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

DWARF SUCKERMOUTH CATFISH

Otocinclus affinis

Family Loricariidae. Distribution Southeast Brazil. Description Shape: slender catfish with sucking mouth. Narrow-based but fairly high dorsal fin, no adipose fin. Twenty-three or twenty-four bony plates arranged in a row along each side of the body. Color: ground color a light greenish gray to muddy yellow; darker back; whitish or light yellow underside. Fins are colorless or slightly green. Size: up to 1 ^in (4cm). Sexual differences: mature females much bulkier. Environment Inhabit running water. Temperature: 68-73 °F (20-23 °C). pH and water hardness: unimportant. Furnishings: ample vegetation with plenty of weeds and opportunities for cover. Feeding Mainly vegetarian, but also small worms. Useful as a consumer of algae in community aquaria. Biology Behavior: remains under cover during the day, feeding at dusk and at night. Mostly stays attached vertically to slabs of rock or plants. Reproduction: breeds like Corydoras. The small eggs hatch after 2-3 days. The young must be fed with small Artemia nauplii, micro-worms or egg yolk powdered as fine as possible. Social life and compatibility: territorial but harmless. Quite at home in a mixed aquarium, if there is enough room.

 

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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

FEATHERBACK

Notopterus chitala Family Notopteridae.

Distribution IV. chitala and three other species in Southeast Asia.

escription Shape: elongated, very compressed body. The anus is very far forward. The anal fin is very long and forms a continuous fringe with the very small caudal fin. Its great mobility makes the anal fin the main organ of propulsion. Color: varies according to species, especially among the younger fish. Photo shows a Notopterus chitala, which has a fine peacock marking. Size: differs according to species, from 8 in to 2 ft 7^ in (20—80cm) in length; N. chitala is one of the largest. Sexual differences, unknown.

Environment Quiet overgrown backwaters of large rivers with underwater roots and half-submerged undergrowth. Temperature: 73-81 *F (23-27 X). pH: slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Water hardness: unimportant. Illumination: subdued. Substrate: sand with a little humus. Furnishings: richly planted. Feeding Predatory; may catch quite large fishes. Biology Behavior At dusk the fish streak constantly around the tank in search of prey. Very large tank is needed. Reproduction little information. Social life. loosely-grouped schools. Adults particularly aggressive and live alone. Compatibility: not with small, peaceable fishes.

 

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May 31, 2011

GUENTHER’S NOTHO

Nothobranchius guentheri Family Cyprinodontidae.

Distribution Zanzibar, Mozambique, Mombasa (Kenya), Pangani River (Tanzania). Description Shape: deep body, rounded fins. Color males have a red tail fin. and each scale on their body is blue or greenish blue outlined in red, producing a network pattern. Females dull in appearance, with dark spots or rows of spots on body and fins. Size: up to in (7 cm). Sexual differences: only in body color Environment Normal habitat consists of temporary pools and mudholes. Temperature: 64-72 :F (18-22 X) is normally sufficient. pH and water hard-ness. soft to very soft and slightly acid water (pH 6.5) are sufficient. Illumination: strong lighting. Substrate: cover the bottom with a layer of sterilized peat. Furnishings: feathery water plants such as Myriophyllum are quite suitable.

Feeding Both live and dried foods. Insects (mosquito larvae) are essential for breeding. Biology Reproduction: The eggs are laid in the bottom mud. The mature fish live for little more than a year. The eggs survive through the dry season buried in the mud. With the return of the rainy season, development is resumed, and the young hatch out and grow rapidly. Social life and compatibility: a schooling fish, but best kept with members of its own species.

 

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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

THREE-BANDED PENCILFISH

Nannostomus trifasciatus Family Lebiasinidae.

Distribution Central Amazonian region, Rio Negro and western Guyana.

Description Shape: small, long and slim; slightly flattened sides. Color: olive-brown back, white belly; a black horizontal stripe extends from the tip of the snout to the underside of the tail-fin base, with a second, narrower one above it, starting from the eye. A third, faintly visible, runs from the pectorals to the anal fin. By night the coloring appears different—green to yellowish gray, with three broad, dark vertical bars. Size: up to in (6 cm). Sexual differences: females more rounded, with paler coloring.

Environment In their native habitat they inhabit small, gently flowing streams that are well shaded with thickly growing water plants. Temperature: 72-82 °F (25-28 °C). pH and water hardness: very soft, allowed s 0 10H121314 to stand for some time; light to medium acidity (filter

—■-’ through peat). Furnishings: as in natural surroundings.

Feeding Chiefly live food; fruit flies should be given. Biology Behavior: a schooling fish. The swimming motion is characteristic—scurrying alternating with sudden long pauses. Reproduction: not very prolific. Social life: must have company, preferably of the same species. Place a strong cover over the tank, as they are good jumpers.

 

 

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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

LEAF FISH

Monocirrhus polyacanthus Family Nandidae.

Distribution Amazon basin, Rio Negro and western Guyana.

Description Shape: egg-shaped, thickset, very pointed head, mouth forming an extensible tube. The lower lip has a strong barbel. Color: very strong marbled coloring which varies in relation to mood; streaked, and yellow or brown; can resemble a dead leaf. Three thin dark lines extend from the eye suggesting the veins of a leaf. Size: up to 3ain (8cm). Sexual differences unknown.

Environment Temperature: 72-77CF (22-25 °C). Water hardness: very soft. Furnishings: large, well-stabilized tank with thick vegetation. Feeding Exclusively a fish-eater, eating almost its own weight of food per day. Great care needed to avoid upsets.

Biology Behavior: extremely interesting. It imitates the movements of a dead leaf, sneaks up on its prey and at the last moment sucks it in and swallows it. Reproduction: very simple display. Eggs are laid on plants, glass or stone and are looked after by the male. The female should be removed. The young hatch after 3—4 days. Compatibility: keep only a few individuals in a species tank.

 

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