BIOASPECTS OF ORNAMENTAL FISHES ROSY BARB ROSY BARB

BIOASPECTS OF ORNAMENTAL FISHES

ROSY BARB

ROSY BARB Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : : : Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Barbus conchonicus Rosy Barb

Characters 1. Rosy Barb is hardy, active, colourful and a very ready breeder. 2. Mature males change to a deep pink colour when they are ready to breed.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Habitat : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C - 28°C Mid water and lower level

Species details Origin Size Male : : : Feed : Breeding method : Breeding potential : Special needs : North India 100 mm long Black fins and deep copper pink body at breeding time Omnivorous Egg scatterer will guard eggs Easy, prolific Company

TIGER BARB

TIGER BARB Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : : : Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Barbus tetrazona Tiger Barb

Characters 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Body colour red-brown, fading to silver on the underside. It has got four distinctive black stripes. Recently ‘albino’ and ‘green’ varieties have been developed. The reputation of these fishes at fin nippers may be ill-deserved. Keeping them in a group may divert their attention from other fishes fins.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Habitat : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C - 28°C Mid water and lower level More space

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : Sumatra 57 mm long Omnivorous Male have more red in the fins and usually have a bright red nose. Female are plumper. Egg scatterer Moderately easy

NEON TETRA

NEON TETRA Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Characidae Paracheirodon innesi Neon Tetra

Characters 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Very important ornamental fish. Central body is electric blue in colour with posterior caudal region bear red colour. This fish was first introduced in fish keeping world in the 1930’s but it was over shadowed by the discovery of another species like cardinal Tetra. These small group of fishes looks beautiful if they kept in groups. A peculiar disease occurs to this fish which is called Neon Tetra Disease (Plistophora) causes pale area below the dorsal fin.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Tank type : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C All levels Community

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism Breeding method Breeding potential : : South America 45 mm long All foods Females are plumper, deeper bodied : Egg scatterer : Moderately easy

CARDINAL TETRA

CARDINAL TETRA Classification: Family Genus Species Common name Recent name : : : Characidae Cheirodon axelrodi Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi

Characters 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Body red coloured lower half above which an electric blue band extends turn the eye portion to caudal region. The fins are colourless although the red may extend slightly into the caudal fin. They look very spectacular when kept in group. The female fish is usually a little larger than the male. Dr. Herbert Axelrod the American fish expert discovered this species so accordingly Axelrod is the species name.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Tank type : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C All levels Community

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : South America 40 -45 mm long All foods Females are larger than males may have tiny hooks on anal fin Egg scatterer Difficult

ZEBRA DANIO

ZEBRA DANIO Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : : : Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Brachydanio rerio Zebra danio

Characters 1. Body is covered in alternating horizontal stripes of dark blue and silver or gold. The pattern continues on the anal fins but the remaining fins are light coloured.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C – 26°C Upper and Mid water level More space

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : Eastern India 40 -45 mm long Omnivorous Females are dull coloured Egg scatterer Easy but after spawning the parents should be removed

GIANT DANIO

GIANT DANIO Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : : : Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Danio acquipinnatus Giant danio

Characters 1. The earlier name of the species is Danio malabaricus. 2. Largest of the danio group and requires lot of space for swimming. 3. The fish has a grey blue black, but colour fades a pale pink on the belly. 4. The sides are marked with narrow horizontal bands of blue and yellow.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C Upper and Mid water level More space

Species details Origin : Size : Feed : Sexual dimorphism : Breeding method : Breeding potential : India and Sri Lanka 100 mm long Omnivorous Females are deeper bodied central stripe runs horizontally on males. In females these lines turns up at base of caudal fin Egg scatterer Easy

HARLEQUIN FISH (Rasbora)

HARLEQUIN FISH (Rasbora) Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : : : Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rasbora heteromorpha Harlequin fish (Rasbora)

Characters 1. Body is silver coloured. 2. Blue wedge shaped colour which is beneath its dorsal fin and runs to its tail.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C-26°C Upper and Mid water level More space

Species details Origin : Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : : Breeding method : Breeding potential : Thailand, Malayasia, Indonesia 40 mm long Omnivorous Females have less clearly defined colour Egg depositor but scatters the eggs Moderate easy

RED TAILED BLACK SHARK

RED TAILED BLACK SHARK Classification: Order Family Genus Species Common name : Cypriniformes : Cyprinidae : Labeo : bicolour : Red tailed black shark

Characters 1. Body colour is jet black with scarlet caudal fin. 2. Dorsal fin shape resemblance with that of marine species. 3. They quarrel with each other among their species.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C Upper and Mid water level Plants

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : Thailand 120 mm long Omnivorous No visible differences Egg scatterer Difficult

ANGEL FISH

ANGEL FISH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Cichilidae Pterophyllum scalare Angel Fish

Characters 1. A graceful, disk shaped vertical black stripes on a silver coloured body. 2. Besides, many new varieties on angel fish have been developed including all black, half black, marbled and blushing types. 3. The normal angel fish bears large dorsal and ventral fins.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C All Plants

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method : Breeding potential : South America 110 mm long All foods Females have fatter breeding tube Egg depositor on a vertical slanting surface inside aquarium Moderately Easy

POMPADOUR FISH (Discus)

POMPADOUR FISH (Discus) Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Cichilidae Symphysodon discus Pompadour fish (Discus)

Characters 1. An attractive brown colour with a pale blue iridescence. 2. Discus is a delicate, highly priced fish which needs proper care for its survivability.

Aquarium conditions Water Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : Very soft, acidic 28°C All levels Excellent water condition

Species details Origin Size Feed : : : Sexual dimorphism : Breeding method Breeding potential : : South America 150 mm long Live and fleshy food Difficult to distinguish Egg depositor Moderately difficult

CLOWN LOACH

CLOWN LOACH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Cobitidae Botia macracantha Clown loach

Characters 1. A bright orange body marked with three broad, black bands (one passing across the eye) makes the clown loach the colourful Botia. 2. The scales are so small that the skin appears to be naked. 3. This fish likes the company of its own species.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C Lower level but make occasional movement to mid water Plants

Species details Origin Size Feed : : : Sexual dimorphism Breeding method Breeding potential : : : South East Asia 125 mm long Omnivorous but prefers worms No visible Unknown Difficult

SUCKERMOUTH CATFISH

SUCKERMOUTH CATFISH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : : Loricaridae Hypostomus punctatus Suckermouth catfish Plecostomus plecostomus

Characters 1. This species has an elongated, slender, printed brown body, a broad flattened head having a central sucking mouth. 2. It cleans the algae growth in the aquarium. 3. If adequate green food are not given it may retaliate by nibbling at aquarium plants.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C Bottom --

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : South America 250 mm long Vegetable matter No visible differences Unknown Difficult

COMMON GOLD FISH

COMMON GOLD FISH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Cyprinidae Carassius auratus Common gold fish

Characters 1. Body metallic orange-red without any silver patch. 2. It has got long based dorsal fin and caudal fin is rounded or slightly forked.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 0 -20°C All levels Community

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : China 200 mm long All type Males have breeding tubercles on gill covers Egg Scatterer Easy

PARADISE FISH

PARADISE FISH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Anabantidae Macropodus opercularis Paradise Fish

Characters 1. This has got red blue and brown bands running across its body. 2. The male has got elongated dorsal and caudal fins which it erects to impress females or to threaten rival males. 3. This can withstand lower temperatures than the usual required range for tropical freshwater fishes.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 16°C-24°C All levels Floating weeds

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method : Breeding potential : Far East 75 mm long All types Males have longer fins Bubble nest builder Moderately easy may require a higher temperature

PEARL GOURAMI

PEARL GOURAMI Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Anabantidae Trichograster leeri Lace gourami, Leeri Gourami, Mosaic Gourami, Pearl Gourami

Characters 1. The male species has a brown body with orange under-parts, and the females underside is more silver coloured. 2. Both sexes have the same body pattern contains mosaic of silvery spots which running into the fins, and a dark line centrally along the flanks.

Characters – Contd. . , 3. The male has along dorsal fin that may extend over the caudal fin and very long, filamentous pelvic fins which along with throat and front part of the anal fin are bright red-orange at spawning time. 4. In good specimens, the dorsal and anal fins have extended filaments. 5. It takes mature period three years to its final adult size.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C – 26°C All levels Floating weeds

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method : Breeding potential : Far East 110 mm long Omnivorous Males have longer fins the red throat region when spawning Bubble nest builder Easy, prolific

KISSING GOURAMI

KISSING GOURAMI Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Anabantidae Helostoma temmincki Kissing Gourami

Characters 1. There are two colour variations of the Kissing Gourami, one is olive-green and other is delicate pink. 2. The most unusual feature of this fish is its peculiar habit of kissing, members of its own species with is protuberant lips. This not an expression of affection its is probably a trail of strength between the fishes but still this a mystery.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C – 26°C All levels Floating weeds

Species details Origin Size Feed : : : Sexual dimorphism : Breeding method : Breeding potential : Far East 200 mm long All foods, vegetable matter No visible differences Lays floating eggs but does not built a Bubble nest Difficult

SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH

SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Anabantidae Betta splendens Siamese fighting fish

Characters 1. Besides blue and red colour now a days many other colour strained fighters are available in the market. 2. The distinctive fins of aquarium developed fishes are more ornate than those of wild ones. 3. The Siamese fighter is renowned for its aggressiveness rivalry with other males of the same species.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level Special attention : : : Soft, Mediumhard 24°C All levels Each fish remains separately

Species details Origin Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : Thailand 60 mm long All foods Males have longer flowing fins Bubble nest builder Easy, but males must be segregated into separate tanks

ORANGE CHROMIDE

ORANGE CHROMIDE Classification: Family Genus Species Common name : : Cichilidae Etroplus maculatus Orange Chromide

Characters 1. Body little oval, gold in colour, marked with tiny red dots and three vertical bars sometimes in odd manner. 2. It has got blue facial markings 3. This fish is susceptible to fungal disease and therefore a little, sea salt should be added to its water.

Aquarium conditions Water : Temperature Swimming level : : Special attention : Hard with little sea salt 24°C Mid water and lower levels Plants

Species details Origin : Size Feed Sexual dimorphism : : : Breeding method Breeding potential : : India and Sri Lanka 90 mm long All foods No visible differences Egg depositor Moderately easy

Astronotus ocellatus -OSCAR

Characters The wild variety has irregular dark blotches and rust-coloured markings. Ø The head of this specimen is grey with less red coloration and a large, fleshy lipped mouth. Ø Dorsal and anal fins are wider at the rear and the caudal fin is rounded and paddleshaped. Ø

Characters – Contd. . , Habitat: Rivers in Amazonia and Guyana. Remark: A favourite pet despite its rapid rate of growth and large appetite, the Oscar needs regular, thorough water changes. It spawns prolifically and is likely to produce around 3, 000 fry. If fed from the hand, it will readily become tame.

FLOWER HORN

Characters Ø Ø Belongs to Cichlid family, found in South America Genus of Cichlasoma, it is a hybrid, Cross between the Cichlasoma trimaculatus & Cichlasoma festae. Their head protuberance, or kok, is formally termed a “nuchal hump”.

Characters – Contd. . , Ø Ø Ø Very hardy species, Flowerhorn need big aquarium with a lot of free space for swimming 200 litres tank is the minimum to an adult fish to let it live healthily. Ideal p. H level in the water, should be around 7 to 7. 8 Water temperature ranging between 27 to 32°C.

Characters – Contd. . , Ø Ø This fish is very territorial. They are also very aggressive in nature. Co-existing with other fish is not advisable, especially smaller fishes It is a big fish with compact body, it can reach 30 cm in length and sometimes can grow even bigger. Their diet can consist of live food, frozen food, and standard dry fish food. Young Flowerhorn usually eat chironomus, brine shrimps and other frozen fish foods.

AROWANA

AROWANA- Ostroglossidae Scientific Name Common English Name Scleropages formosus Asian Arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Silver Arowana Osteoglossum ferreirai Black Arowana Scleropages jardini Gulf Saratoga Scleropages leichardti Spotted Saratoga

Characters Ø Ø Ø Ø Arowana have rounder and broader body Their back portions are horizontal when they are young. When fully grown, their backs will slightly arched. The depth of their body about 4 -5. 5 inches. Scales are coarse, big and rich in color. Pelvic fin and anal fin are of the same length. Caudal fin have 2 shapes- pear and fan. Mouthwide and slanting (male arowana have a deeper mouth). Pair of mandibular barbels must be straight and long. It can grow up to 21/2 ft weighing 7 kg in an aquarium and can live more than 10 yrs.

Characters – Contd. . , p. H: p. H 6 to p. H 7. Temperature: 26°C-30°C (79°F-86°F). Avoid sudden change of temperature as it may chock the fish can cause problem like tail dropping. Hardness: Arowana like soft water but can also tolerate water with reasonable hardness. Feeding Small arowana (below 15 cm)-fed three times a day, medium arowana (15 -35 cm) -twice a day and Large arowana (above 35 cm) Once a day or alternate day. Variety in food is important to avoid nutritional deficiency.