May 31, 2011

GLASS CATFISH

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Family Siluridae.

Distribution Indochina and Indonesia. Description Shape: very compressed sides, short body cavity, long caudal peduncle. Dorsal fin consists of a single ray; anal fin very long, but separated from the deeply cleft caudal fin, whose lower lobe is longer than the upper. One pair of very long barbels on the upper jaw Color: transparent, even when mature, sometimes with a rainbow-colored metallic sheen. Size: up to 4 in (1 Ocm) Sexual differences: unknown.

Environment Temperature: 68-77 °F (20-25 °C). pH: 6.5-7.5. Water hardness: medium hard for pref erence, but not important. Furnishings: roomy, not-too-deep tank, about half planted.

Feeding Live food should not be too large. Cereals are taken only occasionally.

Biology Behavior: schooling fish which swims constantly but rather slowly and needs water plants for rest. Reproduction: unknown. Social life: single specimens do not live long. Compatibility: do not keep with fast swimmers.

 

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May 31, 2011

JULIE

Julidochromis ornatus Family Cichlidae.

Distribution Lake Tanganyika, in rocky areas. Description Shape: slender body, almost completely cylindrical, with prominent pointed snout. Small mouth set low. Color: basic color white to gold. Three clearly marked brownish-black lines along the back, the uppermost passing through the base of the dorsal fin, the lowest extending from the snout through the eye and the middle of the side to middle of the tail-fin base. Size: male 2^—2|in (6-7cm); female somewhat smaller. Sexual differences: only in size.

Environment Temperature: 72-77 °F (22-25 °C). pH: around 8. Water hardness: hard water. Furnishings: reasonably large tanks with hiding places (stone prominences with recesses, flowerpots, pipe sections, etc.).

Feeding Both live and a little dried food. Biology Behavior: territorial, but easy to keep with other Tanganyikan cichlids. Reproduction: propagate freely. The young are tended by the male or by both parents.

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May 31, 2011

BLACK-LINE TETRA

Hyphessobrycon scholzei

Family Characidae. Distribution Para region, Brazil. Description Shape: very elongated. Color: back greenish or brownish; sides silver, with a bluish or brassy sheen; belly silvery. A broad black band runs from the gill cover to the base of the caudal fin, forming a large diamond-shaped patch at the end. The black band is topped by a thin gleaming metallic line. Colorless pelvic fins; all others pale reddish; anal fin edged with black at the front. Size: up to 2 in (5cm). Sexual differences: male slimmer, with more deeply cleft caudal fin. Environment Temperature: 72-77 °F (22-25 °C). pH and water hardness: use old water, not too hard and neutral to slightly acid. The species is generally undemanding. Illumination and furnishings: as for other Hyphessobrycon species (cf. H. pulchripinnis). Feeding Live and dried food; also some additional vegetable food (e.g. lettuce).

Biology Behavior: a lively, peaceable schooling fish. Compatibility: good for community tanks.

 

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May 31, 2011

BLEEDING-HEART TETRA

Hyphessobrycon rubrostigma

Family Characidae. Distribution Colombia.

Description Shape: deep-bodied. Color: upper part of body grayish green to brown, with light-red sheen; the lower part of the body shows a reddish silver color. Throat and belly orange, with mother-of-pearl highlights. Red dorsal fin with broad, white-edged black stripes. A vertical black bar through the eye. Size: 2£ in (6cm). Sexual differences: female bulkier; male has pointed, elongated and enlarged dorsal fin. Environment Temperature: around 77 °F (25 °C). pH and water hardness: no reliable information. Illumination and furnishings: plenty of free swimming space, ample vegetation and good lighting. Feeding Varied live food, occasional dried food. Biology Behavior: lively, peaceable schooling fish; a good swimmer. Reproduction: seldom bred. Compatibility . easily maintained in mixed schools.

 

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May 31, 2011

RED CICHLID; JEWEL FISH

Hemichromis bimaculatus Family Cichlidae.

Distribution The river systems of the Nile, Niger and Zaire.

Description Shape: elongated, compressed silhouette. Color: brown back with a greenish sheen; sides of body greenish yellow; yellowish underside. A dark horizontal band extending along side may break up into five or six large patches. At spawning time almost the whole body is red (brighter in the female), the forehead and back being olive green with a reddish sheen; bluish-black patches, accompanied by six or seven rows of sky-blue spots. Size: up to 6 in (15 cm). Sexual differences apart from the color changes at the time of sexual activity, the spawning tube is pointed in the male, rounded in the female.

Environment Temperature: 72-82 CF (22-28 °C) (the higher value for breeding). pH: around 7. Water hardness: medium to medium hard. Substrate and furnishings: large tank with coarse sand or gravel. Single large plants.

Feeding Abundant, not-too-small live food. Biology Behavior: only young fish can be kept in schools. Mature fish can be kept only in pairs. Reproduction: pairs must form from the same group. Excellent parents. Social life and compatibility: fairly aggressive. Can be kept only with equally powerful species—e.g., two or three different species of cichlids.

 

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May 31, 2011

STRIPED SUCKERMOUTH CATFISH

Hemiancistrus vittatus

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Family Loricariidae. Distribution Tropical South America. Description Shape: characteristic for a bottom-living fish: low-set sucking mouth, surrounded by fleshy lips; pectoral and pelvic fins broad and flat. Dorsal fin long, high and bannerlike. The adipose fin and caudal fin have an elongated lower lobe. Nasal openings have pipelike extensions; mouth has barbels. Color: see illustration; variable as with all Loricariidae. S/ze: about 4 in (1 Ocm). Sexual differences: the males probably have whiskerlike appendages on the head.

Environment Temperature: 70-77 °F (21-25 °C). pH: neutral to slightly acid. Water hardness: soft to medium-hard water. Illumination : medium to strong lighting. Substrate: sandy bottom with hiding places made from roots, etc. Furnishings: thick vegetation, but plants not too feathery.

Feeding Eats algae and other vegetable matter in its native habitat. Easily accustomed to commercial foodstuffs, but must have plenty of plant matter and food with bulk.

Biology Behavior: lives on the bottom, in running water; territorial. Reproduction : unknown. Social life: aggressive toward members of its own species. Compatibility: very peaceable and harmless toward other species, even the smallest fishes.

 

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May 31, 2011

MOSQUITO FISH

Gambusia affinis Family Poeciliidae.

Distribution From New Jersey to Florida, from Alabama to East Texas (U.S.A.).

Description Shape: females resemble the guppy (Poecilia reticulata): males somewhat more robust. Color: male is transparent gray with a bluish shimmer on the sides, olive-brownish back, silvery belly. A black vertical bar through the eye. The original form has numerous loosely distributed black spots. Size: male up to 1 f in (3.5 cm), female up to 2|in (6 cm). Sexual differences: size, shape and male gonopodium. Environment Medium-fast-flowing and still waters; brackish water also tolerated. Temperature: room temperature. In the wild, survives temperatures from 37 °F (3 °C) to 86 °F (30 °C). pH and water hardness: not important. Furnishings: ample vegetation and a certain amount of swimming space. Feeding A hearty eater, consuming up to its own body weight of foodstuff per day. Mosquito larvae are particularly popular.

Biology Behavior: lively, somewhat quarrelsome schooling fish. Reproduction: very simple, as long as they are well fed. Will eat their own young. Social life best kept in single-species schools, in a large, shallow tank. Compatibility: unsuitable for community aquaria.

 

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May 31, 2011

MAILED CATFISHES

Corydoras spp. Family Callichthyidae.

Distribution Tropical South America; about 70 species occurring from Colombia to the Rio de la Plata. Description Shape:short and thickset with an archer back and flat belly, more or less compressed in cross section. The adipose fin lies in an unarmored area, and the snout is unarmored also. Size: 1 ¿—4ain (3-12cm). Sexual differences. female larger with rounder belly. Environment Shallow spots in slowly moving, al most still waters. They find a stretch of sandy bottom and remain there chewing plant matter. Temperature 59-86 °F (15-30 °C); many species can withstand this wide variation, others not. 75-77 °F (24-25 °C) is usually adequate for good maintenance and breeding. pH: around 7. Water hardness: 5-10° general hardness. Substrate and furnishings: a large tank with an extensive floor area and not too high a water level is recommended Also water plants or some other form of cover. Feeding Omnivorous.

Biology Behavior: schooling fish. Reproduction: the fertilized eggs are caught up by the female in a kind of pocket formed by her pelvic fins folded together. The young are best kept in a glass tank with no bottom covering and should be liberally fed. Compatibility . very peaceable; can be kept with other aquarium creatures.

 

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May 31, 2011

DWARF GOURAMI

Colisa lalia

Family Belontiidae. Distribution Indian subcontinent. Description Shape: body an elongated ovoid, very compressed. Dorsal and anal fins reach almost to caudnl fin; pelvic fins extend into long threads. Color: bright red basic color; males have a slanting double row of luminous light blue-green to emerald spots which also extend onto the fins. Head-and-shoulder region and belly brilliant blue-green. Caudal fin and rear end of anal fin red; pelvic fins orange. Size: 2 in (5cm). Sexual differences: body color of females is much paler. The anal and dorsal fins are rounded.

Environment Temperature: needs warmth — 75-82 °F (24-28′C). pH and water hardness: no special requirements. Illumination and furnishings thickly planted tank with medium lighting and a covering of small floating plants. Feeding Live and dry food.

Biology Behavior: territorial, but extremely peace able and harmless. Reproduction: bubble-nest builder Algae, floating leaves and plant stems, etc., are incorporated into the nest. Multiple acts of spawning. T eggs are looked after by the male. Compatibility: suitable for coexistence with other territorial species. Caution A good jumper.

 

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May 31, 2011

GIANT GO U RAM I

Colisa fascista

Family Belontiidae.

Distribution Bengal, Burma, Thailand, Malayan peninsula.

Description Shape: elongated body, very compressed; long dorsal and anal fins. Pelvic fins elongated like threads. Thickened upper lip, especially on the male. Color: highly variable according to provenance ai;d breeding strain. Brown with a greenish sheen, and w:h several narrow orange-red to red stripes slanting diagonally backward. Back fairly dark brown, chest and belly blue-green, often with a purple sheen. A brilliant blue-green spot on the gill cover. Size: up to n (12cm). Sexual differences: female less strongly colored, with the dorsal and anal fins rounded; these are elongated into a point in the male. Environment Temperature: 75-82 °F (24-28 °C). pH and water hardness: no special requirements. Substrate and furnishings: well-planted tank including feathery-leaved plants (two-thirds to three-quarters if tank area); plenty of floating plants to provide cover; the remainder free swimming space. Some humus to be left on the bottom. Feeding Omnivorous.

Biology Behavior: a lively fish, somewhat timid before becoming acclimatized to the tank. Repro duction: bubble-nest builder, very productive. Com patibifity: peaceable, easily kept with other fishes.

 

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