Fish

Veiltail

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The veiltail has a modified deep-and-round ryukin-shaped body, though without the dorsal 'hump' characteristic of ryukins. The hallmark of the breed is its lengthy and graceful double tail which is square-edged and without any forking or indentation between the lobes.

It also has a high, prominent and well-developed dorsal fin. The anal fins are paired and are quite well-developed as well. The term 'veiltail' is commonly and erroneously applied to any goldfish displaying a long caudal, but true veiltails must have all the charactersitics described above. Veiltails are available in many colors and may have either metallic or nacreous scales. They can grow from 8 to 12 inches (20 to 31 centimeters). They are not good swimmers but can be kept with other fancy goldfish. Veiltails will not accept temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.7 degrees Celsius).

History and origins

The veiltail, a name coined by William T. Innes, originated in the United States in the 1890s when Franklin Barrett of Philadelphia bred a Japanese-bred ryukin to a telescope eye goldfish that exhibited a short, square-edged caudal. This resulted in a strain of fish soon to be known throughout the world as Philadelphia veiltails.

Variants

Apart from those bred and developed in the United States, there are now also Chinese and European strains. They can also occur with normal or telescope-eyes.

Special care

The long and trailing tail of the veiltail is delicate and can be easily damaged. Veiltails are also susceptible to low water temperatures. Telescope-eyed veiltails have difficulty competing for food with more active goldfish.

Telescope eye

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The telescope eye or demekin is a fancy goldfish characterized by its protruding eyes. It is also known as globe eye or dragon eye goldfish.

Description

Except for its enlarged projecting eyes, the demekin is similar to the ryukin. It has a deep body and long flowing fins. Demekins are available in red, red-and-white, calico, black-and-white, chocolate, blue, lavender, chocolate-and-blue and black coloration. They may either have metallic or nacreous scales. Telescope eyes can grow quite large.

Variants

Black demekins are also referred to as moors such as the black moor and the panda moor.

Special care

Due to the telescope eye's poor vision, it should not be mixed with more active goldfish varieties, and should be housed in an aquarium without sharp or pointed objects.

Shubunkin

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Shubunkins a hardy, single-tailed fancy goldfish with nacreous scales, and a pattern known as calico. The shubunkins are of Japanese origin.

Description

The shubunkin, nicknamed "Poor Mans Koi", are similar to the common goldfish and comet goldfish in appearance. They are first bred from mutations in telescope eye goldfish (Demekins) back in 1900 in Japan. They have streamlined bodies with well-developed and even fins. However, the shubunkins are calico goldfish; they possess nacreous scales (a mix of metallic and transparent scales that are pearly in appearance).

The overlapping patches of red, white, blue, grey and black (along with dark speckles) normally extend to the finnage of shubunkins. Blue is the most prized colour in shubunkins. Calicos originally denoted three colours varieties of goldfish that do not include blue. The best blues are produced from line breeding of good blue specimens of shubunkins. Sometimes good blues may be obtained by breeding bronze (metallic) with pink (matt) goldfish, but a grey slate colour may result instead.

It may take several months for the nacreous coloration to develop on a young fry (baby fish). Shubunkins are excellent pond fish because they reach a length of 9 to 16 inches (22.86 to 40.6 centimeters) at adulthood. A shubunkin goldfish is considered an adult at 2 to 3 years of age.

Ryukin

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The ryukin is a short deep-bodied fancy goldfish with a characteristic hump in the shoulder region.

Description

The ryukin is a hardy and attractive variety of goldfish with a pointed head and has a pronounced hump on the back behind the head. It may be long-finned or short-finned with either a triple or quadruple tail. The dorsal fin is high while the caudal fin is often twice as long as the body. The caudal fin may also have three or four lobes.

Ryukins come in deep-red, red-and-white, white, iron and calico coloration.

The ryukin is a fine aquarium fish that can reach up to 8 inches (21 centimeters) in length.

History and origins

The ryukin has been so named because it was said to have arrived in Japan through the Ryukyu Islands which lies between Taiwan and Japan. There were historical references that the existence of ryukins dates back to 1833, but it is said to have arrived in Japan in the 1770s. Early Japanese literature refers to the ryukin as the onaga (longtail) or the nagasaki goldfish.

In English texts, they are also referred to as the Japanese ribbontail, the fringetail, the fantail or the veiltail.

Variants

Yamagata kingyo (yamagata goldfish) or sabao (mackerel tail) or tamasaba - a hardy single-tailed variety of the ryukin that has been developed in the Yamagata Prefecture of Northern Japan.
Tetsu onaga (iron-colored longtail) - a rare iron-colored variety of the ryukin.

Pearlscale

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The pearlscale or chinshurin in Japanese, is a spherical-bodied fancy goldfish with finnage similar to the fantail.

Description

The characteristic feature of the pearlscale is its thick, domed scales with pearl-like appearance. Its body is round and similar to a golf ball. The finnage may be long or short. Pearlscales can reach up to 8 inches long and grow up as large as oranges. However, pearlscale fancy goldfish are prone to swimbladder disorders which affect the ability to maintain normal position in the water. This is attributed to the selective breeding process of fancy goldfish to achieve particular body forms, such as that of the pearlscale's. Selective breeding gradually resulted to the alteration of the appearance of the swimbladder.

The pearlscale standard is as follows:

Depth of body to be greater than 2/3rds of body length
Scales to be domed
Dorsal fin to be single, all other fins to be paired.
Caudal fin to be divided and forked and held above the horizontal.
Extremities of fins to have a slightly rounded appearance.
Minimum length of body to be 5.5 cm (2¼ inches).

The fish should be bright and alert and displaying well developed domed scales all over the body area. The body should be short and rounded (not elongated). The caudal fin should be held high without signs of drooping and well divided. Quality fish will have high colour intensity extending into the fins.

Coloration

Pearlscales come in every color variety.

The colour may be metallic (self-coloured or variegated in a pleasing pattern and similar on each side) or calico. Metallic colours should appear as burnished metal, extending into the fins. Calico fish should have a blue background with patches of violet, red, orange, yellow and brown, spotted with black.

Variants

Pearlscales are found without headgrowth, with Oranda-like headgrowth or with two large bubble domes. The bubble-domed Pearlscales are known as high-head pearlscale, crown pearlscale or Hama nishiki.

Special requirements

Pearlscales are egg shaped with internal organs crowding the creature's compact body, therefore overfeeding should be avoided. Pearlscales are very sensitive to cold water and should not be exposed to temperature readings below 55°F (13°C). If you get a pearlsale also be careful as they are quite prone to pH changes and should be kept out of long periods exposed to a high acidity or alkalinity.

Oranda

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An oranda is a fancy goldfish characterized by a prominent raspberry-like hood encasing its head. The hood or headgrowth (also known as wen) encases the whole head except for the eyes and mouth.

Description

Due to the fleshy outgrowth on the upper half of its head and sides of its face, the oranda has become one of the most popular goldfish.It is described as a wen by the aquarists. The oranda is a metallic or matte scaled goldfish that is similar in appearance to the veiltail. It has a large, long and deep body accompanied by a long quadruple tail. This four-lobed and contracted tail normally spreads out broadly when the oranda stops swimming. The back does not rise up to form a ryukin-like hump.

Orandas are available in a variety of colors, most often orange, red, red-and-white, red-and-black, black, blue, chocolate, bronze, white or silver, black-and-white (panda-colored), red-black-and-white (tricolor), and calico colors.

The headgrowth of young fry may take one to two years to develop. The oranda can reach 8 to 12 inches (20 to 31 centimeters) in length. specimen from China, named "Bruce" (after late actor and martial artist Bruce Lee), has attained 15 inches in length. Sometimes the wen grows enormously covering its eye. Due to this the eye sight is either limited or the fish has no vision. These fishes should not be destroyed because they still manage to survive, finding food and enjoying the company of other fishes. Special care should be given to the wen because it is prone to bacterial infections. The Oranda can tolerate temperatures from 65-80+°F.More recently blue scale oranda have been developed but these fishes are very rare. Oranda goldfish are especially sensitive to cold temperatures, more so than other goldfish.

Variants

The azuma nishiki is an attractive nacreous-colored form of the oranda.
The red-cap oranda has a silver body with a prominent red headgrowth on the forehead.
Chinese breeders have developed telescope eyed orandas, a cross-breeding of the telescope eye and oranda goldfishes.
The hana fusa or white pompom oranda is an elegant pompom with a dorsal fin.
The nagate oranda is a long body oranda developed in Shikoku, south west area of Japan.

Special care

Orandas are sensitive to low water temperatures and susceptible to the attention of other active goldfish.

Lionhead (goldfish)

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The tremendous hood or headgrowth and fat cheeks of lionheads give them a facial appearance similar to canine puppies. The "wen" (Chinese term for headgrowth) fully covers the head, cheeks and gill plates of the fish. Furthermore, lionheads have short but deep bodies, and relatively straight or evenly arched bcks without dorsal fins. The finnage, in general, is short. Breeding standards require that the lionhead’s anal fins are paired, the double tail fin should not droop, and its upper edges should be held away from the body. The tail of a traditional lionhead can be fully separated, partially separated, or webbed. The tail should also meet the caudal peduncle (the area where the body joins the tail) in a fashion that is almost perpendicular to the body. The caudal peduncle is ideally broad, allowing the tail to open when the fish swims. The back of the proper lionhead is quite broad to support the placement of the raspberry-like hood. Hood development may vary but is more pronounced in males. The hood normally takes a year to develop in young fry. Mature male lionheads periodically shed patches of their headgrowths.

Lionheads can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length (including finnage) and may have metallic, nacreous or matte scales. They come in a variety of coloration.

Origins

Lionheads were bred in China to depict the image of the mythical Chinese lion-dog (the shishi, in Japanese legend). They were introduced to Japan from China during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Japanese produced lionheads with more rounded back profiles, modified tails and diminished size of the headgrowth.

Special care

Lionheads are sometimes sensitive to low water temperatures.

Lionchu

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The Lionchu or lionhead-ranchu is a fancy goldfish that has resulted from crossbreeding lionheads and ranchus.

Description

The Western criteria for lionchus combine the traditional characteristic side-view profiles of the ranchu and the lionhead. The ranchu's deep body, broad and curved back, and tail placement has been merged with the large headgrowth of the lionhead. Lionchus do not have dorsal fins.

Origins and evolution

Although at first, the lionchus were considered merely as mongrels, being hybrids of the lionheads and ranchus, the lionhead actually have an ancestor from Japan in the 1800s; it is then known as the shishigashira ranchu or lion-headed ranchu. The shishigashira ranchu is a ranchu-like goldfish with small amounts of headgrowth and some having small knobs and bumps on the back (a suggestion that the absence of the dorsal fin had not yet been stabilized at the time).

But the modern-day lionchu is considered to have originated from Thailand, and was popularized by a group of goldfish hobbyists in Singapore through RafflesGold.com, an internet-based goldfish forum site. The lionchu was officially recognized as a unique class of fancy goldfish during the "My Fancy Goldfish Competition 2006", which was held in Singapore from May 26-28, 2006.

Fantail (goldfish)

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The Fantail goldfish is the western form of the Ryukin that possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, a long quadruple caudal fin, and no shoulder hump.

Description

The Fantail goldfish may have either metallic or nacreous scales and normal or telescope eyes. Its finnage are less well developed than the Ryukin. It supports double anal and tail Fins. The anal and caudal fins are well divided into two matching halves. Although generally considered a hardy goldfish, Fantails can be sensitive to prolonged exposure to low water temperatures. Keeping Fantails in an aquarium requires an ideal temperature ranging between 55 to 70°F (13 to 21°C).

Breeding

Good-quality Fantails are produced by rigorous fry selection.

Common goldfish

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Common goldfish are a type of goldfish with no other modifications from their ancestors other than their color. Most varieties of fancy goldfish were derived from this simple breed. Common goldfish come in a variety of colours including red, orange/gold, white, black and yellow or 'lemon' goldfish.

As pets

The common goldfish became a popular pet around the world due to their hardy nature. They are hardier than fancy goldfish and are able to live in a variety of conditions ranging from indoor aquariums to outdoor ponds. Common goldfish can withstand fluctuations in water quality and temperature. They are also easy to breed. If well cared for, common goldfish can live up to 10 years or more in captivity.

Temperament

Common goldfish are social animals who prefer living in groups. They are able to interact with any fish belonging to the same species. With provision of adequate care and attention, common goldfish can become tame. Once familiar with the face of its owner, swimming towards the fishkeeper during feeding time can be observed and hand-feeding becomes possible. Small goldfish will normally avoid any form of human contact. However, this fear ceases in a middle-sized and mature goldfish. A full-grown goldfish is more likely to eat directly from the hands of its owner without evident hesitation. Mature goldfish will also explore their surroundings through nibbling or grazing behavior.

If transferred into a tank of other goldfishes, a common goldfish would normally try to communicate and familiarize itself with its new tankmates by rubbing up against the body of other fish. The most common introductory gesture would be by swimming side by side with another goldfish with its head facing forward, or by swimming side by side with another goldfish with its head facing the opposite direction, or even by swimming above another goldfish in a perpendicular fashion. Schooling is a common behavior when there is a new fish in the tank. After some time, this schooling behavior eventually ceases, and soon every individual fish will again be swimming and exploring the aquarium on its own. Aggressive behavior is uncommon when a new specimen is introduced into a settled school of goldfish.

Hierarchy during feeding is commonly observed in which the larger goldfish receives most of the food. However, small goldfish may also become aggressive or competitive feeders despite the presence of larger fish which is, in general terms, considered a good sign as a willingness to feed is indicative of a healthy goldfish.

Housing

It is a common practice to keep common goldfish in a small bowl but this allows waste in the water to build up to toxic levels and does not provide enough oxygen. They should ideally be kept in an aquarium of at least 10 gallons or 37 L with a good filter, and no heater, because these fish can get larger than 12 inches (34 cm). Tank recommendations range up to 75 gallons or 283 L. It is possible to keep small goldfish in smaller tanks, but such an arrangement will be very difficult to maintain once the fish grows older. If there is concern about the fish not getting enough oxygen, particularly when it is warm, an air pump with an airstone or bubble strip will work well. Goldfish will die without sufficient dissolved oxygen in the water. A filter that can do at least 10x filtration is best, which means that for every 10 gallons or litres of water, the filter should be able to cycle 100 gallons or litres per hour.

Goldfish are curious fish that will quickly become bored without items or other fish to interact with. If placed in a bare aquarium goldfish will settle to the bottom and only move when fed or frightened by sudden jolts. However, if put in a tank with sufficient gravel, aquarium accessories or plants (real or fake) they will make themselves at home. Adding a few companion fish will also help, but make sure each fish has plenty of personal space.

Goldfish are minimally territorial, so if your aquarium is already too small for one goldfish (see above recommendations), it will certainly be too small for two or more. Stress is not healthy for any goldfish. In a best case scenario, one or two fish will bully the rest so that they do not get enough to eat. Cannibalism is usually rare (such as when a fish is dying or dead) but in cramped, stressful situations, goldfish may behave unpredictably. Disease, of course, is possible anytime fish are stuck in small homes.

When adding goldfish to a new tank it is important to place no more than two at a time. This allows helpful bacteria (which turns ammonia to nitrite and finally to nitrate) to grow. If introduced in too great a number before these bacteria grow, the goldfish will die from breathing in too much of their own untreated excrement. Even after the development of the biological filter, it is necessary to change about 50% of the water at least one time a week, or as necessary to prevent a build-up of harmful nitrate. The addition of live aquatic plants may reduce the number of times per month one will have to perform water changes, but only if the plants are growing (they will uptake nitrate as a source of nitrogen).

Common goldfish can be kept in outdoor ponds throughout the year with similar care but they may become sluggish and stop feeding in the winter. This does not mean they are sick, but rather that their metabolism has slowed. The pond must not freeze solid and there should be an open spot in the surface ice to allow oxygenation of water. The ice should also not be struck, as this sends shock waves of sound pressure through the water scaring the fish.

[edit] Breeding

Breeding common goldfish is relatively easy. In breeding condition the male will develop small white spots on his gill covers and the female will become plump. The male will chase the female until she releases her eggs, then the male will release milt and they will become fertilized. The eggs will then stick to any available surface. It is then best to remove the eggs to a separate aquarium as the adults are likely to eat them. When the eggs hatch into fry, they will need to be fed very small food such as hatched brine shrimp or a ready made fry food. As they grow bigger, they can eat finely crumbled fishfood. Eventually the pieces of fishfood can get bigger.

Diseases

Lifespan

Goldfish can have lifespans up to 20+ years if they are fed a varied diet and housed in exceptional water conditions. The oldest living Goldfish to date was a goldfish named Tish owned by Hilda and Gordon Hand of Thirsk, N. Yorkshire, England. Tish lived for 43 years after being won at a fairground in 1956.

Goldfish as feeder fish

Common goldfish are often used as live prey for predatory fishes such as oscars and piranhas. They are also fed to larger crayfish, turtles, and frogs. Sold at only about one inch long, they can be easily consumed by other animals. Relatively inexpensive, they are often bought in large numbers for this purpose. However, some animal sympathizers find it unacceptable to feed live goldfish to other predatory fish or animals and it may be possible to spread any disease the feeder fish may have to the consuming animal.

Comet Goldfish

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The comet or comet-tailed goldfish is the most common variety of fancy goldfish in the United States. It is similar to the common goldfish, except slightly smaller and slimmer, and is mainly distinguished by its long deeply forked tail.

Origins

The comet-tailed goldfish breed was developed in the United States from the common goldfish by Hugo Mulertt, a government worker, in the 1880s. The first comet goldfish was first seen in the ponds of the U.S. Government Fish Commission in Washington. Mulertt later became a propagator of goldfish and an author of books on goldfish. He was the first person to place the comet onto the fishkeeping market in quantity.

Description

The comet goldfish can be distinguished from the common goldfish by its long, single and deeply forked tail fin. Under optimum conditions, the tails can grow up to 12 inches in length. Comets with yellow, orange, red, white, and red-and-white coloration are common.

The Comet is more active than most other goldfish breeds. It is not unusual to see a Comet dashing back and forth in his tank, racing around in a playful manner. Due to the comet's hardy and active nature, and the relative ease in caring for them, they are the breed best suited to ponds and outdoor pools. They are often kept with koi in outdoor ponds. Comet goldfish have a natural life span of 7 to 14 years and may live even longer in optimum conditions.

Variants

Sarasa comets are characterized by their red-and-white coloration and resemble the Kohaku color pattern in koi. Sarasa Comets have long flowing fins and are very hardy fish. Although the Sarasa Comet is originally from China, the word 'sarasa' is of Japanese origin.^[1]^[5]^[8]

The Tancho single-tail is similar to the comet-tail but it has a silver-colored body and fins with a single red patch on the head.

Goldfish farming

Goldfish are commonly bred on fish farms in many parts of the world. In most instances, the fish produced are offered for sale to aquarists. However, in North America, there is a demand for goldfish used as bait or "feeder fish" to other fish by anglers. Due to the relatively inexpensive prices of comet goldfish, they may also be used as prizes in carnivals or other places of entertainment. The use of goldfish as bait, feeder fish and carnival prizes is controversial, and animal rights activists have attempted to make the practice illegal, albeit unsuccessfully.

Celestial Eye

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Celestial eye goldfish or Choten gan is a double-tailed breed of fancy goldfish that has a breed-defining pair of telescope eyes which are turned upwards, pupils gazing skyward. When the fry hatch, the eyes of young Celestials are normal but gradually protrude sideways, as in the Telescope eye goldfish, and then turn upwards within a period of six months.

Origins

Celestials first appeared as a direct mutation of the Telescope goldfish in the 18th century. Competing traditions lay claim as to exactly where this happened first, Korea or China. The first documentation that Celestials existed appears on a Chinese scroll of 1772, where a goldfish lacking a dorsal fin and possessing protuberant upturned eyes is depicted. Celestials did not arrive in Japan until 1903 when thirty specimens arrived from China and became the foundation stock for Japanese breeders. Japan quickly became the leading producer of Celestials for export. This remained so until the outbreak of World War II. Celestials arrived in the United States from Japan in the first decade of the twentieth century and were included in the first edition of William T. Innes's Goldfish Varieties and Tropical Aquarium Fishes in 1917. American fanciers successfully bred the fish and, in turn, exported foundation stock to Great Britain, where there is a small but devoted band of breeders propagating the fish to this day. After World War II, and ever since, the vast majority of Celestials exported from Asia are of Chinese origin. A Celestial goldfish is depicted on a postage stamp issued in 1960 by the People's Republic of China.

Description

The Celestial is a relatively small variety of goldfish that has a torpedo-shaped body similar to the Bubble Eye. Like the Bubble Eye, the Celestial does not have a dorsal fin. Their paired fins are of the Fantail or Ryukin type. The caudal may be half as long, to as long, as the body. They are most commonly seen with metallic scales colored various shades of orange (called 'red' by fanciers), white, or red and white (pictured). Celestials with nacreous scales are known but rarely seen. Despite their limited vision and their lack of a dorsal fin, they are active and agile swimmers.

They do require some special attention since, apart from sporting easily damaged upward-oriented eyes, and having limited vision, they are also sensitive to cold water temperatures. They are unable to compete with more vigorous goldfish for food. Sharp ornaments and objects in the aquarium are contraindicated. They are best kept with other limited-vision breeds (i.e the Bubble Eye) or in a tank of their own.

Variants

The original Celestial breed, described above, is still bred and exported by Chinese and Japanese breeders and is commercially available to fanciers, though they are not as commonly stocked by aquarium shops and dealers as some other goldfish varieties. It is this 300-year old form that is described in the American standard adopted by the American Goldfish Association and the Goldfish Society of America. British fanciers prefer their Celestials to have deeper, egg-shaped bodies and shorter fins, and have selectively bred for these features as required by the British standard. In recent decades, the Chinese have crossed Celestials with several other breeds, most commonly Lionheads, Ranchus and Hana fusas (Pompoms), producing much larger fish with short ranchu-like fins and very deep, blocky bodies, often with narial 'bouquets' (pompoms) and rudimentary headgrowths. Some of these crosses tend to be less animated swimmers, especially those that possess a sharply downturned, ranchu-like caudal peduncle with flared caudal fins, traits which are otherwise uncharacteristic for the breed. Such fish can be quite sendentary, spending most of their time at or near the bottom of the aquarium; however, a more expansive color range can be found among these hybrids, with metallic specimens appearing in chocolate, black and various bi-colors in addition to the standard metallic colors, and nacreous fish seen in bi-color, tri-color and calico. These hybrids are not generally available commercially outside Asia but can be acquired through specialist dealers and importers. The Deme-ranchu, is identical to the Celestial in conformation save for its telescopic eyes which do not turn upward. In any spawning of Celestials, many fry will be found to mature with telescopic eyes that never turn upwards. These fish are identical to deme-ranchu. The Toadhead or Hama-tou in Japanese, is similar to the Celestial in having upward-turned eyes, though they are not protuberant, each supporting a small bladder-like growth beneath it. The toadhead is more likely a precursor to the Bubble eye.

Calico (goldfish)

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Calico or nacreous goldfish are goldfish of any breed that sport a mixture of metallic and transparent scales that produces a pearly appearance. The name "calico goldfish" is often associated, and sometimes confused, with the shubunkin goldfish.

Description

Calico goldfish have patches of red, yellow, grey and black along with dark speckles on a blue background. This nacreous coloration of usually extends over the fins.

Variants

Although calico coloration occasionally occurs in other fancy goldfish varieties such as telescope eyes, fantails, ryukins, orandas, and ranchus, this nacreous characteristic is usually exclusive to the shubunkins which are single-tailed fish that are similar to the common goldfish and could grow up to 12 inches in length.

Bubble Eye

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The Bubble Eye is a small variety of fancy goldfish with upward pointing eyes that are accompanied by two large fluid-filled sacs. It is a dorsal-less fish, and good specimens will have a clean back and eye bubbles well matched for colour and size. The bubbles are fragile and the fish should be kept separately from boisterous types and away from sharp tank decor, although the bubbles will regrow if punctured. Given proper accommodation, the bubbles do not disadvantage the fish and they become very tame. It is known as suihogan in Japan.

Description

The Bubble Eye normally has an evenly curved back that lacks a fin. The pair of large pouches of skin attached under its eyes jiggle as it swims. Bubble Eyes have metallic scales and they are similar to the celestial eye goldfish. The eyes of the Bubble Eye goldfish are normal in the young fry, but will start to develop eye bladders three months after hatching. Like ranchu, the bubble eye goldfish lacks in dorsal fin and has a double tail. They normally grow up to 6 to 8 inches in length

Black Moor

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Black moor might also refer to a member of an ethnic group, a subgroup of the present-day Moors. For the council estate in Leeds, UK, see Moor Allerton.

The black moor is a telescope-eyed variety of fancy goldfish that has a characteristic pair of protruding eyes. It is also referred to as popeye, telescope, kuro demekin in Japan and dragon-eye in China.

Description

Black Moors (Carassius auratus) have deep bodies and long, flowing finnage, along with characteristic protruding eyes. They are veiltailed and possess metallic scales with a velvet-like appearance.

Young Moors resemble bronze fantails. Their black coloration and eye protrusion develop with age . They can grow up to a length of 10 inches, but may not lose their velvet-like appearance with increasing age (life span:2 to 3 years). Black demekins may also revert to metallic orange when exposed to warm water temperature. The fish can range in coloring anywhere from a lighter grey to a dark black, but most Black Moor goldfish don't stay pure black forever and many Of them change colors from a rust color underbelly to orange splotches.

Black moor goldfish are popular because they are hardy fish, and because their black color sets them apart from the more common gold color. Goldfish are typically easy to care for, surprisingly, black moors in particular are able to withstand a wide variety of temperatures but cannot withstand extreme temperatures.They are good with other fish.it eats fish food and worms

Variants

Related fish include the entire "telescope" family, and can appear in red, red-and-white, calico, black-and-white, chocolate, brown, blue, bronze, lavender and chocolate-and-blue, tricolored, and black coloration. Black moors with a deep solid black color are difficult to find but are more stable in moors than any other goldfish variety. Black-and-white moors are known as panda moors.

It was once theorised that blackness in goldfish are only exhibited by the telescope-eyed goldfish and that the black colour is only a permanent fixture with telescope eye goldfish. However, with the recent entry of black lionheads (ranchus), black orandas, black pearlscales and black hibunas, this view is no longer true.

In fact, black moors do sometimes throw normal-eye offsprings, and they are black also. However, they are rejected as they do not conformed to the telescope eye feature for the Moor variety.

Chlamydogobius

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Chlamydogobius is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Gobiidae (commonly known as gobies).

They live in extreme environments; for example, several species of chlamydogobius are found in the water that emerges from geothermal springs in Australia, such as the Dalhousie goby, found in the waters around Dalhousie Springs, Australia.

These fish can live in water with a wide range of temperatures, pH, salinity, and oxygen levels; for example they are found in water with a pH between 6.8 and 9.0, and temperatures between 3 and 43 degrees Celsius. They can tolerate salinity as high has 60%. They have been found in water with extremely low oxygen levels (as low as 0.8 ppm). Their water habitats often exhibit oxygen levels below 5 milligrams of oxygen per litre.

To cope with extremely low oxygen levels, they will emerge from the water to "gulp" air (known as aerial respiration). They also will position themselves over beds of algae to capture the produced oxygen.

They will hide in the mud and silt at the bottom of a stream, or in a plant or under a rock to avoid more extreme water temperatures. Sometimes they will emerge from very hot water for brief periods to take advantage of evaporative cooling.

They can survive even if there are drought conditions that reduce the size of their habitat. If there is a flood that results in drastically increased water flow, they anchor themselves to rocks with their pelvic fins.

Clamydogobius fish are able to change their colours to blend in with their environments.

Human drilling activities in Australia have often reduced the pressure of the aquifers that feed the Australian hot springs that clamydogobius rely on, so some species are endangered.

Amblyeleotris randalli

2010-02-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

Amblyeleotris randalli is a Goby from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 12 cm in length.

Amblyeleotris

2010-02-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Amblyeleotris is a genus of colourful gobies found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. With 37 recognized species, this is the largest genus of the shrimp gobies or prawn gobies, so-called because of their symbiotic relationship with certain alpheid shrimps. The shrimp excavates and maintains a burrow used by both animals while the goby, which has far superior eyesight, acts as a lookout for predators. The shrimp maintains almost constant contact with the fish with an antenna.

Amblyeleotris species vary considerably in size from less than 30 mm to almost 200 mm standard length.

Zebrafish

2010-01-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). It is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio, and is an important vertebrate model organism in scientific research.

Taxonomy

The zebrafish is a derived member of the genus Danio. It has a sister group relationship with Danio kyathit.

Distribution

The zebrafish is native to the streams of the southeastern Himalayan region., including the countries Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. It arose in the Ganges region in Eastern India. It commonly inhabits streams, canals, ditches, ponds, and slow-moving to stagnant water bodies, including rice fields.

Zebrafish have been introduced to parts of the United States, presumably by deliberate release or by escape from fish farms. They have also been sighted in Colombia.

Description

The fish is named for the five uniform, pigmented, horizontal blue stripes on the side of the body, all of which extend to the end of the caudal fin. Its shape can be described as fusiform and laterally compressed, with its mouth directed upwards. Males are torpedo shaped and have gold stripes between the blue stripes; females have a larger, whitish belly and have silver stripes instead of gold. Adult females will exhibit a small genital papilla in front of the anal fin origin. The zebrafish can grow to 6.4 centimetres (2.5 in), although it is uncommon for them to grow past 4 centimetres in captivity.

The approximate generation time for the Danio is 3–4 months. It has been observed that there must be a male present in order for ovulation and spawning of eggs to occur. Females are able to spawn as often as 2–3 days with hundreds of eggs being laid in each clutch. Upon release from the mother, developmental steps will be made, however without the presence of sperm growth will stop after the first few embryonic cleavages. Fertilized eggs will almost immediately become transparent, which is an important characteristic yielding D. rerio as a convenient research model. Development rapidly progresses, with precursors to all major organs appearing within 36 hours of fertilization. Hatching will take place anywhere from 48–72 hours post-fertilization, depending on the internal conditions of the embryo itself and the external temperature (ideally 28.5 °C). Swimming and feeding behavior are observed to occur approximately 72 hours post-fertilization. The sex of juvenile zebrafish cannot be distinguished except by dissection, and the genetic sex determinants are not clearly understood. The range of life-span for a zebrafish in captivity is around 2–3 years, although in ideal conditions, they may live up to 5 years.

The zebrafish is omnivorous, and it primarily eats zooplankton, insects, and phytoplankton. It can eat a variety of foods if its main sources are not readily available.

Varieties

Recently, transgenic zebrafish have become commercially available that express green fluorescent protein, red fluorescent protein, and yellow fluorescent protein. They are tradenamed GloFish. Other varieties include golden, sandy, longfin and leopard.

The Leopard danio, previously known as Danio frankei, is a spotted colour morph of the zebrafish caused by a pigment mutation. Xanthistic forms of both the zebra and leopard pattern, along with long-finned varieties have been obtained via selective breeding programs for the aquarium trade.

Aquarium care

Zebrafish are hardy fish and considered good for beginner aquarists. Their ease of keeping and breeding, beauty, price, playful nature and broad availability all contribute to their popularity. They thrive best at temperatures above 22 °C (71.6 °F) and below 27 °C (80.6 °F). They feed on worms and small crustaceans and on insect larvae. They also thrive as shoals of six or more, although they do interact well with other fish types in the aquarium. However, they are susceptible to Oodinium, or Velvet disease, Microsporidia (Pseudoloma neurophilia), and mycobacterium species. Most Danios will accept common food flakes and tubifex worms. They are egglayers and as the female drops the eggs the male will fertilize them and within a few days they will hatch and some may be eaten by the parents unless the parents are in a separate tank or the eggs were scooped up into a breeder box or netted container.

Model organism for development and genetics

D. rerio are a common and useful model organism for studies of vertebrate development and gene function. They may supplement higher vertebrate models, such as rats and mice. Pioneering work of George Streisinger at the University of Oregon established the zebrafish as a model organism; its importance was consolidated by large scale forward genetic screens (commonly referred to as the Tübingen/Boston screens). The scholarly journal Development devoted an issue to research using the fish in celebration of this landmark. An online database of zebrafish genetic, genomic, and developmental information, the Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN), has been established. D. rerio is one of the few species of fish to have been flown into space.

Research with D. rerio has allowed advances in the fields of developmental biology, oncology, toxicology, reproductive studies, teratology, genetics, neurobiology, environmental sciences, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and evolutionary theory. Perhaps its greatest advantages for use in the laboratory as a model system come from its now sequenced genetic code, well understood, easily observable and testable developmental behaviors, and the availability of well-characterized mutants. Zebrafish embryonic development provides advantages over other vertebrate model organisms as well. Although the overall generation time of zebrafish is comparable to that of mice, zebrafish embryos develop rapidly, progressing from eggs to larvae in under three days. The embryos are large, robust, and transparent and develop externally to the mother, characteristics which all facilitate experimental manipulation and observation. Their nearly constant size during early development facilitates simple staining techniques, and drugs may be administered by adding directly to the tank. Unfertilized eggs can be made to divide, and the two-celled embryo fused into a single cell, creating a fully homozygous embryo.

A common reverse genetics technique is to reduce gene expression or modify splicing in zebrafish using Morpholino antisense technology. Morpholino oligonucleotides are stable, synthetic macromolecules that contain the same bases as DNA or RNA; by binding to complementary RNA sequences, they reduce the expression of specific genes. The journal Genesis devoted an issue to research using Morpholino oligos, mostly in D. rerio. Morpholino oligonucleotides can be injected into one cell of a zebrafish embryo after the 32-cell stage, producing an organism in which gene expression is reduced in only the cells descended from the injected cell. However, cells in the early embryo (less than 32 cells) are interpermeable to large molecules, allowing diffusion of Morpholinos between cells. A known problem with gene knockdowns in zebrafish is that, because the genome underwent a duplication after the divergence of ray-finned fishes and lobe-finned fishes, it is not always easy to silence the activity one of the two gene paralogs reliably due to complementation by the other paralog.

Despite the complications of the zebrafish genome a number of commercially available global platforms for analysis of both gene expression by microarrays and promoter regulation using ChIP-on-chip exist.

Zebrafish have the ability to regenerate fins, skin, the heart, and the brain (in larval stages). Zebrafish have also been found to regenerate photoreceptors and retinal neurons following injury. The mechanisms of this regeneration are unknown, but are currently being studied. Researchers frequently cut the dorsal and ventral tail fins and analyze their regrowth to test for mutations. This research is leading the scientific community in the understanding of healing/repair mechanisms in vertebrates.

Recent developments

In October 2001, researchers from the University of Oklahoma published the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of D. rerio. The length of the zebrafish mitochondrial genome is 16,596 base pairs. This is within 100 base pairs of other related species of fish, and it is notably only 18 bp longer than the goldfish (Carassius auratus) and 21 bp longer than the carp (Cyprinus carpio). The zebrafish gene order and content is identical to the common vertebrate form of mitochondrial DNA. It contains 13 protein-coding genes and a noncoding control region containing the origin of replication for the heavy strand. In between a grouping of five tRNA genes, a sequence resembling vertebrate origin of light strand replication is found. In comparing the nucleotide sequence to other vertebrates it is difficult to draw any evolutionary conclusions because it is difficult to determine as to whether base pair changes have adaptive significance.

In December 2005, a study of the golden strain identified the gene responsible for the unusual pigmentation of this strain as SLC24A5, a solute carrier that appeared to be required for melanin production, and confirmed its function with a Morpholino knockdown. The orthologous gene was then characterized in humans and a one base pair difference was found to segregate strongly between fair-skinned Europeans and dark-skinned Africans. This study featured on the cover of the academic journal Science and demonstrates the power of zebrafish as a model organism in the relatively new field of comparative genomics.

In January 2007, Chinese researchers at Fudan University raised genetically modified fish that can detect estrogen pollution in lakes and rivers, showing environmental officials what waterways need to be treated for the substance, which is linked to male infertility. Song Houyan and Zhong Tao, professors at Fudan's molecular medicine lab, spent three years cloning estrogen-sensitive genes and injecting them into the fertile eggs of zebrafish. The modified fish turn green if they are placed into water that is polluted by estrogen.

On August 1, 2007, researchers at University College London said they had grown in the laboratory a type of adult stem cell found in the eyes of fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina. These cells could be injected in the eye to treat all diseases where the retinal neurons are damaged — nearly every disease of the eye, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes-related blindness. Damage to the retina — the part of the eye that sends messages to the brain — is responsible for most cases of sight loss. The researchers studied Müller glial cells in the eyes of humans aged from 18 months to 91 years and were able to develop them into all types of neurons found in the retina. They were also able to grow them easily in the lab, they reported in the journal Stem Cells. The cells were tested in rats with diseased retinas, where they successfully migrated into the retina and took on the characteristics of the surrounding neurons. Now the team is working on the same approach in humans.

In February 2008, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston reported in the journal Cell Stem Cell the development of a new strain of zebrafish, named Casper, with see-through bodies. This allows for detailed visualization of individual blood stem cells and metastasizing (spreading) cancer cells within a living adult organism. Because the function of many genes are shared between fish and humans, this tool is expected to yield insight into human diseases such as leukemia and other cancers.

In April 2009, Researchers at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi announced the sequencing of the wild-type strain of Zebrafish, complete with about 1.7 billion genetic alphabets

Spotted danio

2010-01-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

The Spotted Danio or Dwarf Danio is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Originating in northern Myanmar, this fish is sometimes found in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. It grows to a maximum length of 1.5 inches (3.7 cm).

In the wild, the Spotted Danio is found in rivers in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5 - 7.0 pH, a water hardness of 5.0 - 12.0 dGH, and an ideal temperature range of 75 - 82 °F (24 - 28 °C). The Spotted Danio is an egglayer.

Pearl danio

2010-01-08T06:20:00.000-08:00

The Pearl Danio is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Originating in Sumatra, Burma, and Thailand, this fish is sometimes found in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. It grows to a maximum length of 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) and lives for around 5 years. The fish could have a brownish-yellow, pink, or a silver body and two light yellow/white or blue/red stripes. It has an iridescent look. The fish has two pairs of barbels.
In the wild, the Pearl Danio is found in along the surface of small, clear rivers and hill streams. They natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of up to 5 - 19 dGH, and a temperature range of 68 - 77 °F (20 - 25 °C). Their diet consists mostly of exogenous insects and some zooplankton, however, in a community tank, it is omnivorous. It is a peaceful, schooling fish that gets along well with other fish. The Pearl Danio is an egglayer. Golden varieties are often seen in shops, these are in reality semi albino fish.

They can live happily in pairs, but ideally should be kept in shoals of 6 or more.

Microdevario

2010-01-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Microdevario is a small genus of danionin cyprinids. It was recently described to include species previously in the genus Microrasbora.

Species:

Microdevario gatesi Herre, 1939 – Burmese Golden Rasbora
Microdevario kubotai (Kottelat & Witte, 1999)
Microdevario nana (Kottelat & Witte, 1999)

Malabar danio

2010-01-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Malabar Danio is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Originating in Sri Lanka and the west cost of India, the fish has been circulated throughout the world through the aquarium fish trade. It grows to a maximum length of 6.0 in (15.2 cm).

The Malabar Danio is found in tropical climates in a wide variety of waters, from mountain streams to small pools, but it prefers flowing waters. They are an active, schooling fish that prefers to be in groups. Their diet consists of insects and plant matter.

Malabar Danios are egg-layers that spawn in shallow water after heavy rains among the plants growing at the bottom of the water. An adult will spawn around 200 light orange, sticky eggs that will hatch in 1 to 2 days. The fry will be free-swimming after the fifth day. The parents must be removed in order to prevent them from eating the eggs.

The species was earlier incorrectly considered a synonym of Devario aequipinnatus which is a valid name for a different species.

Glowlight danio

2010-01-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

Glowlight danio, Danio choprai:

Maximum length: 1.25 inches 4 cm
Colors: Brown, yellow, green, red
Temperature preference: 20-25 Celsius
pH preference: 6 to 7
Hardness preference: Soft to medium
Salinity preference: Freshwater
Compatibility: Good (but fast like most danios)
Life span: Typically 1 to 3 years
Ease of keeping: Moderate
Ease of breeding: Moderate to hard

Danio choprai or the glowlight danio is a small, schooling fish closely related to the popular zebrafish Danio rerio. This should not be confused with the GloFish, a trademarked brand of fluorescent zebrafish that appears to glow in the dark under a black light. The Danio choprai is an active, surface-dwelling fish that feeds on insects that have fallen into the water, aquatic insect larvae, and other small animals. It has a streamlined body marked with a brilliant orange longitudinal band and a series of vertical blue-black bars on the flanks. The fins are edged with yellow. In recent years it has become quite widely traded as an aquarium fish, but otherwise has no commercial importance. Its common name derives from its similarity to the glowlight tetra, a South American characin only distantly related to this fish.They get on well with all other danio species except the giant danio.

There is less frequently traded geographical variant from the Putao area of northern Myanmar, known as the "northern glowlight danio", sometimes referred to by a fictitious scientific name "Danio putaoensis". This variant is larger, has more vertical bars and longer barbels.

GloFish

2010-01-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

The GloFish is a patented brand of genetically modified (GM) fluorescent zebrafish with bright red, green, and orange fluorescent color. Although not originally developed for the ornamental fish trade, it is the first genetically modified animal to become publicly available as a pet.

History

Early development

The original zebrafish (Danio rerio) from which the GloFish was developed is a native of rivers in India and Bangladesh. It measures three centimeters long and has gold and dark blue stripes, and over 200 million have been sold in the last 50 years in the United States ornamental fish market. Despite the number of zebrafish sold, they have never established any reproducing populations in the United States, primarily because they are tropical fish, unable to survive in the temperate North American climate.

In 1999, Dr. Zhiyuan Gong and his colleagues at the National University of Singapore were working with a gene called green fluorescent protein (GFP), originally extracted from a jellyfish, that naturally produced bright green bioluminescence. They inserted the gene into a zebrafish embryo, allowing it to integrate into the zebrafish's genome, which caused the fish to be brightly fluorescent under both natural white light and ultraviolet light. Their goal was to develop a fish that could detect pollution by selectively fluorescing in the presence of environmental toxins. The development of the always fluorescing fish was the first step in this process. Shortly thereafter, his team developed a line of red fluorescent zebra fish by adding a gene from a sea coral, and yellow fluorescent zebra fish, by adding a variant of the jellyfish gene. Later, a team of Taiwanese researchers at the National University of Taiwan, headed by Professor Huai-Jen Tsai (蔡懷禎), succeeded in creating a medaka (rice fish) with a fluorescent green color.

The scientists from NUS and businessmen Alan Blake & Richard Crockett from Yorktown Technologies, L.P., a company in Austin, Texas, met and a deal was signed whereby Yorktown obtained the worldwide rights to market the GloFish. At around the same time, a separate deal was made between Taikong, the largest aquarium fish producer in Taiwan, and the Taiwanese researchers to market the green medaka in Taiwan under the name TK-1. In spring of 2003, Taiwan became the first to authorize sales of a genetically modified organism as a pet. One hundred thousand fish were reported sold in less than a month at US$18.60 a piece. It should be clarified that the fluorescent medaka are not GloFish, as they are not marketed by Yorktown Technologies, but instead by Taikong Corp under a different brand name.

Introduction to the U.S. market

GloFish was introduced to the United States market in late 2003 by Yorktown Technologies of Austin, Texas, after more than two years of extensive environmental research and consultation with various Federal and State agencies, as well as leading experts in the field of risk assessment. The definitive environmental risk assessment was made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has jurisdiction over all genetically modified animals, including fluorescent zebra fish, since they consider the inserted gene to be a drug. Their official statement, made on 9 December 2003, was as follows:

"Because tropical aquarium fish are not used for food purposes, they pose no threat to the food supply. There is no evidence that these genetically engineered zebra danio fish pose any more threat to the environment than their unmodified counterparts which have long been widely sold in the United States. In the absence of a clear risk to the public health, the FDA finds no reason to regulate these particular fish."

Similar findings were reached by the State of California Department of Fish and Game and the State of Florida Transgenic Aquatic Task Force.

Marketing of the fish was met by protests from a non-governmental organization called the Center for Food Safety. They were concerned that approval of the GloFish based only on a Food and Drug Administration risk assessment would create a precedent of inadequate scrutiny of biotech animals in general.

To prevent this, the group, along with one of their sister organizations, filed a lawsuit in US Federal District Court to block the sale of the GloFish. The lawsuit sought a court order stating that the sale of transgenic fish is subject to federal regulation beyond the FDA's charter, and as such should not be sold without more extensive approvals. In the opinion of Joseph Mendelson, the Center for Food Safety's legal director:

It's clear this sets a precedent for genetically engineered animals. It opens the dams to a whole host of nonfood genetically engineered organisms. That's unacceptable to us and runs counter to things the National Academy of Sciences and other scientific review boards have said, particularly when it comes to mobile GM organisms like fish and insects.

The Center for Food Safety's suit was found to be without merit and dismissed on March 30, 2005.

Developments since the GloFish introduction

GloFish have continued to be successfully marketed throughout the United States. Since their introduction in late 2003, there have been no reports of any ecological concerns associated with their sale.

In addition to the red fluorescent zebrafish, trademarked as "Starfire Red", Yorktown Technologies released a green fluorescent zebrafish and an orange fluorescent zebrafish in mid-2006. The new lines of fish are trademarked as "Electric Green" and "Sunburst Orange", and incorporate genes from sea coral. Despite the speculation of aquarium enthusiasts that the eggs are pressure treated to make them infertile, it has been found some GloFish are indeed fertile and will reproduce in a captive environment.

Sale or possession of GloFish remains illegal in California due to a regulation that restricts all genetically modified fish. The regulation was implemented before the marketing of GloFish, largely due to concern about a fast-growing biotech salmon. Although the Fish and Game Commission declined to grant an exception (solely on ethical grounds) in December 2003, it later reversed course and decided to move forward with the process of exempting GloFish from the regulation. However, due to the State’s interpretation of the California Environmental Quality Act, Yorktown Technologies was informed by State attorneys that it would first need to complete an extremely expensive study, which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years to complete. According to the company’s web site, they have thus far declined to undertake this study.

Canada also prohibits import or sale of the fish, due to what they report is a lack of sufficient information to make a decision with regard to safety.

The import, sale and possession of these fish is not permitted within the European Union. On November 9, 2006, however, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) found 1,400 fluorescent fish, which were sold in various aquarium shops.

In January, 2009, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration formalized their regulations for genetically engineered animals. These regulations describe the way in which FDA regulates all GE animals, including GloFish.

Fire bar danio

2010-01-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

Fire bar danio

Maximum length: 2 inches
Colors: Brown, yellow, green, red
Temperature preference: Unknown
pH preference: 6 to 7
Hardness preference: Soft to medium
Salinity preference: Low to medium
Compatibility: Good but fast like most danios
Life span: Unknown, probably 3 to 4 years
Ease of keeping: Moderate
Ease of breeding: Moderate to hard

Danio margaritatus

2010-01-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

The Celestial Pearl Danio, often referred to in the aquarium trade as galaxy rasbora or "Microrasbora sp. 'Galaxy'" - is a small cyprinid from Myanmar. It has so far been found only in a very small area near Hopong east of Inle Lake, at an altitude of over 1,000 m (3,400 ft). Its habitat is part of the Salween basin, namely the Nam Lang and Nam Pawn rivers. Discovered in 2006, the species quickly appeared in the aquarium trade, where its small size and bright colours made it an instant hit

Description

This is a small plump danionin with a markedly blunt snout, measuring just 1.5-2 cm standard length. The body is about three times as long as it is high. In general shape, it resembles "Microrasbora" erythromicron more than any other known species.

This species shows some sexual dimorphism: males have a bright blue background color (dull blue-green in females), and their fins are more brightly colored. The tail end of their bodies (the caudal peduncle) is also higher than in females. The body is sprinkled with small, pearly dots. The back is bronzy green, and the belly in females is yellowish-white. The gill covers are transparent, letting the blood-red gills shine through.

The males' fins (except the pectoral fins), which they will prominently display to conspecifics, show two parallel black lines with a bright red area in between; on the tailfin this pattern is present twice (once on each lobe) and the outer black band is vestigial. Females have a weaker version of the pattern in the tail and dorsal fins only, sometimes in the anal fin too.

Courting males develop a red belly and the flanks brighten and darken, making the pearly spots stand out even more, with the back appearing paler than the flanks and also standing out. Females in reproductive age can be recognized by a black anal spot which separates the belly color from the uniformly reddish base of the anal fin. Males have a small black pad at the edges of the lower jaw, which is absent or reduced in females. Immature fish show some indication of a striped pattern, which eventually decomposes into the pearly dots.

Systematics and taxonomy

Initially Danio margaritatus was thought to be a member of the genus Microrasbora and was traded as such. This was assumed because of its similarities with "M." erythromicron, which almost certainly does not belong into that genus and appears closer to Danio^[4]. Less than a year after the discovery of the Celestial Pearl Danio, it was scientifically described and given the genus name Celestichthys. This once again raises the issue of where "Microrasbora" erythromicron should be placed; it was noted that including it in Celestichthys might seem plausible at first sight, but probably would not correctly represent these fishes' evolutionary relationships. In 2008 further a study including DNA testing placed the species in the genus Danio as the study discovered that it was more closely related and more similar to other "Danios" than Tyson Roberts study had shown. Tyson Roberts didn't DNA test this species in his studies.

Ecology

The fish lives in small ponds created by seeping groundwater or overflow from small brooks or springs. Water temperature in January was rather low (22-24°C), but as the habitat is very shallow, it would heat up quickly during hot spells and thus D. margaritatus is probably tolerant of temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Like most waterbodies in the Inle drainage, the water is slightly alkaline. The habitat is heavily vegetated with Hydrocharitaceae similar to Elodea (water weed).

The Celestial Pearl Danio shares its habitat with very few fish species. Namely, a Microrasbora similar to M. rubescens, a rosy loach (Yunnanilus, possibly a new species) and the dwarf snakehead Channa harcourtbutleri. The latter species presumably is the only known significant predator of D. margaritatus.

The species is locally fished for food to some extent; it is dried and bought as a protein source by poor people. A can of some 500 D. margaritatus sold for food fetched about 25 kyat (about 2 UK pounds/3.9 US$/2.7 EUR) before the fish was discovered for the aquarium trade

Reproduction

The spawning behavior has significant consequences for captive breeding. It appears as if the Celestial Pearl Danio is adapted to somewhat ephemeral habitat. It does not have a dedicated spawning season, nor do the females lay continuously. Rather, they produce small batches of around 30 eggs per spawning episode. The time between spawnings is unknown at present. Eggs are not strewn freely into the water, but they are not deposited in clutches to a prepared surface either; rather, it seems, that they are hidden away in vegetation as a loose batch. Courting males will seek out and try to defend a patch of dense vegetation. While pursuit swimming has been observed, it does not seem to be connected directly to the actual act of reproduction in which the male displays to a passing female, and tests her readiness with a brief chase. The pair then moves into the substrate and deposits the eggs. Other males noticing reproduction will try and follow the mating pair, either to try and fertilize the eggs with their own sperm or eat them.

At 24-25°C, the larvae hatch after 3-4 days. They are dark and cryptic initially and for about three days after hatching, they hide away between substrate and detritus and are very hard to see. They subsequently become lighter in color and start swimming freely and feeding on their own. At some 8-10 weeks after hatching, they undergo metamorphosis to adult form, and the color pattern starts to appear from week 12 onwards.

Status and conservation

Within six months of its appearance in the aquarium trade, the species had become so rare that collectors were obtaining only a "few dozen fish per day". Whilst some aquarists have managed to breed the fish successfully, almost all the fishes currently offered for sale are wild-caught. British fishkeeping magazine Practical Fishkeeping is currently asking that only aquarists prepared to breed the fish should buy any fishes they see for sale, to reduce pressure on the wild stocks by diminishing the demand for them in the UK. As the species seems adapted to living in and colonizing small, possibly ephemeral pools, it seems not very well able to withstand prolonged and intense exploitation - if the stock in all pools at one location is entirely fished off, it is unclear in how far the fish would be able to recolonize them. On the other hand, if only part of a local subpopulation is removed, it seems likely that pools from which all Celestial Pearl Danios have been removed will be recolonized with a healthy population again after one year or so.

The government of Myanmar banned exports of the fish in February 2007; as the fish were still available in numbers in the aquarium trade since then, it is unclear to what degree the ban was enforced. Since then, new populations of this fish have been found around Hopong. In the long run, this fish seems a valuable source of income for locals; by early 2007, a single fisherman could make up to 750 kyat (about 60 UK pounds/116 US$/80 EUR) from a single day's work; in 2005 the average gross domestic product per capita (PPP) in Myanmar was just around 1,700 US$.

In the aquarium

The Celestial Pearl Danio is a rather undemanding fish if its basic requirements are being taken care of. It seems quite hardy but obviously thrives best in fairly soft and slightly alkaline water at not too high a temperature - conditions that can often be met with pretreated tap water. It does not require much space, as it is not a very active swimmer, and is not a true shoaling fish, meaning it does not require large numbers of conspecifics for its well-being. In a small tank, a group of 6 individuals - half males, half females - will do well and exhibit natural behavior. They tend to be rather stationary, hovering in a peculiar position in favorite spots; males and females tend to keep separate when at rest. Altogether, their behavior again resembles "Microrasbora" erythromicron more than other fish.

Tanks for the Celestial Pearl Danio should be well-planted and direct daylight may be favorable (the natural habitat is so shallow as to be well-lit throughout). Water weed and similar plants should be abundant, and stones and wood to create hiding spots should be provided. It is advisable to supply the fish with a spawning mop or a dense growth of suitable plants (java moss has been successfully used). A dense tangle of natural plants for spawning has the additional advantage of harboring protists on which the fry feed initially. The Celestial Pearl Danio seems overall quite peaceful, though some fin-nipping occurs. Consequently, it cannot be accompanied with large or "bully" fish. Small, swarming danionins which require similar water conditions would be a natural choice for company, as such more active species provide nice contrast behaviorally and, being available in a wide range of colors and patterns, also make it possible to choose fish that complement the brilliant colors of D. margaritatus. Note than many danionins prefer slightly acidic water however, and that maintaining the rather high pH found across the Inle basin seems a necessary condition to keep fish from there successfully.

Danio

2010-01-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

The Danio genus comprises many of the species of Danionins familiar to aquarists. The common name "danio" is used for members of the genera Danio as well as Devario.

Taxonomy

The name Danio comes from the Bengali name dhani, meaning "of the rice field". The species Danio rerio was first described in the early 1800s by Francis Hamilton, a surgeon working for the British East India Company. About a century later, (1916) the genus was split; Danio being composed of the larger species and the new Brachydanio being composed of the smaller species, such as D. rerio. However, in 1991 the two genera were recombined; most larger species that were formerly within the Danio genus such as the giant danio have now been reclassified into the Devario genus. Also, Brachydanio now a junior synonym of Danio.

Characteristics

They are native to the fresh water rivers and streams of southeast Asia, but many species are brightly colored, and are available as aquarium fish worldwide. A number of the species have only been recently discovered, in remote inland areas of Myanmar and do not yet have scientific names.

They have two pairs of long barbels and are generally characterised by horizontal stripes (with the exception of the glowlight danio, panther danio and black barred danio which have vertical bars). They range from 4 cm/ 1.75 in) to 15 cm/ 6 in) in length. They generally do not live for more than two to three years and are probably annual fish in the wild.

In the wild, these fish consume various small aquatic insects, crustaceans, and worms as well as in the case of fry and plankton.

In the aquarium

The care of members of the genus Danio are rather similar and easily generalized. They are easy to keep.

All of these fish are primarily surface feeders. They are omnivorous in the aquarium and will accept a wide variety of foods, though flake food is appropriate. Living in aquaria, live/frozen flaked foods are suitable, especially brine shrimp and sinking tablets. Danios are voracious eaters; take care so that timid feeders do not starve in community tanks with danios. When conditioning Danios for breeding, it's advisable to feed them plenty of fresh foods.

Although boisterous and liable to chase each other and other fish, they are good community fish and will not generally attack each other or other fish, although they occasionally nip fins, more by accident than design and will, like most fish, eat eggs and any fish small enough to fit into their mouths.

They are best kept in a tank long enough for their active swimming, preferably with a current from a power filter (or at least airstone) as they often live in fast flowing streams in the wild. Generally this also results in them being sub tropical with cooler temperatures. They are good jumpers and a tight fitting lid is recommended

Schooling fish, they prefer to be in groups of six or more. Danios prefer water with a 6.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of up to 5.0–19.0 dGH,a carbon hardness of 8 to 12 KH, and a temperature range of 68–80 °F (18–24 °C), the lower end of the temperature range is ideal.

Breeding

Some species of Danios, such as the zebra danio are among the easiest aquarium fish to breed. Other species such as Danio kyathit are far harder to spawn. All scatter their eggs over the substrate. The eggs are non adhesive and hatch within 2–3 days. Eggs will be eaten enthusiastically unless protected by a layer of marbles or heavy substrate planting.

Hybrids between the Brachydanios species have been bred and the youngs can be raised to maturity but they are sterile.

Blue Danio

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The Blue Danio or Kerr's Danio is a tropical fish belonging to the Danio family (Cyprinidae). Originating from South-east Asia on the islands of Langkawi and Ko Yao Yai in the Malaysian Peninsula, this fish is sometimes found in the fish keeping hobby. It is a blue colored, deep bodied Danio with several pinkish/gold lines from tail to gills which may or may not be continuous, over a powder blue side.

The Blue Danio is a peaceful, active schooling fish that is usually kept in groups. They prefer a well planted environment but still need plenty of space to school. Blue Danios prefer water with a 6.5 - 7.0 pH, a water hardness of 8 - 12 dGH, and a temperature range of 73 - 77 F (23-25 C).

Blue Danios are egg-scatterers that spawn among a coarse gravel bed. They will typically spawn at the first light of day. The eggs will hatch in approximately 36 hours.

The taxonomic name honors A.F.G. Kerr, who collected the first specimen on Ko Yao Yai in 1929.

Threestripe corydoras

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The three stripe corydoras, leopard catfish, or three line catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the central Amazon River basin in Brazil and Colombia, Peruvian Amazon and coastal rivers in Suriname. It was originally described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1872.

The fish will grow in length up to 2.5 inches (6.1 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5–19 dGH, and a temperature range of 72–79 °F (22–26 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she attaches the very sticky eggs. The pair repeats this process until about 100 eggs have been fertilized and attached.

The threestripe corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry. It is often mistakenly sold as Corydoras julii since C. julii also has a horizontal strip running along the sides of its body. The distinct difference between C. trilineatus and C. julii is in their markings. The hardier and more adaptable C. trilineatus has reticulations, while C. julli is distinguished by its "leopard" spots, although there is also a spotted form of C. trilineatus. They are best differenciated by the stripes on the side. In C. trilineatus, the stripes are much more pronounced and solid than in C. julii.

Sterba's corydoras

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Sterba's corydoras is a member of the South American Corydoras genus of freshwater aquarium catfish and one of the most popular species of Corydoras due to its attractive markings.

Sterba's Cory is distinguishable from other Corydoras species as it has white spots on its head from eyes down to snout. It is occasionally confused with Corydoras haraldschultzi; the difference is that the latter has a pattern of black dots on a white background on the head, C. sterbai has a pattern of white dots on a black background. C. sterbai has recently become available in an albino form and a black form.

Like many Corydoras species, Sterba's cory is a shoaling catfish, and thus should ideally be kept in groups of 5 or more. In the wild it can be found in Brazil and thus, wild caught fish prefer soft, acidic water. However, Sterba's cory is a hardy fish and tank bred specimens have adapted to a wider range of water conditions. However, like almost all fish it will not tolerate high levels of nitrates.

Unlike some other catfish they are not good algae eaters, but are good at "cleaning up" leftover food and detritus from the substrate.

Coryodras sterbai are relatively small for catfish, growing to a maximum size of only 2 – 2.6 inches.

In the aquarium

In captivity Corydoras sterbai readily accepts a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. Flake food is a good staple diet (which will only be consumed once it has fallen to the bottom) as are sinking pellets/wafers. They relish live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and mosquito larvae, but ideally should only be fed such foods once a week due to the high amount of protein in them.

It is often problematic to feed Corydoras in aquaria with fast feeding mid-water fish such as tetras as flake and sinking pellets are consumed by such fish before they have hit the bottom and sometimes, even while lying on the substrate. However, this problem can be overcome by placing pellets and flake on the aquarium substrate in caves or under bogwood, or other such areas which are not regularly frequented by mid-water fish.

The compatibility of C. sterbai is one of their main selling points as with all other Corydoras species as they are very peaceful catfish and can be kept with other peaceful fish. They should not be kept with overly aggressive bottom dwellers, particularly if there is competition over substrate space as there would be in small tanks or tanks with a large amount of "furniture". Ideal companions would be similar sized tetras or particularly, dwarf cichlids.

Ideally Corydoras sterbai should be housed with a fine substrate such as sand or gravel in order to avoid doing damage to their delicate barbels. However, large gravel will suffice as long as it is not sharp edged. Their only other requirement is that shade be provided for them, by means of overhanging rock, large leaved plants, arching bogwood and/or caves.

Breeding is not too difficult; good diet together with repeated water changes and drops of temperature are usually sufficient. However, raising the fry is not easy due to its high sensitivity.

Named for

The species name of this Corydoras is in honour of Professor Dr Günther Sterba, professor emeritus of zoology of Leipzig University, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Professor Sterba is a professional ichthyologist who nevertheless produced several very popular books regarded as virtual bibles for fishkeepers over the 70's and 80's, notably "Freshwater Fishes of the World" and "The Aquarists' Encyclopedia", despite his degree of isolation at that time by virtue of living in the then German Democratic Republic.

Schwartz's catfish

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Schwartz's catfish, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Purus River basin in Brazil. It was originally described by F. Rössel in 1963.

The fish will grow in length up to 1.5 inches (3.9 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79 °F (22 - 26 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she attaches the very sticky eggs. The pair repeats this process until about 100 eggs have been fertilized and attached.

Schwartz's catfish is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry.

Salt and pepper catfish

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The salt and pepper catfish, Corydoras habrosus, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia. It was originally described by S.H. Weitzman in 1960.

The fish will grow in length up to 0.75 inches (2.0 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature of 77 °F (25 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. In captivity, it deposits eggs in plants near the substrate, particularly on the underside of the leaves. Eggs are rarely placed on the top of the leaves. The spawning male protects the female from other males attempting to spawn with her. This fish is also a bottom dweller. It doesn't stray too far above the base of the tank or rivers.

Pygmy corydoras

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The pygmy corydoras or pygmy catfish, Corydoras pygmaeus, is a tropical and freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Madeira River basin in Brazil. It was originally described by J. Knaack in 1966.

The fish will grow in length up to 0.75 inches (2.1 centimeters) with females being larger than the males. It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79°F (22 - 26°C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. The female holds 2-4 eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she attaches the very sticky eggs. The pair repeats this process until about 100 eggs have been fertilized and attached.

The pygmy corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry.

Panda corydoras

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Corydoras panda is a species of catfish belonging to the genus Corydoras, of the Family Callichthyidae, and is a native member of the riverine fauna of South America. It is found in Peru, most notably in the Huanaco region, where it inhabits the Rio Aquas, the Rio Amarillae, a tributary of the Rio Pachitea, and the Rio Ucayali river system. The species was first collected by H.R. Richards in 1968, and was named Corydoras panda by Nijssen and Isbrücker in 1971. The specific name is an allusion to the appearance of the fish, which possesses large black patches surrounding the eyes, reminiscent of those found on the Giant Panda. Accordingly, the common names for this fish, which is a popular aquarium species, are Panda Corydoras and Panda Catfish.

Physical description

Corydoras panda has an off-white to pinkish-orange ground colour, and when observed under certain lighting conditions, a faint greenish iridescence is present upon the flanks and the operculum. The fins of the fish match the body in ground colour, upon close inspection being seen to be hyaline or translucent with coloured fin rays, with the dorsal fin being marked by a conspicuous black blotch that covers almost the entire fin area. The caudal peduncle is marked with a black band, this black band encircling the caudal peduncle from dorsal to ventral surface. The adipose fin, supported by a small fin spine, sometimes contains black pigmentation. The head is the same ground colour as the body, with a black mask surrounding the eyes, descending vertically from the fontanel, over each eye, and ending in a triangular wedge immediately before the ventral surface of the head. The pectoral fins are positioned immediately behind the operculum, and are usually oriented horizontally when the fish is at rest, extended in a manner similar to the wings of an aeroplane. The pelvic fins are positioned upon the ventral surface of the fish, located some way behind the pectoral fins. The first ray of the dorsal fin emanates from the body at approximately its point of greatest elevation, and a vertical line drawn downwards from this point meets the attachment point of the pelvic fins. The anal fin is located far to the rear of the ventral surface of the body, the attachment point of the first fin ray being somewhat forward of the black caudal peduncle marking described above.

In common with all other members of the Family Callichthyidae, the body surface is covered, not with scales, but with bony plates known as scutes. The lines of demarcation between individual scutes can be seen upon close examination of this and almost all other Callichthyid fishes, and in the case of some specimens of this species, are highlighted by additional black pigment.

The fish possesses, in common with almost all Corydoras species, three pairs of barbels - one pair of maxillary barbels and two pairs of rictal barbels.

A fully mature adult specimen of this species attains a standard length of 55 millimetres (2.1 inches): this is the length attained by mature females, which grow larger than mature males, and also possess more rounded body outlines.

Habitat

Corydoras panda inhabits clear river waters that are relatively fast-flowing, well-oxygenated, and flowing over substrates that may comprise soft sand or fine gravel. These rivers are usually well vegetated with assorted species of aquatic plants. The proximity of the home rivers of the fish to the Andes mountain range, and the replenishment of those rivers with meltwaters from Andean snows at higher altitudes, has led the fish to be adaptable to cooler temperatures than the norm for 'tropical' fishes - the temperature range of the fish is 16°C to 28°C, though the fish exhibits a marked preference for the cooler regions of this temperature spectrum, particularly in captivity. Indeed, the fish can, for limited periods, survive temperatures as low as 12°C, though captive rearing at such low temperatures is ill-advised. The native waters of Corydoras panda are consequently mineral-deficient, with a neutral to slightly acid pH, and replication of such conditions in captivity are recommended for successful maintenance.

Aquarium Maintenance

As has already been cited above, the species has a preference for cooler than normal waters when compared to many other popular tropical fish species, and consequently, if it is intended to maintain the fishes in a 'community' aquarium setting, companions should be chosen that share the fish's tolerance or preference for cooler temperatures, around 22°C being a good choice of maintenance temperature for the species. Given the cleanliness of the fish's native waters, scrupulous attention to water quality in the aquarium is considerably more important for this fish than for the more domesticated Corydoras species such as C. paleatus or C. aeneus. Additionally, scrupulous attention to aquarium substrate cleanliness is a must, as the fishes are intolerant of poor aquarium maintenance in this area, and succumb to stress and disease rapidly if their aquaria are not kept to a high standard. Despite this, the species remains highly popular with aquarists, upon account of the appearance of the fish, and its lively, vivacious behaviour in a well-planned aquarium setting.

Like many other Corydoras species, the Panda Catfish is a highly gregarious fish, and in common with several other smaller Corydoras species such as C. habrosus and C. pygmaeus, manifests a distinct need for numerous companions of its own species in order to thrive, and can thus be described as being more avowedly social than some of the larger members of the genus. A minimum of eight individuals should be housed in the same aquarium, and if space permits, this number should be revised upwards, as the fish exhibits a very definite preference for grouping together with others of its species. They also associate themselves easily with the Clown loach and school together in currents where sufficient numbers of their own species is lacking.

An aquarium for this species should be well furnished, ideally with a mixture of live aquatic plants, and solid furnishings providing caves, sheltered areas and hiding places to give the fish security. Floating plants to provide additional areas of shade are also welcomed by the fish.

Like all Corydoras species, the fish feeds primarily upon animal matter. The aquarist is advised, however, that the traditional use of Corydoras catfishes as putative 'scavengers' in an aquarium setting will be detrimental to the well-being of this species - it requires high quality foods for long-term maintenance, and a varied diet. Ideally, the fish should be given live foods at least intermittently, and will dine enthusiastically upon such items as Bloodworms (larvae of Chironomus midges), Daphnia, cultivated Brine Shrimp (Atermia salina), and Tubifex worms. The latter, however, should be cultivated in order to minimise the risk of introducing pathogenic organisms to the aquarium, as Tubifex live in unsanitary conditions in the wild. Freeze dried Tubifex may be preferable, as the risk of introduction of disease is eliminated. High quality flake foods are also appreciated, particularly those containing shrimp or other similar matter.

The lifespan of Corydoras panda in the aquarium has not been systematically determined, but given the longevity of other Corydoras species in the aquarium, it is reasonable to assume that well-cared for specimens will enjoy a lifespan in excess of 10 years, and frequently in excess of 15 years.

Reproduction

Corydoras panda follows, with a few minor deviations, the standard model for breeding for the genus. Stimulus for breeding consists of the influx of cooler, oxygenated waters into their habitat, usually corresponding in the wild with the onset of the rainy season. However, while some Corydoras species require a temperature drop in the aquarium for spawning to be stimulated, in the case of Corydoras panda, the temperature drop appears to matter much less, as specimens have spawned in the aquarium without a temperature drop. The addition of new, clean, oxygenated water appears to be the primary stimulus for this species. In the wild, the appearance of new water courtesy of the rains is followed by an increase in the populations of assorted food organisms, and feeding upon these conditions the fishes for breeding.

Once conditioned fishes are stimulated into spawning, males begin chasing females energetically. Females begin developing eggs within their reproductive tracts, and when 'ripe' (laden with eggs), become receptive to the attentions of the males. Eventually, one male will succeed in courting a female, using his barbels to provide stimulation to the female, usually beginning with caresses of the female's caudal peduncle, followed by caresses of the fontanel and the front of the head. if the female is receptive, then the male positions himself before the female, so that the female's mouth is in close proximity with one of the male's pectoral fins. The male then clasps the female's barbels between the pectoral fin and the body, and this stimulates the female to press against the male's side. When seen from above, the fishes form a 'T' shape when conjoined thus, hence the term 'T position' has become conventional in aquarium circles when describing the breeding of Corydoras catfishes.

Once the male and female are in the 'T position', the pressing of the female against the male's body stimulates his release of sperm. Though the exact mechanism of fertilisation has yet to be scientifically documented, from the observations of aquarists who have been successful in breeding Corydoras catfishes, it seems likely that the female takes the male's sperm through her mouthparts, and directs them through the gills, in a current that carries the sperm to her pelvic fins. At this point, the female releases a single egg (occasionally two), and purses her pelvic fins in order to provide a receptacle for the freshly extruded egg, which is then fertilised.

One difference observed between the adoption of the 'T position' in Corydoras panda, when compared to other Corydoras species, is that the exercise is frequently more acrobatic in appearance, with the 'T position' being adopted in mid-water, some distance above the substrate, rather than resting upon the substrate as is the case with the majority of other Corydoras.

Once the female is carrying a fertilised egg within her pelvic fins, she then seeks an egg deposition site. The choice of such a site is frequently, though not always, a mass of fine leaved aquatic vegetation. In the aquarium, the plant known as Java Moss, Vesicularia dubayana, is of considerable utility as an egg repository for Corydoras catfishes, even though the plant is not a South American native, and Panda Catfish females will choose large clumps of this plant readily as safe deposition sites for fertilised eggs. The female is frequently pursued by one or more males as she seeks the deposition site, each male presumably seeking to be the chosen mate to fertilise the next egg. Up to 25 eggs may be produced by a single female during a single spawning, which may take place over four to five hours.

Development

Fertile Corydoras panda eggs require approximately 3-4 days development time before hatching, if kept at a temperature of 22°C. This development time will vary with temperature, taking longer in cooler water.

Upon hatching, the fry are 4 millimetres long, translucent, but already possessing the basic ground colour of the species, and upon close examination, possess fully formed barbels. Even newly hatched fry possess at least some hint of the adult eye patches, and as the fry grow, these patches darken and become more prominent. Even so, at just 4 millimetres in length, the fry are practically invisible against typical aquarium gravel unless seen to move!

The fry take approximately 4 weeks to develop to the point where the finfold, a continuous undifferentiated membrane resembling that seen at the posterior of a tadpole, has differentiated into the unpaired fins (dorsal, anal and caudal fins). During this time, size will have increased to approximately 8 or 9 millimetres, and the fish will begin to develop colour changes leading to that of the adult fish. From this point, the caudal peduncle patch and dorsal fin patch will begin to appear, but the body will also be seen to be covered in fine black 'pepper dots' between these black patches. Only after a period of 10 to 12 weeks, at which point the fish has assumed a size of 12 to 14 millimetres, will the fish attain the colouration of the adult, and be in all respects a perfect miniature of the parents.

Fry of this species are particularly sensitive to changes in water chemistry and to elevated temperatures. While adult fishes can withstand temperatures of 28°C, fry will die of heat stress if exposed to temperatures above 26°C, and their chances of survival are enhanced if the water temperature is kept at 22°C or below. Water changes made to a nursery aquarium during the first 21 days of life of the fry - the critical period during which they manifest the greatest sensitivity to their environment - must be gradual, and the incoming water conditioned to match that of the existing aquarium water where possible before the water change takes place. While the fry are likely to develop best if given infusoria as part of their feeding régime, it is possible to raise fry to adulthood entirely upon prepared foods.

False spotted catfish

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The false spotted catfish, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Amazon River basin in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It was originally described by Carl H. Eigenmann and W.R. Allen in 1942.

The fish will grow in length up to 1.7 inches (4.5 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79 °F (22 - 26 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs.

Elegant corydoras

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The elegant corydoras or elegant catfish, Corydoras elegans, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Amazon River basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. It was described by Franz Steindachner in 1876. The specific epithet elegans means elegant.

The fish's appearance is characterized by dark double longitudinal stripes. The dorsal fin is ornamented by a few gray dots, taking on an arching pattern in some individuals. The body has other gray and black markings on an olive background. Compared with other species of Corydoras, the body is not as tall in comparison to its length, and its eyes are set a bit lower. The fish will grow in length up to 5.1 centimeters (2.0 inches).

It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 22 - 26 °C (72 - 79 °F). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. Though it lays eggs in dense vegetation, adults do not guard them. In captivity, the male is reportedly territorial during the prespawning activities while the female is usually hidden among the plant roots. Both sexes clean the underside of plant leaves. Eggs are fastened under the leaves and are also attached to roots of plants.

In the aquarium

The elegant corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry. It tends to swim in the upper levels of the aquarium, instead of at the bottom as is common with most species of Corydoras, and does not seem to disturb the sediment as much.

Dwarf corydoras

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The dwarf corydoras , dwarf catfish, tail spot pigmy catfish, or micro catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Amazon River and Paraguay River basins in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. It was originally described by Carl H. Eigenmann and Rosa Smith Eigenmann, in 1888. The specific epithet hastatus means with a spear, in reference to the spearhead-like spot on the tail root.

Physical appearance

The body of Corydoras hastatus is typically more elongated than other Corydoras species. Its body is a transluscent white to olive color, with a thin dark stripe on the sides from behind the gill cover to the root of the tail, and a whitish belly. It has a white crescent at the base of the tail surrounding a black spot. The fish will grow in length up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm), but 1.0 inch (2.5 cm) is more typical. Males are smaller, more slender and have a more pointed dorsal fin than females.

Ecology

The dwarf corydoras lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5–19 dGH, and a temperature range of 77–°F (25–28 °C). It is found in ponds. It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

C. hastatus lives among plants. It is a schooling species. It differs from most Corydoras species by preferring the midwater areas instead of the bottom, spending most of its time well off the bottom in areas of dense plants. When it rests, it rests on the leaves of the plants. Other Corydoras species with similar mid-water habits include C. habrosus and C. pygmaeus. The dwarf corydoras maintains its position in a current by using rapid fin movements, especially with its pectoral fins. These rapid movements, combined with a high breathing rate, give the fish the appearance of being very "nervous" when compared with other fish. C. hastatus may even shoal with small characins.

The fish lays its eggs in dense vegetation and the adults do not guard the eggs. The female holds a single egg between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them for about 30 seconds. Only then does the female swim to a suitable spot, where she attaches the sticky egg. The pair repeats this process about every three minutes for from one to two hours with some 10- to 15-minute rests between egg releases. Around 7 to 15 eggs are spawned in a single day, and spawning occurs on three to four consecutive days. A total of 30 to 60 eggs may be spawned by a single female over this period of time. The eggs hatch in three to nine days. The fry are about 6 mm long at hatching, mostly transluscent but sometimes with spots. In two months, the fry average about 18 mm in length. The fry mature in six to eight months.

In the aquarium

The dwarf corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry. Due to its small size, this fish can be kept in a relatively small aquarium; a 5-gallon (20 L) tank is sufficient for a small school. Since it is a schooling fish, it should only be kept in groups of at least six individuals. It is a good community tank fish when kept with peaceful tankmates such as Tetras, Rasboras, and Danios, but should not be kept with overly aggressive tankmates. They have also been used as scavengers for fry tanks.

The aquarium should be clean, well-aerated, and densely planted to provide hiding places. A moderate current provided by a power filter or canister filter is appreciated. The water should be slightly alkaline (pH about 7.6) within a temperature range of 24° to 29°C. Although the fish is generally a mid-water dweller, a fine gravel or sand substrate should be provided since it will occasionally burrow.

The fish will feed both in midwater or on a substrate, whether that substrate is a plant leaf, a broad rock, or the bottom of the tank. It accepts most foods, including freeze-dried, flake, and frozen foods, although live foods are particularly appreciated.

The methods of spawning this fish in the aquarium is similar to spawning most other Corydoras species. The spawning tank can be as small as 2.5 gallons (10 L), but at least a 5-gallon (20 L) tank is recommended with aged water, a sponge filter and some plants. Fish should be conditioned with large amounts of live foods such as Tubifex and whiteworms, during which time the females will become noticeably plumper. Since C. hastatus may spawn as a school, the whole group can be conditioned for spawning at the same time, and for best results, there should be at least two males for every female.

Spawning of well-conditioned fish may be initiated by the addition of cooler water. During spawning, very little food is accepted, but the fish will immediately search for food after finishing. It will typically attach its eggs to the plants in the aquarium, but if not enough plants are available, the sides of the aquarium may be used. When the fry hatch, they can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. The parents may be ready to spawn again in a couple of weeks.

Corydoras Semiaquilus

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Corydoras semiaquilus is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the Callichthyidae family. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the western Amazon River basin in Brazil and Peru. It was originally described by S.H. Weitzman in 1964.The fish will grow in length up to 2.4 inches (6.0 centimeters). It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79 °F (22 - 26 °C). It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation; adults do not guard the eggs.

Corydoras paleatus

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Corydoras paleatus is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. Its common names include peppered cat, pepper cory or salt & pepper cory. It originates from the lower Paraná River basin and coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil.

Description

This fish species reaches about 5.9 centimetres (2.3 in) SL. The male is smaller than the female and in proportion to body length, the dorsal fin and pectoral fins are longer on the male than the female.

Ecology

Corydoras paleatus is found in ponds, and feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

C. paleatus has been known to produce sound; it does this by abduction of its pectoral fins. This is used by males during courtship and intrapersonal communication, and by both sexes and juveniles when distressed.

In reproduction, males do not behave aggressively toward each other, nor do they monopolize mating areas or females. The T-position is involved in courtship, as with many other Corydoras species.

In the aquarium

It is a very good choice for the community aquarium, as it is a hardy, good looking, and peaceful fish. They can be successfully kept with other small, peaceful aquarium fish like live bearers, danios and tetras. It is sometimes seen in the shops as an albino form, although this is similar to other albino corys. It grows to around 7.5cm, and is easily bred at home.

These fish have sensitive barbels and one should have the proper substrate for them. To keep their barbels (whiskers) in the best condition one requires the fine gravel that looks like coarse salt. This is available in white and brown, both look good. Beware that fry are difficult to spot on the brown gravel. Gravel with sharp edges will cut their barbels (until they are gone). Their barbels are important for finding food, and thus remaining healthy.

These fish prefer a planted tank with temperatures around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 24 degrees Celsius) and like to nibble on the algae that grows on floating plants. The lighting must not be too bright and you need to set up hiding places, such as bogwood (also known as mopani wood) for them as they like to hide from the light during certain parts of the day. Also provide heavily planted areas, where the light is minimized as they like darker areas due to their bottom feeding nature.

Feed them on a mixed diet of sinking pellets, algae wafers, frozen and live food, such as bloodworm or daphnia. They may also occasionally enjoy a bit of blanched spinach, which you can attach to plants with a peg or the side of the glass with special magnetic clips. you may also see them dart quickly to the top of the tank, this is natural, but will more frequently do this when water quality is starting to deteriorate, so keep an eye on them, they are good indicators!

Spawning and raising the fry

The males initiate the courtship ritual, which entails chasing the females around the tank. The female darts away and the males search for her and find her a few moments later. The males shiver all over the female and may lie down on top of her. When she is ready to spawn she turns to the male next to her and pounds furiously below his ventral fin. The male releases his seed and the female catches it in her mouth. The female cups her ventral fins and lays a few eggs (normally about 4) in them. She now starts cleaning a spot on the glass to lays her eggs on. Corydoras are egg depositors and lay their eggs all over the aquarium. Favourite spots include the heater, filter tubes and the glass, although, occasionally eggs are also laid on plants.

After depositing a group of eggs closely together, the female rests for a few moments. The males regroup and start chasing each other and then resume chasing the female. The males are so relentless in this pursuit that they try to mate with the female even while she is busy laying her eggs. The spawning lasts more than an hour and many eggs are laid.

Eggs, if fertilized, hatch out after a week.

Bronze corydoras

2010-01-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

The bronze corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish is a tropical freshwater fish in the "armored catfish" (Callichthyidae) family. It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin. They were originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum by Theodore Gill in 1858 and have also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus.

Appearance and anatomy

The adult size is 6½ cm for males and a slightly larger 7 cm for females (2½ to 2¾ inches). Their average lifespan is 10 years. It has a yellow or pink body, white belly, and is blue-grey over its head and back. Its fins are yellow or pink and immaculate. In common with most Corydoras the dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have an additional sharp barb and have a mild poison which causes fish which try to attack them to get stung. A brownish-orange patch is usually present on the head, just before the dorsal fin, and is its most distinctive feature when viewed from above in the stream.

Like many other catfishes, females are larger than males in this species.

Ecology

They are found in quiet, shallow waters with soft bottoms that can sometimes be heavily polluted by clouds of disturbed mud from the bottom, but it also inhabits running waters. In its native habitat, it inhabits waters with a temperature range of 25 °C to 28 °C (77 °F to 82 °F), pH 6.0-8.0, and hardness 5 to 19 DGH. Like most members of the Corydoras genus, these catfish have a unique method of coping with the low oxygen content that prevails in such environments. In addition to utilizing their gills like any other fish, they can by come to the surface of the water and draw air in through their mouth. This air is then absorbed through the wall of the intestine and any surplus air is expelled through the vent. It typically stays in schools of 20 to 30 individuals. It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs with the onset of the rainy season, which changes the water chemistry.Females spawn 10–20 egg-clutches with multiple males at a time, but an entire egg clutch is inseminated by sperm of a single male.

Bronze cories have a unique method of insemination. When these fish reproduce, the male will present his abdomen to the female. The female will attach her mouth to the male's genital opening, creating the well-known "T-position" many Corydoras exhibit during courtship. The female will then drink the sperm. The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins. The female can then swim away and deposit the pouch somewhere else alone. Because the T-position is exhibited in other species than just C. aeneus, it is likely that they also exhibit this behavior. In the wild, eggs are laid on waterweeds.

Males do not form territories or compete over females; interference between males might only happen when two males present their abdomens simultaneously. On the other hand, females do not choose between males. Mating is more or less random; therefore, male reproductive success is directly related to courtship frequency.

The eggs of C. aeneus exhibit a unique surface pattern with small villi-like protuberances which resemble attaching-filaments of teleost eggs. These structures allow the eggs to be adhesive and stick to a specific place or to each other. The presence of these structures may be related to the turbid habitat in which this species lives.

In the aquarium

Bronze corys are probably the most popular Corydoras species. It is annually bred and shipped in large quantities all over the world It is easily bred and is produced in commercial quantities in the United States, Europe, and Singapore. Most of the available fish are therefore domestic strains. Wild imports are reported to be less easy to breed.

They are a hardy and useful aquarium fish despite having a coloration that is by no means striking or unusual. Many aquarists are fascinated by the habits of these fish. They ceaselessly comb the bottom of the aquarium for food and therefore disturb it slightly, sending up detritus and waste material that has settled loosely on the bottom. They prefer being kept in groups of 5 or more, being sociable fish and are ideal fish for a community tank. Other Corydoras species can be placed in the same aquarium, and despite the strong resemblance many species bear to one another, the species will tend to separate out and only move about among their own kind.

Corydoras aeneus is not particular about the composition of the water. Adequate conditions are a temperature range of 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F), pH of 6.0-8.0, and hardness of 2–30 DGH. The water should have no salt added to it. A fairly dense growth of plants with a number of possible hiding places is greatly appreciated. Corys are easy to feed, they are omnivores eating all flake and pelleted food and also live and frozen foods. When it comes to sperm, then the female glues the eggs, only a few in number, to the chosen substrate and then (sometimes) quickly touches them with her mouth. After several acts of spawning, which span a total of two to three hours, one female will have produced up to 200 eggs. Frequently, two males are used for each female, as one male has difficulty fertilizing all the eggs. The eggs gradually grow darker in color, and just prior to hatching (ranging from three days at 28 °C to a week at 20 °C) they turn dark brown. The fry keep to the bottom of the tank, feeding on detritus and any fine foods available. The parents may spawn again within two to three weeks.

Albino corydoras

The albino variety is an albino variety of the bronze corydoras that has been developed for the aquarium trade, with a pale pink or orange body and red eyes. It is physically similar to normally-colored individuals, although some breeders report that the fry are a little slower to develop. Others say that the albinos are practically blind and that the males are somewhat sterile, although this may be due to extensive inbreeding. Albino bronze corys are frequently injected with bright dye (via a needle) and sold in aquariums. This controversial practice is known as "painting" or "juicing" fish.

Benthochromis tricoti

2010-01-08T02:34:00.000-08:00

Benthochromis tricoti is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is rocky shores. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Paratilapia polleni

2010-01-08T02:32:00.000-08:00

Paratilapia polleni is a medium sized cichlid fish from Madagascar. It was first described by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker in 1868. In 1882, a second species, P. bleekeri, was described, but it is now known to be a junior synonym of P. polleni. It is sometimes referred to by the common names Polleni Cichlid and Black Diamond Cichlid, while the name Marakely ('black fish') is used among locals in Madagascar. It has a relatively small distribution and is likely to be subjected to habitat loss, but as its actual status remains relatively poorly known, it is considered to be Data Deficient by IUCN. It is found with increasing frequency in the aquarium hobby.

Morphology

P. polleni is a laterally compressed full-bodied fish. Like most cichlids it resembles a perch-type fish in shape, hence the taxonomic designation perciformes - 'perch-like'. Males in captivity will develop a nuchal hump, a layer of fat above the eyes, though not to the same degree as other similar African cichlids, such as the Cyphotilapia frontosa and Tilapias of Africa. Adult P. polleni, and sub-adult dominant individuals are jet black in color, covered with brilliant iridescent spots which shift from golden to blue depending on the movement of the fish and the angle of the light, the eye is a bright yellow. The male P. polleni can reach almost 30 cm (12 in) in length; females usually half that length. Sexing individuals thus becomes easier as they mature. In addition, males tend to have longer and sharper pelvic fins, and the edge of the dorsal and anal fins are often straighter in males, and more 'rounded' in females. Among aquarists it is often said that the females, though smaller are more beautiful in their coloration patterning. There are two color varieties of the P. polleni; the 'large spot' and the 'small spot'. Adults of both sexes display the strongest coloration during courtship and spawning. Among cichlid enthusiasts there is some confusion as to the names of these two varieties, with large spot individuals sometimes being erroneously referred to by the junior synonym P. bleekeri. Juveniles with a length of less than 3 cm (1 in) are dull brown.

Habitat and behavior

In the wild, P. polleni inhabits a number of rivers and associated streams in northern Madagascar, including the environs of the town of Andapa, where most individuals exported for the aquarium trade in recent years were collected. It is an omnivorous fish and occasional opportunistic piscivore, approaching smaller unsuspecting fish by stealth, with their dark coloration giving them an advantage. P. polleni observed hunting in the aquarium environment will sneak up on smaller fish from below during the pre-dawn hours and suck the smaller fish into their mouths using the typical cichlid 'suction effect' caused by quickly opening their mouths. Thus, using stealth and crypsis they are able to prey on fish they would otherwise not be able to catch. In Madagascar, P. polleni is a food fish, and like many cichlid fishes in many regions, reputed to have a good flavor.

In the aquarium

P. polleni is temperature and pH tolerant, and reasonably hardy and not shy. As such, this fish is an ideal aquarium fish if given the appropriate environment and tank mates for a medium sized aggressive cichlid. They eat most commercial fish foods, such as flakes, pellets, frozen, and alike. P. polleni displays the same kind of 'intelligent' behavior common to other cichlids. They can be trained to eat from the hand and will recognize and approach their owner (and often retreat from an unfamiliar person).

In the aquarium, P. polleni are more cautious and easily spooked than many of the more readily available cichlids, but otherwise adaptable to aquarium life. P. polleni is aggressive towards conspecifics, especially if a pair bond develops. The pair bond between males and females is sporadic and easily broken. If this happens the female can become imperiled by the male's aggression if not removed. Despite these qualities, P. polleni is not well known in the aquarium trade, though this is beginning to change. If they display full coloration, non-dominant and sub-dominant individuals of any size will often suffer aggression from the alpha individual(s). For this reason, there is generally only one or two fully colored individuals in an aquarium with many specimens. These traits may contribute to the relative obscurity of P. polleni in the hobby.

P. polleni rank among the more aggressive African cichlids, comparable to Malawi and Tilapia cichlids. Some individuals have been known to kill their tank mates upon reaching maturity, though as a rule P. polleni tolerates tankmates too large to eat fairly well. Successful aquarium spawnings are common.

Satanoperca

2010-01-08T02:30:00.000-08:00

Satanoperca is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to South America.

Redhump Eartheater

2010-01-08T02:28:00.000-08:00

Redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) is a South American Eartheater Cichlid of the genus Geophagus. It is sometimes referred to by one of two invalid junior synonyms, Geophagus hondae or Geophagus magdalena.

Location

The redhump eartheater is native to river drainages and lakes in South America, particularly Colombia and Venezuela. It lives in water that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 to 7.0 pH) and about 24 to 26 degrees Celsius (75-79 F). It is stenohaline, found only in mainland freshwater environments, and is endemic to neotropical environments in South America.

Food Items

Wild redhump eartheaters take substrate material into their mouths and sift out inedible bits of sand or gravel, while consuming detritus and small organisms. In captivity, the redhump eartheater readily accepts most types of prepared fish foods, as well as finely chopped vegetables, shelled peas, frozen bloodworms (mosquito larvae), and blackworms.

Captive Care

The redhump eartheater is commonly available in the aquarium trade, and relatively easy to maintain. Adults should be kept in aquariums of at least 200 liters (50 gallons); juveniles in no less than 110 liters (30 gallons). This fish has a habit of taking substrate into its mouth and spitting it back out or sifting it through its gills. It is likely to uproot aquarium plants if they are not secured or well established.

Redhump eartheater tends to be aggressive toward conspecifics, especially large males. Adult males of this species will not tolerate other males or females carrying a brood. Females can be kept in groups, but will become aggressive in smaller aquariums. Redhump eartheaters tend to resemble African cichlids, especially the mbuna of Lake Malawi, in their behavior, level of aggression, and breeding patterns.

Reproduction

Redhump eartheaters are immediate maternal mouthbrooders. These fish grow relatively quickly, and can be sexed as subadults. Sexual dimorphism is clear - males have a large, red nuptial hump on their heads and grow larger than the females. Mature males will develop an iridescence on the scales on their sides and very large humps. The redhump eartheater is easy to breed and will condition rapidly on a diet of frozen and live foods. Males will display to females by opening their mouths and flaring their gills. Non-receptive females may be driven from the spawning area. Spawning takes place on a smooth rock or clean sand bed. The female will lay one or two eggs, then the male will fertilize them. The female will immediately take the fertilized eggs into her mouth and proceed to lay more eggs. This will continue until spawning is completed. The female will carry the eggs until they are free-swimming and have absorbed their yolk sacs, approximately 2–3 weeks. She will accept little to no food during this period. Eventually, she will release them and allow them to search for food, taking them back into her mouth when she feels threatened. The brooding female will often signal to her fry when danger is present, and will shut her fry out of her mouth when encouraging then to forage. At this point, the breeder may choose to strip the young from the female's mouth and separate them so that she will eat again. Some breeders choose to strip the female after fertilization and incubate the eggs artificially.

Ram cichlid

2010-01-08T02:23:00.000-08:00

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a species of freshwater fish endemic to the Orinoco River basin, in the savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia in South America. The species has been examined in studies on fish behaviour and is a popular aquarium fish, traded under a variety of common names including Ram, Blue ram, German blue ram, Asian ram, Butterfly cichlid, Ramirez's dwarf cichlid, Dwarf butterfly cichlid and Ramirezi. The species is a member of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Geophaginae.

Appearance and sexual dimorphism

The wild-type of the species has a yellow-green background colour punctuated with blue dots that extend into the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Wild-type specimens also have seven faint, interrupted dark vertical stripes on the flanks and one stripe vertically downwards across the head through the eye. The vertical stripe through the eye aside, the second bar on the flank is frequently the most intense, appearing as a dark black spot in the relatively unbarred, aquarium-bred strains of the species. The species is sexually dimorphic, females being smaller in size, having more pink pigmentation on their ventral region and having less developed fin rays in the anterior region of the dorsal fin. Males reach a maximum length of 7 cm (2.7 in).

Distribution and habitat

Unlike their relatives in the genus Apistogramma, the natural habitat of M. ramirezi occurs in the warm, (25.5-29.5 ºC, 78-85 ºF), acidic (pH 5) water courses in the llanos savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia.^[5]^[7]^[10] The water at sites were M. ramirezi has been found to occur is generally slow-flowing, contains few dissolved minerals, and ranges in colour from clear to darkly stained with tannins. The species is typically only found where cover in the form of aquatic or emerse vegetation is available.

Reproduction

Once sexually mature, the species forms monogamous pairs prior to spawning. The species is known to lay its small 0.9 - 1.5 mm, adhesive eggs on flattened stones or directly into small depressions dug in the gravel. Like many cichlids, M. ramirezi practices biparental brood care with both the male and the female playing roles in egg-tending and territorial defense. Typical clutch size for the species is 150-300 eggs, though larger clutches up to 500 have been reported. Parental M. ramirezi have been observed to fan water over their eggs which hatch in 40 hours at 29 ºC (84.2 ºF). The larvae are not free-swimming for 5 days after which they are escorted by the male or the female in dense school for foraging.

Taxonomy, collection and etymology

The species is named after Manuel Ramirez, an early collector and importer of the species for the aquarium trade.^[12] George S. Myers and R. R. Harry (1948) originally described the species as Apistogramma ramirezi though the species was latter moved to and from various genera including: Microgeophagus, Papiliochromis, Pseudoapistogramma and Pseudogeophagus.

In the aquarium

The ram cichlid is a popular cichlid for the tropical freshwater, community aquarium although it is not necessarily the easiest cichlid to maintain in many situations. This is because the species is often kept with other fish that are more assertive, aggressive or overly active. The species is innately shy and is best kept with passive dither fish, such as neon or cardinal tetras. The species will readily exhibit breeding behaviours in water of pH 5.0-6.5, though softer water encourages more regular spawning. It is easier to maintain the species in larger aquaria as the species is intolerant of common aquarium pollutants such as nitrate. The aquarium should be decorated to mimic the natural environment and is best decorated with several densely planted regions of aquatic plants, separated by open water. The species is prone to filial cannibalism of its brood if distressed. As the water must be free of pollutants, aquarium filtration is important, though water movement should not be extreme. Removing and replacing small amounts of water changes assists with minimising the quantities of these pollutants and should be conducted regularly.

Numerous strains of M. ramirezi have been developed in Asia for the fishkeeping hobby. These include numerous xanthistic forms, known as gold rams, along with larger, high-bodied and long-finned varieties. Many of these varieties suffer from lower fertility, health problems or reduced brood care in comparison to wild-type specimens.

Pearl cichlid

2010-01-08T02:21:00.000-08:00

The pearl cichlid is a freshwater fish species, a member of the South American Cichlid family. Cichlid species are popular in fishkeeping aquaria.

Appearance

Its main body colour can be anything from pale light brown to dark blue almost purple; their colours change with moods and during mating sessions. The pearl cichlid has one dark spot which may or may not be visible on its body, located towards its tail, it also may display several black bands running top to bottom down its body. Its markings, which cover its body, are bright blue speckles which shine bright in a healthy fish; they have red fins which may have blueish tones and be tipped in black; but again these colours may change, brighten or fade depending on the mood. They can grow quite large, with males reaching just over a foot and females generally a little smaller. In a group they will usually pair up once they are around 2–3 inches; at this time they can be quite aggressive to other fish, defending their territory and breeding space.

Breeding

The sex of the fish is often unclear until they reach adult size, at which point the size difference between the genders becomes pronounced. Breeders will often attempt to pair the fish without sexing them; there is a chance however that two females may pair up in which case the fish will lay eggs that never hatch. Once a male-female pair is found, they tend to yield 150–200 offspring after successfully mating. Unlike certain other species, they do not have to be separated from their young.

In the aquarium

Pearl cichlids have a temperature range of 22–26 °C. They prefer soft to neutral pH level, although they are quite hardy. They tend to thrive when provided with calm waters, provided by under-gravel filters rather than traditional water pumps. They can be fed any recommended cichlid feed and can be trained to accept floating or sinking foods. With good care they can live for around 10–15 years. The fish are kept in medium to large tanks of 16 cubic feet and with some sort of shelter. When the pearl cichlid has access to shelter, they tend to be healthier and develop more pronounced coloration. They can be kept with other large, less aggressive fish, or paired with their own kind.

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

2010-01-08T02:18:00.000-08:00

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is a species of fish endemic to the Amazon river basin, in Brazil and Bolivia respectively. The species is part of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Geophaginae. It is a popular aquarium fish, traded under the common names of Bolivian butterfly, Bolivian ram and Ruby crown cichlid.

Range, geographic variants and habitat

The species occurs in the soft, acidic warm waters of the Mamoré and Guaporé river drainages in Bolivia and Brazil. Whether one morph of M. altispinosus, known to aquarium hobbyists as Mikrogeophagus sp. "Zweifleck/Two-patch", found in the upper Rio Guaporé in Brazil is a different species remains unclear The type locality is the Rio Mamoré at San Joaquin (Beni Province, Bolivia). In its natural habitat the species occurs in permanent freshwater streams and pools.

Appearance and sexual dimorphism

The species is similar in profile to the larger geophagine cichlids. Maximum size is approximately 8 centimetres (3.1 in.). The head and front half of the body is yellow fading to olive-grey at the rear. There is a vertical black band through the eye and six faint transverse stripes along the body the third stripe is dark at its centre. The first few rays of the dorsal fin are black and both the dorsal and caudal fin are edged in pinky-red. The anal and pelvic fins are the same shade of red throughout with bright blue rays and dots.

The species displays only limited sexual dimorphism, mature males being slightly larger and in some cases showing longer extensions on both the caudal fin and the posterior of the dorsal fin.

Diet

Omnivorous. Sifts the substrate for plant material and small organisms.

Reproduction

Bolivian rams are biparental open spawning cichlids. Limited data are available on reproduction in the wild, in captivity, however, courtship is known to involve various body movements including head shaking, quivering and preparation of spawning sites, including shallow pits. These behaviours are mainly undertaken by the male and in aquaria are known to last approximately 48 hours.

After courtship, the female will deposit some 100-200 ovoid brownish coloured eggs on the chosen surface, normally a flattened stone. The eggs are laid in lines, when the female has laid one line, the male will pass over it and fertilise the eggs, the female then continues on to the next line and so on until egg laying is complete. In aquariums at 27 ºC (80.5 ºF) eggs take approximately 60 hours to hatch. During this time, the clutch is primarily cared for by the female who fans the eggs and often adds sand to the clutch, possibly to camouflage the eggs. Newly hatched larvae are transported via the mouths of the parents to the shallow pits dug by the male during courtship and moved regularly between pits. The fry become free-swimming after 7 days and are lead about in a dense school by the parents for foraging.

In the aquarium

Although less popular than its close relative Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, the Bolivian ram remains a commonly encountered cichlid for the aquarium. The species is also more tolerant of lower temperatures (22–26 °C, 72–79 °F) and a greater range of water chemistries than M. ramirezi. For these reasons, M. altispinosus can be kept in some community aquariums, however, assertive, active or aggressively-feeding fish are not ideal companions for this relatively shy species.

An aquarium which mimics the natural environment of the species, ie: soft, acidic water with hiding places in the form of dense planted regions, or bogwood is recommended. Aquarists classify M. altispinosus as a dwarf cichlid and as such it can be kept in relatively small aquariums, with minimum volumes being approximately of 80 litres (20 gallons). In captivity the species is an unfussy feeder and readily accepts many commercially available fish foods.

Mikrogeophagus

2010-01-08T02:17:00.000-08:00

Mikrogeophagus is a neotropical cichlid genus. The genus Mikrogeophagus includes only two species: M. ramirezi and M. altispinosa. Both species are popular with aquarists, especially M. ramirezi. These species spawn on flat rocks or leaves and not in caves like fishes from the closely related cichlid genus Apistogramma.

Fishes from this genus are sometimes recorded as Papiliochromis or Microgeophagus though these genera should be regarded as a junior synonyms. (Kullander, 2003)

Geophagus

2010-01-08T02:15:00.000-08:00

Geophagus is a genus of cichlids. The genus is currently polyphyletic and in need of further taxonomic revision. Some geophagine cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to Gymnogeophagus or Satanoperca. Sensu stricto species include the true geophagines of very peaceful disposition usually with long fin extensions like the type species Geophagus altifrons. Sensu lato geophagines include the much more robust and aggressive species of the Geophagus brasiliensis complex.

Biotodoma cupido

2010-01-08T02:13:00.000-08:00

Biotodoma cupido is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is sometimes traded as an aquarium fish known under the common names of greenstreaked eartheater and cupid cichlid.

Apistogramma

2010-01-08T02:09:00.000-08:00

Apistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon. Most species are strongly sexually dimorphic, with males generally larger (up to 7 to 9 cm) and differently coloured to females.

Breeding

Brood care is highly developed, as in most Cichlidae. All Apistogramma species spawn in caves, typically under rocks or in holes in sunken logs or branches. A number of breeding strategies exist. Some species breed in polygynous harems, while other species form monogamous pairs. In most cases, reagardless of the breeding strategy, the female is more highly involved with brood care, whilst the male defends a territory from predators. The sex of the fry is affected by the water conditions, with warmer and softer water favoring more males.

Diet

All Apistogramma species are micropredators. Their main prey items consist of insect larvae, fry of other fishes and other invertebrates.

Aquarium care

Apistogramma are popular aquarium residents, particularly in community or planted aquariums. These fish are quite peaceful, and won't attack fish from any other genus unless they enter their territory. In the Amazon, Apistogramma inhabit soft acidic water and require similar conditions in the aquarium. Many Apistogramma species are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry. Apistogramma are best kept in species tanks with plenty of cover (in the form of plants and driftwood). Although popular, Apistogramma species are not recommended for inexperienced cichlid hobbyists.

Acarichthys heckelii

2010-01-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

Acarichthys heckelii is the single species in the monotypic genus Acarichthys of cichlid fish. Acarichthys heckelii occurs in Brazil and British Guyana. The genus is closely allied with the genus Guianacara.

Teleocichla

2010-01-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

Teleocichla is a small genus of seven cichlid formally described species and several undescribed species, endemic to the Amazon River Basin in South America. All species are rheophilic, and highly elongated.

Crenicichla

2010-01-07T19:15:00.001-08:00

Crenicichla is a genus of the cichlids family (Cichlidae); it contains the pike cichlids. It is the most speciose genus of South American cichlids, including approximately 115 species as of 2009; one or two species are on average described as new each year. Pike cichlids are found in most of tropical and subtropical South America between the Andes and the Atlantic.

Description

The smallest species of Crenicichla are no larger than 3-4 inches (11 cm), and technically qualify as "dwarf cichlids" for the aquarium hobby – though their aggressive and voracious habits should let prospective keepers beware. The biggest pike cichlids can grow to more than 24 in (over 60 cm) long. Most Crenicichla measure in the range of 6-10 in (15-25 cm). Like many other predatory fishes, a pike cichlid has a wide mouth and elongated body.

Distribution and ecology

The genus Crenicichla is native to South America and lives in freshwater rivers, streams, pools and lakes in and around the Amazon region. Some of the species are also found north of the Amazon river in Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and south of the Amazon river in coastal regions as far as central Argentina and in all river systems of Uruguay.

A majority of the species lives in warm waters but there are several notable exceptions, e.g. those species living in cooler parts of Argentina and Uruguay. Pike cichlids are predatory and feed on fish or insects. They usually place themselves where they can stay undetected by the prey, like close to a sunken tree stem or behind a rock. This behaviour as well as the correspondingly adapted shape, which resembles that the unrelated pikes (Esocidae) of the Holarctic, gives the pike cichlids their common name.

Cichla

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Cichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira (2006) described nine species in a recent paper and suggest the genus may include 5-15 other species, yet to be described. The genus includes several species valued as game fish, collectively known as peacock bass, and is also of interest to cichlid keeping aquarists. Cichla species are amongst the largest cichlids, with one species, (C. temensis), growing to over 90 cm (3 feet).

Zebra acara

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Zebra acara is a species of tropical freshwater fish. It is a dwarf cichlid from Rio Uaupes and Rio Preto, two side rivers of Rio Negro in Brazil. The male reaches 12 cm in length, the female is somewhat smaller.

This species prefers a pH between 5.0 and 5.5, and a temperature between 23 and 27 °C.

Vieja

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Vieja is a genus of fish from the family Cichlidae. The geographic distribution of the genus is limited to Central America, primarily Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. In general Vieja are high bodied cichlids which grow to between 15-35 cm (6 - 13.8 inches). There are 16 species of Vieja currently described.

Thorichthys

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Thorichthys is a group of central American cichlids, with somewhat pointy heads and stripes down their body. They tend to inhabit slow-moving or standing water. The best-known species is Thorichthys meeki, the firemouth cichlid. Members of Thorichthys rarely exceed 5 inches, making them popular aquarium fish. The genus was first described in 1904, but was changed to a subfamily of Cichlosoma in 1907. As of 1996, it is again considered to be its own genus.

Texas cichlid

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The Texas cichlid is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family. Also known as Rio Grande cichlid, this species is originated from the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas and Northeastern Mexico, particular on the sandy bottom of deep rivers. This is the only cichlid species native to the United States, and has been introduced by man as far North as Central Texas where they live in various lakes and rivers.

The Texas cichild has a large grayish high-backed body with bright blue scales and two dark spots, one at the center of the body and another and the end of its tail. Adult males have a large hump on their heads. This species can grow up to 30 cm. They prefer a water temperature range of 68–82°F, a pH range of 6.5-7.5, and a water hardness of 5-12 dH.

Aquarium care

The Texas cichlid is commonly found in the aquarium trade and is relatively popular with cichlid enthusiasts. Its temperament differs from one individual to another, but in general can be kept with other large aquarium fishes such as tinfoil barbs, silver dollars, oscars, and other South American cichlids. Texas cichlids prefer larger tanks with 55 gallons of water or more. They are substrate diggers and will uproot plants.

Feeding is easy as the Texas cichlid readily takes pellets, flake foods, and live and frozen food. This species is a prolific breeder and breeding in aquarium is relatively easy. Adult fish pair up and become territorial. Up to 1,000 adhesive eggs are laid on a clean, flat surface and both parents guard them aggressively. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days and the fry grow rapidly.

Texas cichlid is known to hybridize with other related species. The flowerhorn cichlid, a hybrid cichlid extremely popular in Asia, may have been a result of the crossbreeding of Texas cichlid and several other species.

Other "Texas Cichlids"

The "green Texas cichlid" commonly seen in pet stores is another species, Herichthys carpintis, whose range does not extend into Texas. The common name comes from a physical similarity to the Texas cichlid. The "red Texas" cichlid is not a Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) but an intergeneric hybrid of Herichthys and Amphilophus parents.

Importance as a Sportfish and Foodfish

Texas cichlids have been deliberately and accidentally introduced into the wild throughout the subtropic southern United States from Texas to Florida (where water temperatures rarely dip below 48 degrees F), where they have flourished, and are often caught incidentally when fishing for sunfish and other panfish. They are regularly targeted in both South Texas, where they are known as "Rio Grande Perch" and Northern Mexico, where they are known as "Mojarra de Norte. In Lake Guerrero, which is recognized for its excellent largemouth bass fishing, the Texas cichlid is considered by locals to be the best eating fish in the lake. Their taste is similar to commercially raised tilapia, an African ciclid species to which they are distantly related. The fish is caught on light tackle with small hooks (#4 to #8) like that used for other panfish, with live crickets making excellent bait, however they will strike a wide variety of baits. They fight similarly to bluegill sunfish, making tight circles and then darting off in a broadsided run. Average size of adult fish in the wild is 5-6 inches, and 1 pounds, with 2 pounds not being uncommon.

Rocio

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Rocio is a small genus of cichlid fishes currently contains 3 from Mexico and northern Central America. The genusspecies. It was established in 2007 as the genus for the Jack Dempsey and its close relatives.

Rainbow cichlid

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The rainbow cichlid is a tropical freshwater Central American fish of the cichlid family. It was formerly the sole species of the genus Herotilapia, but has since been reclassified to the species Archocentrus, based on a study by Juan Schmitter-Soto. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that the Rainbow Cichlid is actually more closely related to the Jack Dempsey (genus Rocio) and the cichlids of the genus Astatheros than to the other Archocentrus cichlids, and thus should be moved back to the genus Herotilapia. This cichlid is native to both the Atlantic slope and the Pacific slope of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica to Honduras and Nicaragua. This species is found in lakes and swamps with muddy bottoms where it uses its specialized teeth, a defining characteristic of this monotypic genus, to feed on algae. The rainbow cichlid prefers a pH range of 7.0–8.0, water hardness of 9-20 dGH and a temperature range of 21–36 °C.

The rainbow cichlid is commercially important as an aquarium fish. As the name suggests, this is a brilliantly colored fish with a gold-orange body and iridescent hues. The rainbow cichlid can change colors rapidly according to its mood. Relatively small (9 centimeters) and quite peaceful compared to other Central American cichlids, it is a suitable and hardy fish for most aquariums. This cichlid is a substrate spawner. Adults pair up and defend their eggs and fry from other fish.

Parachromis managuensis

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Parachromis managuensis is a cichlid native to Nicaragua in Central America: the scientific name means "from Managua" (as in Nicaragua's capital city). It is a food fish and is also found in the aquarium trade where it is variously known as: the jaguar cichlid, managuense cichlid or managua cichlid, guapote tigre, Aztec cichlid, spotted guapote and jaguar guapote. It grows to 55–63 cm (22–25 in).

The species is a carnivorous, highly predatory fish. Their diet consists mainly of small fish and macroinvertebrates. They prefer turbid, eutrophic lakes, often found in warm water depleted of oxygen. Their native substrate is one of mud-bottoms, but can also be found in other ponds and springs with sandy bottoms covered in plant debris. They natively live in lakes of approximately 5 m (16 ft) in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 7.0–8.7 pH, a water hardness of 10–15 dGH, and a temperature range of 25 to 36 °C (77 to 97 °F).

Parachromis

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Parachromis is a genus of freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus contains 5 species and is limited in its distribution to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are large and predatory. Parachromis friedrichsthalii has an unusual hunting mechanism.

The species has been observed to lie immobile near the bottom, feining death. When smaller fish approach and attempt to pick at the dead fish, P. friedrichsthalii ambush the smaller fish. Similar behaviour has also been observed in some species of Lake Malawi cichlids, particularly from the genus Nimbochromis.

Nannacara

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Nannacara is a genus of small freshwater cichlid fish endemic to South America. The genus is part of the Cichlasomatini tribe of the Cichlasomatinae subfamily. In the aquarium hobby, the fish is considered a dwarf cichlid along with Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus, and Dicrossus species. The genus currently includes 6 recognized species, with Nannacara anomala the most common in the aquarium trade.

Keyhole Cichlid

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The keyhole cichlid, is a cichlid fish endemic to tropical South America, occurring in the Orinoco River basin from Guyana to French Guiana. The single species is the only species in the genus Cleithracara. The species is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists and is frequently kept in aquariums

Appearance

The species is a small tan coloured ovate-bodied fish. It has a black spot on its upper flank which sometimes extends into a short stripe. This gives rise to the common name, keyhole cichlid, from which the genus name Cleithracara (meaning "lock acara") is derived. When the species is startled or nervous it assumes a blotchy colouration and presses its body against rocks or logs in an attempt to camouflage itself. It is generally shy, peaceful and should not be kept with aggressive species.

Reproduction and sexual dimorphism

It is a monogamous, biparentally custodial breeder which spawns on flattened rocks, logs or leaves. Clutch size ranges from 300-400 eggs that are tended by both the male and female. The sexes are difficult to distinguish, though some males have a longer and more pointed dorsal fin.There has been a sighting of a keyhole cichlid laying 1000 eggs.

Diet

The species feeds on crustaceans, insects and other invertebrates.

In the aquarium

The species is suitable for the community aquarium and will accept a wide variety of prepared fish food in captivity. The environment in aquaria should mimic the natural habitat of the species and include plants and numerous hiding places. It will also eat beetles that have been dropped in the tank.

Jack Dempsey (fish)

2010-01-07T18:54:00.001-08:00

The Jack Dempsey, is a cichlid fish that is widely distributed across North and Central America (from Mexico south to Honduras). Its common name refers to its aggressive nature and strong facial features, likened to that of the famous 1920s boxer Jack Dempsey.

Distribution

The fish is native to Mexico and Honduras, where it is found in slow-moving waters, such as swampy areas with warm, murky water, weedy, mud- and sand-bottomed canals, drainage ditches, and rivers. It is also established as an introduced species in Australia, the USA and Thailand (presumably as an aquarium escapee).

Ecology

The Jack Dempsey natively lives in a tropical climate and prefers water with a pH of 7-8, a water hardness of 9–20 dGH, and a temperature range of 22–30 °C (72–86 °F). It can reach up to 25 cm (10 in) in length. It is carnivorous, eating worms, crustaceans, insects and other fish. It can eat small/young platies when it is three inches long.

Reproduction

Jack Dempseys lay their eggs on the substrate (the bottom of the aquarium or pool). Like most cichlids, they show substantial parental care: both parents help incubate the eggs and guard the fry when they hatch. Jack Dempseys are known to be attentive parents, pre-chewing food to feed to their offspring. However, it is not uncommon for them to eat their fry when the breeding pair are overly disturbed or something in their environment is wrong.

Morphology

The coloration changes as the fish matures from a light gray or tan with faint turquoise flecks to a dark purple-gray with very bright, iridescent blue, green, and gold flecks. Their colors change under stress. The dorsal and anal fins of mature males have long, pointed tips. Females lack these exaggerated tips.

In the aquarium

The fish is popular a popular aquarium fish, due to its striking appearance and personable mannerisms. It, like most cichlids, is considered "aggressive", but can get along in a well-populated tank, tending to be more territorial if kept with only a few other fish, therefore allowed to easily establish and defend a "territory" in the tank.

Trivia

In 1997 the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a man had died when he put a Jack Dempsey into his mouth as a joke: the fish presumably erected its fin spines to avoid being swallowed, a characteristic cichlid anti-predator response, and became wedged in the man's throat.

In a second season episode of Homicide: Life on the Street, a Jack Dempsey is recovered at the scene of a murder, and is taken home by an unsuspecting Detective John Munch, who intends to give it to his tropical fish-collecting girlfriend as a present. As a surprise, he places the fish in her aquarium, where it proceeds to devour $4,000 worth of her fish before being removed. Munch later refers to the fish as an "assassin" who "uses piranhas as toothpicks."

Heroini

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Heroini is a taxon of freshwater fish from Central and South America. It is a tribe in the cichlid family, containing more than 150 species.

Herichthys carpintis

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Herichthys carpintis is a cichlid of central America. Its common names include lowland cichlid, pearlscale cichlid and green Texas cichlid.

It reaches a maximum size of 30 centimeters. It is an omnivorous freshwater fish. It has blue to green coloration. This cichlid is commonly kept as an aquarium fish.

Herichthys

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Herichthys is a small genus of cichlid fishes from North America and Central America. The genus currently contains ten formally described species.

Green terror

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The green terror is a colorful freshwater fish in the cichlid family. The fish originate on the Pacific side of South America in the coastal waters from the Tumbes River in Peru to the Esmeraldas River in Ecuador. Males reach lengths of 30 cm (12 in.) and females can, too. However, females stop growing the first time that they spawn and will remain at that length for the rest of their life. Females are sexually mature at around 4.5 in., and therefore that is the smallest length that they can remain at. This causes a misconception that males are larger than females.

As the name implies this species can be very aggressive, especially adult specimens. This is not guaranteed, however, and peaceful individuals are often observed. Juvenile green terrors are often sold in pet shops for the aquarium hobby, as well as fish similar enough to be mistaken for this species (including the blue acara, Andinoacara pulcher).

The fish is somewhat deep-bodied with a prominent head. Adult males develop a pronounced forehead hump, a common cichlid trait. Juveniles are tan colored with silver-blue flecks and lack the bright iridescent blue, green, and orange coloration and long, flowing fins of adult specimens.

Green terrors natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 25.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 20–24 °C (79–86 °F).

Goldeneye cichlid

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The goldeneye cichlid is a species of tropical freshwater fish. It is found in fresh water from the Aruka River in Guyana, to the Maroni River in Surinam. It is often found on flooded savannas

near the coast.

The male grows to a length of about 7cm while the female is about 4-5cm, and is thus regarded as a dwarf cichlid.

The male, under acidic conditions, adopts a greenish tinge along the length of its body, while the female puts on a black coat with a faint line running from her face to the middle of her tail, and in breeding condition, fades into a bright yellow in the stomach.

As youngsters, there is hardly any difference as a juvenile male does have the colouration of a female. The only difference would be the presence of an extension at the back of the male's dorsal fin.

The goldeneye cichlid lives on a diet of crustaceans, insects, and other small animals. (The picture on the right is a female in a neutral environment.)

Firemouth cichlid

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Firemouth cichlids are native to Central America. They occur in rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, south through Belize and into northern Guatemala. Their natural habitat is typically shallow, slow-moving, often turbid, water with a pH of 6.5 - 8.0. It has also been reported to live in underground cave systems. As fish with a tropical distribution, firemouth cichlids live in warm water with a temperature range of 23–30 °C (75–86 °F). The common name, firemouth, is derived from the bright orange-red colouration on the underside of the jaw. Males in particular flare out their gills, exposing their red throats, in a threat display designed to ward off male rivals from their territory. Like most cichlids, brood care is highly developed; this species is an egg-layer. Firemouth cichlids form monogamous pairs and spawn on flattened surfaces of rocks, leaves or submerged wood.

Breeding males are primarily responsible for territorial defence, while females are more intensively involved in raising the fry, though both parents lead the fry in search of food. Firemouth cichlids are omnivorous and opportunistic in their feeding strategies. Sexual dimorphism is present, though limited in this species. Males are generally larger, (up to 15 cm), than females, have brighter and more red colouration around the throat, and have more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Firemouths are suitable for community aquaria, though they may become aggressive to other members of its species during spawning.

Cryptoheros

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Cryptoheros is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 9 species. It includes species formerly included within the genus Archocentrus. The convict cichlid has sometimes been placed within the genus Cryptoheros as well, but is now considered a member of the genus Amatitlania. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican has suggested that all the species in Cryptoheros and Amatitlania should be moved into the genus Hypsophrys.

Convict cichlid

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The Convict cichlid is a species of fish from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour.

Physical description

The wild-type of the species has 8-9 black vertical bars on a blue-grey body, along with a dark blotch on the operculum. Juvenile convict cichlids are monomorphic until they reach sexual maturity. Unusually for fish, the female is more highly coloured. She has more intense black bands across the body, and pink to orange colouration in the ventral region and on the dorsal fin. In contrast, the male is mostly gray with light black stripes along the body. On the other hand, male convict cichlids are larger than females, and they have more pointed ventral, dorsal and anal fins which often extend into filaments. In addition, older males frequently develop vestigial fatty lumps on their foreheads. The average standard length of breeding sized males in the wild ranged from 6.3-6.6 centimeters, while breeding sized females ranged from 4.2-5.5 centimeters. The maximum standard length has been reported to be 10 centimeters, with total length near 12 centimeters. Body weight has been reported to range from 34-36 grams (1.2-1.3 oz). Selective breeding has resulted in a leucistic strain of convict cichlids, in which the dark barring of the wild type is absent. These are also known as white convicts, pink convicts, gold convicts and A. nigrofasciata "Kongo", The leucistic colouration is caused by a mutation in an autosomal gene and is recessively inherited.

Diet

In natural habitats, the species feeds on crustaceans, small fish, insects, various worms, plants and algae. It has been demonstrated in laboratory studies that social status and associated stress can affect digestive function in convict cichlids.

Taxonomy and intraspecific variation

The species originally was described in 1867 by Albert Günther after having been collected in Central America by Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin. In 2007, the species was moved from the genus Archocentrus to a new genus, Amatitlania based on a study of Archocentus species by Juan Schmitter-Soto. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican has suggested that all the species in Cryptoheros and Amatitlania, including Amatitlania nigrofasciata, should be moved into the genus Hypsophrys. A number of synonyms exist for this species including: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, Cryptoheros nigrofasciatus and Heros nigrofasciatus.

The convict cichlid does display significant variation in colouration across its range in Central America. Some of these regional variants are now considered different species. In the cichlid-keeping hobby, one such fish Amatitlania siquia "Honduran Red Point" was collected from a stream in Honduras by Rusty Wessel. The Honduran Red Point Convict ranges from Atlantic Honduras south to Costa Rica. Other new species formerly included in A. nigrofasciata are:

Amatitlania coatepeque, from Lake Coatepeque in El Salvador, and
Amatitlania kanna, from the Atlantic side of Panama

The type species name, A. nigrofasciata, which used to cover all these species, has recently been restricted to the northern convict cichlid population ranging from El Salvador to Guatemala on the Pacific coast of Central America and from Honduras to Guatemala on the Atlantic coast.

The common name convict cichlid is, like the species name, derived from the vertical black stripes on the fishes body and their similarity to the striped prison uniforms of British convicts. Similarly, the species epithet nigrofasciatus literally means black-striped.

Distribution and habitat

Convict cichlids are endemic to the lakes and streams of Central America. In particular, the species occurs along the eastern coast of Central America from Guatemala to Costa Rica, and on the western coast from Honduras to Panama. Convict cichlids prefer moving water, and are most frequently found in habitats with cover in the form of rocks or sunken branches. Convict cichlids are relatively tolerant of cool water, an ability which has allowed the species to colonise volcanic lakes at elevations of 1500 m (4920 feet). At four natural habitats of the convict cichlid in Costa Rica, the pH was found to range from 6.6 - 7.8, while alkalinity ranged from 63 to 77 ppm CaCO₃. The daily water temperature ranged from 26-29 °C (79-84 °F).

Feral populations

The species also occurs outside its natural range in Australia: in the warm effluent of power stations in Victoria, and in tropical Queensland. In addition to Australia, the species has been introduced to Réunion, Japan, Mexico, and the USA.

Reproduction

Like most cichlids, convicts exhibit parental care of both eggs and free-swimming fry. The species can reach sexual maturity as young as 16 weeks of age, though sexual maturity is more commonly reached by 6 months. Sexually mature convicts form monogamous pairs and spawn in caves or crevices. In the wild, the fish dig up caves by moving earth from underneath large stones. The eggs are laid on the upper or side surfaces of the cave and are adhesive.

After fertilization the eggs take approximately 72 hours to hatch. During that time, the parents expel intruders and potential egg predators from the territory around the nest. They also fan the eggs, moving water with their fins over the batch of eggs to bring oxygenated water to the eggs. They fan the eggs not only during the day but also at night, using their sense of smell to recognize the presence of the eggs in the dark, and keeping their pelvic fins in contact with the eggs to remain at the right distance for fanning. The parents also use their sense of smell to recognize each other at night, and also to detect and react to the presence of potential egg predators.

After hatching, a further 72 hours is required for the larvae to absorb their yolk sacs and develop their fins prior to becoming free-swimming fry. While in this free swimming stage, fry forage during daylight in a dense school and return to the cave or crevice before the night. Like other cichlids, the parents also retrieve their young just before night onset, sucking up three or four fry at a time into their mouth, swimming back to the nest, and spitting the young into it. The parents do this in anticipation of night arrival, using an internal time sense to know that night is approaching, as shown by laboratory experiments in which convict cichlids continued to retrieve even before nights that were not preceded by any signal such as dim light. During the night, the fry remain as a bunch at the bottom of the cave or nest, where they are fanned by the parents.

Both parents remain involved in guarding the fry from brood predators and engage in behaviors to assist feeding such as moving leaves or fin digging. Brood care of eggs, larvae and free-swimming juveniles in the wild can last 4-6 weeks, and occurs only once per season for the majority of females. In contrast, females in aquariums are known to breed many times per year with short intervals of 12-13 days between broods, as long as suitable rocks or similar surfaces are available for them to lay their eggs on. In captivity, breeding pairs of convict cichlids have been demonstrated to adopt similarly aged fry from other parents. In other cichlids it has been suggested this behavior may reduce predation on the fry belonging to the adoptive parents, through a dilution effect.

In the aquarium

Convict cichlids are easily maintained and bred in aquariums. The aquarium should be decorated to mimic the natural environment and should include rocks and artificial caves for breeding. The species is an unfussy omnivore and most types of prepared fish foods are readily accepted. The species will also consume aquarium plants. Convict cichlids are aggressively territorial during breeding and pairs are best kept alone in suitably sized aquariums. It has been suggested that brood care is reduced in aquarium strains. Due to the tendency of the species to dig, external filtration is recommended over undergravel filter systems. The relatively small size of this species, along with ease of keeping and breeding, make the convict an ideal cichlid for beginners and advanced aquarists alike interested in observing pair bonds and brood care in the aquarium.

Blood parrot cichlid

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The Blood parrot cichlid (also known as parrot cichlid and bloody parrot; no binomial nomenclature) is a hybrid cichlid. The fish was first created in Taiwan in around 1986. Its parentage is unknown, but the most commonly speculated pairings are midas cichlid with the redhead cichlid, or the severum (Heros severus) with the red devil cichlid. Blood parrots should not be confused with other parrot cichlids or salt water Parrotfish (family: Scaridae). Because this hybrid cichlid has various anatomical deformities, controversy exists over the ethics of creating the blood parrot. One of the most obvious deformities is its mouth, which has only a narrow vertical opening. This makes blood parrots hard to feed and potentially vulnerable to starvation. Some cichlid enthusiasts have called for their removal from the market and organized boycotts against pet stores that sell them.

Description

Blood parrots are bright orange in coloration, but various colors may be produced by dyeing the fish, which can shorten life expectancy. The fish are injected with a colored dye by the breeder. Practical Fishkeeping has been very successful in bringing this practice to light and as a consequence, the vast majority of fish stockists will no longer sell these modified fish, often nicknamed "Bubblegum Parrot". The fish have several anatomical deformities, including a beak-shaped mouth that cannot fully close, which they compensate for by crushing food with the throat muscles. Blood parrots sometimes can have deformed swim bladders, causing an awkward swimming pattern; abnormal spines, contributing to the unique shape; and unusually large, and often deformed irises.Adult fish can grow to a length of 8–10 inches (20–25 centimeters) and reach an age of 10 years or older. Some red parrots have reached over 15 years of age.

Breeding

Male blood parrots generally are infertile, but successful breeding has occurred. Normally, a female blood parrot lays eggs on a hard surface, and both parents guard the eggs until the brood develops fungus, at which time the eggs will be consumed by either the parents or other fish.However, fish farms have begun introducing male blood parrots injected with a hormone to increase fertility.

In aquaria

Blood parrots are hardy and may be housed by enthusiasts singly, in schools, or with complementary species under a variety of conditions. Sufficient lighting can be provided by a variety of compact fluorescent lamps without the use of T5 or halide fixtures. The fish are voracious eaters and generate significant uneaten debris during feeding. High volume filtration and frequent substrate suctioning is recommended to minimize nitrates.

Amphilophus

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Amphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be mover to Astatheros are A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. macracanthus (which would be the type species for Astatheros), A. margaritifer, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus. Rican's study suggests that the Astatheros species are more closely related to the Jack Dempsey and Rainbow Cichlid than to the remaining Amphilophus species.

Amatitlania

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Amatitlania is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 4 species. The genus is closely related to Archocentrus and Cryptoheros, and contains the convict cichlids that were previously placed in those genera. The genus was erected by Juan Schmitter-Soto in 2007 based on a study of the Archocentrus complex. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican has suggested that all the species in Cryptoheros and Amatitlania should be moved into the genus Hypsophrys.

Aequidens

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Aequidens is a genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and polyphyletic. Many species have been reallocated to other genera such as Bujurquina, Laetacara, Tahuantinsuyoa (Kullander, 1986), Krobia and Cleithracara (Kullander & Nijssen, 1989).

Two fishes commonly sold in the aquarium hobby are Aequidens rivulatus (green terror) and Aequidens pulcher (blue acara).

Pterophyllum

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Pterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America. The three species of Pterophyllum are unusually shaped for cichlids being greatly laterally compressed, with round bodies and elongated triangular dorsal and anal fins.

This body shape allows them to hide among roots and plants, often on a vertical surface. Naturally occurring angelfish are frequently striped longitudinally, colouration which provides additional camouflage. Angelfish are ambush predators and prey on small fish and macroinvertebrates. All Pterophyllum species form monogamous pairs. Eggs are generally laid on a submerged log or a flattened leaf. As is the case for other cichlids, brood care is highly developed.

Mesonauta festivus

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Mesonauta festivus is a species in the genus cyclids. It is a fish which lives in fresh water in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It is 12-15 cm long.

In 1991 Mesonauta festivus was recategorised. The result was that the group Mesonauta was split into five: Mesonauta festivus from streams which run into the Amazon in Bolivia and Paraguay, Mesonauta acora from Tocantins and Xingu, Mesonauta egregius from Orinoco in Columbia, Mesonauta insignis from the upper Rio Negro and Orinoco, close to Casiquiare, and Mesonauta mirificus from the state of Amazonas in Peru.

Hypselecara

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Hypselecara is a small genus of cichlid fish with only two species. H. temporalis is a relatively common aquarium fish known in the aquarium trade as the chocolate cichild.

Heros genus

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Heros is a genus which includes several fish species in the Cichlidae family. Fishes from this genus were often previously included in the "catch-all" genus Cichlasoma.

Most commonly encountered in the aquarium trade is the severum, Heros severus, available commercially in its gold coloration as well as the wild-type green. It is unclear whether aquarium severums are actually Heros severus or whether they are Heros efasciatus hybrids.

Discus (fish)

2010-01-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Discus are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.

Taxonomy

Discus belong to the genus Symphysodon, which currently includes three species: The common discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), and a new species which has been named Symphysodon tarzoo. However, a further investigation published in August 2007 suggested that the genus held the three species: S. aequifasciatus (the green discus), S. haraldi (the blue/brown/common discus) and S. discus (the Heckel discus). Both studies suggest three species; the only disagreement is in the scientific names for each.

Appearance

Like cichlids from the genus Pterophyllum, all Symphysodon species have a laterally compressed body shape. In contrast to Pterophyllum, however, extended finnage is absent giving Symphysodon a more rounded shape. It is this body shape from which their common name, “discus”, is derived. The sides of the fish are frequently patterned in shades of green, red, brown, and blue. The height and length of the grown fish are both about 20–25 cm (8–10 in).

Reproduction and sexual dimorphism

Another characteristic of Symphysodon species are their care for the larvae. As for most cichlids, brood care is highly developed with both the parents caring for the young. Additionally, adult discus produce a secretion through their skin, which the larvae live off during their first few days. This behavior has also been observed for Uaru species. However when bred in captivity the larvae will tend to live off their parents secretion for up to 2 weeks. the larvae is yummy and I eat it often. I recommend it.

Distribution

The three species of Symphysodon have different geographic distributions. S. aequifasciatus occurs in the Rio Solimões, Rio Amazonas and the Río Putumayo-Içá in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. In contrast the distribution of S. discus appears to be limited to the lower reaches of the Abacaxis, Rio Negro and Trombetas rivers. S. tarzoo occurs upstream of Manaus in the western Amazon.

Cichlasoma urophthalmus

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The Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, is a member of the Cichlidae family of fish. It is also known as the mojarra castarrica in its native Mexico. It has interesting colors, with its eight black bands (starting just behind the eye) and its large ocellus (eyespot) on the caudal peduncle (base of the tail), which gives it its scientific name. It has a base color of brown to red that becomes more intense during breeding. As in many animals, the red color is much more brilliant in wild specimens than captive ones, but one can help maintain some of its vibrance by feeding the fish live foods and foods that contain Vitamin A, which breaks down into the red pigment beta-carotene in the body. Previously, this species was a member of the genus Cichlasoma and the subgeneric section Nandopsis. However, the genus Cichlasoma is in revision and has been restricted to the 12 species of South American cichlids related to Cichlasoma bimaculatum. Thus, many of the approximately 100 species that were formerly members of Cichlasoma have yet to be formally assigned to a new genus, and are conventionally referred to as "Cichlasoma" for the time being, with the subgeneric section tentatively intended as the new genus. Thus, the Mayan cichlid is identified here as both Cichlasoma uropthalmus and Cichlasoma (Nandopsis) urophthalmus in accord with the convention for taxonomically undetermined cichlids (Kullander 1983, Stiassny 1991).

Range and habitat

The Mayan cichlid reaches a maximum standard length of 280 mm (Conkel 1997). It is native to the Atlantic slope of tropical Mesoamerica (Central America), ranging from eastern Mexico southward to Nicaragua (Miller 1966). It was first recorded from Everglades National Park, Florida in 1983 (Loftus 1987), and is now a common nonindigenous fish in southern Florida (Bergmann and Motta 2004, 2005). Eight subspecies of Cichlasoma urophthalmus are recognized throughout Central America (Caso Chavez et al. 1986): aguadae, trocheli, cienagae, ercymba, amarum, zebra, conchitae, and mayorum.

In its native range, the Mayan cichlid is a popular food fish. For this reason it is the basis of a regional fishery, is commonly used in aquaculture, and is among the most-studied of the Neotropical cichlids (Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993). To date, the Mayan cichlid has been most intensively studied at localites in southeastern Mexico on or near the Yucatan Peninsula (Caso Chavez et al. 1986; Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1986, 1988, 1992; Flores Nava et al. 1989; Martinez-Palacios et al. 1990, 1993, 1996; Salgado-Maldonado and Kennedy 1997; Vidal-Martinez et al. 1994; and Gamboa-Perez and Schmitter-Soto 1999). The Mayan cichlid inhabits lakes, rivers, rocky shorelines, lagoons, esturaries, coastal islands, red mangrove Rhizophora mangle swamps, and turtle grass Thalassia testudinum flats off the mainland. It can be found in oxygen-rich areas near submerged vegetation and over muddy substrates. However, despite its preference for waters with dissolved oxygen content of at least 3.5 mg/L, it is capable of surviving in extreme hypoxia. This is because it is an oxygen conformer, becoming much less active in hypoxic water, and even surviving virtual anoxia for up to two hours (Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1986, Gamboa-Perez and Schmitter-Soto 1999).

The Mayan cichlid is philopatric, or site tenacious, i.e. - individuals are non-migratory and prefer to stay within a home range (Caso Chavez et al. 1986, Salgado-Maldonado and Kennedy 1997, Faunce and Lorenz 2000). The Mayan cichlid has a minimum temperature requirement of about 14 degrees Celsius (Stauffer and Boltz 1994). In its native range, it inhabits waters with temperatures from 18 - 34 degrees Celsius, but its optimal temperature range is 28 - 33 degrees Celsius (Caso Chavez et al. 1986, Martinez-Palacios et al. 1996). The Mayan cichlid is capable of surviving in a variety of conditions. It is euryhaline and can survive in a range of salinity from 0 - 40 ppt (Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1992, Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993). Experiments on captive specimens have shown that it can tolerate abrupt increases in salinity of up to 15 ppt (Martinez-Palacios et al. 1990). The Mayan cichlid has a broad range of tolerance to abiotic conditions and a broad behavioral repertoire to enable it to feed on a variety of foods. This species is also a dietary generalist, consuming organisms from a variety of disparate taxa (Caso Chavez et al. 1986, Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1988). However, it is susceptible to malnourishment, apparently due to the requirement that a relatively large proportion of its diet be comprised of animal prey (Flores Nava et al. 1989, Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993).

Reproduction

The Mayan cichlid is territorial and aggressive when breeding (Sands 1987, personal observations). As parents, Mayan cichlids are highly protective of their young, and they have several broods per year. This species is a monogamous, biparental substrate spawner that exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism and guards its fry (babies) for up to six weeks. All of these traits are greatly developed and represent an extreme in the general pattern found in the genus Cichlasoma (Barlow 1991, Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1992, Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993, Conkel 1997, Faunce and Lorenz 2000). In Mexico, the Mayan cichlid spawns for a nine-month period from March to November, particularly during the wet season from June to September. This corresponds to a period when the water temperature is at least 24 degrees Celsius (Caso Chavez et al. 1986, Martinez-Palacios and Ross 1992, Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993). Multiple broods are raised per year. The fry appear to be adapted to lotic (flowing) water. They exhibit strongly positive geotactic behavior, actively swimming down to the substrate upon hatching from the egg and adhering themselves to the bottom by means of three pairs of mucous glands (Martinez-Palacios et al. 1993).

Aquarium husbandry

Behavior

The Mayan cichlid is a somewhat obscure but popular aquarium fish in the United States. In captivity it exhibits interesting behavior, whether it is breeding or not. It is rather difficult to tell the sexes apart in the Mayan cichlid, because there is minimal sexual dimorphism (shape) and dichromatism (color). However, among fish of the same age, the males tend to be a little bit larger than the females. The colors of Mayan cichlids in breeding dress may also vary slightly. Males may have a slightly more vibrant red, and females may have a slight greenish sheen on their flanks. Once they are ready for breeding and their whitish spawning tubes protrude from the bottom of the body, it is somewhat easier to tell the sexes apart. As in other cichlids, the female has a shorter, wider, and blunter vent, while the male's vent is slightly longer, thinner, and more pointed.

Related species

The Mayan cichlid's color, size, and behavior make it resemble the red terror cichlid Cichlasoma festae, to which it is fairly closely related. However, the two have separate ranges in nature, with the Mayan cichlid coming from the Atlantic slope of southern North America and northern Mesoamerica, and the red terror coming from the Pacific slope of southern Mesoamerica and northern South America. There are some physical differences, too. The red terror looks a bit more robust overall. It gets to be a bit larger than the Mayan cichlid, attaining a longer and taller body, but with a relatively shorter snout and a slightly larger nuchal hump (bulging forehead). It also has longer trailings on its dorsal and anal fins. The red terror has more dark bands on its body (about nine starting behind the eye, rather than eight), and a smaller ocellus on its caudal peduncle. It also tends to retain more of its red color in captivity than does the Mayan cichlid. However, some red terrors lack the commonly seen bright red base color and have an overall green color with a yellow tinge.

The red terror is reputedly the more aggressive of the two species, but both can be very belligerent in an aquarium and can bully or even kill smaller or weaker fish, especially when pairing off for breeding.

Community aquarium

Like all large cichlids and other aquarium fishes, and whether kept in a breeding pair or displayed in a community tank, the Mayan cichlid needs a large aquarium with good filtration. In general, unless they are being quarantined because of a disease, social animals like these and most other cichlids should not be kept alone, and they should be provided with enough room to interact safely with other fishes. A 55-gallon aquarium should be regarded as the minimum size for an aggressive, large cichlid like the Mayan cichlid. Even better would be to house these fish in a 70, 100, 120, or even 150-gallon tank. If they are to be housed with other species, the Mayan cichlid's tank mates must be of similar size and temperament. Some good potential tank mates would be other Central American cichlids, such as those from the Amphilophus group (the Midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus, and the red devil cichlid, Amphilophus labiatus), and the Theraps group (the black belt cichlid, C. maculicauda, the redheaded cichlid C. synspilum, and the redspotted cichlid C. bifasciatum). It is not advisable to house the Mayan cichlid with other cichlids from the Nandopsis group, such as the jaguar cichlid, Parachromis managuensis, the wolf cichlid, Parachromis dovii, or the Motagua cichlid, Parachromis motaguensis. Because they are more closely related, the Mayan cichlid may perceive these species as too similar to itself and as a threat, which may lead to dangerous fighting for both the Mayan cichlid and its opponent. Other fishes that may be compatible with the Mayan cichlid are large Neotropical catfishes, such as the suckermouth armored catfish of the Loricariidae. This family includes favorite aquarium denizens like Hypostomus plecostomus and Pterygoplichthys pardalis.

. But be forewarned: this fish will eat fish small enough to fit in their mouths.

Breeding

As with most Neotropical cichlids, a breeding pair of Mayan cichlids should be kept on their own to avoid injuring other fish, as well as to avoid stressing the parents to the point of turning on each other or their brood. The only reason to keep a breeding pair in the company of others is so that they have "target fish" on which to focus their aggression, which can help strengthen the pair bond and increase the motivation to protect the territory and the babies. As with other territorial fishes, one way to keep the aggressive parents in the same tank as other fish is to separate them with a plastic screen or mesh, such as egg crate. The fish can see one another, and even smell and taste one another through the mesh, but are unable to injure each other. However, this latter arrangement is more appropriate for introducing belligerent breeding partners, or for separating incompatible community tank mates, than it is for housing a breeding pair. This is because the baby fish are likely to swim to the other side of the barrier and get eaten, and the parents might still get too nervous. A safer approach is to house the parents in an aquarium right next to the aquarium that contains the other fish. Although unable to smell or taste their opponents, the parents will still see these other fish and perceive them as a threat like any other target fish. A barrier to vision, such as a piece of cardboard, can be placed between the tanks to give the parents a break from aggressively defending their territory from time to time. Another way to achieve this illusion of a community is to hold a mirror up to the parents' aquarium for short periods. The pair will perceive their reflections as strangers and will feel like "teaming up" to protect their young, but will do no harm to anyone and will not get so stressed out that their pair bond breaks down.

As in most substrate-spawning cichlids, the adults are excellent parents, mouthing the eggs to keep them free of fungi, and then caring for the babies diligently. The young can be reared in much the same way as those of other substrate spawners. They are typically born in broods numbering from about 100-500. They must be given frequent feedings of brine shrimp Artemia nauplii, hard-boiled egg yolk, or infusoria for their first week of life. After that they can be given finely powdered flake food and frozen food along with their parents. The parents will often guard the babies for a month, after which time the babies can be removed from their parents' care and placed in their own separate aquarium. They can remain there until they reach about 2 inches (5 cm), at which time they will be ready to be kept with other fish of similar temperament.

Whether kept for breeding or viewing, the Mayan cichlid is an interesting fish. It sports beautiful colors and patterns, and has complex behavior for the aquarist to observe, admire, and study. However, because of its special requirements, it is not suitable for the novice aquarist. But when kept with plenty of space, a good diet, and compatible tank mates, the Mayan cichlid can provide years of enjoyment for its human keepers.

Cichlasoma bimaculatum

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Cichlasoma bimaculatum is an omnivorous, freshwater, tropical fish commonly referred to as the Black Acara or two-spot cichlid. It was also identified as Aequidens portalegrensis in 1965 and 1970. It is most frequently classified in the Cichlidae (Cichlid) family and subfamily of Cichlasomatinae. It is found in freshwater canals and swamps, with a natural region spanning from the Amazon River to northeastern and northern South America. Since the 1960’s it has been identified in the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in several counties of Florida as far north as Jacksonville.

Oscar (fish)

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Astronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus are often found for sale as a food fish in the local markets. The fish can also be found in other areas including China, Australia, and the United States. Although its slow growth limits its potential for aquaculture, it is considered a popular aquarium fish.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Louis Agassiz in 1831 as Lobotes ocellatus, as he mistakenly believed the species was marine, later work assigned the species to the genus Astronotus. The species also has a number of junior synonyms: Acara compressus, Acara hyposticta, Astronotus ocellatus zebra, and Astronotus orbiculatus.

Description

A. ocellatus have been reported to grow into a length of 34 cm (approximately 15 in) and a mass of 1.6 kg (2.6 lb). The wild caught forms of the species are typically darkly coloured with orange ringed-spots or ocelli on the caudal peduncle and on the dorsal fin. It has been suggested that these ocelli function to limit fin-nipping by piranha (Serrasalmus spp.) which co-occur with A. ocellatus in its natural environment. The species is also able to rapidly alter its colouration, a trait which facilitates ritualised territorial and combat behaviours amongst conspecifics. Juvenile A. ocellatus have a different colouration to adults and are striped with white and orange wavy bands and have spotted heads.

Distribution and habitat

A. ocellatus is native to Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and French Guiana and occurs in the Amazon river basin, along the Amazonas, Içá, Negro, Solimões, and Ucayali river systems, and also in the Approuague and Oyapock drainages. In its natural environment the species typically occurs in slow moving white-water habitats, and has been observed sheltering under submerged branches. Feral populations also occur in China, northern Australia, and Florida, USA as a by-product of the ornamental fish trade. The species is limited in its distribution by its intolerance of cooler water temperatures, the lower lethal limit for the species is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F).

Sexual Dimorphism

Although the species is widely regarded as sexually monomorphic, it has also been suggested that males grow more quickly, and in some naturally occurring strains, males are noted to possess dark blotches on the base of the dorsal fin. The species reaches sexual maturity at approximately one year of age and continues to reproduce for nine to ten years. Frequency and timing of spawning may be related to the occurrence of rain. A. ocellatus are biparental substrate spawners though detailed information regarding their reproduction in the wild are scarce.

It has been observed that the closely related Astronotus crassipinnis may, in times of danger, protect its fry in its mouth in a manner reminiscent of mouthbrooding geophagine cichlids. This behaviour, however, has not yet been observed in A. ocellatus. In captivity, pairs are known to select and clean generally flattened horizontal or vertical surfaces on which to lay their 1,000 to 3,000 eggs. Like most cichlids, A. ocellatus practice brood care, although the duration of brood care in the wild remains unknown.

Feeding

Captive oscars may be fed crayfish, feeder goldfish, rosy reds, worms, and insects such as flies or grasshoppers. Most fish eaten by A. ocellatus in the wild are relatively sedentary catfish, and included Bunocephalus, Rineloricaria, and Ochmacanthus species. The species uses a suction mechanism to capture prey, and has been reported to exhibit "laying-on-side" death mimicry in a similar fashion to Parachromis friedrichsthalii and Nimbochromis livingstonii. The species also has an absolute requirement for vitamin C and develops health problems in its absence.

Selective breeding

A number of ornamental varieties of A. ocellatus have been developed for the aquarium industry. These include forms with greater intensity and quantities of red marbling across the body, albino, leucistic, and xanthistic forms. A. ocellatus with marbled patches of red pigmentation are sold as red tiger oscars, while those strains with mainly red colouration of the flanks are frequently sold under the trade name of red oscars. The patterning of red pigment differs between inidividuals, in the United Kingdom one A. ocellatus reportedly had markings that resembled the Arabic word for "Allah". In recent years long-finned varieties have also been developed. The species is also occasionally artificially coloured by a process known as painting.

Serrasalminae

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Serrasalminae is a subfamily of fish within the family Characidae. The name Serrasalminae means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the belly of these fish.

Taxonomy

Currently, the fish of this group are classified as a subfamily of Characidae. However, there are some sources that classify these fish in their own, separate family, Serrasalmidae. This is because the relationship of fish of this group to other characiforms has yet to be determined.The taxonomy and systematics of piranhas and their relatives are complicated and much remains unsettled. Consequently, both species identification and phylogenetic placement of many taxa are problematic.

However, the ongoing classification of these fish is difficult and often contentious, with ichthyologists basing ranks according to characteristics that may overlap irregularly (see Cladistics). DNA research sometimes confounds rather than clarifies species ranking. Ultimately, classifications can be rather arbitrary.

On the other hand, compared to many neotropical fish groups, this is well defined, and there is wide agreement concerning which genera and species should be included.

Fossil record

The fossil record available for fishes of this group, particularly for piranhas, is relatively sparse. Most known fossils are from the Miocene, although a few unidentified forms are considered Paleocene and two reportedly date to as early as the Late Cretaceous. Fossils of a living species of Colossoma from the Miocene have been described, suggesting a very conservative history for a specialized herbivorous fish. All serrasalmine genera had originated by the middle Miocene, with the possible exception of three of the four piranha genera (Pygocentrus, Pristobrycon, and Serrasalmus).

Distribution

Serrasalmines are distributed in South America, but have been introduced to other areas. Species are distributed in all major and some minor Atlantic river systems from about 10° N latitude south to about 35° S latitude.

Description

Serrasalmines are medium to large-sized characids (up to about 1 m long) generally characterized by a deep, laterally compressed body with a series of mid-ventral abdominal spines or scutes, and a long dorsal fin (over 16 rays). Most species also possess an anteriorly-directed spine just before the dorsal fin extending from a supraneural bone; exceptions include members of the genera Colossoma, Piaractus, and Mylossoma.

Most serrasalmines have about 60 chromosomes, though the range is anywhere from 54 to 62. However, Metynnis has 62 chromosomes, as does Catoprion, Pristobrycon striolatus, and Pygopristis.

Ecology

As a group, the diets of serrasalmid fishes are extremely broad and include seeds, fruits, leaves, various invertebrate and vertebrate prey, as well as fish flesh, scales, and fins. To emphasize the polarity of diets, authors commonly highlight the fruit- and leaf-eating pacus and the highly carnivorous piranhas. Most non-piranhas in the family are primarily herbivorous. In contrast, it was long believed that piranhas were strict carnivores. However, many species are known to adopt multiple diets depending on age and resource availability.

Relationship to humans

Many members of this group are in demand as aquarium ornamentals, and several pacus, such as Piaractus and Colossoma, are economically important to commercial fisheries and aquaculture. Piranhas are generally less valued, although they are commonly consumed by subsistence fishers and frequently sold for food in local markets. A few piranha species occasionally appear in the aquarium trade, and, in recent decades, dried specimens have been marketed as tourist souvenirs. Piranhas occasionally bite and sometimes injure bathers and swimmers, but truly serious attacks are rare and the threat to humans has been largely exaggerated. However, piranhas are a considerable nuisance to commercial and sport fishers because they steal bait, mutilate catch, damage nets and other gear, and may bite when handled.

Redeye piranha

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Serrasalmus rhombeus , is a fish of the piranha family Characidae found in South America in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, the north and eastern Guiana Shield rivers, and northeastern Brazilian coastal rivers. Its length is up to 41.5 cm.

These piranhas live in very diverse habitats ranging from soft blackwater, to hard whitewater areas in the Amazon, and as such, are very tolerant of differing water chemistry.

Names

This fish was long known and traded as Serrasalmus niger. It varies widely across its range and whether it really is a single species is still unknown, though in some cases the fish in question are certainly mere morphs. Peruvian S. rhombeus are called jet black highbacks or Peruvian Black Piranhas. Brazilian Black Piranhas are actually greyish in color and some have diamond-shaped scales. Venezuelan S. rhombeus have the brightest red eyes and grey coloration.

Other names include Rhombeus Piranha, for its striking shape. Particularly light-colored populations are the White Piranhas of the aquarium trade, formerly believed to be the "true" S. rhombeus. A common local name is caribe ojo rojo; the species is also known as caribe amarillo, not to be confused with the other "yellow" piranhas S. gibbus and S. spilopleura.

In the aquarium

It is generally recommended to keep no more than one in captivity, as redeye piranhas generally do not tolerate tankmates, particularly when they are adults. In the wild it is believed that they generally form loose shoals (or schools, but seem to join and leave different shoals at will). Their primary source of food at a juvenile size is the fins and scales of other fish. In captivity it is possible for them to reach a size of up to 14". It is rare to see them at this size, however, as their growth rate is generally very slow. Specimens that are in the upper size ranges can command very steep prices (such as $500 for a 12" fish). In the aquarium they should be fed a varied diet. Many people feed beefheart, and recipes for mixtures abound on the internet. Feeding live food is controversial.

Like all piranha they have razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws and caution should be used when performing tank maintenance, particularly when they are of a mature age. They are much bolder and extremely aggressive at an older age. Juveniles are on average fairly timid. Individual animal temperament does of course vary.

As with any aggressive species, a close attention to water parameters (i.e. ammonia, nitrates) is important, as they are very messy eaters.

All Serrasalmus species are solitary piranhas and S. rhombeus is no exception. They must be kept alone.

Red-bellied piranha

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The Red-bellied piranha is a species of piranha. This species lives in the Amazon River Basin, coastal rivers of north-eastern Brazil, and the basin of the Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo Rivers. The red-bellied piranha has the reputation for being one of the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. They have a set of razor sharp teeth which are capable of stripping flesh from prey and dead animals. As their name suggests, they have a reddish tinge to the belly when fully grown, although juveniles are a silver colour with darker spots. They grow to a maximum length of 33 cm and a weight of 3.5 kg.

Diet

Their diet consists, for the most part, of fish, insects, worms and crustaceans but may sometimes eat large animals. The fish usually feed in large schools around dusk and dawn. They locate their prey by scent or motion using a set of sensors down the sides of the their bodies, called the lateral line system.

Breeding

Red-bellied piranha usually spawn around April and May during the rainy season. The male will build a dug-out nest in rocks and vegetation awaiting a female. Females can lay around 600 eggs which the male fertilizes. Males become extremely territorial during spawning, and will prevent other fish from approaching the nest. After the eggs hatch, both parents guard the brood. The male's belly is much more red than the female's.

Red-bellied piranha in media

There are many myths surrounding this species. The 1978 film Piranha by Joe Dante shows these fish in a similar light to Jaws. Piranha was followed by a sequel, Piranha II: The Spawning, in 1981, and two remakes, one in 1995, and another which is forthcoming. Films such as these, and stories of large shoals of red bellies attacking humans, fuels the reputation of the red bellied piranha as being one of the most ferocious of all freshwater fish.

In the aquarium

Piranha, despite their fearsome reputation, can be kept as aquarium fish. Their diet in nature consists of live prey and dead animals and fish. Live feedings to captive piranha are not advised, as they can introduce diseases, and goldfish contain growth-inhibiting hormone which in turn will affect piranha. They may be kept with certain armoured catfish such as Hypostomus plecostomus but this is generally discouraged amongst the piranha keeping community. Red-bellied piranhas should be kept in small shoals of at least four individuals, to encourage dispersal of aggression, or on their own which is common practice. These fish, particularly when juvenile, will sometimes bite one another in the aquarium, normally on the fins, in behaviour not surprisingly called 'fin nipping' Fish that have had their fins nipped will grow them back surprisingly rapidly. These fish can be timid in the aquarium, in contrast to their reputation. This can be for a variety of reasons, i.e. due to unnaturally high light conditions, poor water quality, and lack of cover which juvenile fish in particular need to hide. Some hobbyists have been disappointed with the fish's timidity in the aquarium. Piranha requires frequent water changes, with soft water. Extensive filtration is required and the turnover of the filter should be at least 3 times the aquarium capacity per hour, as piranha generate a lot of waste owing to their diet. The tank should be kept at a constant pH of 5.5 to 7.0, and water parameters of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia monitored at least every week. Furnishing the aquarium with bogwood (mangrove root etc.) will assist in keeping the Ph constant.

Pygocentrus

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Pygocentrus is a genus of the piranha family Characidae. All are native to tropical South America. It is mainly located in the Amazon, San Francisco and Orinoco rivers. Three especies are fully recognized. P. cariba (Humboldt, 1821) in the Orinoco; P. nattereri Kner, 1869 in the Amazonas: and P. piraya (Cuvier, 1819) in the San Francisco River. P. palometa Valenciennes, 1850 is a dubious species (Fink, 1993; Machado-Allison and Fink, 1996). All the species are predatory, scavengers and form huge schools. The Chi-Cohala tribe uses the teeth to make tools and weapons.

Myleus rubripinnis

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Myleus rubripinnis is a medium to large herbivorous fish of the family Characidae that is found in the Amazon River. It is peaceful and schools often, and can grow to a length of 11 inches. They are called the redhook silverdollar.

Metynnis argenteus

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Silver dollar is a common name given to a number of species of Metynnis, a tropical fish belonging to the Characidae family which is closely related to piranha and pacú. Originating in the Tapajós River basin in South America, this somewhat round-shaped silver fish with slight red-tinged anal fin is mostly found in tanks kept by fish-keeping hobbyists. It will grow to a maximum length of 14 centimeters (5.5 inches).

The silver dollar is a peaceful schooling species that spends most of its time in the mid- to upper-level of the water. Its maximum lifespan is more than 10 years. A chin-layer, the adult fish will spawn around 2,000 eggs. This breeding occurs in soft, warm water in low light.

Silver dollars natively live in a tropical climate in the sides of weedy rivers. They prefer water with a pH of 5–7, a water hardness of up to 15 dGH, and an ideal temperature range of 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). Their diet is almost exclusively vegetarian and in captivity they will often eat all the plants in a tank. They will also eat worms and small insects.

Fish compatibility

The silver dollar is listed as semi-aggressive but it is very mellow like the pacu. These fish can be kept in community tanks with fish that can't fit in their mouths, so don't put a full-grown silver dollar with neon tetras and guppies. These fish can also be kept with larger fish like oscars, pikes, and larger catfish when full grown.

Hyphessobrycon columbianus

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The Colombian tetra or blue-red Colombian tetra, Hyphessobrycon columbianus, is a freshwater fish of the characin family. The Colombian tetra is native to the Rio Acandi drainage system in Colombia, South America. The Colombian tetra's habitat tends to be slow-flowing creeks and tributaries.

Only recently introduced to the aquarium trade, it is one of the more expensive tetras. They will generally get on with most other aquarium fish and will shoal with other types of tetra. However, they have been observed to harass smaller fish on occasions.

Physical description

Growing to about 6.5 cm (2.5 in) total length, the Colombian tetra is silver-grey in colour. It has a turquoise blue tinge of increasing intensity from the lateral line upwards, which becomes a prominent stripe across the anterior dorsal ridge. The fins are predominantly scarlet red but the colour will fade as the fish rests. The anal fin is usually edged with black, and both dorsal and caudal fins have whitish tips.

In the aquarium

The Colombian tetra is generally a hardy, adaptable fish and has a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. It eats all common aquarium foods such as flake food, frozen and freeze-dried foods and small live foods. They prefer neutral or slightly acidic water at around 24-26^oC. Although they have been known to harass other fish, the likelihood of this happening is greatly reduced if they are kept in groups of six or more. The Colombian tetra can be bred in a similar way to other species in the genus.

Characidae Fish

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The Characidae, characids or characins are a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family rank. To arrive there, this family has undergone much systematic and taxonomic change. Among those fishes that remain in the Characidae for the time being are the tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms such as the cave and neon tetras. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium fish species.

These fish vary in length, though many are less than 3 centimetres (1 in). The smallest species grows to a maximum length of 13 millimetres (0.5 in).

These fish inhabit a wide range and a variety of habitats. They originate in the Americas from southwestern Texas and Mexico through Central and South America. Many of these fish come from rivers, but for example the blind cave tetra even inhabits caves.

Systematics

This family has undergone a large amount of systematic and taxonomic change. More recent revision has moved many former members of the family into their own related but distinct families - the pencilfishes of the genus Nannostomus are a typical example, having now been moved into the Lebiasinidae, the assorted predatory species belonging to Hoplias and Hoplerythrinus have now been moved into the Erythrinidae, and the sabre-toothed fishes of the genus Hydrolycus have been moved into the Cynodontidae. The formner subfamily Alestiinae was promoted to family level (Alestiidae) and the subfamilies Crenuchinae and Characidiinae were moved to the family Crenuchidae.

Other fish families that were formerly classified as members of the Characidae, but which were moved into separate families of their own during recent taxonomic revisions (post-1994) include Acestrorhynchidae, Anostomidae, Chilodontidae, Citharinidae, Ctenoluciidae, Curimatidae, Distichodontidae, Gasteropelecidae, Hemiodontidae, Hepsetidae, Parodontidae, and Prochilodontidae.

The larger piranhas were originally classified as belonging to the Characidae, but various revisions place them in their own related family, the Serrasalmidae. This reassignment has yet to enjoy universal acceptance, but is gaining in popularity among taxonomists working with these fishes. Given the current state of flux of the Characidae, a number of other changes will doubtless take place, reassigning once-familiar species to other families. Indeed, the entire phylogeny of the Ostariophysi - fishes possessing a Weberian apparatus - has yet to be conclusively settled. Until that phylogeny is settled, the opportunity for yet more upheavals within the taxonomy of the characoid fishes is considerable.

The subfamilies currently recognized by most if not all authors, and some of their genera, are

Cyprinus

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Cyprinus is the genus of typical carps in family Cyprinidae. They are of East Asian origin and closely related to some more barb-like genera, such Cyclocheilichthys and the recently-established Barbonymus (tinfoils). The Crucian carps (Carassius) of western Eurasia, which include the Goldfish (C. auratus), are apparently not as closely related.

This genus' most widespread and well-known member is the Common Carp (C. carpio). It is famed as a food fish and widely traded and introduced since Antiquity, but in certain areas has multiplied inordinately and become a pest. In some places, such as Australia, it is illegal to not kill a Common Carp when you can, due to their severe overpopulation. In its long use it has been domesticated and a number of breeds have been developed for food and other purposes. The Koi are well-known Common Carp breeds, selectively bred for being enjoyed by spectators from above. Strictly speaking, "Koi" is simply the Japanese name of the Common Carp.

The other species of typical carps are generally found in more restricted areas of eastern Asia, centered around the Yunnan region. In some cases they are endemic to a single lakes, most notably Lake Er, as well as Lake Dian, Lake Jilu Lake Qilihu, Lake Xingyun and Lake Yi-Lung, which are all in Yunnan proper. A species from the last-named, C. yilongensis, was apparently endemic; if so, it is probably now extinct.

Crucian carp

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The Crucian Carp is a member of the family Cyprinidae, which includes many other fish such as the common carp, or the smaller minnows. They inhabit lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers throughout Europe and Asia. The crucian is a medium-sized cyprinid, which rarely exceeds a weight of over 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg). They usually have a dark green back, golden sides, and reddish fins, although other colour variations exist.

They are often caught as a sport fish: the British rod-caught record for largest crucian is four pounds, nine ounces, caught by Martin Bowler in a lake in southern England in 2003. There have been various bids for a breakage of this record since, but they have been passed off as the specimens have not been said to have been "true" crucians, but hybrids between the carp and one of its relatives, such as the goldfish, which are not native to the British Isles. In the Netherlands a typical crucian specimen of 54 cm, weighing 3 kg has been caught and photographed. Hybrids often exhibit hybrid vigour or heterosis, being much more adept at finding food and evading predators than either of their parents, and thus pose somewhat of a threat to the native carp population, and to other native aquatic animals.

These carp are also occasionally kept as freshwater aquarium fish, as well as in water gardens, although they are not commonly available commercially, mainly because they are not in particularly high demand due to the presence of more colourful fish such as the koi or orfe. However, they are one of the most important aquaculture species. In 2005 they were the species with the 10th highest production, globally (FAO 2005).

The variation in shape of a Crucian carp can be very high. The fish get an almost perfect disc shape with well rounded fins. If no predators like pike or perch are present, the Crucian carp will grow in length rather than height and the fish will be more slender looking. The growth in height will make it difficult for predators to swallow the crucian carp

Relation to Goldfish

Many sources will claim that Crucian carp are the wild form of the goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus), the wild form of the goldfish is actually the Prussian carp Carassius gibelio , or sometimes Carassius auratus gibelio with gibelio identified as a subspecies of C. auratus. While they are certainly closely related, they are different species which can be identified by the following characteristics:

C. auratus has a more pointed snout while the snout of C. carassius is well rounded.
The wild form of the Goldfish C. auratus gibelio or C. gibelio often has a grey/greenish color, while crucian carps are always golden bronze.
Juvenile crucian carp (and tench) have a black spot on the base of the tail which disappears with age. In C. auratus this tail spot is never present.
C. auratus have fewer than 31 scales along the lateral line while crucian carp have 33 scales or more.

Use

Although the crucian carp can be raised as pets, it is also farmed and commonly used in Chinese cuisine. Despite being reputedly bony, the fish is easy to raise and relatively cheap and are often deep fried as part of a worker's meal.

There are many extensive and luxurious preparations for this fish in Chinese cuisine. For example, it can be found in the Shanghainese dish congshao jiyu (蔥燒鯽魚, lit. scallion cooked crucian carp), which requires long hours for preparation since the fish needs to be soaked in vinegar, and then deep-fried, stewed for a long prolonged period, and cooled to make the fish tender enough to consume together with all its bones. Also, crucian carp is used to make soup with tofu, which is believed by Chinese to　benefit woman in postpartum period.

Common carp

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The Common carp or European carp is a widespread freshwater fish related to the common goldfish (Carassius auratus), with which it is capable of interbreeding. It gives its name to the carp family Cyprinidae. Common carp are native to Asia and Eastern Europe.

Variants include the mirror carp, with large mirror-like scales (linear mirror - scaleless except for a row of large scales that run along the lateral line; originating in Germany), the leather carp (virtually unscaled except near dorsal fin), and the fully scaled carp.

Origins

The common carp originally originated from Western Asia and spread throughout China, Siberia and the Danube basin. Domestication of carp as food fish was spread throughout Europe by monks between the 13th and 16th centuries. The wild forms of carp had reached the delta of the Rhine in the twelfth century already, probably also with some human help. Carp has now been introduced to all continents and some 59 countries. In Western Europe, the carp is cultured more commonly as a sport fish although there is a small market as food fish.

Physiology

Common carp can grow to a maximum length of 5 feet (1.5 m), a maximum weight of over 80 lb (37.3 kg), and an oldest recorded age of at least 65 years. The largest recorded carp, caught by an angler in 2007 at Rainbow lake near Bordeaux, France, weighed 88.6 pounds (40.1 kilograms). The wild, non-domesticated forms tend to be much less stocky at around 20% - 33% the maximum size.

Habitat

Although they are very tolerant of most conditions, common carp prefer large bodies of slow or standing water and soft, vegetative sediments. A schooling fish, they prefer to be in groups of 5 or more. They natively live in a temperate climate in fresh or brackish water with a 7.0 - 9.0 pH, and an a temperature range of 35.0 - 85.0 °F (1.6 - 30.0 °C). Common Carp will readily survive winter in a frozen over pond, as long as there remains some free water. Carp can withstand summer water temperatures in the low 90 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods. Ideal temperature is 68 to 75°F (20 to 24 °C).

Diet

Common carp are omnivorous. The common carp can eat a vegetarian diet of water plants, but prefers to scavenge the bottom for insects, crustaceans (including zooplankton), and benthic worms.

Reproduction

An egg-layer, a typical adult fish can lay 300,000 eggs in a single spawning. Although carp typically spawn in the Spring, in response to rising water temperatures and rain fall, carp can spawn multiple times in a season. In commercial operations spawning is often stimulated by injection. Carp lay eggs by the hundreds of thousands, yet their population remains the same, so the eggs and young must perish in similar vast numbers. Eggs and fry often fall victim to bacteria, fungi, and the vast array of tiny predators in the pond environment. Those fortunate enough to survive to juvenile are preyed upon by other fish such as the northern pike and largemouth bass.

Introduction into other habitats

Common carp have been introduced, sometimes illegally, into many countries. Due to their fecundity and their feeding habit of grubbing through bottom sediments for food they are notorious for altering their environment. In feeding, they may destroy, uproot and disturb submerged vegetation causing serious damage to native duck and fish populations.

Efforts to non-chemically eradicate a small colony from Tasmania's Lake Crescent have been successful, however the long-term, expensive and intensive undertaking is an example of the both the possibility and difficulty of safely removing the species once it is established. It has been proposed, but is regarded as environmentally questionable, to control common carp by deliberate exposure to the common carp specific Koi Herpes Virus with its high mortality rate.

In Australia there is enormous anecdotal and mounting scientific evidence that introduced carp are the cause of permanent turbidity and loss of submergent vegetation in the Murray-Darling river system, with severe consequences for river ecosystems, water quality and native fish species. In Victoria, Australia, Common carp has been declared as noxious fish species therefore there is no restriction on the quantity that a fisher can take. In South Australia, it is an offence for this species to be released back to the wild. An Australian company churns common carp into plant fertilizer.

Common carp were brought to the United States in 1831. In the late 1800s they were distributed widely throughout the country by the government as a foodfish. However, common carp are no longer prized as a foodfish in the United States. As in Australia, their introduction has been shown to have negative environmental consequences and they are usually considered to be invasive species. Millions of dollars are spent annually by natural resource agencies to control common carp populations in the United States.

Common carp are believed to have been introduced into the Canadian province of British Columbia from Washington State. They were first noted in the Okanagan Valley in 1912 as was their rapid growth in population. Carp are currently distributed in the lower Columbia (Arrow Lakes), lower Kootenay, Kettle (Christina Lake), and throughout the Okanagan system.

As food and sport

Cyprinus carpio is the number one fish of aquaculture. The annual tonnage of common carp, not to mention the other cyprinids, produced in China alone exceeds the weight of all other fish, such as trout and salmon, produced by aquaculture world wide.

Common carp are extremely popular with anglers in many parts of Europe, and their popularity as quarry is slowly increasing among anglers in the United States (though destroyed as pests in many areas), and southern Canada. Carp are also popular with spear, bow, and fly fishermen.

Carp is also eaten in many parts of the world both when caught from the wild and raised in aquaculture. In Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Poland, carp is a traditional part of a Christmas Eve dinner.

Carp are mixed with other common fish to make gefilte fish, popular in Jewish cuisine.

The Romans farmed carp and this pond culture continued through the monasteries of Europe and to this day. In China and soon after in Japan carp farming took place as early as the Yayoi Period (ca. 300 B.C - 300 A.D.).

Carp bream

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The carp bream (Abramis brama) (or simply bream in the UK) is a species of fresh-water fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae.

The common bream can be caught in most stocking fisheries and canals and some rivers.

Baits: -Maggots -Worms -Boilies -Soft Hook Pellets -Sweetcorn -Cat Meat -Spam -Hemp Seed -Dog Biscuits -Bread

Range

The bream's home range is in Europe north of the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as in the Balkans. It is also found as far east as the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Aral Sea.

Description

The carp bream is usually 30 to 55 centimeters (12 to 20 inches) long, though some specimens have been as long as 75 cm (30 in.), and weighed two to four kilograms (four to nine pounds).

It has a laterally flattened and high-backed body and a slightly inferior mouth. The fish is a silvery gray color, though older fish can be bronze-colored especially in clear waters. The fins are grayish to black and never colored.

Similar-looking fish

It can easily be confused with silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna), in particular at the younger stages (see picture). The most reliable method is counting the scales in a straight line from the first ray of the backfin to the lateral line. White bream has less than ten scales, carp bream 11 or more. At the adult stage the reddish implant of the pectoral fin of the Silver Bream is a very clear mark. Like all cyprinidae carp bream can easily hybridize with other species.

Habitat

The carp bream generally lives in rivers (especially in the lower reaches) and in nutrient-rich lakes and ponds with many algae and muddy bottoms. It can also be found in brackish sea waters.

Feeding habits

It lives in schools near the bottom. At night carp bream can feed close to the shore and in clear waters with sandy bottoms the feeding pits can be seen during daytime. The fish's protactile mouth helps it dig for chironomidae larvae, tubificidae, bivalves, and gastropods. The carp bream eats water plants and plankton as well.

In very turbid waters bream can occur in large numbers which can result in a shortage of bottom feeds like chironomidae. The carp bream is then forced to start filter feeding with its gill rakers with Daphnia as the main prey. As the fish grows the gill rakers grow to far apart to catch its prey and the bream will not grow bigger than 40 cm. If a carp bream is malnourished it can develop a so-called knife back, the formation of a very sharp edge along its back.

Spawning

The spawning time of the carp bream is from April to June, when water temperatures are around 17°C (63°F). In this time the males form territories in which the females lay their 100,000 to 300,000 eggs on water plants. The fish larvae hatch after three to twelve days and attach themselves with special adhesive glands to water plants until their yolk is used up.

The young fish are often not recognized as bream for their slender posture, they are recognizable by their flat body shape and silvery color. At this stage the fish is still pelagic, but in a few months the fishes take their typical body shape and become bottom dwellers. After three to four years the fish are sexually mature.