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Characins
/ Characinae / Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon
Hyphessobrycon | Pictures
SIZE: The fish of the
Hyphessobrycon genus are small, ranging from 1.2"
(4 cm) to 3.2" (8 cm) in size.
HAB: Most Hyphessobrycon
are found in shallow, heavily vegetated areas of rivers and creeks.
Although the genus
Hyphessobrycon are distributed throughout
South America and even as far north as Southern Mexico (Central America), the most concentrated populations of
Hyphessobrycon
species can be found in the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins.
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 gallons (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 73-82°F (23-28°C).
SB: Hyphessobrycon
fish are usually peaceful, schooling fish that are easily maintained in a community tank
with other schooling characins of a similar size.
SC: Tetras, Corydoras,
Apistogramma, Loricarids, Discus, Gouramis.
FOOD: Flake; live; insect larvae, Brine Shrimp,
Tubifex.
SEX:
For most Hyphessobrycon
species, the sexes are easily differentiated.
Usually the male is more slender and
has a more pointed swim bladder in comparison with the female.
B: Prior to spawning, a year-old pair should be selected and separated.
Each fish should be conditioned on insect
larvae and Drosophila
.
The pair can be introduced into a breeding tank after two or three weeks.
For most species a 20" (50 cm)
or 10 gallon (38 L) breeding tank should do.
The water properties of the tank should be as follows: a temperature
between 75-79°F (24-26°C), a pH from 5.5 to 6.5, and a soft water hardness of 2-4 dH.
This soft water hardness can be reached
by filtering boiled water with large amounts of peat.
Clean the tank carefully, and use no substrate.
The tank should be kept dark, and fine
leafed plants should be included.
Use a calm (little current producing) filter-possibly a foam or sponge type-for filtration.
The
pair should spawn within three days after introduction into the spawning tank.
If the pair does not spawn, they should
be reconditioned and reintroduced.
Depending on the species and size of a fish, up to 300 eggs will be
scattered among the plants.
The pair should be removed immediately after spawning.
In most cases the fry hatch after 24-36
hours and are free-swimming a few days later.
Start feeding-after the egg sacs have been consumed-with microorganisms
and Brine Shrimp nauplii.
After about 10 days, the fry can start being given crushed flake foods.
Make weekly, partial water changes for
the fry.
BP: Breeding difficulty depends entirely on the species.
For some,
spawning comes easily, while for others,
breeding is very difficult.
R: There are more than 60 species of
Hyphessobrycon.
Hyphessobrycon
can be distinguished from
Hemigrammus by its scaleless caudal fin base and
caudal flank.
DC:
Most of the Hyphessobrycon
are not difficult to care for, especially if kept in a tank with favorable water conditions.
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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