Page 92 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

90 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Copella nigrofasciata Corynopoma riisei Copella arnoldi
Black-Banded Pyrrhulina Swordtail Characin Splashing Tetra

ORIGINS Eastern South America, found in Brazil in the ORIGINS Found in northern South America, where it ORIGINS South America, occurring in Guyana, in the
vicinity of Rio de Janeiro. occurs in Colombia’s Rio Meta. lower part of the Amazon basin.
1
1
SIZE 2 ⁄2 in (6 cm). SIZE 2 ⁄2 in (6.5 cm). SIZE 3 ⁄4 in (8 cm).
1
DIET Flake and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. DIET Prepared foods and small live foods.
WATER Temperature 70–77°F (21–25°C); soft WATER Temperature 72–82°F (22–28°C); soft WATER Temperature 77–84°F (25–29°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). (50–100 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
TEMPERAMENT Peaceful. TEMPERAMENT Peaceful and social. TEMPERAMENT Peaceful and social.
Like the female, pictured below, the male Black spot
is silvery in color but has a swordlike on dorsal fin
extension on the lower lobe of the caudal
fin and a filament on each gill cover, which is
probably used to steer the female into position
for mating. Fertilization is internal, and the eggs
are laid in the male’s absence. Hatching occurs up
to 36 hours later, and the young Swordtails can Pale underparts
be reared on fry food, followed by brine shrimp.
Male Splashing Tetras are larger than females,
Subdued lighting emphasizes the color of these with red markings on the caudal fin. Because of
pyrrhulinas, in particular the pale blue stripes on the athletic behavior of these fish, keep the
the sides of the body. A narrow black line runs aquarium covered and the water level reasonably
through the eye. Sexing is straightforward, since low. A spawning pair will jump up and deposit as
the fins are more pointed and brightly colored in many as 15 small batches of eggs on a broad leaf
the male, shown above. A pair will spawn on a protruding above the water line, or even on the
leaf, which is first carefully cleaned by the male. glass of the tank. The male keeps the eggs moist by
The eggs hatch after about a day, and the fry are splashing them with its tail every 30 seconds or so,
free-swimming by the time they are 5 days old. continuing until they hatch about three days later.

Copeina guttata Thayeria boehlkei
Red-Spotted Copeina stronger body color. These fish can be disruptive Hockey Sticks
in the tank, especially at the start of the spawning
ORIGINS Northern South America, occurring widely period, when the male may chase its intended ORIGINS Northern South America, in the Peruvian part
throughout the Amazon basin. partner relentlessly. The eggs are laid in batches in of the Amazon basin, and in Brazil’s Rio Araguaia.
SIZE 6 in (15 cm). a scrape in the substrate. They are guarded by the SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm).
DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. male, who also oxygenates them by fanning them DIET Prepared foods and small live foods.
WATER Temperature 73–84°F (23–29°C); soft with his fins. The young, which emerge after WATER Temperature 73–84°F (23–29°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). about two days, need a fry food once they are (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
TEMPERAMENT May be aggressive when spawning. free-swimming. For breeding, ensure that there is TEMPERAMENT Peaceful and social.
a soft, sandy substrate that the male can excavate.
The pattern of red spots is most apparent in Include a clear digging area so that plants are not
the male, shown here; the male also displays an uprooted by the male’s actions. Raising the water Deeply forked
enlarged upper lobe on the caudal fin and has a temperature is a proven spawning trigger. caudal fin

Extensive
black stripe
Hockey Sticks have a black stripe
that extends from behind the gills back
to the caudal peduncle and then diverts down
across the lower lobe of the caudal fin. A faint
golden line running beneath this stripe is also
apparent. In the Penguin Fish (T. obliqua), the
black stripe is shorter and reaches only as far as
the base of the dorsal fin. It is essential to make a
partial water change every two weeks in order
to prevent any harmful nitrate buildup.

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