Physical description: An elongated species with a long snout. The anal fin runs from anus on the underside of the head to the caudal penuncle. The caudal fin is very small. The coloring is brown black with a slender white band at the base of the caudal fin. Size/Length: To 8" (20 cm) Similar species: Apteronotus leptorhynchus Habitat: South America; widespread throughout the Amazon River Basin S: bottom Aquarium: A 40" (101 cm), 45-55 gallon (170-210 L) tank is sufficient. Follow suggestions for A. albifrons. Water chemistry: pH 5.8-7.5 (6.8), 3-14 dH (8), 73-81°F (23-27°C) Social behavior: An interesting fish which is aggressive towards similar species, those of the sub-family Apteronotinae. Otherwise, this species can be combined with almost any other peaceful fish. Do not combine with swallow able fish. Suggested companions: Angelfish, Eartheaters, Acaras, catfish, Silver Dollars, Leporinus, Anostomus, Gouramis. FOOD: Live; insect larvae, worms, Artemia ; tablets; chopped meat Sexual differences: Unknown Breeding techniques: Unknown Breeding potential: 10. Has not been reported. Remarks: This species frequently rests lying on its side. Difficulty of care: 5. This hardy, robust species should have live foods 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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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 Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date.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. |
