Tropical Fish | Rasbora & Barbs |
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Hi-Fin Barb
$1.80
Approx. 0.5″
Best kept in a well-decorated set-up with aquatic vegetation and woody structures. The addition of some floating plants to diffuse the light entering the aquarium also seems to be appreciated and the addition of dried leaf litter can add a natural feel. Filtration, or at least water flow, should be relatively gentle, and use a soft substrate if possible since Oreichthys species have miniscule sensory bristles on the lower jaw which are used when foraging.
Unsuitable for most community aquaria as it may be intimidated or outcompeted for food by larger or more boisterous tankmates. Small, peaceful cyprinids such as Trigonostigma or Boraras species make good choices and we suspect it will also do ok with many South American characins, Otocinclus or pygmy Corydoras catfishes. Potential additions from the Ganges basin include Badis badis, Pangio pangia, and Colisa chuna.
Although gregarious by nature it’s a shoaling rather than schooling fish which develops a distinct pecking order and rival males will exhibit some interesting sparring behaviour in captivity. It’s best maintained in a group of 8 or more but the tank must be decorated in such a way that many broken lines of sight are provided. If kept singly, in a very small group or in cramped conditions it can become withdrawn and subdominant fish may be bullied incessantly.
Will accept dried foods of a suitable size but should not be fed these exclusively. Daily meals of small live and frozen fare such as Daphnia, Artemia, and suchlike will result in the best colouration and encourage the fish to come into breeding condition.
Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH: 6.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 90 – 268 ppm
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Calico Ranchu
Botia Striata
Botia Dario
Silver Shark
Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallon Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy Water Conditions: 72-82° F, dGH 2 – 10, pH 6.5-7.8 Max Size: 14″ Color Form: Black, White, Yellow Diet: Omnivore Compatibility: Not suitable for peaceful community tanks Origin: Farm Raised, Thailand Family: Cyprinidae Life Span: 8 – 10 years Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
Clown Loach
The Clown Loach (Botia macracantha) is a peaceful schooling fish native to the inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
In their native habitat, the Clown Loach is found in fast moving streams with water temperature ranges between 77 and 86 °F, a pH between 5.0 and 8.0, and water hardness between 5 and 12 dH. For a good portion of the year, monsoons force the Clown Loach into blackwater river areas and murky water conditions encountered when the plains become flooded.
Clown Loaches get their name from their bright colors. The main body is light to bright orange with three wide black, triangular, vertical bands that gives it it’s unmistakeable appearance. The front band runs from the top of the head through the eye, the middle band runs between the head and the dorsal fin and wraps around the body, and the rear band wraps around the caudal and anal fins around the body. Clown Loaches are wide bodied fish that have a large moveable spine set in a groove below each of the fish’s eyes that is used for defense and holding onto rocks in swift currents.
Clown Loaches are shy fish and benefit from having live plants and river rocks in the aquarium to hide amongst. They appreciate having caves, holes, driftwood and other hiding places strategically positioned around heavy aquarium plantings.
The Clown Loach is one of the “must have” fish for tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. They get along well with most other members of a community tank and have some interesting habits like swimming upside down or on their sides, and laying on their sides and “playhing dead” on the botttom of the tank. This is normal behavior for these fish.
Unlike most nocturnal loaches, Clown Loaches are active during the day but need cover, and shy away from bright light. Because they are schooling fish, they do best in groups of 6 or more individuals and need a large tank with good water movement. When kept in groups smaller than five, they will spend a lot of time hiding. Since they grow up to a foot long in their natural environment, a 100 gallon tank or larger is not inappropriate to keep these fish happy. Clown Loaches are susceptible to Ichthyophthirius (ich) or white spot disease when stressed or subjeted to rapid water temperature changes.
Clown Loaches should be fed several small meals throughout the day instead of only once a day. They are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods like vegetable flakes, “Pleco tablets”, live, frozen, or freeze-dried worms, brine shrimp, tubifex worms, and banana or other plant matter. Botia macracantha are voracious eaters of those nuisance snails that sometimes sneak into your aquarium on live plants.
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy Water Conditions: 72-86° F, KH 8-12, pH 6.0-7.5 Max. Size: 1′ Color Form: Black, Orange, Red, Tan Diet: Omnivore Compatibility: Good community tank fish Origin: Indonesia Family: Cobitidae Lifespan: 15 years + Aquarist Experience Level: BeginnerCommon Hatchetfish
Sterbai Corydoras
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Care Level: Easy Temperament: Peaceful Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy Water Conditions: 70-77° F, KH 0-15, pH 6.2-7.8 Max. Size: 3″ Color Form: Black, Tan, Yellow Diet: Omnivore Compatibility: Community tanks Origin: Brazil, South America, Upper Rio Guapore Family: Callichthyidae Life Span: 5 – 10 years Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner