May 31, 2011

BUTTERFLY FISH

Pantodon buchholzi

Family Pantodontidae. Distribution Tropical West Africa. Description Shape: surface fish; flattened head and back, the belly smoothly curved. Wide mouth pointing upward. Protruding pipelike nostrils. Pectoral fins broad with long winglike rays. Small pelvic fins. Color: back and sides brownish or greenish with a silver sheen; a variable pattern of lines and spots. Size: up to 6 in (15cm). Sexual differences: males: hind edge of the anal fin deeply cleft, with the middle rays forming a tube. Environment Mainly in largish, well-grown still or slow-flowing water or backwaters; occasionally in pools and ditches. Temperature: 77-86 °F (25-30 °C); for breeding circa 86 “F (30 °C). pH: slightly acid; filter through peat. Water hardness: soft water. Illumination: medium lighting. Furnishings: shallow tank. Sparse, individually planted vegetation, some floating plants. 8 9 10H121314 Feeding Live food.

Biology Behavior: is not a flying fish but is an excellent jumper. Reproduction: fairly difficult. The young fish float just under the surface, and feeding them is very difficult as they will take only food

 

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May 31, 2011

SCLEROPAGES

Scleropages formosus

Family Osteoglossidae. Distribution Malay Archipelago and Thailand. Description Shape: ihin, straplike, very compressed body. Keel-shaped underside. Very large mouth, strongly oblique Two downswept barbels on the chin. Very long dorsal and anal fins standing opposite each other and forming a fringe. Huge scales. Color: silvery yellow, iridescent; barbels can become blue or green fins yellow-green with reddish shading. Size: up to 4ft (120cm) long. Sexual differences: sexually mature females larger in body circumference. Males have an elongated lower jaw and larger anal fins. Environment In stagnant river backwaters and shallow pools with rich and overgrown vegetation. Temperature: circa 77 F (25 °C). pH: 5.5-6. Water hardness: soft water. Furnishings: plenty of vegetation. Feeding Live food only; dried food will be taken only in exceptional cases by young fish. Biology Behavior: forms schools when young, tends to be territorial when older and at times is very aggressive. Reproduction: the male carries the eggs in his mouth until development is complete. Compatibility: to be kept only with larger but peaceable fishes. The tank should be well covered, as they are very good jumpers.

 

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May 31, 2011

GOURAMI

Osphronemus goramy

Family Osphronemidae. Distribution The greater Sunda Islands. Description Shape: oval, strongly compressed sides. Head very small; thick, protruding lower jaw. Pelvic fins have threadlike elongations. Young fish slimmer, with more pointed head. Color: adult specimens brownish, wilh dark back and lighter belly. Size: 1 ft 1 ¿in (60cm). often up to 3ft 3^in (1m) and 22lb (10kg). Sexual differences: females have rounded anal and dorsal fins. Environment In quiet waters, preferably clean with plenty of vegetation, but also in slimy ponds and mudholes. Temperature: 63-81 *F (17-27 °C). pH and water hardness: no specific requirements Furnishings: large tank with some floating plants for cover. Feeding Omnivorous

Biology Behavior: breathes atmospheric air using its respiratory organ called a labyrinth. Reproduction: 4 bubble-nest builder. The male guards the young. Social hfe: very peaceable. Suitable for indoor aquaria only when young, as they grow very fast. Compatibility: very suitable for community tanks.

 

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May 31, 2011

EMPEROR TETRA

Nematobrycon palmeri Family Characidae.

Distribution Rio San Juan and its tributaries, Colombia.

Description Shape: club-shaped body, laterally compressed. Caudal fin cleft in the middle. No adipose fin; very long anal fin. Lateral line incomplete. Color: in males: brownish, shot with green or blue particularly on the forepart of the body. A broad black horizontal stripe extends from the hind edge of the gill cover to the elongated central rays of the caudal fin. The coloring of the smaller female is less brilliant, the central rays of the caudal fin only slightly elongated. Size: up to 2^in (5.5 cm).

Environment Temperature: 72-75 °F (22-24 °C) ; for breeding 79-82 °F (26-28 °C). pH and water hardness: not important. Illumination and furnishings: medium, angled lighting and dark water plants, v Feeding Live and dried food. Also a little plant food.

Biology Behavior: peaceable, hardy and undemanding. Reproduction: not very productive. Eggs laid on water plants. Social life and compatibility: must live in schools; also with other peaceable fishes.

 

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May 31, 2011

ONE-STRIPED AFRICAN CHARACIN

Nannaethiops unitaeniatus Family Citharinidae.

Distribution The whole of tropical Africa from the White Nile to the west coast.

Description Shape: medium-long body. Small mouth. Large adipose fin. Complete lateral line. Color: brown to brownish-olive back; belly and throat yellowish or whitish with a silver sheen. A dark narrow band extends from the mouth over the eye to the end of the caudal fin. This is topped by an iridescent metallic band, colored a brilliant copper to gold. Size: up to 2^ in (6.5 cm). Sexual differences: male slender, brilliantly colored. During the mating season the front part of the dorsal fin and the lobes of the tail fin become a brilliant blood red.

Environment Temperature: 73-79 °F (23-26 °C). pH and water hardness: neutral reaction and medium hardness will suffice. Illumination, substrate, furnishings: bright lighting, occasional sun. Fine sand on the bottom is essential. Vegetation not too thick. Feeding Live and dry food; plenty of insects. Biology Behavior: a lively fish living near the bottom. Reproduction: The fish is very productive. Large spawning tank needed —10-12 gal (40-50 I). After spawning the breeding fish should be removed. Social life: a schooling fish. Compatibility: Can be mixed with fishes living near the surface, such as Epiplatys species.

 

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May 31, 2011

GLASS TETRA


Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae Family Characidae.

Distribution Rio Paraguay and Rio Paranaiba. Description Shape: deep-bodied, elongated and very compressed. No adipose fin, and an incomplete lateral line. Color: sides of the body bright silver, darker toward the back, slightly yellow toward the belly. A broad black vertical band on the tail preceded by a yellow field with a metallic sheen. Eyes bright and luminous, with the upper part of the iris red. Smoky, mud-colored fins, with white tips to the dorsal and first anal fin rays. Size: up to 2| in (7 cm). Sexual differences: in females the line of the belly is more curved in profile. Environment Temperature: 72-77 °F (22-25 °C). pH: 5.5-6.5. Illumination and furnishings: one-third vegetation, two-thirds swimming space; also one or two floating plants. Lighting should not be too bright. Feeding Omnivorous.

Biology Behavior: lively, undemanding schooling fish. Reproduction: see H. pulchripinnis. Compatibility: good to mix with other peaceable tetras.

 

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May 31, 2011

BLACK-BANDED SUNFISH

Enneacanthus chaetodon Family Centrarchidae.

Distribution U.S.A., New Jersey to Maryland. Description Shape: thickset, short and deep body, flat-sided. Color: grayish yellow to greenish yellow with numerous but partly indistinct black vertical bars, often with irregular dark speckles in between. The first two spines of the dorsal fin are black; the following two, bright orange-red or red. The first two rays of the pelvic fins are orange; the next two, black. Size: up to 4 in (10cm); sexually mature at 2 in (5cm). Sexual differences: scarcely distinguishable; the females have brighter coloring during the spawning period. Environment Still and gently flowing waters. Temperature: cold—39-72 °F (4-22 °C). The fish keep well in outdoor pools. pH and water hardness: medium-hard to hard water with occasional replacement of a portion by fresh water. Illumination, substrate and furnishings: good lighting; deep, sandy bottom; ample vegetation. Feeding Live food.

Biology Behavior: relatively nonaggressive and peaceable. Reproduction: the father tends the young. Social life: form loose schools. Compatibility: may be mixed with peaceable surface-inhabiting fishes that are not too large, but a species tank is even better.

 

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May 31, 2011

ELECTRIC CATFISH

Malapterurus electricus

Family Malapteruridae. Distribution Africa.

Description Shape: long but thickset; thick head with small eyes that glow in the dark. No dorsal fin; adipose fin far back near the tail; no spines in pectoral fin. Three pairs of barbels; fleshy lips. Color: back grayish brown; sides flesh-colored to gray; belly reddish or yellowish white, with numerous irregularly arranged dark spots. Size: up to 3ft in (1m). Sexual differences: unknown.

Environment Temperature: 73-86 °F (23-30 °C). pH and water hardness: no particular requirements; neutral, fresh water is preferable. Furnishings: well-planted tank with plenty of cover. Feeding A predator. Live food; first earthworms and I lean meat in strips for young fish, later exclusively fish.

Biology Behavior: it possesses electric organs, arranged in pairs along its sides. Electrical discharges can be produced at will; they are used for self-defense and to stun the fish’s prey. They also serve as a means of orientation in turbid waters. Reproduction: unknown. Social life: must be kept singly. Compatibility: only fishes intended as food should be put in the same tank.

 

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May 31, 2011

SPINY EEL

Macrognathus aculeatus

Family Mastacembelidae. Distribution Southeast Asia to the Moluccas. Description Shape: characteristic eel shape, with an extended snout which contains the nostrils. The head is also long and pointed. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins adjoin one another, but are not linked by a fin membrane The soft-rayed dorsal fin is preceded by fourteen or fifteen isolated spines. No pelvic fins. Color: chocolate to tan, often with stripes on the back. The three to ten peacock’s-tail spots on the dorsal fin are sometimes absent. Size: up to 6in (15cm). Sexual differences: females essentially stronger, becoming very stout at spawning time.

Environment Fresh and brackish waters. Temperature: 72-82 °F (22-28 °C). Fish kept permanently at too high a temperature are more susceptible to infections and are shorter-lived. pH and water hardness: not important. Substrate and furnishings: the chief requirement is for cover. The tank should be thickly planted. A particularly deep layer of sand should be provided. Feeding All types of live food. The fish can suck up their prey.

Biology Behavior: peaceable; active at twilight and in darkness. Reproduction: not yet achieved in an aquarium. Compatibility: best suited to a species tank.

 

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May 31, 2011

RED-TAILED BLACK SHARK

Labeo bicolor Family Cyprinidae.

Distribution Thailand, mainly in streams. Description Shape: elongated body, laterally compressed; somewhat deeper body than L. erythrurus. Color: sharply divided into two colors: body black with caudal fin in strongly contrasting orange to blood red. Size: up to 4J in (12 cm). Sexual differences: female is significantly bulkier.

Environment Turbid streams. Temperature: 73-81 °F (23-27 °C). pH: 5.5-7; light peat content. Water hardness: soft water. Illumination and furnishings: large tank, with moderate lighting and plenty of cover. Feeding As for L. erythrurus.

Biology Behavior: as for L. erythrurus; territorial adults even more aggressive. Reproduction: optimum temperature 79 °F (26 °C). Spawning tube appears some two weeks beforehand; 30-40 eggs are laid at a time. The young hatch in 48-72 hours and can immediately take nauplii; upkeep is simple. Males make violent thrusting motions during mating. Social life and compatibility: can be kept with other fishes in general aquarium. Antagonistic toward members of its own species.

 

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