SIZE: The fish of the Hemigrammus genus are for the most part small-ranging from 1.2" (3 cm) to 3.5" (9 cm). HAB: The majority of Hemigrammus fish are found in small creeks, streams, and brooks in the Amazon and Orinoco River watersheds. S: The fish of this family usually swim in the mid-water levels. TANK: Most of these fish can be kept in a small, 20" (50 cm) or 10 gallon (38 L) tank. The tank should be heavily planted with some open areas for free-swimming. The tank should be arranged in dark colors, and have the lighting diffused by a cover of floating plants. WATER: These fish can tolerate a pH from 6-7.5, but prefer slightly acidic water. They like soft water ranging from 2-15 dH, and require a temperature of 72-82°F (22-28°C). SB: Hemigrammus fish are usually peaceful, schooling fish that are easily maintained in a community tank with other schooling characins of a similar size. SC: Small tetras, Corydoras, Loricarids, Apistogramma, Discus, Gouramis. FOOD: Flake; live; insect larvae, Brine Shrimp, Tubifex. B: The pair should be about a year in age for best spawning outcomes. Condition the pair (preferably each separated) several times a day on insect larvae. In most cases, these fish can be bred in a heavily-planted breeding tank with no artificial light (excessive light appears to be detrimental for the eggs and the fry). Introduce the pair into the tank which should have a slightly higher temperature, and soft water (peat filtration). The pair should spawn within three days of their introduction into the tank. If the pair does not spawn within three days, they are not ready, and the process should be repeated. In all cases, the parents will try to consume their eggs as they are laid. Thus, the parents should be removed right after spawning. After hatching the fry should be fed on small live foods (Infusoria, Brine Shrimp nauplii, roftiers, microorganisms) and crushed flake foods. BP: Breeding difficulty depends entirely on the species. For some, such as the Buenos Aires Tetra, spawning comes easily; while others, such as the Rummy Nose Tetra, breeding is very difficult. DC: Most of the fish of this genus are fairly hardy. 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. |
