Page 103 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CHARACOIDS/TETRAS 101

Arnoldichthys spilopterus Inpaichthys kerri Pristella maxillaris
African Red-Eyed Characin Blue Emperor X-Ray Tetra

ORIGINS West Africa, ranging from Lagos, Nigeria, to the ORIGINS South America. A relatively recent discovery ORIGINS South America, in Venezuela, Guyana, and the
Niger Delta. from the Rio Aripuana in Amazonia. lower Amazon in Brazil.
SIZE 4 in (10 cm). SIZE 2 in (5 cm). SIZE 1 ⁄4 in (4.5 cm).
3
DIET Eats prepared foods and live foods. DIET Eats both prepared diets and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods and live foods.
WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); hard WATER Temperature 75–81°F (24–27°C); soft WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft
(150–200 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Placid shoaler. TEMPERAMENT Placid. TEMPERAMENT Nonaggressive.
The stunning blue of the adult male, seen below, White tip to
Black marking on
the dorsal fin is maintained only in good water conditions. The the dorsal fin
female is smaller and duller, with brownish-yellow
upperparts and a broad black band passing through
the eyes and along the body. These fish need a
well-planted tank with an open area for swimming.
They are best kept in groups and are perfect for
a community aquarium, making ideal companions
Both sexes show the characteristic red eye marking, for nonaggressive species such as corydoras catfish.
but they can usually be sexed on the basis of the
anal fin. In the males, this is convex and more The transparent appearance of X-Ray Tetras allows
colorful, displaying red, yellow, and black bands. them to be sexed on the basis of the shape of their
The extremely active nature of African Red-Eyed swim bladder, which is more pointed in the males.
Characins precludes dense planting in their tank. Despite their transparency, they are not colorless,
Pairs can be prolific, with females producing more with the golden, red, white, and black areas on
than 1,000 eggs at a single spawning. A soft base in their bodies giving rise to their alternative name
the spawning tank is vital, since the fry will dive to of Water Goldfinch. The coloration of X-Ray Tetras
the bottom if scared. They grow fast, reaching can be emphasized if they are kept in an aquarium
almost 2 in (5 cm) in length within seven weeks. with a dark base and subdued lighting.

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
Yellow-Banded Tetra

ORIGINS South America, occurring in eastern Peru and
Bolivia, Paraguay, and western Brazil.
SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm).
DIET Eats both prepared foods and live foods.
WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); hard
(100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Has a strong shoaling instinct.
Attention is immediately drawn to the head of
this fish by the red on the upper part of the iris.
The yellow band on the caudal peduncle
distinguishes it from the larger and more aggressive
Glass Tetra (M. oligolepsis). Yellow-Banded Tetras
are active fish, so their tank should have planted
areas around the sides and to the rear for use as
retreats and a clear area at the front for swimming.
These fish are quite adaptable in terms of their
water chemistry requirements. Sexing is difficult
unless the fish are in breeding condition, when
females appear swollen with spawn. The spawning
tank must be densely planted to deter the fish from
eating their own eggs. The female scatters several
hundred eggs in vegetation, often among the roots
of floating plants. The adults will then need to be
removed. The young emerge after about two days;
by a week old, they should be large enough to be
weaned off fry foods and onto brine shrimp.

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