3 More Freshwater Fish Tank Fish Described
Why not consider adding these three freshwater fish tank fish selections to your community. The Pinktailed Charachin, the Silver Hatchet and the Splashing tetra are described in this article and information supplied on their feeding habits, behavior, features, tank requirements and breeding information.
Pinktailed Characin – Chalceus macrolepidotus (Family: Characidae)
Behavior:
This fish is also classified in the family Chalceidae. It can be kept in a community tank as long as the other fish are large because it is a predatory fish. Ideally it should be in a small shoal. It is also a good leaper so keep that cover on!
Water and tank conditions:
Ensure there is plenty of swimming area in an aquarium at least 70 cms long ensure you have some floating plants for shade as the fish likes to swim near the surface. Soft water is best at a temperature of 23 to 27 degrees centigrade.
Features and colors:
These fish can grow to 25 cms in the wild but will not reach anything like that in your aquarium. A striking fish, it has a long body with large scales and pink colored dorsal, ventral and caudal fins. Depending on the angle of the light this fish may appear to be purple or green on its sides with a darker back and silvery stomach.
Feeding:
Not a problem as it will eat a range of live foods (insect larvae, worms, water-fleas, small fish) and diced meat and dried foods.
Breeding conditions:
As far as I can ascertain this fish has not been bred in an aquarium yet.
Silver Hatchet – Gasteropelecus levis (Family: Gasteropelecidae)
Behavior:
This freshwater fish tank fish can actually fly over the surface so you will need that cover again! It does it by moving its well muscled pectoral fins rapidly like a bird. Better kept as a small shoal. Unfortunately it has a short life span.
Water and tank conditions:
The tank should be long, the water slightly acidic, normal amount of planting and usual tropical fish tank temperatures.
Features and colors:
They are known as the hatchet fish because they are pretty thin and have long stomachs which makes them look like a hatchet blade. A dark band runs from the caudal peduncle to the gill area, its fins are colorless and the main color is silver with the back being darker. It is practically impossible to tell the difference between the sexes. It can reach a size of about 6 cms.
Feeding:
Quite fussy they will not eat dried foods, will not eat near the bottom of the aquarium and will only eat vegetable and live foods.
Breeding conditions:
Appear to have never been bred in captivity.
Splashing Tetra – Copeina arnoldi (Family: Lebiasinidae)
Behavior:
You can guess from another of its common names, the Jumping characin, that you must have a cover on the tank.It is a sturdy fish that is one of the more popular species in the genus. It is also known as the Copella arnoldi.
Water and tank conditions:
Temperature range should be between 22 and 26 degrees centigrade.
Features and colors:
It has a slender body with large scales and no adipose fin. The main color is red brown with silver highlights and each scale has dark borders. The female is smaller than the male and does not have a white spot at the bottom of the dorsal fin. Anal and pelvic fins are tinted with red and sometimes the lower part of the caudal fin is too.
Feeding:
Not fussy it will eat practically anything you give it.
Breeding conditions:
The breeding behavior is quite remarkable. Floating leaves can be used as spawning areas for the fish or you can paint a piece of frosted glass green and suspend it on the surface of the water in the breeding tank. Condition the mating couple with live food. Both fish jump out of the water onto the spawning area and temporarily join together before falling back into the aquarium.
Up to a hundred eggs may be laid on the spawning area over an hour and every now and again the male will approach and splash the eggs to keep them moist. Seventy two hours later and they will hatch with the fry dropping into the water going to the bottom and staying there for up to a week. The usual food regime for young fry can be adopted, staring with infusoria.
So there we have it. Three more freshwater fish tank fish suitable for a community environment for you to choose from.
