Care
The Honeycomb Combtail is mostly found in blackwater peat swamps in the wild, characterised by soft, acidic water with little flow. The aquarium housing this species should be spacious and mature, with a substrate of soft sand or fine rounded gravel. Provide a multitude of hiding places amongst dense planting and tangles of driftwood. Filtration should be efficient, but water movement gentle, and small frequent water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. Combtails have the ability to take in warm air from above the water"™s surface, so a small gap must be left between the surface of the water and the cover slides in order for the fish to accomplish this. These fish are not suitable for the general community aquarium on account of their territorial nature and propensity to eat small fish. As the adults (particularly the males) can be rather aggressive with one another, it may best to maintain just one compatible male-female pair, or a large enough group of juveniles to dissipate aggression. Tankmates should be robust and can include large barbs, deep-bodied tetras and rainbowfishes. Large gouramis such as Kissers (Helostoma) or Blue gouramis (Trichopodus) can work well. May also be seen on sale as Java or Malay Combtail.
Feeding
Most will take dried foods as a staple alongside a range of size-appropriate frozen foods e.g. bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc. Larger specimens will take bigger foodstuffs such as Mysis shrimp, chopped prawns and chopped earthworms (make sure these are clean and free of any pesticides).
Breeding
Breeding occurs at the upper end of the suggested temperature range, with the male fish taking the primary care role. Spawning follows an embrace between the in typical labyrinth style. Accounts vary as to the extent of the nest but the male keeps the eggs together until hatching occurs, while the female guards her mate from intruders. Once free-swimming, the fry are capable of taking newly-hatched brine shrimp as a first food.
