|
|
|
CHARACINS
CHARACIDAE FAMILY
The Characidae or Characin Family are found in numerous types of water throughout South
America. These fish require lots of oxygen in the water and are sensitive to noise. Characins can be divided into
subfamilies including Characidiinae, Characinae, and Serrasalminae.
CHARACIDIINAE SUB-FAMILY
The Characidiinae or Darter sub-family consists of the genus
Characidium and more than 50 species.
Darters
live near the substrate, usually in fast-flowing waters.
Darter Characin
[Pictures]
Characidium
species
SYN: None
PD:
A fish with a relatively flat-bellied profile.
The body is elongated and the fish is
usually seen resting on its pectoral fins.
The body color depends on the species as does the body pattern.
The
fins are transparent on nearly all species.
SIZE: To 3" (8 cm)
SS: None
HAB: Clear streams in South America from the Rio de la Plata to the Orinoco.
S: bottom
TANK: 24" (60 cm) or 15 gallons (57 L).
The bottom should be fine gravel or,
better, sand.
Leave open areas.
Provide a moderate to strong current with good aeration.
WATER:
pH 5.5-7.5 (7.0), dH 2-25 (6), 64-81°F (18-27°C)
SB: A peaceful loner that should be kept singly or in large groups of eight or more fish.
If
kept in groups smaller than about eight, fish act aggressively.
Combine with small to medium-sized fish of upper
swimming levels.
An inquisitive fish, always investigating the tank floor.
SC: Tetras, Hatchetfish,
Corydoras, danios, barbs, gouramis.
FOOD: Tablets; live;
Tubifex, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp.
SEX: Females are slightly plumper and have a clear dorsal fin while males have spots around
their dorsal fin.
B:
Breeding the Darter is fairly easy.
A pair spawns on the bottom, laying side to side.
The
parents should be removed from the tank after the eggs are laid.
The 150 eggs fall between rocks and hatch after
30 to 40 hours.
The fry have very small mouths and should be raised on food tablets, infusoria, and
Artemia.
BP: 5.
Breeding is not difficult.
R: About 50
Characidium species have been described although distinguishing
between them is very difficult because of the subtle differences.
Color depends on what environment the
fish is found.
Fish with a greenish color are found in rivers with heavy vegetation, while dark bodied
specimen are found in rivers with dark rocks.
DC: 3.
A robust species, that is suitable for most community
tanks.
Species Index | Fish Home | Rainforests | Help keep mongabay running!
|
|
|
|
Recent news
Census of marine life opens with 122,000 species
(7/1/2008) Discovering a new species can be the highlight of a biologist's career. Yet once a species enters the formal literature, complications may develop. The systen has been especially problematic because for centuries biologists have lacked the tools to construct a full and flexible list of the world's innumerable species. Using the Internet and hundreds of scientists around the world, the Census of Marine Life is attempting to take on this monumental task.
Large shark populations fall 97% in the Mediterranean
(6/12/2008) Populations of some shark species in the Mediterranean have plunged by more than 97 percent over the past 200 years, report researchers writing in the journal Conservation Biology. Several species are at risk of extinction.
Dried-up Colorado takes toll on giant Mexican fish
(6/8/2008) The Colorado River vanishes before it reaches the Sea of Cortez in all but the wettest years. Companies in California and the southwestern U.S. have diverted its once-vibrant flow to quench their thirst for water and power. Now, a new study in the April 2008 issue of the journal Biological Conservation reports that the dwindling of this major artery has changed the way some marine fish in the Gulf of California grow and develop.
Diversity in streams may brace Chinook salmon for climate change
(6/3/2008) Chinook salmon face a one-two punch. They have disappeared from several rivers in the western U.S. largely because of human interventions and some populations are threatened or endangered. Numbers of Chinook in California's Central Valley have dwindled by 88 percent in the past five years, a loss that closed fisheries for 2008 and may cost California's economy $167 million, according to the state Department of Fish and Game. On top of all this looms a second impact: These salmon will be in hotter water still because of climate change.
Greenpeace ship attacked by Turkish tuna fishermen during protest
(5/30/2008) Members of a Turkish tuna fishing boat attacked the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise while the ship was engaged in a protest against overfishing. The incident occurred Friday in the Cypriot Channel and was reported to the Turkish Iskenderun Gulf Port Authorities.
|
| >
