FishLvr.com

By Allen Jesson

The Black clown fish is also known as the Yellow tail clown fish, and can be obtained in several colour variations. The most common form of Black clown fish is black and yellow with white vertical stripes. Just like the other clown fishes, Black clown fishes form a symbiotic relationship with anemones and are therefore also known as Black anemone fishes.

The Black clown fish is one of the most frequently kept clown fish species and you can find these fishes in numerous saltwater aquariums all over the world. The native region for the Black clown fish is the warm West Pacific Ocean. Populations of Black clown fish are found from the Persian Gulf to the Western coast of Australia. They inhabit the Australian archipelago, the many reefs of Melanesia and Micronesia, and you can also find Black Clown fish up to north Taiwan and south Japan.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Size: 5cm (2 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: All

Habitat: Among tall plants in rivers in the Mato Grosso area, South America

Remarks: This is an ideal starter fish. A long-finned cultivated variety is shown in the image.

Comments: The Black Window’s oval body is marked by three dark vertical bars; through the eye, just behind the gill-cover, and at the base of the dorsal fin. Sex is generally distinguished by the more pointed dorsal fins and broader fronted anal fins on the males, and by the plumper bodies of females. Even though they have the same name as the very deadly spider called Black Widow, they are of do threat to humans, what-so-ever.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Cyprinidae

Species: Osteochilus hasselti

Size: 30cm (12 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Middle and lower

Habitat: Streams and rivers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Sunda Islands

Remarks: This fish is very attractive when young, but like the Black Shark it grows large quickly and requires a great deal of space.

Comments: The scales of this juvenile are dotted with reddish brown marks, giving a striped appearance, and a dark spot occurs on the caudal peduncle. Adult fish are plain grey-green. The mouth has lips fringed with pimple-like growths and the lower jaw forms a scraper for algae. All fins carry yellow and red. Quite a large fish to keep at 12 inches.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hemigrammus caudovittatus

Size: 7.5cm (3 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: All

Habitat: Plate river basin of Argentina, Paraquay, and Brazil

Remarks: It may eat soft-leaved plants.

Comments: A thin, horizontal blue line begins behind the gill-cover of this slim fish, and tapers until obscured by a darker line, ending in the centre of the caudal fin. Male colours intensify during spawning. Slightly bigger than your average tetra, so they make a good choice to mix with other small fish from the tetra family, without posing a threat to the other smaller tetra fish. As they will get along fine, and add that bit extra to your aquarium tank.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hemigrammus ocellifer

Size: 5cm (2 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: All

Habitat: Rivers in the Amazon region and Guyana

Other Name: Head and Tail-Light Fish, Motorist Fish

Comments: The deep body outline of the Beacon Fish follows the general tetra pattern. The identifying features of this silvery grey fish are the bright red top of the eye, and the gold spot behind the adipose fin, above a dark blotch at the base of the caudal fin. Without doubt this fish has a strange name that matches the look of the fish itself. Easy to keep and looks good in a fully planted aquarium mixed with other small fish species of a similar size.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hemigrammus pulcher

Size: 5cm (2 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Middle and lower

Habitat: Peruvian section of the Amazon River

Remarks: This popular fish will breed in captivity but may be reluctant to spawn unless full compatibility between the sexes is achieved. The female should be swollen with eggs before introducing here to the male. Use a heavily planted, 60cm (24 inch) tank for breeding.

Comments: The body of the Pretty Tetra is deep when compared with other members of this family. On mature specimens, the back and head are a dark grey-green colour which shades through to a purple-copper and down to a silver lower half. As with other silvery species, iridescences are seen according to lighting conditions. The scales are dark-edged, and the eye is red above and pale bluish green below. The top of the caudal peduncle is marked with a gold line, beneath which a dark patch extends forwards, terminating near the rear of the dorsal fin.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hemigrammus rhodostomus

Size: 5cm (2 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Middle and lower

Habitat: Lower stretches of the Amazon River

Remarks: It is sensitive to water changes.

Comments: The distinguishing feature of this slim-bodied tetra is the striking red head; the caudal fin is also pattered. The red area is confined to the head in the Rummy-nose Tetra, but many extend as a streak on to the body in the similar False Rummy-nose (Petitella georgiae). The caudal fin is marked (faintly on this juvenile) by three horizontal black bars, and the lobe tips are colourless. A thin black, often indistinct, line runs forwards from the base of the caudal fin towards the base of the dorsal fin.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Size: 7.5cm (3 inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: Middle

Habitat: Streams and rivers in Colombia

Remarks: This peaceful species is apt to dash about when startled, and appreciates plenty of swimming space. Captive breeding is uncommon. The Lesser Bleeding Heart Tetra, a similar-looking species, has more rounded and less exaggerated finnage.

Other Name: Formerly known as Hyphessobrycon rubrostigma.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hyphessobrycon flammeus

Size: 4.5cm (1 three quarter inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: All

Habitat: Streams and rivers around Rio de Janeiro

Remarks: Hyphessobrycon griemi is a similar species, but lacks the red colouration and has more white in its fins.

Comments: The body shape of this fish is typical of the tetra group, with a high profile tapering evenly to the caudal peduncle. Colouration is pinkish brown with silver. On perfect specimens, two dark bars appear behind the gill-cover and extend down to the belly; the lower rear of the body carries more red. Pelvic, anal, and the dorsal fin may be sooty with white streaks. A terminal mouth is situated at the tip of the snout, and an adipose fin is present. The female is less red and increases in girth when spawning.

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By Gary Bolton

Family: Characidae

Species: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Size: 4.5cm (1 three quarter inch)

Diet: Omnivorous

Tank levels: All

Habitat: Streams and rivers in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil

Remarks: Soft, acid water will bring out this fish’s colours.

Comments: This tetra is olive-green on the dorsal surface and silvery on the belly. There is an iridescent, pale green-blue line along the flanks which looks great, from the top of the eye to the caudal peduncle. Below this is a dark area gradually pales towards the lower part of the body. Fins are mostly colourless, and an adipose fin is present. Females generally have deeper bodies and increase in girth at spawning times.

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