Page 362 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

360 POND FISH DIRECTORY

Pimephales promelas Chrosomus erythrogaster Rhodeus amarus
Fathead Minnow Southern Red-Bellied Dace European Bitterling

ORIGINS Found through much of North America, from ORIGINS North America, extending from Minnesota ORIGINS Europe to the north of the Alps, although it
Canada’s Great Slave Lake southward to Mexico. eastward to New York State. does not naturally occur in Scandinavia or Great Britain.
SIZE 4 in (10 cm). SIZE 3 ⁄2 in (9 cm). SIZE 4 in (10 cm).
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DIET Flake and pelleted foods. DIET Flake, small pellets, and live foods. DIET Eats a wide variety of foodstuffs, including pellets.
WATER Temperature 50–77°F (10–25°C); hard WATER Temperature 50–77°F (10–25°C); hard WATER Temperature 50 –70°F (10–21°C); hard
(100–150 mg/l) and neutral to alkaline (pH 7.0–7.5). (100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0 ). (100–150 mg/l) and around neutral (pH 7.0 ).
TEMPERAMENT Active and social. TEMPERAMENT Relatively peaceful. TEMPERAMENT Lively and peaceful.
The small size of these minnows means that their Blue streak in
A dark stripe extends attractive coloration will be difficult to appreciate front of the
along the midline caudal fin
in a pond setting, and they probably look best in
a coldwater aquarium. Good oxygenation and
filtration is important, since their natural habitat
is fast-flowing streams. Lowering the water
temperature over winter and increasing it again
in spring should trigger spawning behavior. The
Brown is the natural coloration female scatters her eggs above the substrate.
Fathead Minnows are naturally brown, but there is
also a yellowish strain called the Golden Minnow. European Bitterling will breed successfully only if
These lively shoalers are not entirely hardy, but they their pond houses Swan Mussels (Anodonta cygnea).
can be moved into an indoor aquarium if necessary The female lays her eggs inside an open mussel
to protect them from extreme cold. Sexing is easy using her prominent egg-laying tube, or
during spring, when the males develop white spots ovipositor, which measures about 1 ⁄2 in (3.75 cm)
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called tubercles on their gill plates. The female lays long. The male then fertilizes the eggs before the
her eggs beneath rocks or raised pots, and the male mussel closes. The fry hatch and emerge from the
guards them until they hatch about five days later. mussel’s siphon tube about a month later.
Tinca tinca
Tench Tench tend to be relatively inconspicuous, since
they congregate at the bottom of the pond. They
ORIGINS Occurs naturally throughout much of Europe; are fairly easy to keep, being unfussy about water
absent from the far south and Scandinavia. conditions, although they dislike strong currents.
SIZE 2 ft (60 cm). Adult males are recognizable by their larger pelvic
DIET Eats pellets, which it may take at the surface. fins, but usually only young Tench are offered for
WATER Temperature 32–86°F (0–30°C); hard sale, which makes sexing difficult. A mature female
(100–150 mg/l) and around neutral (pH 7.0 ). lays hundreds of thousands of eggs over the course
TEMPERAMENT Social; needs to be kept in small shoals. of a year. The eggs hatch a week after being laid. Orange-red coloration
extends on to the fins
Red Tench This variety is distinguished by vivid orange-
red coloration offset against variable dark markings,
typically on the head and along the back. The appearance
of Red Tench can be improved by color feeding.

Caudal peduncle is
long and broad, as shown
by this young specimen
Red-and-White Tench As in
orfe, goldfish, and other carp, Green Tench This is the natural color form, although its
this coloration is the result of a appearance may vary depending on its background. Fish
natural mutation, which has been living in water with dense vegetation are a much darker
enhanced by selective breeding. green than those inhabiting sparsely planted ponds.

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