Breeding the AFRICAN LONG-FINNED TETRA

"Brycinus longipinnis". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.

Sexing

The sexes of the African Long-Finned Tetra () are easy to distinguish. To me, the most obvious difference is in the dorsal fin. In the males, it is longer and more pointed while in females it is shorter and rounded. The males grow a little bigger than the females, and the body of the males tends to be deeper than that of the females. The anal fin of the male tends to be convex and edged in white while that of the females to be straight or concave.

Breeding in the Wild

Some observations suggest that in the wild an African Long-Finned Tetra school may breed over an extended period, laying a few eggs each day over plants. It is a reasonable guess that this versatile fish has several different breeding strategies in the wild adapted to the wide range of habitats it lives in.

Breeding in an Aquarium

The African Long-Finned Tetra can be bred either as a school or in a pair. This is not an easy tetra to breed but people who make a serious attempt may succeed. The parents need to be very well conditioned on high protein foods. The water in the breeding tank should be soft and acid. Plants, preferably fine-leaved ones, need to be present. The fish may not spawn the first day, but with luck will spawn within a few days. As with many fish, the most common time for this fish to spawn is the early morning. The actual spawning may be stimulated by the early morning light. I suggest that the breeding tank be situated to allow this light to fall on the aquarium.

About 200-300 eggs are laid per female. The eggs are 2-2.5 mm in diameter and are orange. The parents have been reported to not eat their own eggs. There have not been enough reports of this to be sure if this is normal. Certainly, if they do not eat their own eggs this is unusual behavior for an egg scattering tetra. The eggs hatch in 4-6 days. The babies are about 7 mm long. This is bigger than the fry of most egg scattering small fish.

Raising the Babies

Despite the large size of the African Long-Finned Tetra babies they have small mouths and need infusoria (protozoa) for the first few days. After this, they can eat newly hatched Brine Shrimp and other tiny live food. The live food of suitable sizes can be supplemented with liquid and dry fry foods.

The fry needs frequent feeding and plenty of space to grow. Great care needs to be taken with the water quality, avoiding any build-up of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. For the early stages, an air operated foam filter may be the safest type to use.

By Steve Challis - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Characteristics Of The SERPAE TETRA Fish

Photo  by dmott9 

Are you looking to create a tropical aquarium? Do you want to add more fish to your existing aquarium? If so, consider getting the serpae tetra fish. Serpae tetras are community fish that will mix well with other fish. Whether you are a seasoned aquarist or someone who is only starting to discover the wonderful world of the aquarium, the serpae tetra fish is a good choice for your aquarium. Serpae tetras are community fish that are easy to keep. They are hardy fish and mix well with small fish in an aquarium.

Originally from South America, Peru and the Amazon River basin, the serpae tetra fish is sleek, tall and compressed. A serpae tetra fish typically grows up to 2.2 inches long. The female serpae tetra fish is generally a bit more rounded than its male counterpart. The color of the serpae tetra fish's body can range from bright red to reddish brown. The serpae tetra fish's ventral and anal fins are red. Its dorsal fin, however, is black with white fringing. A black spot can be found behind its gill cover. As the serpae tetra fish ages, this black spot slowly become smaller.

If you are thinking of getting serpae tetras, make sure that your aquarium is well planted. Serpae tetras love live plants and driftwoods. While the serpae tetra fish can tolerate being in an aquarium with low temperatures, it is best that you keep the temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your serpae tetra fish happy.

The serpae tetra fish is an easy fish to care for and to feed. A serpae tetra fish will eat everything from flakes to live, freeze-dried and frozen foods. Give your serpae tetra a variety of diet. If you have several serpae tetras, you will notice that they will nip at each other's fins while you feed them in an effort to grab for food.

Serpae tetras are community fish. However, it is recommended that you do not mix your serpae tetra fish with neon tetra fish because serpae tetra fish can be a bit too aggressive for the neon tetra fish to handle.

You will typically find serpae tetras swimming in the middle and bottom areas of the aquarium tank. In general, serpae tetras do not bother other fish in the tank. However, serpae tetras love to play with and chase each other around the tank.

Submitted by: George Chao - Source: www.isnare.com

Tips on MARBLED HATCHETFISH Care and Spawning

Carnegiella strigata  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Marbled hatchetfish or Carnegiella strigata are a member of the family Gasteropelecidae. They are native to Panama and most of South America.

The hatchetfish derives its name from its peculiarly shaped body. Hatchetfish have an enormously enlarged sternal region. They are a smaller variety of fish reaching only about two inches long when fully grown. They have an average life expectancy of five years.

Hatchetfish prefer subdued lighting. Hatchets are surface dwellers. Most of their time is spent near the surface of the aquarium. They take readily to a heavily planted terrain. They also have an affinity for floating plants. Hornwort is a good choice if you intend to keep hatchetfish.

Beware: hatchet fish are accomplished jumpers. In nature, they often jump out of the water to escape predators. They are generally considered the only true flying-fish. Hatchets have extraordinarily powerful pectoral fins. The muscles attached to these fins accounts for 1/4 of their entire body weight. They actually flap their pectoral fins to aid in their flight. The rapid beating of these fins allows them to lift their bodies halfway out of the water and glide along the surface. There have been reported cases of them actually becoming airborne for short distances. Quite understandably, they should only be kept in a lidded aquarium.

Hatchetfish have a docile nature. They are good community fish provided they are surrounded by species of similar temperament. You also want to avoid housing them with fish that are large enough to consider them the perfect lunch.

Hatchets are shoaling fish. Nature didn't intend for them to live a solitary existence. It is not uncommon for them to perish without another member of their own species. A group of 6 or 8 is ideal. Given their size, this shouldn't present a problem even for smaller aquarium owners.

The Amazon River is slightly acidic. PH levels generally run around 6.8. The river ranges in temperatures from 76-82°. Hatchetfish will thrive under these conditions.

Hatchetfish are omnivores. In nature, their diet consists primarily of small insects, insect larvae and plant matter. In captivity, they are not picky. A general purpose tropical fish food will suffice.

Males are more colorful than the females and typically have more markings on their bodies.

Breeding Hatchetfish

Hatchetfish are egg layers. They will spawn in an aquarium providing there are plenty of plants. Spawning usually occurs under the camouflage of these plants.

Once released, the eggs will adhere to the plants. The fry will hatch in about 24 hours. They will be free swimming in four to five days.

The fry is particularly small. They should be fed infusoria or a similar liquid fry food formulated for egg laying fish. When they grow a little larger their diet can be switched to newly hatched brine shrimp. Or for the sake of convenience, they can be fed small amounts of powdered eggs. In about a week you can start feeding them finely crushed fish flakes.

By Stephen J Broy Jellyfish aquariums are the hottest new trend in the aquarium industry. Jellyfish do require a special Jellyfish Aquarium Fish Tank in order to survive but they are far easier to keep alive and healthy than saltwater fish. If you find the idea of raising pet jellyfish intriguing, find out more about Moon Jellyfish and other Pet Jellies. Article Source: EzineArticles

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TETRA FISH - A Great Choice For Your Aquarium Collection

Photo  by Schill 

Let's talk about what attracted me to a tetra fish - the size of course! Tetras can grow to as much as two inches and can live up to five to ten years. Personally, it is one of my top choices for a freshwater tank fish because most fishes grow so big that they don't fit in your aquarium anymore after some time. Thus, you will have no choice but to transfer the big ones to a different tank. That is way too much work especially if you are a busy person and hey! I love to admire the little variety of these little ones, packed with other tropical freshwater rascals. Watching them glide after a long, tiring day is just heaven. All of you fish lovers out there surely understand what I mean!

Different Tetra Breeds

Moving on, there are many different species of tetras. I have seen about 26 of them. They come in different color, shape and size. They are also distinguished by their minuscule adipose fins, found between the dorsal and caudal fin. To keep it simple as ABC, the fins are very recognizable. My favorite is the bleeding heart tetra. There is something about the pinkish color and its bulky nature that makes it look attractive. It's price starts around $4. A tetra in general costs between $1 to $10 depending on its species. Some will need a lot of care and supervision, while others don't. A few others might need a certain special care or else they die in poor water conditions. So far, the most expensive one is the splashing tetra, diamond head neon and congo tetra. The neon-orange color from the tail going up of the diamond head is simply amazing if you have seen one! I guess that's why the price is so much more compared to regular one. Say for example the glow light or the head and tail light tetra, where the color is a simple shade of silvery hues. But to tell you the truth, the splashing tetra astounds me. It's pretty pricey for a silver colored tetra. Nothing fancy about it! Could be the ability to jump makes it more expensive? I am baffled.

Neon Tetra

Nonetheless, I am pretty sure you're more familiar with the neon tetra who is very famous of their kind. It has bluish and reddish combination found in both black and clear waters of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Funny thing is, they also need to be kept in a group. Maybe a school of 10 neon tetra is ideal, otherwise, they would feel stressed alone. Another appealing tetra species is the serpae tetra. They come in vivid red to brownish red tint. It has a variety of names - jewel, red Serpa or blood characin, something that pertains to the red color. Another sweetheart is the penguin tetra. Its stripe color gives it a bit more of an advantage in attracting tetra lovers. It doesn't have the strong alluring shade, but the distinct black line in the center probably makes it very beautiful to look at.

Food For Tetra Fish

There is a number of food source for this type. They range from enhancing the color of your puny friends, high-protein formula, high vegetable content, energy booster, maximum nutrition, or simply nutritious ingredients for your tetras. The question is, why do you need to give the best food for your tetras? Feeding them with good quality food extends the life of your pleasurable experience watching your tropical fish frolic in your aquarium. Proper nutrition also keeps the water in your tank clean, clear and easier to care for. Not to mention, it keeps your fish healthy, very colorful and at the same time minimize the waste production.

Tetra Fish Tanks

Now for your tetra fish tanks, there is a couple of equipment to keep in mind in setting up your aquarium. The essential items and accessory you need are: stands, hood and lighting, aquarium gravel, your decoration like rocks and plants, filtration and aeration, heater, thermometer, power strip, cleaning accessories, water test kit, water conditioner and net. If you do not have any idea as to how to set it up, you can actually get professional advice to make sure that you are doing the right thing. You can also do a couple of research and visit forums so you know real-life situations that may help you with your tetra tank.

Taking Care Of Your Tetra Fish

Some effective tips in caring for your tetras is that make sure you get the right tank. Acquire the aquarium kit because everything you need to know and implement is found in the kit. As I have mentioned initially, food is one of the key factors in keeping them dainty and healthy, so have your choices ready according to your tetra needs. 6 - 7.5 Ph of water has to be taken into consideration because they are from warmer climates. Higher ph makes them prone to an ailment. Keep temperature to 23C-28C. Bright lights are also bad for tetras. Keep up a dusk habitat for them. They are also top feeders, so it is better to give them food several times a day to avoid food being uneaten which becomes rotten, therefore poses a risk to their health. There has to uniform distribution of nitrogen and ammonia too. This is quite technical so just obtain the correction instructions.

Anyway, there are tetras that are hard to maintain such as the serpae, bleeding heart, lemon, black skirt, white skirt and red eye tetra. If you can't give them proper care and you don't have time to really find the best procedure and research on what to do, stick for the easier to manage species, like bloodfin tetra. They are suitable for beginners. However, the general rule of thumb is to choose for the ones with bigger, circular-shaped bodies. Thin, cigar-shaped tetras like the neon are not appropriate for beginners tank. If you consider yourself a genuine fish lover and you don't have qualms in looking for the best care of your fishes then there is no reason why you won't enjoy looking after your tiny friends. These are just the many important points to consider before you decide on the tetra fish that you want.

By Leslie Bogaerts - Article Source: EzineArticles

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GLOWLIGHT TETRA - Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus erythrozonus

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Tips on Breeding GLOWLIGHT TETRA - Care and Spawning

Pics of a glowlight tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Glowlight tetras or Hemigrammus erythrozonus are native to the Essiquibo basin in South America. Glowlights like all tetra are a member of the family Characidae. They received the name glowlight tetra because of the highly reflective red stripe that runs from their mid-body to their tails. This stripe appears to glow under aquarium lighting.

Tetras are shoaling fish. Shoaling fish are extremely social fish that instinctively travel in a group. They tend not to fare well in an aquarium devoid of other members of their species. Depending on how strong the instinct runs in an individual species, some shoaling fish cannot survive at all in an isolated environment. It is always advisable to have at least four of any given shoaling fish in a community fish tank.

The glowlight tetra is a small freshwater fish variety, reaching an adult length of only about an inch and a half. They have a mild disposition and make wonderful additions to community tanks provide they are in the presence of similarly natured fish whose size is not big enough to view them as a source of nutrition.

Glowlights, like all tetras, are hiders. They take readily to heavily planted aquariums. Giving them plenty of places to hide will increase these rather small fishes' chances of long-term survival in a community setting. Glowlights are mid-tanks swimmers. So you want vegetation large enough to be present in the middle of your aquarium.

Most freshwater species native to South America thrive in slightly acidic water. Glowlights are no exception. Glowlights are accustomed to a pH level of around 6.8 with a water temperature between 75-83 °F.

Tetras are omnivores by nature. They can survive perfectly well on a diet of garden-variety tropical fish food flakes. They will also eat frozen and freeze-dried products and live food such as brine shrimp.

Male and female glowlights have an identical color palette. You can generally distinguish between sexes by the shape of their bodies. Female have a fuller, more rounded body than males. This trait is more pronounced when they are carrying eggs.

Glowlight tetras are more apt to breed in an environment that closely mimics their native waters. Filtering the aquarium water through peat or adding a thin layer to the substrate will help make them feel at home. Make sure the peat doesn't contain chemical additives or fertilizers. A breeding tank should always be used. Provide the tank with plenty of fine-leafed foliage. Hornwort will work well for this purpose.

The glowlight tetra is an egg layer. Egg layers are notorious for eating their un-hatched eggs. Tetras will scatter their eggs among the plants instinctively. Promptly remove the adults from the breeding tank after spawning.

Fry will hatch in about 24 hours. Newly hatched fry can feed a liquid fry food formulated for egg laying fish. In a few days, their diet can be switched over to newly hatched brine shrimp. Powdered eggs are an acceptable substitute. In a week or so they can be fed finely crushed tropical fish flakes.

By Stephen J Broy Freshwater fish are the most popular aquarium fish worldwide because of their inexpensive price and ease of care. Many aquarium owners don't realize that there is a rather exotic alternative to freshwater fish in the realms of affordability and upkeep. Jellyfish aquariums are the hottest new trend in the aquarium industry. Jellyfish do require a special Jellyfish Aquarium Fish Tank in order to survive but they are far easier to keep alive and healthy than saltwater fish. Pet Moon Jellyfish look absolutely incredible under a fading LED lighting system. Article Source: EzineArticles

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CARDINAL TETRAS - Red Cardinals to Enhance the Beauty of Your Aquarium

Cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi waking up in an aquarium. Just after the lights were turned on. Its skin yet in a pink tone.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Originating from South America, Cardinal tetra fish are very common among the fish-keepers and are found in many aquariums and tanks all over the world. They are freshwater fish and easy for the beginners.

Their body is decorated with a blue line dividing the body. The body carries red stripes which are longer. Actually, that is the distinguishing feature between a cardinal tetra and neon tetra fish. If the stripes are short, the fish is neon tetra.

In fact, the name cardinal tetra comes from this red color. It resembles the red robes which are worn by the Cardinals!

Cardinal tetras are difficult to breed in captivity so their availability is always lesser than the demand. Many pet fish stores sell cardinal tetras which are caught from their natural habitat. They are not endangered species and they are found in plenty.

They have a very short life-span of about a year, so their entire life cycle including reproduction finishes during this period. However, if you provide the ideal conditions for them in your aquarium, they can live a much longer life.

They will grow only up to 2 inches in length so they don't require a large aquarium. You can accommodate them even in a small tank of 5 gallons. As they are peaceful by nature, you can keep them in community aquariums also. Most of the time, they stay in the middle of the water so you can keep other bottom-dwelling or surface swimming fish with them.

There is no problem while feeding cardinal tetras. They can accept all types of food including vegetables, flaked food and live food like brine shrimp or blood-worms.

If you can provide the environment which resembles in South American rivers where they are found, they will live happily for a long time. The pH level of the water should be lower and the temperature of the water should be around 72-82 degrees F. They can survive even in the higher temperatures. The hardness of the water should be moderate.

Only important factor while keeping cardinal tetras is the level of toxic elements in the water. They are sensitive about the nitrates and nitrites in the water and you should set up a good filtration system to keep the water clean. In addition, you should make frequent replacements of the aquarium water.

You should provide a thickly planted aquarium for the cardinal tetras with preferably an open swimming area. There should be some floating plants in the aquarium because which will provide ideal places for cardinal tetras to hide. They do not like bright lights so the lighting in the aquarium should be moderate and the aquarium should not be in the direct sunlight.

As tetras, on the whole, are schooling fish, cardinal tetras are not an exception. While buying them, you should buy at least a group of 7-10 so that they will be happy to live with their friends. The beginners may think that this number is large but considering their easy maintenance and feeding habits, the whole group will be very colorful and lively for your aquarium.

The breeding of cardinal tetras is difficult because the fry are very delicate and sensitive to the environment and very few of them can survive. In addition, the adults eat the eggs and also the fry so it becomes very difficult for the beginners to protect the young ones.

However, those who want the enjoyment of a colorful and lively aquarium without many efforts then always go for cardinal tetras.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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LEMON TETRA

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis - Zitronensalmler (Länge: ca. 3cm) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish.

One of the most distinguishing features of the lemon tetra is their large eyes. The upper part of the lemon tetra's eye is brilliant red, which is a sharp contrast to the yellow pastels it displays in its body colors. Actually, though, the lemon tetra is quite colorful on close inspection. Body coloring is a delicate pale yellow, flanks are silver, and the leading edge of the anal fin is shiny-bright-yellow and sharply divided from the other rays, which are black. 

In the male, the rest of the anal fin is broad and fringed in black, a characteristic that is missing in the plumper female. As many male characins do, the male lemon tetras also have tiny hooks on their anal fins. Both males and females have the tetras' characteristic adipose fin, which is also pale yellow in color.

Although omnivorous and able to exist on a diet of flaked food, the pale yellow color of the lemon tetra displays best if the fish's standard diet is well supplemented with live treats. The lemon tetra is an egg-scatterer. However, breeding can be tricky since females often have a problem expelling their eggs and after spawning, the lemon tetra like many others of its species is quick to cannibalize its eggs if not removed from the breeding tank. However, eggs will hatch in about 24 hours after spawning. Fry should be fed alive diet and if they survive, they'll be about two inches long as adults.

By Hans Dekker Hans is the author of Tetra Fish and Cichlids sections on http://www.aquarium-guides.com For more reviews visit our site.  Article Directory: EzineArticles

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GLOWLIGHT TETRA - A Superb Fish to Keep in Community Aquariums

Tetra Glowlight Hemigrammus erythrozonus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Originating from river Essequibo in Guyana, Glowlight tetra fish comes from very turbulent water. The river runs through mountains and forests. In its journey into the Atlantic Ocean, the river has many waterfalls and rapids. Naturally, the fish is accustomed to staying in water currents.

The maximum size of Glowlight tetra fish is about 1.4 inches. It has a silvery color for its body and there is one bright stripe running throughout the body right from the snout to the tail. The color of the stripe is usually red but sometimes you can find Glowlight tetras with an orange stripe. The fins are normally transparent, but sometimes you can find silvery fins also. Innovative breeders are successful in bringing out color variations on their body. So these days you can have Glowlight tetra fish with the golden body also!

The fish is mainly described as schooling fish and it should be kept in a group of at least six. If you are able to keep a bigger group, the fish will be able to live happily. However, keeping only a single one or a pair is never desirable. The fish will develop stress and it will get sick. The life of the fish will also be shortened as they do not feel safe and they will not swim freely. But if they are kept in a bigger group, they will always be active and will show natural behavior.

Glowlight tetra fish usually tend to stay in the middle part of the aquarium, slightly above the bottom. However, when they are fed, they will immediately come to the surface of the water and try to grab the food. They are happy eaters and if you keep them well, they can live up to 4 to 5 years.

If you are planning to keep them in a community aquarium, you should always select nonaggressive species to stay with them. Cardinal tetras are good partners for Glowlight tetra fish. The color combination of both the fish will make your aquarium really beautiful. Cardinal tetras will form their own group and they will swim along with Glowlight tetras all the time. This will make your aquarium great.

Regarding keeping conditions of water in the aquarium, there are no complicated requirements. The temperature of the water should be within a range of 74-84 °F and the pH level of the water should be between 6.0 to 7.5.

If you are able to set up a medium-sized aquarium that is fine for Glowlight tetra fish. An aquarium of 10 gallons is good for them but if you are able to provide an aquarium of about 25 gallons that will make their stay comfortable. You should try to replicate the natural living conditions for them including a lot of plants with fine leaves, a good area for swimming and continuously flowing water.

The lighting of the aquarium should be moderate and the color of the substrate should preferably be dark.

Regarding their food, they love to eat worms and plants. However, they will be happy to eat food flakes as well as boiled vegetables.

Glowlight tetra fish are available easily from a lot of pet shops and they are not very expensive. So they are ideal for beginners as well as experienced fish-keepers.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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NANNOSTOMUS Fish Care - 3 Exciting Varieties

Red Pencilfish (Nannostomus mortenthaleri) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Get a good idea of how to look after the variety of fish that you buy. Today you get aquariums with all kinds of electronic gadgetry to help you look after your fish. However, you could still use something like a test kit and maybe additional items to help take care of your aquarium. It is true that different varieties of fish may require different kinds of attention. Still, some of them need similar care. It is imperative that you know what kind of fish require what specific kind of attention.

The Nannostomus varieties include the Eques, the Marginatus, the Unifasciatus, the Trifasciatus, and Beckfordi species. The Nannostomus Eques belongs from the Amazon region. These fish are widely known as the Nannobrycon Eque, or the Poecilobrycon. It is also called the tube fish and it can grow up to 2in. in length. The Pencilfish is yet another name for the variety. It has a long snout and it swims in the aquarium at angles. They are peace-loving creatures and do not like too many changes in their habitat. They prefer a water temperature of around 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The male of the species is generally slimmer than the female.

A. Nannostomus Marginatus

This is usually called the dwarfed Pencilfish. It belongs to western Guiana. They are quite small and do not grow more than about a quarter inch in length. But their colors make them look bigger than they really are. They have stripes of black and a sprinkle of red on the fins.

B. Nannostomus Unifasciatus

This one is also called the tail eye Pencilfish. Some people call it the One line Pencilfish. Its home is in the Amazon region. They grow to about 2in. length. These are some of the most colorful fish that you will ever come across. It has lower lobes, which are nicely colored with spots. When it enlarges its fins, it is a sight worth seeing.

C. Nannostomus Beckfordi

This fish is also a friendly creature much like it's cousins. It prefers water conditions similar to the other categories mentioned above. Whether it is good for breeding or not has not been determined yet. However, you could always make your own studies and research. It has widely come to be known as the Beckford's Pencilfish and also the Golden Pencilfish. It grows to around 1.75 inches and did this too belongs in the Amazon region. They are fragile fish and are great for the home aquarium.

By Abhishek Agarwal Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Article Source: EzineArticles

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Fact Sheet: CARDINAL TETRA - Paracheirodon axelrodi

Photo  by Leino88 

The Cardinal Tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi is closely related to the very popular Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi and the Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans. It is less closely related to the hundreds of other tetra species. The Cardinal's specific name, axelrodi was given to honour the great fish expert, Herbert R. Axelrod. The Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi is not a very close relative of the Neon or the Cardinal. Its name is misleading.

The Cardinal Tetra's maximum length is a little over 4cm. Cardinal Tetras are a peaceful community fish suitable for keeping with other small, peaceful fish. Common companions include other small tetras, small Rasboras, Guppies and other livebearers like platies and swordtails, as well as Corydoras catfish.

Cardinal Tetras are often kept successfully with discus and seem better able to tolerate the high temperatures. Discus fish need than Neons. They are also a little bigger than Neons and less likely to be eaten by a discus.

Fish I would not recommend putting with Cardinals include all large fish, Buenos Aires Tetras and Tiger Barbs. I have known cases where people have successfully kept Cardinals with some of the fish I just listed, but there is some danger if you attempt it. If you keep Angel Fish and Cardinal Tetras together, you need to accept the likelihood of the Angel Fish growing big enough to eat the small fish.

The Cardinal Tetra comes from the upper reaches of the Amazon River. This is a tropical area and is a tropical fish. Cardinals should have heated water, unless they can be kept in a room that never gets cold. The obvious way to heat the water is with an aquarium heater. I suggest setting the thermostat to 24C.

It comes from acidic and extremely softwater. This is the ideal water for them and is probably essential if you want to breed Cardinals. However, they can be kept successfully in water with Ph ranging from 5.0 to 7.4. They will tolerate moderately hard water for living in, but extremely softwater is needed if you want to attempt to breed them. When they are kept with mixed other fish in an aquarium, I recommend a Ph of about 7. Some cover like plants are beneficial for the fish.

Cardinals can be kept successfully, even in the strange water that comes through the taps in the Adelaide Hills as long as you get rid of the high level of Chloramine and adjust the Ph.

Like many tetras, the Cardinal is a schooling fish and I recommend that at least five be kept together. A school in an aquarium is a surprisingly beautiful sight. When it is dark, this fish losses its bright colours, but quickly regains them when it gets light again.

Although Cardinals will school with their own species for preference, if there are too few Cardinals to form a school they can school with Neons.

Like many fish, Cardinal Tetras are naturally omnivores and will eat a wide variety of food in the aquarium. Flakes are the normal basic diet for them. I find they also benefit from dry fry food. They enjoy small live food like small wrigglers (mosquito larvae) and small crustaceans like daphnia. Frozen foods like blood worms are also good. Remember they are small fish. DO NOT OVERFEED.

By Steve Challis Steve Challis has many other fish fact sheets and other articles on http://www.bettatrading.com.au. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Related articles

• How to Select Between CARDINAL TETRAS and NEON TETRAS

CARDINAL TETRA

Cardinal tetras Paracheirodon axelrodi waking up in an aquarium.
Just after the lights were turned on. Its skin yet in a pink tone.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Cardinal tetra is similar to more frequently kept Neon tetra but is much more difficult to breed in aquariums. Since both species look similar to each other at first glance, they are sometimes mixed up with each other and the Cardinal tetra is sometimes erroneously referred to as "red neon tetra". Telling them apart is however not very difficult. Both species have a characteristic sparkling blue line that bisects the body, and under this line, you will notice a red lateral stripe. If this red coloration extends only halfway to the nose of the fish, you know that it is a Neon tetra. If the red coloration instead extends much longer, you are looking at a Cardinal tetra. The red coloration of the Cardinal tetra was thought to resemble the long red robes worn by cardinals, hence the name. The scientific name of this species was given to it in honor of a highly regarded ichthyologist.

Since the Cardinal tetra is quite difficult to breed in aquariums, a majority of the Cardinal tetras in the aquarium trade has been wild caught. The native habitat of the Cardinal tetra is the upper Orinoco and Negro rivers in South America, where the water is acidic and very soft. Fortunately enough, the Cardinal tetra is very prolific in the wild and is not considered an endangered species. It is only reluctant to breed when kept in aquariums. In the wild, it is uncommon for a Cardinal tetra to grow older than one year. When you keep Cardinal tetras in aquariums without any predators around, you can, however, make them survive for several years.

The Cardinal tetra can be kept in community aquariums with other peaceful species that appreciate the same water conditions. It will usually stay smaller than 2 inches in length and a group of Cardinal tetras does not need a large aquarium to do well. This species is rarely found in beginner aquariums since it is quite scarce in the aquarium trade, but it is not overly sensitive and a dedicated beginner aquarium keeper that is prepared to monitor the water chemistry and perform frequent water changes can usually make his or her Cardinal tetras thrive. It is especially important to keep down the level of nitrate. The Cardinal tetra is a schooling fish and keeping at least ten specimens is recommended, since this will make the fish less shy and stressed. Cardinal tetras are also much more beautiful to watch when they form a big school, and living in a school makes them display a much broader variety of natural behaviors.

When you set up an aquarium for your Cardinal tetras you should ideally try to make it similar to the native habitat of the fish. A well-planted aquarium that contains floating species is recommended, but you should also leave an area open for swimming. The water should be acidic and very soft. Keep the pH in the 4.6-6.2 range and the d G H under 4. Cardinal tetras can adapt to harder water and even alkaline conditions, but they will be much more sensitive and prone to illness. The recommended temperature range is 73-81° F (23-27 ° C) or even warmer.

By Allen Jesson - Article Source: EzineArticles

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How to Select Between CARDINAL TETRAS and NEON TETRAS

Neon Tetra Photo: Wikipedia

Cardinal tetras are beautiful fish because of their bright red color. They are very popular among the fish keepers. However, their cousins Neon tetras have shiny neon blue color and they are also attractive. So sometimes it becomes difficult for the fish-keepers to make a choice between them.

Neon tetras are inexpensive and sturdy fish ideal for beginners. As they have a good temperament, they fit well in a community aquarium. They can grow only up to 1 inch and they do not have any eating habits.

Cardinal tetras will grow up to 2 inches and they are expensive because their breeding in captivity is very difficult. They need to be imported from the South American region.

Cardinal Tetra Photo: Wikipedia

As neon tetras are hardy fish, they can tolerate variations in the living conditions. If there is any major change in the temperature of the water or the ph level, they will try to cope up with that environment. Out of the whole family of tetra fish, neon tetras are the toughest. On the other hand, cardinal tetras are very sensitive to the conditions of water and a slight change in the conditions of water may affect them in a big way.

Both cardinal tetras and neon tetras are schooling fish and the need to live in a group. When you decide to keep any of them, you should buy a group of at least 10. If they are kept alone, they will get stressed and will get sick and may die.

Both these species can eat any type of food offered to them. They love to eat live food but at the same time, they can eat boiled vegetables and flaked food. Both of them can eat small insects and worm which are present in the water.

However, both of these species love to remain in the middle level of the aquarium. So when you decide to keep both of them in one tank, there will be problems. Even though your aquarium is large, if both of them want to occupy the middle area, there will be territorial problems. In addition, there will be problems during the breeding periods of neon tetras. Their eggs may be eaten by cardinal tetras. So it is better to keep only one of them in the aquarium.

It is a difficult decision to make. However, here are a few guidelines for you:

1. If your budget is limited, cardinal tetras will be expensive for you. So you should go for neon tetras.

2. If you are a beginner, it will be very difficult for you to keep ideal conditions of water in the aquarium all the time. Even a slight variation in the conditions may hurt cardinal tetras. So you may select neon tetras to start with. Later you can think of keeping cardinal tetras.

3. However, if you have some experience in fish-keeping, and you want to show off your aquarium to your family and visitors, you can select cardinal tetras. Their beautiful bright red color will shine against appropriate background of substrate and decorations.

It is difficult to breed neon tetra is in captivity but it is almost impossible for the experienced breeders to try for cardinal tetras. Considering their huge demand, some experienced breeders may try to sell you something which they will label as neon tetras or cardinal tetras. The fish will be cheaper but may not show their bright colors and they may look dull and inactive. Most of the times, they may die soon after bringing home. So you should be careful while purchasing any of them. You should speak in details to the staff of the pet fish store and if possible consult your friends before you buy.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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SILVER DOLLAR Aquarium and Fish Care

A photograph of the Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Silver Dollar is one of the Metynnis Lippincottianus fish species. Metynnis Lippincottianus or Silver Dollar fish comes from Amazon Basin and grows up to five inches in size. The Silver Dollar is one of the popularly sold fish on the market. The fish has a strong pressed oval-shaped body. Silver Dollar fish are passive creatures, which like to live peacefully with other fish. 

In addition, the fish prefer to live in a large tank and reside with their own species. This fish has a natural side, which promotes him to destroy plants, which include Vallisneria plants. In a couple of days, you will be purchasing new plants. Therefore, it is important that you feed this fish when he is hungry. The little fellers like lettuce, sprouts, spinach, as well as meaty dishes. 

Metynnis Lippincottianus tend to enjoy moderate soft water conditions, as well as faintly acidy waters. Metynnis Lippincottianus fish will breed, as well as produce hundreds of eggs at a given time. The eggs usually hatch in a few days. Prepare for an army.

Shreitmueller or Metynnis hypsauchen originates from Amazon Basin areas. The fish grow 6 inches in size a have strong pressed oval-shaped bodies. The fish has behaviors similar to the Metynnis Lippincottianus; as well, their feeding patterns, habits, etc are similar. In addition, Metynnis hypsauchen has similar water condition demands as that of the Metynnis Lippincottianus fish.

The only significant differences between the Metynnis Lippincottianus fish and the Hypsauchen is that these fish lay thousands of eggs in one hatching. This requires that you prepare for a larger army, which the hatchlings must have a water temperature of 82 degrees.

Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi 

This fish group is commonly known as the Black Tetra. The fish is also known as the Petticoat and Blackamoor Fish. Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi comes from Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil and grows up to 2 inches in size.

The fan-like fins, anal, and dorsal is often black. The jet-black species have 2-vertical black coated bars that line the silver sides or flanks. This is a good tank fish; however, the fish have instincts to nibble at other fish fins. The fish enjoy dry foods, as well as a variety of foodstuff. Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi does not place a high demand on the water conditions. The water temperature should remain at 68 degrees or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You can breed these fish in moderately hard waters or neutral waters. The fish lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch in one day. Hatchlings require infusoria foodstuff at the start.

Pristella Maxillaris otherwise known as X-ray fish, Pristella, or Goldfinch come from the Northern South American areas. The fish only grow around 1 and a half inches in size. Pristella has transparent bodies. This fish is ideal for commune tanks since the fish is passive in nature.

Pristella Maxillaris will feast on all foods and require water conditions or temperature set between 72 degrees and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This fish lays up to 500 eggs and is one of the easier to breed specimen. The hatchlings are usually delivered in one day.

In all, you will find a wide array of fish at pet stores. Each specimen has its own needs, yet many are similar in nature. Additional fish include the Hemigrammus Erythrozonus species, Hyphessobrycon Flammeus breeds, and the Paracheirodon innesi. Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis is space available. If you are just starting out avoid the Piranhas and the Characin species. The carnivores will eat other fish, as well as fleshy dishes. Piranhas are better left for fish experts to maintain.

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NEON TETRA - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon innesi

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NEON TETRA Fish

Photo  by Leino88 

Freshwater fish holding would be lamentably poor without the brightly colorized beautiful Neon tetras. Small green, profane or crimson fish swimming in freshwater tanks would most probably be the ever-popular Ne tetras. These fish are naturally found out in the lakes in South America or East Peru.

Ne tetras are hence popular among aquarists because they are hardy fish. They are peaceful fish and seldom nip at each other or any other fish in a community cooler. However, atomic number 10 tetras are schooling fish and these fish are happiest if they are in a schoolhouse or in a group of 5 or more. Schools or groupings make the fish experience really good. Atomic number 10s are likewise very active fish and they flit about a lot in the tank. This is a joyousness to check.

Ne tetras can dwell for rattling long periods if they are given proper care. 10 years is a potential lifespan of the shipshape Ne tetra. Neons unremarkably reside the middle or bottom levels of a storage tank and can grow up to 4 atomic number 96s. in length. The ph scale of the water should ideally be between 5.5 and 7.8. Their favorite water temperature is within the reach of 68 levels F to 75 levels F. The fish are generally spindle-shaped. The belly area is a bit lashed out especially among the female persons. The nose is blunt. A wide violent band runs down the body of the Ne tetra and extends up o the Caudal fin. A grim band that runs from the upper portion of the center premises this. The side above this is olive green while the lower side is silvery. The anal fin is mostly transparent. This prominent collage of coloring materials, peculiarly the counterpointing reddened and green, stimulates the Ne tetra one of the most popular and colored fishes in the freshwater aquarium.

Dark substratum and curbed lighting is the most suited for neon tetras. Putting in sets of floras is besides very good for the timid and active atomic number 10s. Some driftwood is too advisable. The tetras should not be kept with bigger fish, or they will end up becoming tiffin. Since neon tetras are therefore democratic, they have found out to adapt themselves to a wide range of habitats. But, ferocious breeding of the tetras to issue adequate fish for the burgeoning demand for atomic number 10 tetras has led to the loss of their native robustness. New fish are very delicate and chances of losing fish just after they are introduced into a cooler are very high. Withal, erstwhile the Ne tetras have shown themselves, they get along quite an intimately without too much difficultness.

Neon tetras are ball scatterers. They are a bit unmanageable to breed in enslavement. This is by and large due to an unsuitable body of water experimental conditions. Eggs of the Ne tetras appear to be light sensitive, hence Ne tetras postulate to be placed in a dark berth, as they get ready to spawn. A 2 3 inch layer of rock and some fine rough textured live floras are the best medium for spawning. The water temperature should not be above 75 points F. A hat should be kept on the tank at such a time, as the fish be given to bound very high during this period. While breeding the nes, it is necessary to look for the healthiest breeders. Merely young fish should be used for breeding determinations.

They should be coursed some live solid foods especially 2 3 days before breeding. These breeders have to be gone away in a spawning medium for about a day. The testicles are usually liberated ahead of time in the morning. The ballocks are well-nigh transparent and scantily stick to the surface of plants. The eggs will incubate in about 22-30 minutes. The small fry is very hard to spot at once. But, as soon as they get free to swim in 3-4 days, they will be seen very clearly, though they are yet very small. The stockbreeders should be removed as soon as the ballocks are spotted. As soon as the tike is loose swimming they should be preyed with infusoria. Ne tetras that breed in incarceration are not very fertile. A good spawn would consist of about 40-55 tyke only.

Author: Ad Brown - Articles Source: GoArticles

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