The Cyprinidae family inhabits the entire planet except South America, Australia and Antarctica. It has more than 1,400 species. They stand out for characteristics such as their pharyngeal teeth and their differences in size. The resworks do not exceed 3 centimeters, while in India there are species that reach 2.5 meters in length. The species most sought after by the aquarists are the Cebritas, Rásboras, Barbus and Labeos bicolor.
Barbus Titteya
It is always advisable that in the aquarium have mixed groups, that is, without predominance of one sex over the other. These fish are usually territorial among those of the same species. It's easy to play Barbus Cherry. You will recognize the male by its more intense reddish coloration. Adequate the aquarium with abundant plants and well effective filtration. They can lay up to 300 eggs in just 1 day. Feed the fry with artemia.
Barbus Tetrazone
They are very particular to live in a community aquarium, as they usually run and nibble the fins of the other fish. One way to avoid this inconvenience is to have groups of 10 or more specimens of both sexes. This will make all your attention focus on interaction with those of your same species, reducing discomfort to your peers of other species. There are Barbus Tigre with other colorations, such as green and red (orange).
If you are interested in reproducing them, I recommend that you do it in an aquarium where you only have Barbus. Be sure to condition soft and acidic water, with temperatures between 24 and 26° C. Place long-leaved plants that reach the surface, such as Vallisnerias. There they will lay eggs near the surface, hatch in about 36 hours. The recommended food for the young is artemia.
Balanteocheilus melanopterus
This fish is a tireless swimmer of the aquarium. The fish tank should be long to allow the cardumen to move comfortably. It's a peaceful and somewhat scary fish, with a tendency to jump if he's nervous. For this matter it is advisable to use floating plants. It is ovíparous, although it is unlikely that it will be able to reproduce it in captivity.
Crossocheilus siamensis
Its characteristics frame it as an ideal fish for the community aquarium. It is peaceful and spends hours eating algae that grow on plants. It's so skillful that it won't harm them when cleaning. It is preferable that it be the only one of its species in the aquarium, as they sometimes face each other, albeit without harm. Siam seaweed eats is oviparous, although there is no history of reproduction in captivity.
Brachydanio rerio
There are artificially achieved varieties, albino and veliferous, but they tend to get sick easily. Zebras usually move around the surface of the aquarium in small schools. They are peaceful and easy to care for. Many fans buy them to accompany Discos in large fish tanks. To reproduce them have sectors of the aquarium well planted with long-leaved plants such as the Vallisnerias. They deposit 300 to 400 eggs.
Epalzeorhychus bicolor
He's a very annoying fish with his aquarium mates. They even attack each other among the same species. You can have a small group, maybe 5, in community aquarium if the fish tank is big and your companions too. Place many rocks and plants so that each fish has its well-defined territory. Labeo Bicolor is ovíparous, although it does not usually occur in the aquarium.
Tanichthys albonubes
It owes its name to the White Cloud Mountain, in China, where it comes from. There the temperature is a bit cold. You will see in the aquarium that the White Cloud lives better in waters that do not exceed 20º. It is ideal for forming schools of 10 to 30 specimens. It adapts well to the community aquarium, provided you choose companions who are accustomed to low temperatures. It is common to breed in captivity, it is an oviparous fish. Feed the fry with artemia.
Heteromorpha
A large aquarium with abundant plants and quiet companions is ideal for this fish. It is somewhat delicate, take good care of the water conditions, which will have to be well filtered. Keep it in groups of a dozen preferably. They're very difficult to reproduce. They will require soft and acidic water. The male should be older than the female, which lays its eggs at the base of the plants. Transfer the eggs with water from the main aquarium to a breeding one. Keep it in the dark until the eggs hatch, then feed infusories.
© Adrián Blanco 2005 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
