Page 186 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

184 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

OTHER ASIAN SPECIES

Some Asian species are far more popular in their
home region than elsewhere in the world, often
because of the myths and folklore that
surround them. The Dragon Fish
of Southeast Asia, for
example, is believed to
bestow good fortune on its
keeper. Such unusual species are
sporadically available from specialist
dealers and may be worth seeking out for
their novelty and beauty. These fish vary
greatly in size and care requirements. The predatory Dragon Fish
(Scleropages formosus) is
Some, such as the Knight Goby, have close endangered in the wild.
Stocks available to aquarists
marine relatives and may benefit from today are captive-bred, in
order to safeguard the
slightly brackish water conditions. future of the species.

Mogurnda mogurnda Oryzias latipes
Purple-Striped Gudgeon A tank for these fish should incorporate a number Medaka
of retreats in the form of rock caves or upturned
ORIGINS From Southeast Asia to New Guinea and flowerpots. Pairs should ideally be kept on their ORIGINS Asia, from China to Japan and South Korea;
northern and central parts of Australia. own for spawning purposes, since males become may also occur on some Indonesian islands.
SIZE 7 in (17.5 cm). more territorial and aggressive at this time. A pair SIZE 1 ⁄2 in (4 cm).
1
DIET Live foods and prepared foods. will spawn in a cave chosen by the male, with up DIET Prepared diets and small live foods.
WATER Temperature 75–86°F (24–30°C); hard to 200 eggs being laid. After driving away the WATER Temperature 68–79°F (20–26°C); hard
(50–100 mg/l) and neutral to alkaline (pH 7.0–7.2). female, the male will keep watch over the eggs. (100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Territorial. Hatching occurs within about two days, depending TEMPERAMENT Placid and quite social.
on the water temperature. The male loses interest
The striped patterning that characterizes the in the fry once they are free-swimming and may The Medaka, which frequents the upper levels
Purple-Striped Gudgeon is most apparent on the eat the young if he is not removed. The fry can be of the tank, exists in a number of color forms;
head and gill covers, while dark spots are scattered reared on small live foods. the golden morph (below) is one of the most
over the attractive sky-blue flanks. Visual common. Females have shorter, more rounded
distinctions between the sexes are slight, but anal fins and fewer reflective scales on the rear
female Purple-Striped Gudgeons grow noticeably of the body. Immediately after spawning, a string
larger than males. of eggs resembling a bunch of grapes can be seen
trailing from the female’s vent. The eggs are soon
deposited among fine-leaved vegetation.

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