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Northern Madagascar Biotope Aquarium Setup
BIOTOPE AQUARIA
A biotope aquaria is an aquarium that is set-up to simulate a natural habitat. The fish, plants, water chemistry, and furnishings are similar to those that can be found in a specific natural setting.
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Limestone Tsingy in Ankarana
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Flooded Forest, Madagascar
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Malagasy Crayfish
According to Bradt 2001, six species of crayfish have been described in Madagascar, all of which are endemic. What makes this occurrence particularly interesting is crayfish are not present in Africa or India -- meaning Malagasy crayfish may have much older origins. Today crayfish are a vital source of protein to many in Madagascar.
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Northern Madagascar Biotope Aquarium Setup
Ankarana Dry Forest Stream
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Madagascar's fish species are some of the most threatened on the planet. Habitat loss -- especially the conversion of native vegetation to rice paddies -- combined with horrendous erosion resulting from deforestation and the introduction of exotic species (especially Tilapia, Snakeheads, Mosquito fish) have devastated endemic species. Several of Madagascar's unique species are no longer recorded in the wild. The plight of Madagascar's fish species mirrors the degradation of its terrestrial habitats.
One of the most beautiful aquatic habitats I have ever seen was in Ankarana -- a stretch of dry forest in Northern Madagascar. The creek was shaded by a high canopy but richly endowed with gorgeous aquatic plants (shafts of sunglight penetrated the canopy). The substrate was fine sand and the banks of the stream were packed earth. At the time I didn't pay too much attention to the fish or aquatic vegetation as I was focused on the remarkable crowned lemurs and fascinating reptiles found nearby.
Sadly I do not have any pictures of this magnificent habitat -- it was among the rolls of film that got destroyed over the course of a very rough trip.
More on Madagascar:
Lac Alaotra, Madagascar
List of Freshwater Fishes for Madagascar
Madagascar Deforestation
Madagascar Photos
WATER:
pH: 7.0-8.0, 8-19 dH, 75-84 F (24-29 C)
TANK:
Use silica (silver) or very fine gravel for the substrate. Lighting can be bright and the tank should be heavily planted. Driftwood can be used as desired. The water should be clear and have a slow to moderate current.
PLANTS:
The following plants are among those found in Madagascar: Aponogeton boivinianus, Aponogeton longiplumulosus, Aponogeton Madagascariensis [the plant has been so sought after that is have been depleted over its natural range (care tips, more info)], Aponogeton ulvaceus, Lagarosiphon Madagascariensis, Bacopa Madagascariensis, Hydrotriche hottoniifloria, Blyxa aubertii, and Cyperus alternifolius
FISH:
Rainbowfish
Bedotia geayi - Madagascar Rainbowfish, Red-tailed Silverside. "Occurs in coastal rivers, up to an altitude of 500 m" (Fishbase)
Rheocles sp.
Cichlids
Paretroplus (Lamena) nourissati
Paretroplus (Lamena) damii
Paretroplus (Lamena) kieneri
Paretroplus (Lamena) maculatus
Paretroplus (Lamena) petiti
Killifish
Pachypanchax sakaramyi. (Fishbase)
Pachypanchax omalonotus (Fishbase)
Gobies
Gobies are fairly comon in freshwater, brackish water, and marine habitats throughout Madagascar.
Here are some other freshwater Malagasy species that aren't neccessarily from Northern Madagascar:
| Family | Species | Notes from FishBase.org |
| Ambassidae | Ambassis fontoynonti | Eastern Madagascar |
| Atherinidae | Teramulus waterloti | Ambilobe district, northwest of Madagascar |
| Bedotiidae | Bedotia madagascariensis | |
| Bedotiidae | Bedotia marojejy | Manantenina River |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles alaotrensis | central east Madagascar, Lake Alotra, Maningory River system;
Anjozorobe and Betsikiboka |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles derhami | Mangarahara River, the Ambomboa River |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles lateralis | Nosivolo River, Madagascar |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles pellegrini | |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles sikorae | Mangoro stream, high valley of the east coast of Madagascar.
Near Anosibe, Manambola River |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles vatosoa | Andapa basin |
| Bedotiidae | Rheocles wrightae | Anosibe, Manambola River, Madagascar |
| Cichlidae | Oxylapia polli | Marolambo Rapids, Nosivolo River, Madagascar |
| Cichlidae | Paratilapia polleni | 7.0; dH range: 10.0,24-28 |
| Cichlidae | Paretroplus maromandia | |
| Cichlidae | Paretroplus menarambo | |
| Cichlidae | Paretroplus nourissati | |
| Cichlidae | Paretroplus polyactis | East Coast |
| Cichlidae | Paretroplus tsimoly | Akalimilotrabe River (north bank tributary of the Betsiboka River) |
| Cichlidae | Ptychochromoides betsileanus | central Madagascar, Ilanana River and the Vahifito river.
Populations in the northern Itasy are almost certainly extinct |
| Cichlidae | Ptychochromoides katria | Nosivolo River, Tamatave Province, Madagascar |
| Cichlidae | Ptychochromoides vondrozo | Mananara basin, southeastern Madagascar |
| Eleotridae | Eleotris vomerodentata | |
| Gobiidae | Acentrogobius therezieni | Hard water |
Madagascar also has a number of brackish water species suitable for a brackish biotope tank and in some cases, a freshwater biotope as some of these species are also found in freshwater. Below are some of the species found in brackish habitats.
PHOTOS:
Madagascar Landscape Photos
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Other Biotope Resources
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Recent news
Using fish as livestock feed threatens global fisheries
(11/18/2009)
Fish doesn't just feed humans. Millions of tons of fish are fed every year to chickens, pigs, and even farmed fish even in the midst of rising concerns over fish stocks collapses around the world. Finding an alternative to fish as livestock feed would go a long way toward preventing the collapse of fish populations worldwide according to a new paper in Oryx.
ICCAT fails to protect critically endangered tuna—again
(11/15/2009)
The International Commissions for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) ignored the advice of its scientists to end fishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Instead ICAAT set a quota of 13,500 tons of fish. This is not the first time ICCAT has flouted its own researchers' advice: it has repeatedly set quotas well-above its researchers' recommendations.
Governments, public failing to save world's species
(11/04/2009)
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 2008 report, released yesterday, 36 percent of the total species evaluated by the organization are threatened with extinction. If one adds the species classified as Near Threatened, the percentage jumps to 44 percent—nearly half.
Atlantic bluefin tuna should be banned internationally: ICCAT scientists
(10/29/2009)
Scientists with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) have said in a new report that a global ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing is justified. ICCAT meets in November to decide if they will follow their scientist's recommendations.
The Yangtze River may have lost another inhabitant: the Chinese paddlefish
(10/22/2009)
In December of 2006 it was announced that the Yangtze River dolphin, commonly known as the baiji, had succumbed to extinction. The dolphin had survived on earth for 20 million years, but the species couldn't survive the combined onslaught of pollution, habitat loss, boat traffic, entanglement in fishing hooks, death from illegal electric fishing, and the construction of several massive dams. Now, another flagship species of the Yangtze River appears to have vanished.
Freshwater species worse off than land or marine
(10/15/2009)
Scientists have announced that freshwater species are likely the most threatened on earth. Extinction rates for freshwater inhabitants are currently four to six times the rates for terrestrial and marine species. Yet, these figures have not lead to action on the ground.
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