[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Anabantids – Combtail
Belontia signata (Combtails Fish) are not usually recommended for community tanks because as they get older they become somewhat belligerent, especially if they attempt to breed.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Anabantids – Gouramis
By far and away the most popular group of fishes among the anabantids are the gouramis belonging to the family Belontiidae. Of these, members of the genus Trichogaster, such as Trichopterus sumatranus (Blue gourami), Trichopterus microlepis (Moonlight gourami), and Trichopterus leeri (Pearl gourami), are probably the easiest fishes to keep because they are tolerant of most water conditions.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Anabantids
The anabantids are a large group of fishes found in the tropical waters of Africa and Asia. They are best known for their ability to breathe atmospheric air. The organ that they use for this is known as the labyrinth (hence the common name labyrinth fishes) and is situated on either side of the head in the gill cavity directly above the gills. The fish takes in air from above the water surface and passes it into two chambers, each of which has a rosette-like structure which looks not unlike a sponge. This has a very good supply of blood vessels close to the surface of the structure, and therefore the fish is able to absorb oxygen from the air.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – Big Beasts
No piece about the characoids would be complete without mentioning some of the larger, more specialized fishes. Of these, the piranhas have a worldwide reputation. They belong to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes not only the carnivorous piranhas but also some large, peaceful herbivores.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – Anostomids
You could be forgiven for thinking that these fishes are surface dwellers, because they have long, streamlined bodies and small upturned mouths. But nothing could be further from the truth. The anostomids, sometimes referred to as “headstanders”, inhabit very fast-flowing waters in rocky stretches of rivers. They are found, head down, in narrow, vertical, rocky fissures. In the aquarium provide vertical crevices, which can be constructed from either actual rocks or plastic substitutes to lessen the weight.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – Hatchetfishes
When you think about surfacedwelling fishes for the community aquarium, usually the first ones that spring to mind are the hatchetfishes of the family Gasteropelecidae. The two genera usually encountered by the aquarist are Gasteropekcus and Carnegiella. These are easily differentiated as Gasteropekcus is larger (up to 9 cm (3 1/2 in) in the case of Gasteropekcus maculatus) and has an adipose fin, whereas Carnegiella is smaller (4 cm ( 1 1/2 in) in the case of Carnegiella strigata) and lacks an adipose fin.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – Splash Tetras
The splash tetras belong to the same family as the pencilfishes. Unfortunately the majority are rarely deliberately imported for the aquarium trade but do turn up occasionally in shipments of other fishes. The only one seen on a fairly regular basis is Copella arnoldi (Splash tetra, Jumping characin), the fish that gives the group its common name. A fairly unassuming fish to look at, males are larger, growing to 8 cm (3 1/4 in), and have more colour in their finnage than females, 6 cm.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – Pencilfishes
These fishes belong to the family Lebiasinidae and several species are available in the trade at one time or another. They may be kept in a community aquarium, but if the water conditions are less than ideal, or they are prevented from feeding by more boisterous fishes, it is better to house them in species tanks.
[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Characins – South American Tetras
This is the largest group of characins encountered by aquarists, and includes all the wellknown species such as Paracheirodon innesi (Neon tetra), Hasemania nana (Silver-tip tetra), Hemigrammus erythrozonus (Glowlight tetra), Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal tetra), Hemigrammus bleheri (Rummy-nose tetra, Rednose tetra), Hemigrammus rhodostomus (also known as the Rednose tetra, or Worm-nosed tetra), Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma (Bleeding Heart tetra), Nematobrycon palmeri (Emperor tetra), Moenkhausia pittieri (Diamond tetra, Pittier’s tetra); and so the list goes on.