Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish
A range of six tropical freshwater aquarium fish you could add to your aquarium are presented here with colors and scientific names, best conditions, sex differences and breeding comment.
Croaking Gourami – Trichopsis vittatus (Family: Belontiidae)
Grows to about 6.5 cm and make their ‘noise’ during the breeding period at night. There is a smaller species at 3.5 cm; the Trichopsis pumilus (dwarf croaking gourami). Both are active fish, peaceful and need a higher temperature of 28ºC.
The Trichopsis vittatus is yellowish-green to a brownish coloration on the back blending into a bluish-white on the flanks and almost white on the belly. The sides also have lengthwise darker color bands and the fishes eyes are blue. The male has longer anal and dorsal fins. Not easy to get these fish to spawn.
Diamond Tetra – Moenkhausia pittieri (Family: Characidae)
Is at its best in a large tank at 21-24ºC, heavily planted in one area for hiding places. May grow to 7.5 cm and is a fast and agile mover. The fish has a bright red eye with a silvery gray or blue body. Males have more pointed and longer pelvic, anal and dorsal fins. This fish does not breed well in captivity.
The breeding tank will have a gravel bottom and fine leaved plants fixed along the bottom. Put the couple in overnight and note that the male can be very aggressive to the female pushing her over the plants where eggs are laid and fertilized straight away. Remove fish after spawning. Eggs hatch in two days and can swim a day or so later. Feed on infusoria or dried food.
Colisa lalia (Neon Dwarf gourami)- Image via Wikipedia
Dwarf Gourami – Colisa lalia (Family: Belontiidae)
Grows to about 6 cm, is hardy but shy and requires a tank with lots of algae for browsing, must be well planted and have a temperature of about 26ºC.
The fish body has blue and red bands. Anal and dorsal fins are blue with red dots and the pelvic fins are orange.
Compared to the female the male has a pointed dorsal fin and is usually stronger colored. These fish are bubble-nest builders and the male may behave aggressively.
Remove the female after spawning and then the male after the fry start swimming.
Kribensis – Pelvicachromis pulcher (Family: Cichlidae)
This is the most popular of several related species with the female growing to about 9 cm with the male about 2cm shorter. Happy at normal tropical tank temperatures in a large tank with heavily planted areas for hiding places. For a community tank use a compatible pair as a shoal tends to have some ‘in-fighting’.
Color wise the back is a brown shade and the flanks are purple to blue, often with a purple spot. The male has a caudal fin with yellow edged dark spots. Breed at 27ºC using an upturned plant pot (with access through the side – break a bit off) in a tank with a sandy bottom and plants. Often eggs will be laid inside the pot. Remove the male as the female may become aggressive towards him.
Firemouth – Thorichthys meeki (Family: Cichlidae)
The firemouths are breeding!- Image by Krista76 via Flickr
Possibly the most popular of several Chichlasoma species (as it used to be classified) as the Chichlasoma biocellatum (aka Jack Dempsey) and Chichlasoma severum are too aggressive for the community tank.
Having said that it is an argumentative fish unless it is part of a compatible pair and can grow to about 10 cm so it is not ideal for a community tank.
The most obvious coloring is the brilliant red on the belly up to the mouth. Body is bluish-green with pale purple markings plus a broken dark line from tail to gill plate. It prefers to spawn on a piece of slate, similar to the checkered dwarf cichlid.
Flying Barb – Esomus danrica (Family: Cyprinidae)
As its name suggests you must have a cover on the tank to prevent it jumping put. It must also have a certain amount of live food in its diet along with a water temperature of 22-24ºC and heavily planted tank.
It will eat at the top of the aquarium and will grow to about 9 cm. Under artificial light the body has a violet hue but in normal light the fish is olive green to light brown on its back, changing to a silvery gray/silver on the flanks and belly.
And there is a horizontal line along the body. The female is rounder and larger than the male. 26ºC is ideal for spawning in a tank with both submerged and floating plants. The eggs will be hatched on the floating plants and will fall to the bottom of the aquarium. The eggs may be eaten so remove the fish and consider using a breeding trap.
