Three Great Fish For Freshwater Tank Conditions

The Giant Danio, the Firemouth Panchax and the Half-beak are three excellent freshwater fish for your Tank and are described here. Discover their behavioral patterns, colors and any unusual physical features, temperature and water requirements, feeding likes and dislikes and optimal breeding conditions.

Firemouth Panchax - Epiplatys chaperi (Family: Cyprinodontidae)

Often called the firemouth killie there are other members of the genus which are less popular but also suitable for your aquarium. There is the Epiplatys fasciolatus (banded or striped killie), the Epiplatys macrostigma (large spotted killie) and the Epiplatys annulatus (clown killie).

For the firemouth panchax the water should be between 24 and 28 degrees centigrade and slightly alkaline. It is a good looking, peaceful fish that prefers the majority of its feed as live food. It is called a Firemouth because it has a bright red throat and bottom lip. That is why it is also called the Redjaw killie. Males are brighter in color than females and have a pointed bit on their caudal fin.

A breeding tank will be planted and have floating plants. Two females will be located in the tank prior to the male. It could be up to a week before spawning is complete due to the fact that the laying and spawning process is carried out one egg at a time. Then the eggs should be moved to a dimly lit tank to hatch. It can be about fourteen days before the fry hatch.

Giant Danio - Danio aequipinnatus (Family: Cyprinidae)

Because it can grow up to 12 cms you need to select your other community tank inhabitants with their size in mind as it could frighten small fish, although it is peaceful. It swims fast and compared to others it will last for a long time. And in its genus is the biggest fish. To provide variety in its feeding regime use both live and dried foods.

Fins become reddish in a breeding situation. The flanks of the fish have horizontal pale blue bands with yellow separations. Its back color ranges from green to blue and its stomach is pink. Usually there are two barbels hanging off the head and the mouth is noticeable as it sticks out significantly. You can tell which is a male or female because; the male has a brighter color, its horizontal bands are less broken up and its lower jaw extends more than the female.

For breeding, put a giant danio with a swollen body (female with eggs) and one that has not got a swollen body (male) into a breeding tank where spawning will automatically follow. The tank must be thickly planted and oxygenated by plants or mechanical means. Over 200 tiny sticky eggs may be laid. You then have two choices; remove the fish or remove the eggs to a tank at the same temperature. Fry should hatch after about three days. Feed with infusoria and micro-worms initially.

Half-beak, Dermogenys pusillus (Family: Exocoetidae)

An aquarium at about 27 degrees centigrade is required with floating plants and the tank must be covered. Although 'peaceful' the males practice mock fighting and this may cause other fish to be frightened. The half-beak's main feature is its lower jaw which extends well in front of the upper jaw. And another feature is its dislike of dried foods in its diet.

The adult male grows to over 7 cms and the females are even bigger. The fish has small reddish tinted fins on its long slim body which is white underneath, olive brown on the top and pale olive on the flanks. Knowing which fish is a male or female is difficult. Miscarriages are quite common with this species and inadequate feeding is sited as the cause.

A breeding trap is required in the breeding tank as the female has a tendency to eat its own. The tank needs to be shallow, well planted and informed sources suggest a teaspoonful of salt added per five liters of water. As a live-bearer the half-beak will produce about 15 to 20 young after a pregnancy of about four weeks.

Feed the young with firstly, infusoria and micro-worms, secondly; brine shrimp and once its extended jaw develops then feed live insects.

So there you have it, three more fish for your freshwater tank and more mouths to feed. Just make sure that you have enough tank space to cater for your new additions.

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