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Others
/ Knifefish / Banded Knifefish
Banded Knifefish
Gymnotus carapo | Pictures
Synonyms: Gymnotus
carapos, G. fasciatus
Physical description: The front part of the body is cylindrical.
The rear part is compressed and ends
at a point.
Their are no dorsal, ventral, or caudal fins.
The anal fin, which is used to propel the fish
backwards or forwards by an undulating motion is very long.
It starts behind the pectoral fin and extends
to the end of the body.
The mouth is broad and somewhat upturned.
Young individuals are yellow to flesh
in color with a few wide, brown to gray vertical stripes.
On older specimens, the stripes are more abundant
and darker in color.
Size/Length: To 24" (61 cm)
Similar species: Other Gymnotus
species
Habitat: Widely distributed throughout Central and South America.
Ranges from Guatemala south to the Rio
de la Plata.
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: A tank of 40" (101 cm) with a capacity of 45-55 gallons (170-210 L) is sufficient
for individual fish under 8" (20 cm) in length.
Specimen over 15" (38 cm) require a tank of at least 60"
(152 cm) with a capacity of 90-110 gallons (340-410 L).
The tank should be well-planted with large sturdy plants.
Provide
many retreats among rocks, wood, pipes, and tubes.
The lighting should be dark, perhaps diffused by a cover o floating
plants.
Water chemistry: pH 6-7.5 (6.9); 4-18 dH (8); 73-82°F (22-28°C)
Social behavior: This species is aggressive towards others of its own kind, but peaceful towards non-swallow
able tank mates with dissimilar body characteristics.
Combine with medium to large sized fishes that will not nip fins.
Suggested companions: Eartheaters, Pacu, Arowana,
Leporinus, Anostomus , Acaras, Cichlasomines,
Pimelodids, Doradids, Driftwood Cats, Loricarids.
FOOD: Live; earthworms,
Tubifex , insects, fish, crustaceans; chopped meat;
tablets
Sexual differences: Unknown
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10.
No spawnings in captivity have been reported.
Remarks: Nocturnal, but can be coaxed to come out to feed during the day, if lights are off or
the tank is dark.
Can take atmospheric oxygen by swallowing air at water surface.
Possess a weak electrical organ which
allows it to find food in muddy or dark water.
Difficulty of care: 6.
This large, hardy fish is peaceful towards different tank mates.
Live foods should be included in its
diet.
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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