surface. The labyrinth organ is a suprabranchial accessory formed by vascularized expansion of the epibranchial bone of the first gill arch. The fish are not born with the organ, but develop it gradually.
Males develop a nuchal hump on the head and have longer and more pointed dorsal and anal fins in contrast to the females which have noticeably more rounded fins.
Giant gourami are omnivores with an enormous appetite and can grow very quickly. They will eat a wide range of food including but not limited to: flake food, pellet food, feeder fish, fruit and most vegetables.
They are predatory but are often called a gentle giant and can be kept with a large variety of fish species as long as they are large enough to not be eaten.
The male will build a bubble nest utilizing plant material just below the water’s surface. Wrapping around the female, the male will collect the eggs into his mouth and place them into the nest. The eggs hatch in 24 hours. The male will jealously guard the nest even becoming aggressive towards the female.
Due to the large appetite, weekly water changes are recommended. A minimum tank size of 150 to 200 gallons is recommended.
Some diseases that have been found in or on the giant gourami are Achlya (a fungus infection caused by bacteria infecting the skin and gills producing a toxic substance damaging epithelial cells), Epizootic ulcerative syndrome(EUS) (an infection known as Aphanomyces invadans or Aphanomyces piscicida affecting the kidneys, liver and muscular tissues usually developing red spots or small to large ulcerative lesions on the body), Lernaea (a crustacean parasite infecting the skin and gills), Trypanosoma (an internal parasite found in the blood of giant gourami in Thailand).
This is a truly wonderful fish and can be kept in a large aquarium with a variety of fishes.The giant gourami makes a great and long lived pet.
Info supplied by Piggy67
Scientific Name: Trichogaster leeri
Common Name: Pearl Gourami, Lace Gourami, Mosaic Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are generally peaceful and are suitable for community setups.
Diet:
Pearl gouramis are omnivorous and will accept anything as these are not finicky eaters. Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, tubifex worms, commercial worms and mealworms can be added to their diet.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g.
Narrative:
Pear gouramis are very popular in the aquarium trade and are considered the most elegant of all the anabantoids due to their pearl-like pattern with a distinct black 'lace' running from its head, and gradually thinning towards the caudal fin. The patterning of this fish has given way to many popular names, such as the lace gourami and the mosaic gourami. The 'lace' refers to the long black line running through the fish's body, whereas 'Mosaic' refers more towards the pearl, or mosaic-like patterning of the body.
Male specimens of this fish, typical of many gouramis, are generally larger and more colourful than their female counterparts. They exhibit bright orange colouring around the throat region, which at breeding time becomes much brighter and is used to court the female. Males also exhibit somewhat of an orange tinge in their fins, with the exception of the caudal fin. The male also has longer fins, with a pointed dorsal fin and extended anal fin rays.
A tank of 15 gallons minimum is most recommended although the larger the tank, the better. These fish are suitable for community setups due to their peaceful nature. They are however timid and should therefore not be kept with boisterous and aggressive tankmates. Tank must be regularly maintained as these fish are rather vulnerable to illnesses. The tank can be furnished with plenty of driftwoods and plants, especially floating plants for them to seek refuge.
The Pearl Gourami is a bubble nest builder that uses plants to help bind together the bubbles. The water level should be reduced to 8 in during spawning, and the temperature should be approximately 28 °C (82 °F) and with a pH of around 7. After spawning both adults should be removed. The eggs hatch after 2 days and the fry become free swimming 3 days later (Ter Morshuizen 2007). When they become free swimming, the fry should be fed infusoria and brine shrimp, and a week later finely ground flakes.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
113921
Scientific Name: Colisa lalia
Common Name: Dwarf Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: India, Bangladesh
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are generally peaceful and are suitable for community setups except during spawning season where the male may become overzealous in guarding its bubblenest.
Diet:
Dwarf gouramis are omnivorous and will accept anything as these are not finicky eaters. Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, tubifex worms, commercial worms and mealworms can be added to their diet.
In the wild, these are known to gorge on insects and other tiny creatures as they stalk around the surface. They are also known to graze on algae which some of the aquarists have in fact observed as these were placed in ponds full of floating plants along with green filamentous algae.
Tank Size for Adult: 5g.
Narrative:
The common name fits this fish well, as it grows to a size of only two inches. Males are slightly larger than the females and have a bright orange-red body with turquoise blue vertical stripes that extend into the fins. The dorsal fin of the male is pointed in contrast to the rounded dorsal of the female. Females remain a duller silvery blue-gray color, never achieving the brilling colors of the male. Several color hybrids also exist, Neon, Rainbow, and Red/Blushing.
Originating from India, West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh, the Dwarf Gourami can be found in thickly vegetated waters. They are often found together with other Colisa species. In the river plains of northern India they are one of the most common fish, and are sold dried or as fish meal in many of the markets.
According to freshaquarium.com, lowering the water level to 6-8 inches and raising the water temperature to 28-30 C will trigger spawning. Vegetation is essential, as males build their bubble nest using plant material, which it binds together with bubbles. Nests are very elaborate and sturdy, reaching several inches across and an inch deep. Limnophila aquatica, Riccia fluitans, Ceratopteris thalictroides, and Vesicularia dubyana, are good choices for the breeding tank. Peat fiber may also be offered as building material.
Once the nest had been built the male will begin courting the female, usually in the afternoon or evening. He signals his intentions by swimming around the female with flared fins, attempting to draw her to the nest where he will continue his courting display. If the female accepts the male she will begin swimming in circles with the male beneath the bubblenest. When she is ready to spawn she touches the male on either the back or the tail with her mouth.
Upon this signal the male will embrace the female, turning her first on her side and finally on her back. At this point the female will release approximately five dozen clear eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. Most of the eggs will float up into the bubblenest. Eggs that stray are collected by the male and placed in the nest. Once all the eggs are secured in the nest, the pair will spawn again.
If more than one female is present in the breeding tank, the male may spawn with all of them. The spawning sessions will continue for two to four hours, and produce between 300 and 800 eggs. Upon completion, the male will place a fine layer of bubbles beneath the eggs, assuring that they remain in the bubblenest. At this point the female(s) should be removed from the tank.
The male will now take sole responsibility for the eggs, aggressively defending the nest and surrounding territory. In twelve to twenty-four hours the fry will hatch, and continue developing within the protection of the bubblenest. After three days they are sufficiently developed to be free swimming.
The male should be removed from the tank once the fry have left the bubblenest or he may consume the young. Fry should be fed micro-food such as infusoria, rotifers, or commercial fry food for the first week. They can then be fed freshly hatched brine shrimp, and finely ground dry foods.
Reference:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/ (http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/dwarfgourami.htm)
Scientific Name: Colisa chuna
Common Name: Honey Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: India, Bangladesh
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are generally peaceful and are suitable for community setups. They will not however tolerate boisterous and aggressive tankmates and those should therefore be avoided.
Diet:
Honey gouramis are omnivorous and will accept anything as these are not finicky eaters. Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, tubifex worms, commercial worms and mealworms can be added to their diet.
Tank Size for Adult: 5g.
Narrative:
The males of the Honey Gourami become deep gold in the breeding period with a dark blue underside. Male specimens of this fish, typical of many Gouramis, are generally more colourful than their female counterparts. They exhibit bright orange colouring around the throat region, which at breeding time becomes much brighter and is used to court the female. Males also exhibit somewhat of an orange tinge in their fins, with the exception of the caudal fin. The male also has longer fins, with a pointed dorsal fin and extended anal fin rays
A tank of 5 gallons minimum is most recommended although the larger the tank, the better. These fish are suitable for community setups due to their peaceful nature. They are however timid and should therefore not be kept with boisterous and aggressive tankmates. Tank must be regularly maintained as these fish are rather vulnerable to illnesses. The tank can be furnished with plenty of driftwoods and plants, especially floating plants for them to seek refuge.
Scientific Name: Trichogaster microlepis
Common Name: Moonlight Gourami
Care Level: easy
Size: 5 inches
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 22-28 degrees Celsius (72-82° F)
Origin: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
These fish are generally peaceful and are suitable for community setups. They will not however tolerate boisterous and aggressive tankmates and those should therefore be avoided.
Diet:
Moonlight gouramis are omnivorous and will accept anything as these are not finicky eaters. Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, tubifex worms, commercial worms and mealworms can be added to their diet.
Tank Size for Adult: 15g.
Narrative:
Dangerdoll
11-26-2008, 10:43 PM
Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)
Puntius titteya
Common name: Cherry Barb
Care Level: easy
Size: 2 inches
pH range: 6.0-8.0
Temperature range: 74 - 81 °F (23 - 27 °C).
Origin: Tropical fish belonging to the spotted barb genus of the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Sri Lanka, and introduced populations have become established in Mexico and Colombia.
Temperament: peaceful, mostly. Males tend to get aggressive with their own kind when spawning.
Compatible Tankmates: Rasboras and other tetras do well with cherries.
Diet: Flakes, along withMeaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: Due to their small size but active nature, a tank as small as a 20 could support a school of these fish
Narrative:
One of the more peaceful of the barbs, they do prefer a heavily planted tank. With a tank heavily planted, their spawning never ceases to end. They are quite small fish, usually maxing out at 2 inches maximum size for females, smaller for males. Females will be a deeper darker red while the females will retain a redish top, a gold line through her center horizontally and a whitish bottom. They are egglayers which scatter their eggs amongst the gravel and plants. The will eat the eggs and/or fry if there is not enough cover to keep them hidden. A successful plant in which they seem to do their most successful spawning would be mosses. Java mosses have held high successes in home aquaria.
The are a lively fish, oftentimes the males will dart after one another when spawning is present and they may tend to get nippy toward long flowing finned fish such as bettas. The aren't tight schoolers as they'd rather keep close to the planted areas of the tank however, they will seem to keep close to the tightly schooling rasboras if sharing a tank with them.
Sploke
04-22-2009, 3:24 PM
[pictures to come)
Scientific Name: Paratilapia polleni
Common Name: Marakely, Black Diamond Cichlid
Care Level: Medium
Size: 28cm TL (11")
pH Range: 7.0-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28°C (75-82°F)
Origin: Madagascar
Temperament: moderately aggressive
Compatible Tankmates: Does well with other cichlids of similar aggression levels, and community fish large enough not to be eaten.
Diet: Omnivorous; captive-bred specimens will feed readily on prepared foods. In the wild, mostly piscivorous, will also feed on insects and aquatic invertebrates.
Tank Size for Adult: 55gal
Narrative: These are gorgeous, yet not commonly seen cichlids. Similar in habit to many other medium to large cichlids, P. polleni does well in large community tanks with other fish, but will attempt to swallow anything small enough to fit in its mouth. They tend to lurk in shadows rather than out in the open, so cover of heavy driftwood is an important part of this fish's habitat. Tends to largely ignore plants. Males show a sleeker body shape, rounder forehead and longer trailers on dorsal and anal fins than females, and are also generally larger. This species is also called P. bleekeri, and P. sp. "small spot". The large spotted version is also recognized as P. bleekeri, and many believe they should be classified as separate species.
References:
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=76
http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Speciessummary.php?id=8786
http://www.datnioides.com/images/Species_Related/web%20dat1.JPG
Scientific Name: Datnioides pulcher
Common Name: Siamese Tiger fish, Wide bar tiger, ST
Care Level: Moderate
Size: 24 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (75-82° F)
Origin: Asia, Mekong and Chao Phraya basins
Temperament: Can be aggressive toward others of the same species, they will usually be OK with other large fish, although this is not always the case.
Compatible Tankmates: Other large growing fish.
Diet: Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 180g.
Narrative: Distinguishable by its regular colour pattern consisting of 4 or 5 regular and broad bars on body; bar 1 from nape through opercle onto thoracic region and across ventral surface of the body; bar 2 from base of dorsal spines 2-5 to slightly in front of anal fin origin; bar 3 starts at base of dorsal spine 9 to base of dorsal ray 2, and ends at base of anal rays 2-6; bar 4 on posterior half of caudal peduncle. (Ref. Fishbase.org)
A large tank with plenty open swimming space is required for D pulcher, although as this fish grows slowly a smaller tank can be used as a grow out. As these fish grow large a 6x2x2 tank is recommended but bigger is always better. A large amount of filtration and decent water change schedule is a must with these fish as they prefer good water quality. Feeding D pulcher when small and newly introduced to the aquarium can be a challenge and live foods may only be taken. Feeding habits can be changed, and with perseverance foods like prawn, whitebait (silversides), beef heart, earthworms and even pellets can be accepted and a varied diet is always best.
http://www.datnioides.com/IT%20web1.JPG
Scientific Name: Datnioides microlepis
Common Name: Indo Datnoid, Indo Tiger, IT.
Care Level: Moderate
Size: 18 inches
pH Range: 6.5-7.5
Temperature Range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (75-82° F)
Origin: Indonesia, plus the Kapuas basin in western Borneo and Musi basin in Sumatra.
Temperament: Can be aggressive toward others of the same species, they will usually be OK with other large fish, although this is not always the case.
Compatible Tankmates: Other large growing fish.
Diet: Carnivorous.
Tank Size for Adult: 180g.
Narrative: This species typically has 7 or 8 bars, including a curved bar through eye, three or four body bars (depending on location), and three tail stripes or bars. The first body bar typically extends through the operculum and crosses the ventral surface. Specimens from Sumatra generally have three body bars, all of which extend across the ventral surface, while specimens from Borneo generally have four body bars, which also cross the ventral surface. Partial bars are almost invariably absent. Branched dorsal rays 14-18; branched anal rays 9-11, usually 10. (Ref. Fishbase.org), (adapted by Jesse aka itchyophile)
A large tank with plenty open swimming space is required for D pulcher, although as this fish grows slowly a smaller tank can be used as a grow out. As these fish grow large a 6x2x2 tank is recommended but bigger is always better. A large amount of filtration and decent water change schedule is a must with these fish as they prefer good water quality. Feeding D pulcher when small and newly introduced to the aquarium can be a challenge and live foods may only be taken. Feeding habits can be changed, and with perseverance foods like prawn, whitebait (silversides), beef heart, earthworms and even pellets can be accepted and a varied diet is always best.
msjinkzd
04-26-2009, 8:03 AM
Submitted by Snoopy65
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=90181&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1240686406
Scientific Name: Cryptoheros sajica (Archocentrus sajica)
Common Names: Sajica, T-Bar Cichlid
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 5"
pH Range: 7.2 - 7.8
Temperature Range: (F/C) 76 - 80F
Origin/Habitat: Costa Rica to Panama
Temperament/Behavior: Mildly Aggressive (Conspecific Aggressive)
Compatible Tank mates: Any fish less aggressive than a Jack Dempsey and won't fit in it's mouth.
Diet: Omnivore
Tank Size For Adult: 30 gal for a pair
Narrative: A relatively peaceful, smaller growing cichlid. Will do fine as an individual in community tanks, but if keeping more than one make sure they are an established pair as aggression can be an issue between Sajicas. Males will grow larger in size than the females, and become much stockier looking, by growing an impressive-looking forehead lump with dominance called a 'Nuchal' hump. A single or pair can be kept in a 30 gal (36" long) tank. Two pairs of this calmer, more peaceful cichlid can be stocked with confidence in minimum sized, four foot long aquariums. Be careful of stocking a spawning pair in community tanks! They are close cousins of the Convict Cichlid and are very protective - aggressive - parents. A six foot long tank is recommended as the minimum size for keeping this cichlid as spawning pairs, in 'mixed' species community tanks. Can be kept in semi-aggressive tanks. While these are peaceful by nature, they can hold there own with the more aggressive medium large SA/CA Cichlids so long as the tank mates are not large enough to simply swallow them. They can also be kept in a regular community tank as long as all inhabitants are large enough the Sajica can not swallow them whole.
References/Links: Cichlid Forum, Jeff Rapps.
pinkertd
04-27-2009, 10:07 PM
90445
Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
Common Names: Ember Tetra, Fire Tetra
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: .75 inch to 1 inch
pH Range: 6.5 – 7.3
Temperature Range: 73 – 84F
Origin/Habitat: Brazil
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful, Shoaling
Compatible Tank mates: Small peaceful community fish
Diet: Omnivorous
Tank Size For Adult: 5 Gallon for 6
Narrative:
The Ember Tetra is one of the smallest fish available in the hobby, rarely reaching an inch, the males being less than one inch. (Care should be taken that these small fish do not get sucked into the filter intake, especially after lights out, and a prefilter should be installed.) They are a perfect peaceful addition to the community tank or the nano aquarium. For such a small fish they are very hardy and will settle well into a suitable aquarium after acclimation. Mature fish will become a bright orange color varying in shades from copper to orange-red. For best color the water should not be too hard or alkaline. Although their native habitat has very soft water they have adapted quite well to a wide range of water hardness (5-17 dGH).
Like other small tetras, these are shoaling fish so must be kept in a group of at least 6 to promote schooling and feel secure and comfortable. Ideally, they should be provided with some dense, live planted areas with some open water space for shoal swimming. These fish swim at the middle level of the aquarium. The Ember Tetra is a very peaceful species that won’t compete well with much larger tankmates. Larger fish like angelfish, discus or large gouramis would make a snack of these tiny fish. Ideally they can be kept with other quiet South American fish such as small tetras, pencil fish, Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, corydoras, otocinclus, small plecos, and some smaller cyprinids.
These fish are very greedy eaters but prefer to take the food as it starts sinking. Feed them with quality flake, shrimp pellets, microworms, shaved frozen blood worm, brine shrimp, and live white worms.
pinkertd
04-28-2009, 2:24 PM
90547
Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus or Danio margaritatus (previous scientific name: Microrasbora Galaxy)
Common Names:Celestial Pearl Danio, Galaxy Rasbora, Fireworks Rasbora
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: .75” – 1”
pH Range: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature Range: 72-82F
Origin/Habitat: Myanmar
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful community fish
Compatible Tank mates: Small peaceful community fish like other danios, white clouds, small tetras, cory cats, plecos, otos and rasboras
Diet: Omnivorous
Tank Size For Adult: 10 gallons for a group of 8
Narrative:
Celestial Pearl Danio’s (CPD’s) are considered to be a miniature species of danio, rarely exceeding 1” when full grown. They are very peaceful towards other species of fish but should be kept as a small shoal in a species only tank of its own so that it does not become a snack for larger fish. CPD’s do best in heavily planted tanks which include a lot of moss, some Malaysian driftwood and rocks for refuge. They prefer subdued lighting and a very gentle water flow. They are an extremely shy fish and are much less apt to be stressed when hiding places have been provided. CPD’s are best kept in groups and will exhibit schooling behavior occasionally, although they are not considered to be a true schooling species. Males can be observed sparring and flaring with each other from time to time, which may result in some minor damage or fraying of their fins. A well planted 10G tank is recommended if you intend to keep more than 1 male, and can easily support a group of 8 adults.
The water in their native habitat is reported to be moderately hard and slightly alkaline with a ph above 7.0 and temperatures in the mid 70’s. It appears the CPD’s are very adaptable and have been successfully kept and bred in both low ph (4.5-5.8) blackwater type tanks as well as higher ph (7.0-8.0) tanks with harder, more alkaline water.
CPD’s are not picky eaters but they do have very small stomachs and small mouths. Care should be taken not to overfeed them or feed them large foods. They are omnivores that will eat just about anything. Their diet should consist of some quality flakes (crushed), microworms, brine shrimp, micro pellets and they absolutely love frozen treats such as daphnia and shaved bloodworms.
Crushed flake food, brine shrimp, daphnia, tubiflex worms
References/Links:
Photo imported from aquariumwiki.com image gallery, Photo from Dyrego Zoo
msjinkzd
05-03-2009, 10:55 AM
Submitted by BoCoMo
Scientific Name: Glossolepis incisus
Common Names: Red Rainbowfish, Irian Jaya Rainbowfish, Salmon Red Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 4.5” to 5.0” (12cm +/-)
pH Range: 7.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 72-81F/22-27C
Origin/Habitat: Iran Jaya (Indonesia)
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful/Schooling & Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other rainbows and peaceful to semi-aggressive fish
Diet: Omnivore – Flake food, insect larvae, bloodworms, shrimp
Tank Size For Adult: 30 gallon / 120 liter
Narrative: This fish can be somewhat sensitive to water conditions but can even be a good fish for beginners. This fish really thrives in groups of five or more and is a beautiful addition to a community tank. Males are bright red to copper in color occasionally having a silver coloration towards the top. Females are silver to a yellowish-brown color. These fish also enjoy a planted tank with a large swimming area.
msjinkzd
05-03-2009, 12:43 PM
Submitted by BoCoMo
Scientific Name: Chilatherina bleheri
Common Names: Bleher's Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 4.5” to 5.0” (12cm +/-)
pH Range: 7.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 73-81F/23-27C
Origin/Habitat: Australia, Indonesia.
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful/Schooling & Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other rainbows and peaceful to semi-aggressive fish
Diet: Carnivore but will accept omnivore type foods
Tank Size For Adult: 55 gallon / 200 liter (because of need of larger schools and swimming area)
Narrative:. This is a fairly recently discovered and very attractive rainbow. This fish has bi-coloration similar to the more widely known Melanotaenia boesemani (Boseman’s Rainbowfish.) The back half of the fish is usually orange, pink or red in coloration with a front half that is usually a yellowish gold to a greenish blue.
Rbishop
05-03-2009, 12:50 PM
Submitted by BoCoMo
Scientific Name: Bedotia geayi
Common Names: Zona, Madagascar Rainbowfish, Red Tailed Silverside
Care Level: Moderate
Adult Size: 4.5” to 5.2” (14cm +/-)
pH Range: 7.0 to 7.5
Temperature Range: (F/C) 68-75F/20-24C
Origin/Habitat: Eastern Madagascar (Africa)
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful/Schooling & Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other rainbows and peaceful to semi-aggressive fish
Diet: Omnivore – Flake food, small floating pellets, insects
Tank Size For Adult: 40 gallon / 150 liter
Narrative: This fish can be somewhat sensitive to water conditions. Bedotia geayi can be a little nippy, both to smaller and top dwelling fish as well as to plants in the aquarium. This fish really thrives in groups of five or more and is a beautiful addition to a community tank. Males have bright red to orange fins. Females are less colorful and usually darker and smaller in size. These fish also enjoy a planted tank with a large swimming area. –
Scientific Name: Glossolepis dorityi
Common Names: Dority’s Rainbowfish, Zig-Zag Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 3.5” to 4.0” (10cm +/-)
pH Range: 6.5 to 7.8
Temperature Range: (F/C) 75-81F/24-27C
Origin/Habitat: Australia
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful & Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Omnivore – This fish feeds on mostly insects in the wild, but will gladly accept almost all prepared foods.
Tank Size For Adult: 30 gallon / 120 liter
Narrative: This fish has a densely planted natural habitat and will benefit from a heavily planted tank. Males are silver with multiple red zig-zag stripes running horizontally through their bodies. Females are mostly silver, and lack the males signature red colored stripes.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
Scientific Name: Glossolepis wanamensis
Common Names: Lake Wanam Rainbowfish, Wanam Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 4”+/- (10 cm +/-)
pH Range: 6.5 to 7.8
Temperature Range: (F/C) 75-81F/24-27C
Origin/Habitat: Australia / Lake
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful / Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Omnivore – This fish feeds on mostly insects in the wild, but will gladly accept almost all prepared foods.
Tank Size For Adult: 40 gallon / 150 liter
Narrative: Males have a very deep and beautiful green-blue metallic coloration and may have some reddish orange lines below the lateral lines. Females are less intense and more silvery in hue.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
Scientific Name: Iriatherina werneri
Common Names: Featherfin Rainbowfish, Threadfin Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 1.5” +/- (4 cm +/-)
pH Range: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 79-86F/26-30C
Origin/Habitat: Australia/River
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful / Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Carnivore - This fish will accept dry foods, but live foods are recommended. This fish has a smaller throat than it appears, care should be taken to ensure food pieces are small enough to be consumed.
Tank Size For Adult: 20 gallon / 80 liter
Narrative: While this fish can live in a wide pH range it prefers water that is slightly acidic and soft. This fish should also be kept in schools, preferably in a well planted tank. Males have thread like extensions on their second dorsal fins, caudal fin, and anal fin. These threads get longer as the fish gets older. Mature males may develop deep red coloration in these threads. Males are silvery iridescent in color, females are more dull in color and lack the males trademark fin extensions.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
Lupin
05-03-2009, 10:10 PM
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia angfa
Common Names: Angfa Rainbowfish, Yakati Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 5.0” +/- (13 cm +/-)
pH Range: 6.5 to 7.5
Temperature Range: (F/C) 75-79F/24-26C
Origin/Habitat: Australia/Stream
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful/Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Omnivore – Like most rainbowfish they prefer live foods, however they will accept most prepared foods.
Tank Size For Adult: 40 gallon / 150 liter
Narrative:These fish are mostly yellow to light orange all over. There is a black line that runs down the middle of the fish. The males have deeper bodies than the females and also have overlapping dorsal fins.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
Lupin
05-03-2009, 10:41 PM
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia boesemani
Common Names: Boesemani Rainbowfish, Boeseman’s Rainbowfish, Boseman’s Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 5.5” to 6.0” (15 cm +/-)
pH Range: 7.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 81-86F/27-30C
Origin/Habitat: New Guinea/Lake
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful & Schooling/Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Omnivore – Like most rainbowfish they prefer live foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms, however they will accept most prepared foods.
Tank Size For Adult: 55 gallon / 200 liter (the wider the better as this fish needs room to swim, some suggest at least a four foot wide tank at the minimum)
Narrative: Males have a unique split coloration. The front half of a male fish is brilliant silver to bluish grey, the back half can be yellow to a bright orange-red. Females are duller in coloration and look like most other species of Melanotaenia. This fish loves to swim and will really benefit from a large swimming area.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia duboulayi
Common Names: Crimson Spot Rainbowfish, Duboulay's Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 3.5” +/- (9cm +/-)
pH Range: 6.5 to 7.5
Temperature Range: (F/C) 72-77F/22-25C
Origin/Habitat: Australia/Heavily planted streams
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful & Schooling/Diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish.
Diet: Omnivore – Flake food, bloodworms, small floating pellets, brine shrimp
Tank Size For Adult: 40 gallon / 150 liter
Narrative: This fish comes from densely planted, highly oxygenated waters and will appreciate a tank with good filtration and fine leaved plants. Males are silver with a black horizontal stripe and brilliant red fins that fade to black at the edge. Females are less colorful but are a beautiful iridescent silver color.
Submitted by BoCoMo.
msjinkzd
05-05-2009, 7:28 AM
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia goldiei
Common Names: Goldie River Rainbowfish
Care Level: Easy
Adult Size: 4.5” to 5.5” (12-14 cm)
pH Range: 7.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 75-82F/24-28C
Origin/Habitat: New Guinea/River
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful/Schooling, active swimmer, diurnal
Compatible Tank mates: Other peaceful fish
Diet: Omnivore – A healthy mix of flake or other prepared foods with live foods such ar bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Tank Size For Adult: 40 gallon / 150 liter
Narrative: This fish has a fairly wide variety of coloration from beautiful iridescent grey-blue coloration to a brownish coppery hue to an brilliant silver with black on the tips of their fins. A beautiful addition in any of its colorations this fish prefers to be kept in groups with plenty of swimming room and some short stemmed plants.
Submitted by BoCoMo.