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Characins
/ Characinae / Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus
Hemigrammus | Pictures
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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