Freshwater butterflyfish: Difference between revisions
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==In the aquarium== |
==In the aquarium== |
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Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an [[aquarium]] of at least 30 [[gallon]]s. A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits. During feeding times special care should be taken as then they are most likely to jump and injure themselves outside the water. This holds true not only for moving foods but for flakes and any other types of food disturbing the water surface. They also prefer a tank with live plants, especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce [[Stress (medicine)|stress]]. Other required conditions are a [[temperature]] of 75° to 85°F, a [[pH]] of 6.9-7.1, and a [[KH]] of 1-10. They are more likely to spawn under such conditions, producing a mass of large floating eggs at the surface. Eggs hatch in approximately seven days. Because they are [[carnivore|carnivorous]], the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of [[Moth|moths]], [[insects]], small [[fish]], [[brine shrimp]], [[bloodworm]]s, or other types of meaty foods. Occasionally they will eat [[flake food]], but cannot subsist on it. In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches. |
Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an [[aquarium]] of at least 30 [[gallon]]s. A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits. During feeding times special care should be taken as then they are most likely to jump and injure themselves outside the water. This holds true not only for moving foods but for flakes and any other types of food disturbing the water surface. They also prefer a tank with live plants, especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce [[Stress (medicine)|stress]]. Other required conditions are a [[temperature]] of 75° to 85°F, a [[pH]] of 6.9-7.1, and a [[KH]] of 1-10. They are more likely to spawn under such conditions, producing a mass of large floating eggs at the surface. Eggs hatch in approximately seven days. Because they are [[carnivore|carnivorous]], the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of [[Moth|moths]], [[insects]], small [[fish]], [[brine shrimp]], [[bloodworm]]s, or other types of meaty foods. Freeze dried tubiflex squares can be stuck on the side of a tank at water level, which they will find and eat. Occasionally they will eat [[flake food]], but cannot subsist on it. In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches. The butterflyfish should not be kept with fin-eating or aggressive fishes. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 11:42, 3 July 2008
| Freshwater butterflyfish | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | Pantodontidae
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| Genus: | Pantodon Peters, 1877
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| Species: | P. buchholzi
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| Binomial name | |
| Pantodon buchholzi Peters, 1877
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The freshwater butterflyfish or African butterflyfish, Pantodon buchholzi, is the only species in the family Pantodontidae within the Order Osteoglossiformes. It is not closely related to saltwater butterflyfishes.
Habits
The freshwater butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter. It is able to breathe air due to its well-vascularized swim bladder. Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth is specifically adapted to capture small prey along the water's surface. If enough speed is built up in the water, a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance above the surface to avoid predation. It also wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides, with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles, the ability which earned the fish its common name. [1] The fish feeds primarily on small insects and smaller fishes.
Location
Freshwater butterflyfish are found in the slightly acidic standing bodies of water in West Africa. They require a year round temperature of 73-86°F. Butterflyfish are found in slow to no current areas with high amounts of surface foliage for cover. They are commonly seen in Lake Chad, the Congo Basin, throughout Lower Niger, Cameroon, Ogooue, and Upper Zambezi. They have also been seen in the Niger Delta, Lower Ogun, and in the Lower Cross River.
In the aquarium
Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons. A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits. During feeding times special care should be taken as then they are most likely to jump and injure themselves outside the water. This holds true not only for moving foods but for flakes and any other types of food disturbing the water surface. They also prefer a tank with live plants, especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce stress. Other required conditions are a temperature of 75° to 85°F, a pH of 6.9-7.1, and a KH of 1-10. They are more likely to spawn under such conditions, producing a mass of large floating eggs at the surface. Eggs hatch in approximately seven days. Because they are carnivorous, the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of moths, insects, small fish, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other types of meaty foods. Freeze dried tubiflex squares can be stuck on the side of a tank at water level, which they will find and eat. Occasionally they will eat flake food, but cannot subsist on it. In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches. The butterflyfish should not be kept with fin-eating or aggressive fishes.
References
- ^ Berra, Tim M. (2001). Freshwater Fish Distribution. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-093156-7
- "Pantodon buchholzi". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 11 March.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pantodon buchholzi". FishBase. November 2005 version.
- Innes, Dr William T., EXOTIC AQUARIUM FISHES, Innes Publishing Co. Philadelphia, 1935