Three Freshwater Fish For Community Tank
Why not consider adding these three freshwater fish tank selections to your community. The Lyretail, the Molly and the Pearl Gourami are described in this article and information supplied on their behavior, feeding habits, water and tank requirements, physical features and breeding information.
Lyretail – Aphyosemion australe (Family: Cyprinodontidae)
Behavior: The lyretail is ideal for a community tank and is very popular amongst the range of species available for aquarists. There come in different colors. For example the blue gularis (Aphyosemion coeruleum) and yellow gularis (Aphyosemion gulare) and these are also active carnivorous species but do not have the lovely caudal fin that the lyretail has.
Water and Tank Conditions: Best not to put this fish in a new tank as it is best suited to more mature aquarium water. And ideally you need the water to be slightly acidic and at a normal tropical aquarium temperature.
Features and Colors: As mentioned above the lyretail’s prominent feature is its attractive caudal fin, which as its name suggests is shaped like the musical instrument, the lyre. It will grow to about 7 cms. Compared to the male the female is not as colorful.The male has long anal and dorsal fins with strips of blue in them and edged with a deep red color.
It also has red spots dotted haphazardly along its sides. Its back is a dark brown changing to a blue green for the body. The lyre tail has dark red spots in its blue green middle.
Feeding: Prefers live food most of the time but you can give it some dried stuff now and again.
Breeding Conditions: Put the breeding tank’s temperature two degrees centigrade above the normal. Spawning takes place over about a week with both fish laying next to each other where an egg is laid and fertilized by the male. Up to a hundred eggs can be laid this way and scattered amongst the plants. It is best to remove the eggs to a separate incubation tank where they may take up to three weeks to hatch. Feed the fry on infusoria initially.
Molly – Poecilia sphenops (Family: Poeciliidae)
Behavior: The marbled molly (Poecilia sphenops) is the original one from which many species have been bred. It is an extremely popular fish with newcomers and the most favored variety is probably the black molly (or perma black or midnight black). During a courtship period, when fins are displayed at their best, and you have several males together then you can expect some damage occurring if fighting breaks out.
Water and Tank Conditions: A temperature range between 23 and 28 degrees centigrade will suit the molly and the water should be slightly alkaline. Regarding tank occupants, be wary of having tail nipping fish in your community as they can be a problem.
Features and Colors: As mentioned above there are many species with different colors. The sailfin molly (Poecilia lapinna), as its name suggests, has a fantastic dorsal fin that can be as long as and deeper than the body of the fish itself. It color is iridescent blue and it can grow to 9 cms. There is also a larger version, not surprisingly called the giant sailfin molly. Its dorsal fin has orange, blue, red and brown coloration.
Feeding: No problem here. They like algae and vegetable stuff but give them the full works with dried food and live food as well.
Breeding Conditions: A breeding trap will most likely be needed as removing a pregnant molly can result in miscarriage and possible death for the fish itself. And the fish involved are cannibalistic. Mate a male with several females. Usual procedures for live-bearing fish should be followed. A female molly can give you up to a hundred fry in an eight week period.
Pearl Gourami – Trichogaster leeri (Family: Belontiidae)
Behavior: This a very popular freshwater fish for the tank but there are other species around such as the snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) and the three-spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus).
Water and Tank Conditions: A well matured tank is best for this fish with the temperature in the higher range of 24 to 29 degrees centigrade.
Features and Colors: The pearl gourami can reach about 10 cms and its body color is a pale olive green to turquoise mix. It gets its name from the mother of pearl spots that run into the fins. A striking feature is the dark stripe going from the mouth through the eye and fading away near the caudal fin.
The pelvic fins look like feelers as they are thin and long. The snakeskin gourami can grow up to 12-14 cms and is peaceful with fish of a similar size. The three-spot gourami can reach 12.5 cms.
Feeding: Ideally you want to be giving them live food in their diet although they will accept most things.
Breeding: During the breeding period you will see the male develop a bright red tint to his stomach. He builds a bubble nest in which the female lays eggs regularly over the summer period. You may notice the male attack the female during courtship.
After spawning take the female away and then the male about five days later. The eggs and hatched fry should be safe from the parents. They are not noted for cannibalism. Fry should appear after about two days and reared as normal.
I hope you find our information on the three freshwater fish for tank conditions helpful for you in your endeavor to select suitable fish for your community aquarium.
Photos attribution: Pearl Gourami- Superjew
