Highly adaptable, but will be seen at its best in soft slightly acidic water. pH: 5.5-7.0, dH: up to 15 degrees.
Compatibility
Specialist community
Lighting
Low
Sexual Dimorphism
Unknown
Feeding
Flake, granules and frozen foods
Description
Care
This unusual characin is best maintained in large groups of 6 or more (10+ is better) due to its nervousness and tightly shoaling nature. The tank should be at least 4ft long to give this laterally-compressed species ample swimming space, and it should be furnished with plenty of bogwood to provide shady hiding spots. Peat filtration is suggested to help provide acidic conditions and impart some tannins into the water, which will give the set-up a more natural feel. Robust plants such as Java fern or Anubias sp. could be included; however, soft leaved plant varieties will be eaten. Lighting should be fairly dim. Although peaceful, smaller shy species may feel intimidated by the adult size and fast moving nature of these fish. Good tankmates would include Loricariids (suckermouth catfish), Corydoras catfish, medium-sized moderately peaceful cichlids such as Heros, Geophagus, Cleithracara etc, or other large tetra species.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer a quality flake food along with a variety of frozen foodstuffs such as mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, daphnia, and finely chopped shrimp. Include some green matter in the diet.
Breeding
This egg laying species is reported to scatter its eggs over fine leaved plants (the eggs numbering up to 2000 from mature fish). The adults exhibit no parental care.
Where can I buy these aquarium fish?
If you like this species and would like to find out more, we have an enormous range of aquarium fish and invertebrates available to buy in all of our stores across the UK (including freshwater tropical and marine fish).
However, please note that this species may not be available in your chosen store, even if the store specialises in this particular species. This is due to seasonality and stock availability from store-to-store. Please check with your local store about availability of specific species to purchase before making a journey.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
