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How to look afterLamprichthys tanganicanus

Lake Tanganyika lampeye

(Boulenger 1898)

(Other members of the genus Lamprichthys)

ADULT SIZE: 6 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately hard and alkaline

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 24-28 C

FOOD: Feed Lamprichthys tanganicanus live and dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Lake Tanganyika

AQUARIUM CARE: This is one of Lake Tanganyikas non-cichlid species. It is a lampeye; a shoaling killifish, usually much smaller. They inhabit the upper levels of the aquarium, and are good jumpers.

BREEDING: Breeding takes place, like many lampeye species, by laying eggs in a crevice. In this case it is generally on the surface of rock structures, however it is easier to make an artificial crevice for them, so the eggs can be removed and reared seperately. A good crevice is made by placing terracotta plant pots inside each other, leaving a very small gap.

Have you bred Lamprichthys tanganicanus? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Lamprichthys tanganicanus breeding reports

This lampeye is one of the largest shoaling killifish

BREEDING: Breeding takes place, like many lampeye species, by laying eggs in a crevice. In this case it is generally on the surface of rock structures, however it is easier to make an artificial crevice for them, so the eggs can be removed and reared seperately. A good crevice is made by placing terracotta plant pots inside each other, leaving a very small gap.

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Sorry no records.

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How to look afterInpaichthys kerri

Emperor tetra, royal tetra

Géry & Junk, 1977

(Other members of the genus Inpaichthys)

ADULT SIZE: 5 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Neutral

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-27 C

FOOD: Feed Inpaichthys kerri small live-foods and fine grade dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Brazil

AQUARIUM CARE: This gorgeous tetra likes a loosely planted tank, dark, but with some open water for swimming. Easy to keep and not fussy about food, a great addition to most community tanks. Not to be confused with the similar Nematobrycon palmeri, also sometimes referred to as the Emperor tetra.

BREEDING: Male Emperor tetras defend small territories in which they breed. Adult fish should be removed, and the fry fed on newly hatched artemia nauplii.

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BREEDING: Male Emperor tetras defend small territories in which they breed. Adult fish should be removed, and the fry fed on newly hatched artemia nauplii.

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Sorry no records.

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How to look afterBalantiocheilos melanopterus

Silver shark, Bala shark, Tricolor Shark, Tricolor sharkminnow

(Bleeker, 1851)

(Other members of the genus Balantiocheilos)

ADULT SIZE: 35 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Not critical

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-27 C

FOOD: Feed Balantiocheilos melanopterus live and dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia

AQUARIUM CARE: A lively shoaling species from Sumatra that does well in large tanks. This species is too large for most home aquariums. In larger quarters, it makes a good tank mate for large catfish, and anabantids. This fish can be startled easily, and may attempt to jump in such cases. Keep tanks covered!

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This species is too big for most home aquariums

These fish are very quick swimmers, coming from fast flowing rivers in South East Asia

The Silver Shark, is also known as the tricolor shark, shark minnow and Bala shark

BREEDING:

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This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute – whatever your experience! 1 breeder has filled in a breeding report, a summary of which is shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here. To add details of your experiences of Balantiocheilos melanopterus, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences

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How to look afterCyprichromis leptosoma

species Jumbo Kitumba

Species “Jumbo Kitumba”
more images here

(Other members of the genus Cyprichromis)

ADULT SIZE: 14 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately hard and alkaline

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 24-27 C

FOOD: Feed Cyprichromis leptosoma live and dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Lake Tanganyika

AQUARIUM CARE: This species inhabits open water withi the lake. An aquarium set-up should have lots of open water for swimming, and a sand substrate. It comes in several colour forms, some with extremes of yellow and blue.

BREEDING: Ab ovophile mouthbrooder (the female carries the eggs in her mouth) with a mother family.

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Species “Jumbo Kitumba”

BREEDING: Ab ovophile mouthbrooder (the female carries the eggs in her mouth) with a mother family.

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Sorry no records.

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How to look afterPeckoltia pulcher

Dwarf Pleco

(Steindachner, 1915)

(Other members of the genus Peckoltia)

ADULT SIZE: 12 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Not critical

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-28 C

FOOD: Feed Peckoltia pulcher a predominantly vegetarian diet

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Brazil

AQUARIUM CARE: This small catfish is quite terrotorial, but is a great community catfish for smaller aquariums. They are relatively shy, and will spend much of their daytime hiding, emerging at night to graze on bogwood and vegetable matter. A hardy species that can live many years in suitable conditions.

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BREEDING:

Have you bred Peckoltia pulcher? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

Sorry no records.

Low light plants Java moss, Java fern, and several of the Anubias species all do fine in low-light conditions. That is not to say that they do not thrive with stronger lighting, but in an aquarium with a lot of floating plants, or one with timid fish that prefer a dimmer tank, these plants are very useful indeed. All are epiphytes; that is to say they need not be planted, and can be attached to stones, bogwood or just left free floating

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How to look afterPuntius titteya

Cherry barb

Deraniyagala, 1929

(Other members of the genus Puntius)

ADULT SIZE: 5 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Not critical

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-27 C

FOOD: Feed Puntius titteya small live-foods and fine grade dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Sri Lanka

AQUARIUM CARE: The cherry barb naturally inhabits shaded rainforest streams in Sri Lanka, tending towards the lower strata. A well planted, and not too brightly lit tank will make these barbs at home. Males are much redder than females.

BREEDING: Soft water is preferable for the breeding tank. Fry should be raised separately, being fed newly hatched artemia nauplii at first, gradually moving on to other fine-grade live and dried foods.

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This male cherry barb demonstrates the intensity of colour of some males

Female cherry barbs do not have the bright colouration of the males, just a stripe… but they do still have red fins

BREEDING: Soft water is preferable for the breeding tank. Fry should be raised separately, being fed newly hatched artemia nauplii at first, gradually moving on to other fine-grade live and dried foods.

Have you bred Puntius titteya? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute – whatever your experience! 1 breeder has filled in a breeding report, a summary of which is shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here. To add details of your experiences of Puntius titteya, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences

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How to look afterCorydoras arcuatus

Arched cory, Skunk cory

Elwin 1939

(Other members of the genus Corydoras)

ADULT SIZE: 5 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Not critical

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-27 C

FOOD: Feed Corydoras arcuatus small live-foods and fine grade dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Peru, Brazil, Ecuador

AQUARIUM CARE: With the black stripe running down the length of this fish, and the whitish flanks, it is easy to see how the species gets the common name skunk cory. It is widespread species in the Amazon rainforest rivers fropm where it comes.

Aquarium care is much the same as for many other Corys: keep six or more individuals over a sand or fine grade gravel substrate. Water well oxygenated. Substrate cleanliness is important for Corys, as they spend their day rooting around for food at the bottom of the tank. Failure to do so can result in barbel problems.

C. arcuatus can be kept in a peaceful community aquarium with small shoaling fishes: tetras, danios, killifish etc. Avoid aggressive fish of the lower strata, cichlids for example; even South American dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma get aggressive at spawning time.

BREEDING: Substrate spawner, eggs often laid after a water change of cooler water.

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BREEDING: Substrate spawner, eggs often laid after a water change of cooler water.

Have you bred Corydoras arcuatus? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

Sorry no records.

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How to look afterGasteropelecus sternicla

Silver hatchet fish

(Linnaeus, 1758)

(Other members of the genus Gasteropelecus)

ADULT SIZE: 5 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately soft and acidic

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-28 C

FOOD: Feed Gasteropelecus sternicla live and dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela

AQUARIUM CARE: Does fine in a planted community tank, with some floating plants. This Amazonian shoaler often jumps out of the water to catch insects in flight. This behaviour also occurs in the aquarium, and so tanks should always have adequate covers to prevent losses. They relish all live foods, both worms etc, but are particularly fond of fruit flies.
Like all shoaling characins, hatchetfish need to be kept in a social group of at least 6 individuals, but preferably more.

BREEDING: Unknown

Have you bred Gasteropelecus sternicla? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Gasteropelecus sternicla breeding reports

BREEDING: Unknown

Have you bred Gasteropelecus sternicla? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute – whatever your experience! 2 breeders have filled in breeding reports, a summary of the results are shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here. To add details of your experiences of Gasteropelecus sternicla, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences

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