MOONS OR PLATY PLATYPOECILIA (Mexico)
Color: RED MOON—deep rich red. GOLD MOON—gold body, red dorsal fin, BLUE MOON—blue body, black crescent at base of caudal. (Black Crescent may appear on Red and Gold Moons.) BLACK MOON—black body sometimes with greenish sheen, also found with red heads, (Black Helmet Moon), GOLD WAGTAIL—Gold body with black fins and black caudal. RED WAGTAILS—deep red body with black fins and black caudal.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—15 to 30 young every 6 to 9 weeks. Breeding habits same as swordtails, except most young moons come to top. Cross breeding with swordtail common, producing beautiful hybrids (HELLERI) larger than either parent and assuming color of male (MOON).
Temperature: 70° to 80° F. Maturity: 4 to 6 months.
Temperament: Very peaceful. Fry must be kept very warm.
SAILFIN: MOLLIENISIA LATIPINNA
(Southern U. S., Northern Mexico)
About one half size
Color: Male—body olive green, black stitching; large dorsal fin (sailfin) lavender and orange spotted with black; caudal, orange and light blue. Female—similar to male but without large dorsal.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—have 20 to 100 young at irregular intervals. All Mollienisia are hardy but females must not be moved to another tank when young are expected. This frequently causes young to be born prematurely and few will survive. Moving female or undue excitement at this time may cause death of female. Provide ample vegetation in tank. Sailfins are not very cannibalistic but it is always safest to remove fry for several weeks. Young are ⅜″ long when born.
Temperature: 45° to 85° F. Breed best at 70° F.
Maturity: 9 months.
Temperament: Very peaceful.
In breeding Mollienisia, no two varieties should be kept in the same tank as they will cross breed. Each variety should be provided with a separate tank. (This is also true of the moons). Only very careful intelligent selective breeding has produced the Black Mollienisia, later the Sailfin Black Molly, and most recently, Black Molly Sailfin with an orange bordered dorsal.
BLACK MOLLIENISIA:
(Southern U. S.)
average size
Color: Both male and female coal black.
Breeding Habits: Live bearers—15 to 25 young born at irregular intervals throughout the year. Young when born are large and black. Turn gray in a few weeks and then gradually turn black. Female should never be moved when young are expected—as this usually results in loss of young and frequently loss of female. (See [Sailfin]). Young are fairly safe with parents if ample floating plants are provided. “Mollies” are algae eaters. Black Mollienisia have been crossed with Sailfins producing the beautiful BLACK MOLLIENISIA SAILFIN.
Temperature: 65° to 80° F. Breed best at 75° F.
Maturity: Good male becomes black in about 6 months. Female about 18 months. Breed at 9 months. Males less hardy.
Temperament: Very peaceful.
“Mollies” are heavy eaters, and largely vegetarians. Some algae should be present.
MEDAKA: (above) ORYZIAS LATIPES
(China)
average size
Color: Male and female light lemon yellow. Male slim like Zebra—sometimes called “Golden Danio.” Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—these interesting and attractive fish are the easiest of the egg layers to breed. Eggs cluster about anal region of female like bunch of grapes. Here they are carried for several hours and later brushed off on plants where they become attached. Eggs can be easily seen hanging to plants. Fish seldom bother eggs but it is safest to remove plants containing eggs to another jar. Fry hatch in 10 to 14 days. Feed fry infusoria. Never have snails in tank containing fish eggs.
Temperature: 45° to 80° F. Spawn best at 70° F.
Maturity: Mature in about 6 mos.
Temperament: Very peaceful.
ZEBRA: DANIO RERIO (Ceylon)
Color: Both male and female striped from eyes through tail with alternate lines of blue and silver. Underparts of male slightly yellowish—female silvery white. Female—deeper in body.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—non-adhesive eggs fall to bottom. Cover bottom of breeding tank with several layers ½″ pebbles or glass marbles, not over 3 inches of water above marbles. Place male and female (kept separate several days) in prepared tank. Spawning usually takes place within 24 hours. Spawning is preceded by very fast swimming. Remove parents after spawning. Fry hatch in 2 to 8 days. Feed fry infusoria.
Temperature: 45° to 80° F.
Maturity: Breed when 4 to 5 months.
Temperament: Peaceful, swim in school, constantly moving.
(See [Pearl Danio].)
PEARL DANIO (above): DANIO ALBOLINEATUS
(Burma)
average size
Color: Iridescent mother-of-pearl and opal tints. Dull red line through center of body and tail. Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—prepare aquarium same as for Zebra. Long tank best for both. As they snatch eggs when they turn, long tank eliminates many turns. Advisable to use two males to one female. (See [Zebra].)
Temperature and Temperament: Same as Zebra.
Maturity: 6 to 8 months.
GIANT DANIO DANIO MALABARICUS
(Malabar Coast)
Color: Deep metallic blue with two horizontal stripes of yellow gold.
Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—very small semi-adhesive eggs deposited on plants. Fry need great amount of food. Remove parents after spawning. (see [Rosy Barb].)
Temperature: 60° to 80° F.
Maturity: 8 to 10 months.
Temperament: Peaceful, but will attack small fish.
Danios (Zebra, Pearl and Giant) are always active, and are large consumers of oxygen, therefore are more susceptible to the effects of lack of sufficient oxygen in the aquarium. Being fast swimmers and especially fond of their own eggs, water in the breeding tank should not exceed 6 inches and they should be removed as soon as spawning is over.
ROSY BARB: BARBUS CONCHONIUS
(India)
average size
Color: Silvery green, dark spot at base of caudal. Male has black dash on dorsal and takes on rosy hue during spawning season.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—lay eggs on fine plants similar to goldfish. Stock aquarium well with fine plants like Myriophyllum or Cabomba, weight down ends with a stone. Separate male and female for a few days. Spawning usually takes place within 48 hours after pair is placed together. After spawning is completed remove plants containing eggs and place in tank free from other fish and scavengers. Fry hatch in about a week and should be fed with Brine Shrimp.
The following Barbs are prettily colored and easy to take care of. Their breeding habits are like those of the Rosybarbs.
BARBUS SUMATRANUS BARBUS EVERETTI (CLOWN BARB) BARBUS SEMIFASCIOLATUS (HALF BANDED) BARBUS SEMIFASCIOLATUS var. Schuberti, (GOLD BARB) BARBUS NIGROFASCIATUS
Temperature: 45° to 80° F. Spawn best at 70° to 80° F.
Maturity: Mature in about 9 months.
Temperament: Peaceful.
BARBUS OLIGOLEPIS (below)
(Sumatra)
Color: Male—Large scales with blue-black spot, all fins orange-red with dark edge. Female—Duller in color with 4 or 5 black spots on sides.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—Stock aquarium with Cabomba. Male turns almost black during spawning period. Remove both parents as soon as eggs are deposited on fine plants. Fry hatch in about 72 hours.
Temperature: 70° to 80° F.
Maturity: 10 months.
Temperament: (Peaceful.)
BLOOD FIN: (above) APHYOCHARAX RUBRIPINNIS
(Argentine)
average size
Color: Iridescent steel blue with deep red fins. Sex determined same as Silver Tetra.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Use large tank, cover bottom with fine plants, and ample tall ones. Fish spawn at surface, some eggs adhering to tall plants, others falling. Remove parents. Fry appear in about 24 hours. Feed Brine Shrimp. Fry grow rapidly.
Temperature: 70° to 78° F.
Temperament: Peaceful.
SILVER TETRA: CTENOBRYCON SPILURUS
(Br. Guiana)
Color: Steel blue body covered with very fine bright silver scales. Body very thin. Large black spot at base of caudal. Tetras are all easily identified by the small adipose fin between dorsal and caudal. Male slightly smaller with invisible processes on anterior tip of anal which catch in fine net. Sex is determined in this way.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—lay great quantities of adhesive eggs on fine plants. Plants or parents should be removed as soon as spawning is completed. Fry will make their appearance in a few days. Be sure there are no snails in tank with eggs.
Temperature: 70° to 90° F.
Maturity: 6 to 8 months.
Temperament: Very active. Not for community tank.
TETRA FROM RIO (above): HYPHESSOBRYCON FLAMMEUS
(Brazil)
TETRA FROM BUENOS AIRES: HEMIGRAMMUS CAUDOVITTATUS
(Argentina)
average size
Color: TETRA FROM RIO—body bright silver—3 black bars near head; fins brilliant red edged with black; black edge on anal of male wider than on female. During mating season red runs well into body. TETRA FROM BUENOS AIRES—body bright silver, fins blood red. Large diamond shaped spot at base of caudal. Sex determined same as Silver Tetra.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Use 15 gallon tank, 6 to 8 inches of water. Stock tank heavily with Cabomba, Myriophyllum, or other fine floating plants, also a thicket on bottom. Semi-adhesive eggs are deposited on plants, some sinking to bottom. Best results are obtained with 2 males and 1 female. Remove parents after spawning is completed. Fry appear in about 3 days. Tiny fry hang on plants and sides of aquarium about 3 days. Tetras may not spawn immediately—have patience.
Temperature: 70° to 90° F.
Maturity: From Rio—8 months. Buenos Aires—10 months.
Temperament: From Rio—Very peaceful, Buenos Aires—Fairly peaceful.
PRISTELLA RIDDLEI: (above)
(Venezuela and Guiana)
average size
Color: Silvery body, caudal reddish, anal and dorsal light yellow with dark spot. Difficult to distinguish sex.
Breeding Habits: Egg Layers. Spawn on fine plants, Myriophyllum or Cabomba—very small adhesive eggs, expelled 6 or 8 at a time, often fall to bottom. Sometimes as many as 200 eggs at a spawning. Remove parents after spawning.
Temperature: 72° to 80° F.; best above 75° F.
Maturity: About 1 year.
Temperament: Peaceful.
HEAD AND TAIL LIGHT: HEMIGRAMMUS OCELLIFER
(Amazon River, S. A.)
Color: Body translucent green, faint gold line through center of body, thin black line toward caudal base broadens into diamond shape. Gleaming gold spot on tail and brilliant red eye give fish its common name. Male smaller, more slender and has pointed instead of rounded dorsal.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Adhesive eggs are deposited on fine plants. Use 2 males to one female for best results. Fry hatch in 2 days. (See [Pristella Riddlei].)
Temperature: 72° to 80° F.
Maturity: About 8 months.
Temperament: Peaceful. Young fairly hardy.