Silver tip tetra

Silver tip tetra

Hasemania nana

MAINTENANCE: EASY / CARE: EASY / REPRODUCTION: EASY / COST: REASONABLE

Hasemania nana is a member of the large family of characidae. Its lively behaviour and character make it a specially appreciated occupant of community aquariums.

Map of Brazil

FACT SHEET

Scientific name: Hasemania nana. Common name: Silver tip tetra. Family: Characidae. Origin: Brazil, San Francisco River. River Parus. Natural habitat: Soft black water (the dark colour of the water is from rotting vegetation). Size: 5 cm. Sexual differences: The male has brighter colours, the female is plumper. Behaviour: A peaceful nature, preferring to live in shoals.

 

In its natural environment, this tetra tolerates great variations of water quality. It is, however, not necessary to vary the water values in your aquarium to maintain it correctly. Easy going, it adapts to life in captivity on the condition that you do not impose on it companions that are too boisterous or greedy.

In the aquarium

A 120-litre aquarium is perfect for a group of a dozen specimens. The gregarious nature of this species (living in shoals) necessitates keeping at least six fish.

An aquarium well stocked with aquatic plants with a dark floor will make the yellow and orange colours stand out. You can put a large plant like Echinodorus amazonicus in the middle of your tank, for example, and create a reassuring decor around it. Then position fine leafed and fast growing plants such as Hygrophila difformis in the background, and a peat root onto which tufts of Java moss are attached using nylon thread. A filtration of 300 litres per hour keeps the water crystal clear. In the majority of cases, tap water is perfectly suitable. However, if your water is too hard, dilute it with softer water. The addition of peat granules in the filtration compartment keeps the pH values at an acid level. This peat, which is used in aquariums and found in specialist shops, gives a slightly yellow colour to the water. Companions for the Hasemania nana can be chosen from other members of the characidae family, such as

Hyphessobrycon erythrozonus, again kept in a group of at least six specimens. You can also add a pair of dwarf cichlidae of the Apistogramma genus.

Feeding

Although omnivorous, this characin shows a marked preference for a meat diet, whether the food is live or frozen. Food flakes are equally popular with this fish and the flakes can provide the missing vegetable content, particularly if you choose a variety rich in spirulina algae. To prepare for breeding, offer your fish small live prey such as brine shrimp or daphnia.

Reproduction

Breeding Silver tip tetras poses no problems. A 50-litre aquarium filled with fairly soft water, stocked with Java moss and weakly lit will do the trick. Choose a very lively and brightly coloured male from your group as well as a female with a very plump belly and introduce them carefully into the breeding tank. After a period of getting used to each other, the pair will begin to chase each other and twirl around inside the Java moss: it is at this time that eggs are emitted. This can also take place in open water. Once the female has emptied her eggs (she then has a flat belly), take the parents out of the aquarium. Wait patiently for about 30 hours, then with the help of an electric lamp, you will notice tiny transparent 'commas' anchored to the walls of the tank. Three days later, you will be able to start to feed the fry with microscopic live food.

The female is recognisable by her plump belly and is less densely coloured than the male

Life in the aquarium
Maintenance	Community aquarium of at least 60 litres for a school of six specimens.
PH	From 6.2 to 7.5.
Water hardness	Tolerates hard water, prefers about 8 dH.
Temperature	From 22to28°C.
Changing the water	10% every week.
Food	Omnivorous, it accepts flakes and frozen food.
Reproduction	Egg laying, the eggs attach themselves to the plants.
Compatibility	Sociable with all other small Amazonian fish.
Life expectancy	From 3 to 4 years.
Comments	The absence of its adipose fin differentiates this fish from other characidae.

Yellow labido

Yellow labido

Labidochromis caeruleus

MAINTENANCE: EASY / CARE: EASY / REPRODUCTION: EASY / COST: EXPENSIVE

This is the most popular fish in Lake Malawi and has become the main attraction in the aquariums of those who specialise in cichlidae. Sparkling yellow and having a particularly peaceful behaviour for a cichlid, this fish has everything going for it!

Map of Lake Malawi in East Africa

FACT SHEET

Scientific name: Labidochromis caeruleus. Map of Lake Malawi in East Africa. Common name: Yellow labido. Family: Cichlidae. Origin: Lake Malawi, East Africa. Natural habitat: Lives near fallen rocks covered with algae, between 10 and 20 m deep. Size: From 10 to 15 cm. Sexual differences: The male is more solid; the dominant ones display black areas on their heads. Behaviour: Calm and non-aggressive.

 

Contrary to its species name, caeruleus meaning blue, the labido's yellow attire inevitably attracts attention in the aquariums of those fascinated by Lake Malawi. Why yellow and not blue? The type of species collected in the lake in 1935 was actually blue. Later, yellow spotted specimen having the same physical characteristics were discovered at Lions Cove. A white variety also exists, rarely exported, and living at Nkhata Bay.

In the aquarium

Maintenance of this fish belonging to the mbuna group, which notably includes the fiery Pseudotropheus, does not pose any problems. A minimum volume of 300 litres is a good quantity for a group of three or four L caeruleus and five to seven other average-sized Malawi cichlidae, such as Labeotropheus, Cyrtocara or Aulonocara. A more spacious tank is obviously preferable and in 800 litres five pairs of labidos live together without any problems with a pair or trio (one male and two females) of each of the above-mentioned genus. A trio of one of the large species, for example the Fossorochromis rostratus will guarantee even more of a show, while allowing the aquarist to decorate the tank with plants like Anubias or Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia.

Feeding

In the lake, the yellow labido essentially feeds on vegetation of short thread­like algae which cover the rocks and are commonly called Aufwusch. In the aquarium, its diet is primarily vegetable, blanched lettuce and spinach. A preparation of shrimps and mussels mixed in with these vegetables guarantees a good basis. As an alternative, it is good to give flake food, granules or frozen Artemia (small salt lake shrimps). Avoid bloodworms which are likely to provoke digestive problems.

Reproduction

In order to capture a female, it is quite common to see two or three males going incessantly around in circles, in a non-aggressive manner. The dominant male attracts the broody female and, by wriggling around her, invites her to spawn. This act takes place on the bare floor without a need for gravel or sand. With each emission of ova, the male returns presenting his anal fin. On some males this is adorned with one or several markings which resemble eggs. The female, deceived in this way, snatches up the milt (semen).

The eggs are fertilised and immediately taken into the female's mouth. From 10 to 40 fry, depending on the age and size of the females, will be born at the end of about three weeks. Once released, it is rare to see the female take them back into her mouth to protect them. Feed the young quickly with Artemia nauplii or mussel flesh as a base. As with all mbunas, they grow rapidly.

Life In the aquarium
Maintenance	An aquarium in the region of 200 litres. Count on 100 litres per pair.
PH	From 7.8 to 8.5.
Water hardness	From 15 to 30 dH.
Temperature	Ideally from 23 to 26°C.
Changing the water	20% per month.
Food	Essentially a vegetable base, accepts flakes or granules. Avoid bloodworms.
Reproduction	The female incubates the eggs.
Compatibility	Keep with other calm cichlidae.
Life expectancy	From 5 to 7 years.
Comments	Likes plants.

 

Group of young labidos waiting for their meal.

Rummy nose tetra

Rummy nose tetra

Hemigrammus bleheri

MAINTENANCE: EASY / CARE: EASY / REPRODUCTION: DIFFICULT / COST: REASONABLE

Its unusual colouring has given rise to this fish's common name. This species is often wrongly identified as there are two other fish also called rummy nose which strongly resemble it -Hemigrammus rhodostomus and Petitella georgiae

Map showing the River Cuiuni in Brazil.

FACT SHEET

Scientific name: Hemigrammus bleheri. Common name: Rummy nose tetra. Family: Characidae. Origin: North-west Brazil: River Cuiuni. Natural habitat: Lives under the cover of roots, plants and branches that fall in the water. Size: 4.5 cm. Sexual differences: The female is plump in appearance, the male is more brightly coloured. Behaviour: Lives in shoals, peaceful.

Poor maintenance or excessive stress can lead this little tetra to lose all its colours and pass unnoticed in an aquarium. On the other hand, efficient care will result in fish that will bring much pleasure.

In the aquarium

A 150-litre aquarium is ideal for a group of about 20 fish. The tetra's even temperament allows it to mix with companions of identical behaviour, such as the cardinals (Paracheirodon axelrodi), red phantom tetra

(Megalamphodus sweglesi), or surface swimmers of the Camegellia genus, hatchet fish. The bottom of the tank can take a couple of Papiliochromis ramirezi. Set up a decor of peat bog roots well covered in plant shoots, remembering that the rummy nose needs space to dart around. Running water from a suitable powerhead or filter is ideal for the Hemigrammus. If it is too hard, dilute with demineralized water or rainwater to bring it back to more acceptable levels. Change the water weekly; above all, do not just replace water lost through evaporation.

Feeding

As it has an equitable nature, the Hemigrammus bleheri takes to all kinds of food, but it has a marked preference for live prey, particularly daphnia and drosophilia (fruit flies). The latter are very attractive to all members of the aquarium, as they flit about on the surface of the water and awaken the fishes' hunting instinct. You will see your fish rush to the top of the aquarium to grab these little flies and descend again just as quickly to savour them.

Reproduction

Although difficult, reproduction of this species remains conceivable. Set up an aquarium of approximately 50 litres without a substratum, but prepared with a layer of Java moss 5 or 6 cm thick. Use very soft water filtered through peat and add several plants in pots to make the fish feel safe. The aquarium must be dimly lit. Choose a pair from your community aquarium: the mature females have a rounded belly while the males are slimmer and slightly smaller. During the mating display, the male circles his partner, touches her sides with his snout and finally comes up alongside her. The eggs are emitted in open water. After mating, take the parents out and darken all the panes of the aquarium with cardboard, as the eggs cannot tolerate light. Five or six days after egg laying, you can feed the fry with a fine zooplankton (small freshwater larvae and crustaceans).

An easy fish to care for, the rummy nose tetra is Ideal for Amazon aquariums

Life in the aquarium
Maintenance	In a community aquarium of minimum 150 litres for a group of 20 specimens.
pH	From 5 to 6.4.
Water hardness	4 to 10 dH
Temperature	From 25 to 28°C.
Changing the water	10% every week.
Food	Especially appreciates small live prey and accepts flakes.
Reproduction	Egg laying in open water.
Compatibility	All other small characidae.
Life expectancy	From 3 to 4 years.
Comments	This species is often confused slightly with two less colourful species.