Physical description: This moderately compressed, elongated species has a pointed head, and a rounded caudal fin. The boy ranges from gray-silver to orange-silver. The body marked with about seven brown, transverse bands. These bands run through the large anal and dorsal fins, which are orange in color. The caudal fin is dark brown. The head is marked with irregular brown bands. Size/Length: To 3.2" (8 cm) Similar species: Other Ctenopoma species Habitat: West Africa; in shallow shore areas around Stanley Pool, Zaire S: bottom, middle Aquarium: A tank measuring 32" (80 cm) with a capacity of 30 gallons (114 L) is sufficient. Arrange the tank as recommended for A. testudineus. Water chemistry: pH 6-7.5 (6.8), 3-18 dH (8), 77-82°F (25-28°C) Social behavior: Males are belligerent towards one another, although otherwise a peaceful species that can be combined with peaceful fish. Small fish may be preyed upon. Suggested companions: Congo Tetra, some Synodontis, Kribensis, other West African cichlids, Spiny Eels, Mormyrids. FOOD: Live; small fish, Tubifex, insects, insect larvae, small amphibians, crustaceans, chopped earthworms; lettuce; spinach; tablets; pellets; flakes; chopped meat; oatmeal; peas SEX: Males have slightly longer anal and dorsal fins, which are white in color. Breeding techniques: Spawning has been reported in water with a pH from 6.2-6.5, a water hardness from 2-5 dH, and a water temperature from 81-82°F (27-28°C). A bubble nest is constructed, where the eggs are deposited. The fry can be raised on micro foods. Breeding potential: 8. Breeding is fairly unusual. Remarks: The color of this species varies. Difficulty of care: 5. This species requires a diet including live foods. Recent articles about fish Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees (2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health. Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees (10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine. Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater (12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina. |
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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009 The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me. |
