FW Fish Profiles

[Lupin]

Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus deissneri)

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.

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.

 

[Lupin]

Samurai Gourami (Sphaerichthys vaillanti)

Sphaerichthys vaillanti​

​

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).

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.

 

[Lupin]

Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)

Trichopsis pumila

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.

 

[Lupin]

Bucktoothed Tetra (Exodon paradoxus)

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.

 

[Lupin]

Pink-Tailed Chalceus (Chalceus macrolepidota)

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]

Adonis Tetra (Lepidarchus adonis)

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]

Striped Anostomus (Anostomus anostomus)

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]

Benny Tetra (Creagrutus beni)

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]

Black Diamond Gold Piranha (Serrasalmus spilopleura)

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

 

[Lupin]

Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)

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.