Black-Winged Hatchetfish Characidae Carnegiella marthae [mar'-thi] - in honor of Martha Ruth Myers. Orinoco and Amazon Basins. 1½ inches. Community. 70 - 85°F. (75°F). These fish have a tendancy to jump, and must be in a covered aquarium. Marbled Hatchetfish Characidae Carnegiella strigata [stri-ga'-ta] - strigata = streaked. Guianas & Amazon Basin to above Manaus. 2 inches. Community. 75 - 90°F. Female is plump from a top view. Breeds at 1.75 inches. 85°F. These fish have a tendancy to jump, and must be in a covered aquarium. Silver Tetra Characidae Ctenobrycon spilurus [spy'-lure-us] - spil = spot; urus = tail. Venezuela to Guianas. 3½ inches. Community. 68 - 90°F. Provide plenty of plant material. Female is larger, plumper, and has a red cast to her anal fin. Breeds at 2½ inches. 75°F. Silver Hatchetfish Characidae Gasteropelecus sternicla Amazon Basin. 2½ inches. Community. 75 - 90°F. Daphnia, fruit flies and drosophila. These fish have a tendancy to jump, and must be in a covered aquarium. aka: (Pterodiscus levis) & (Gasteropelecus maculatus) see also: Silver Hatchetfish (Thoracocharax stellatus) Black Tetra Characidae Gymnocorymbus ternetzi [ter'-nets-eye] - in honor of collector Carl Ternetz. Paraguay and Guapore' Basins. 3 inches. Semi-Aggressive towards smaller fish. 70 - 90°F. Female is plump. Adult fish should be removed after breeding. Golden Tetra Characidae Hemigrammus armstrongi [arm'-strong-eye] - in honor of Joseph Armstrong. British Guiana, South America. 1½ inches. Community. 70 - 85°F. Male is intensely colored. Breeds at 1 inch. 74° - 80°F. Silver-Tipped Tetra Characidae Hemigrammus nanus [nan'-us] - nanus = dwarf. SE Brazil in Rio das Velhas; Sao Francisco Basin. 1½ inches. Community. 70 - 85°F. Females are plump. Breeds at 1¼ inches. 75°F. Soft water required. aka: (Hasemania nana) Pretty Tetra Characidae Hemigrammus pulcher [pul'-ker] - pulcher = beautiful. Peruvian Amazon. 2 inches. Community. 70 - 85°F. Females have a rounded belly. Breeds at 1½ inches. pH of 6.8., slightly hard water should be used. Yellow Tetra Characidae Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus [bi-fas'-see-ay'-tus] - bi = two; fasciatus = banded. Southeastern Brazil. 2½ inches. Community. 65 - 85°F. (75°F). Male is more deeply colored, and his fins are colored. Male has a convex anal fin, the female concave. Breeds at 1½ inches. Parents should be removed after spawning. 78°F. Brass, gold and bronze tetras are a color variety. Jewel Tetra Characidae Hyphessobrycon callistus [cal-lis'-tus] - callistus = very beautiful. British Guiana, Brazil, to Rio Paraguay. 1½ inches. Community. May nip fins. 70 - 85°F. Male has brighter colors. Female is fuller. Breeds at 1¼ inches. Parents should be removed after spawning. 75°F. pH of 7.0. Red Tetra Characidae Hyphessobrycon flammeus [flam'-me-us] - flammeuss = flame colored. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2 inches. Community. 70 - 80°F. Female's anal fin is more concave. Ripe female is fuller. Pelvic fins of the male are redder. 1¼ inches. Parents must be well fed or they might eat their eggs. Coloration is pale unless placed in an aquarium free from disturbances. aka: Fire or Flame Tetra Neon Tetra Characidae Hyphessobrycon innesi [in'-nis-eye] - named in honor of William T. Innes. Peruvian Amazon. 1½ inches. Community. 70 - 80°F. Male is slimmer than the female. Breeds at 1 inch. 74°F. ph = 6.5. One of the most popular and attractive fish available today. aka: (Paracheirodon innesi) Blue Tetra Characidae Mimagoniates microlepis [my'-crow-lep'-iss] - micro = small; lepis = scales. Rio Macacos to Iporanga, SE Brazil and Paraguay. 2½ inches. Community. 72 - 79°F. (76°F). Female is fuller and has a rounded dorsal fin. Breeds at 1½ inches. aka: (Coelurichthys microlepis) Spotted Piranha Characidae Serrasalmus rhombeus [rom'-bay-us] - rhombeus = round in shape. Guianas and Amazon Basin. 14 inches. Aggressive. Ferrocious. 70 - 85°F. Live. Handle with extreme caution! Dark-Banded Piranha Characidae Serrasalmus spilopleura [spy'-low-ploo'-rah] - spilo = spots; pleura = the sides. La Plata, Amazon, Orinoco and Apure Basins. 9 inches. Aggressive. Ferrocious. 72 - 85°F. Live. Handle with extreme caution! Silver Hatchetfish Characidae Thoracocharax stellatus [stel-la'-tus] - stellatus = with starlike spots. Amazon, Paraguay, Orinoco Basins to Rio Apure, Venezula. 3 inches. Community. 74 - 85°F. These fish have a tendancy to jump, and must be in a covered aquarium. Sometimes confused with: Gasteropelecus levis see also: Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) Banded Knifefish Gymnotidae Gymnotus carapo Guianas, Trinidad, Amazon, Orinoco, Guatemala, Panama. 1 foot. Carnivorous. Nocturnal. 65 - 85°F. Live, Meat, shrimp, fish, etc. Should be maintained in a tank by itslef. Hides during the day, and has the unique ability to swim in reverse. Zebrafish Cyprinidae Brachydanio rerio [rare'-i-o] - rerio = after a native name. Bengal to Coromandel Coast of India. 2 inches. Community. 70 - 90°F. (75°F). Female is plump. Breeds at 1½ inches. Parents should be removed. Very popular. aka: Zebrafish, Zebra Diano, Rerio Goldfish Cyprinidae Carassius auratus [au-ra'-tus] - auratus = overlaid with gold. Temperate Asia, and all temperate parts of the world. 12 inches. Community. 40 - 80°F. Female is full when ripe. Breeds at 3 inches. Many different varieties are available. Generally, the fancier the fish, the warmer the temperature. Flying Barb Cyprinidae Esomus danrica [dan'-ri-ka] - danrica = after a native name. India, Ceylon. 5 inches. Community. 72 - 90°F. Male shows more red in his lower half. Female is fuller. Breeds at 4 inches. May eat their own eggs. Should be kept in a covered aquarium. Red Tailed Black Shark Cyprinidae Labeo bicolor [bi-co'-lor] - bi = two; color = color. Siam. 5 inches. Community. 72 - 85°F. Bottom feeder; Tubifex worms and other organic food. Female is fuller when carrying eggs. Breeds at 3 inches. Black Shark Cyprinidae Morulius chrysophekadion [cry'-so-feak'-a-de-on] - chryso = golden; phekadion = lens-shaped spots. Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Siam. 14 inches. Aggressive. 72 - 85°F. Rosy Barb / Red Barb Cyprinidae Puntius conchonius [kon-chon'i-us] - conchonius = probaby a native name. Assam, Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Punjab, Deccan, all India. 5 inches. Community. Active. 72 - 85°F. Male is more colorful. Female has no color in her fins. Breeds at 2½ inches. Stripped Barb / Zebra Barb Cyprinidae Puntius fasciatus [fas'-see-a'-tus] - faciatus = banded or stripped. Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo. 5 inches. Community. 72 - 85°F. Male is more colorful. Female is fuller. Breeds at 2½ inches. aka: (Puntius lineatus) Tiger Barb Cyprinidae Puntius hexazona [hex'-a-zone'-a] - hex = six; zona = bands. Sumatra, Malay Peninsula. 2½ inches. Community. Active. 70 - 85°F. Male is more colorful, especially in fins. Breeds at 2 inches. Lacks color until it is of breeding size. Puntius pentazoa is very similiar, although it has no band through the eye. [penta = five]. aka: (Barbodes pentazona hexazona) Iridescent Barb Cyprinidae Puntius oligolepis [ahl'-i-go-lep'-is] - oligo = few; lepis = scales. Sumatra. 2 inches. Community. 72 - 85°F. Males get darker when ready to breed. Breeds at 2 inches. aka: Checkered Barb and/or (Capoeta oligolepis) Banded Barb / Tiger Barb Cyprinidae Puntius partipentazona [par'-ti-pen'-ta-zone'-a] - parti = divided; penta = five; zona = bands. Slam, Malay States. 2 inches. Community. 72 - 86°F. Males have a brighter red dorsal fin. Breeds at 1½ inches. Often confused with P. tetrazonus and P. hexazona. The black dorsal fin band does not extend over the body. aka: (Capoeta tetrazona partipentazona) Silver Rasbora Cyprinidae Rasbora argyrotaenia [arr'-gy-row-tee'-ni-a] - argyro = silvery; taenia = strip or band. East Indies, Malaya, Annam, Siam. 7 inches. 4 inches in captivity. Passive when small. 72 - 85°F. Mature female is more robust. 72 - 85°F. Harlequin Fish Cyprinidae Rasbora heteromorpha [het'-air-o-mor'-fa] - hetero = different; morpha = form or shape. Eastern Sumatra, Malaya, Siam. 2 inches. Community. 72 - 85°F. Mature female is more robust. Breeds at 1½ inches. pH 6.4, Hardness = Soft Very common fish. Temperature changes must be made slowly as these fish can get Ich easily. aka: The Rasbora. Black Stripped Rasbora Cyprinidae Rasbora taeniata [tee'-ni-a'-ta] - taeniata = striped. Sumatra. 3 inches. Community. 74 - 88°F. Mature female is more robust. Breeds at 2 inches. pH = 6.6, hardness = 0, 80°F. Coolie Loach Cobitidae Acanthophthalmus kuhli [ku'-lye] - kuhli = named in honr of Heinrich Kuhl. Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Singapore, Malaya, Siam. 3½ inches. Community. 72 - 80°F. Female is more robust. Breeds at 3 inches. Somewhat sensitive to light. aka: Leopard Eel, Striped Loach, Prickly Eye Shovel-Nosed Catfish Pimelodidae Sorubim lima [li'-ma] - lima = a file. Magdalena to the La Plata systems. 1½ feet. Peaceful, will eat small fish. Nocturnal. 72 - 85°F. Anything; live worms, bits of meat, etc. Ghost or Glass Catfish Siluridae Kryptopterus bicirrhis [bi-sear'-is] - bi = two; cirrhis = filament. Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Southern Siam. 6 inches. Community. Shy. 72 - 82°F. Tubifex, Daphnia. The body and skeletal system are transparent. Glass Catfish Siluridae Ompok bimaculatus [by-mack'-u-lay'-tus] - bi = two; maculatus = spotted. Java, Borneo, Sumatra to Malaya, Siam, Indochina, India 18 inches. Aggressive when over 4 inches. 72 - 80°F. Prefers non-dried food. Closely resembles a Kryptopterus bicirrhis. Incorrectly known as: Callichrous bimaculatus Twig Catfish Loricariidae Farlowella acus [a'-kuss] - acus = pointed, a needle. Venezuela and Rio Meta of Columbia. 6 inches. Community. Shy. 72 - 85°F Algae, lettus and spinach in fine bits. aka: Royal Farlowella Cascudo Catfish Loricariidae Hypostomus plecostomus [ple-cos'-to-mus] - pleco = plaited; stomus = mouth. Rio La Plata northward to eastern Venezuela and Trinidad. 2 feet. Community. 70 - 85°F. Algae. Very popular. Incorrectly known as: Plecostomus plecostomus. aka: The Pleco. Upside-Down Catfish Mochokidae Synodontis nigriventris [ni'-gri-ven'-tris] - nigri = black; centris = belly. Congo Basin. 4 inches. Community. 72 - 80°F. Algae, Tubifex, etc. Spends most of it's time swimming upside down. Electric Catfish Malapteruridae Malapterurus electricus [ee-lex'-tri-kus] - electricus = electrical. Mostly all of Tropical Africa. 2½ feet in their native habitat. Vicious. Nocturnal. 72 - 80°F. Male's fins are elongated and pointed, and the female's are rounded. Breeds at 1 foot. The electric discharge is capable of killing small fish, stunning larger fish and can give a nice shock to a person. Guppy Poeciliidae - Live-bearing Toothed Carps. Lebistes reticulatus [re-tik'-you-lay'-tus] - reticulatus = netlike. Venezuela, Trinidad, and Barbados. Female: 2½ inches, Male 1½ inches. Community. 58 - 90°F. (72°F). Male is colorful, female is dull. They will eat their young, so a hatchery should be used. Many different varieties to choose from. The Molly Poeciliidae - Live-bearing Toothed Carps. Mollienesia sphenops [svee'-nops] - sphen = wedge; ops = appearence. Mexico, Central America and Northern S. America. 4 inches. Community. 50 - 80°F. Found in salt, brackish and fresh water. Male has gonopodium and a larger dorsal fin. Breeds at 1½ inches. Many different varieties to choose from. Swordtail Poeciliidae - Live-bearing Toothed Carps. Xiphorus helleri [hell'-er-eye] - in honor of Carl Heller. Atlantic slope of southern Mexico to Guatemala. 5 inches. Community. 68 - 80°F. Male has a swordlike extention of caudal fin. Breeds at 2 inches. Hatchery should be used. Many different varieties to choose from. Platy Poeciliidae - Live-bearing Toothed Carps. Xiphophorus maculatus [mack'-you-lay'-tus] - maculatus = spotted. Mexico to Guatemala. Female: 3 inches, Male 1½ inches. Community. 70 - 80°F. Male has gonopodium. Breeds at 1½ inches (female), 1 inch (male). Many different varieties to choose from. Mouthbreeding Betta Anabantidae Betta brederi [bre'-der-eye] - in honor of Charles M. Breder. Johore, India. 3½ inches. Community. 70 - 90°F. Male has longer fins. Breeds at 2½ inches. Remove female after spawning. 76°F. Many varieties are available. Siamese Fighting Fish Anabantidae Betta splendens [splen'-dens] - splendens = bright, glittering. Siam. 2½ inches. Males are extremely aggressive towards other males. 70 - 90°F. Male is more colorful and has longer fins. Breeds at 2 inches. 80°F. Only one male should be kept in a tank. Females can be kept together. Giant Gourami Anabantidae Colisa fasciata [fas'-see-a'-ta] - fasciata = banded. India. 5 inches. Community. 70 - 86°F. Male has longer dorsal fins, and more red color. Breeds at 3 inches. Female should be removed right away. Male should be removed after the fry are free swimming. 80°F. Dwarf Gourami Anabantidae Colisa lalia [lah'-li-a] - lalia = a native name. India. 2½ inches. Community. 70 - 86°F. All kinds. Male has longer dorsal fins, and is more colorful. Breeds at 1½ inches. The male will usually kill the female after spawning, female should be removed. Kissing Gourami Anabantidae Helostoma temmincki [tem-mink'-eye] - in honor of ichthyologist C. Temminck. Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, and Siam. 12 inches. Should be with fish of it's own size. 68 - 86°F. Salmon eggs, dried shrimp, worms and Daphnia. If over 5 inches, the female has an obvious swelling of the abdomen. Breeds at 5 inches. 76°F. Must be well fed, 2 or 3 times daily. H. Rudolfi is another variety. The Gourami Anabantidae Osphronemus goramy [gour-am'-i] - goramy = a Javanese name. East Indies, introduced into Siam, India, China. 2 feet. Aggressive. 70 - 88°F. Male has longer dorsal fin when mature. Breeds at less than 1 foot. Chocolate Gourami Anabantidae Sphaerichthys osphromenoides [os-from'-e-noi'-des] - osphromenoides = to track by smelling. Sumatra, Malay Peninsula. 2½ inches. Community. 76 - 82°F. pH 7.6 or 7.8 Dried and live. Male has a patch of yellow in front of the dorsal fin. Breeds at 1½ inches. Expensive and sensitive to water changes. Pearl Gourami Anabantidae Trichogaster leeri [leer'-eye] - named in honor of Leer. Sumatra, Borneo, Malaya to Siam. 5 inches. Community. 70 - 86°F. Water Chemistry. Food............ Male has longer dorsal fin and red breast. Parents are kind to their offspring. Blue Gourami Anabantidae Trichogaster trichopterus [tri-kop'-ter-us] - tricho = hair; pterus = fin. Tropical Far East. 6 inches. Shoud be kept with fish of it's own size. 70 - 88°F. Mae has longer and more pointed dorsal fin. Breeds at 3 inches. Misnamed because it only has 2 spots on it's body, and the third spot is generally considered as the eye. >> see below << aka: Three Spot Gourami. Snakeheadfish Channidae - Serpentheadfish Channa asiatica [a'-shi-at'-i-ka] - named after Asia. Southeastern Asia. Over 1 foot. Aggressive. 50 - 90°F. Live. Breeds at 6 inches. 70°F. East Indian Glassfish Ambassidae or Centropomidae Chanda buruensis [bu'-ru-en'-sis] - named after Buru Island Siam, Malaya, Philippine Islands, Sumatra, Celebes, etc. 2½ inches. Community. 75°F. Female has an enlarged belly. Breeds at 2 inches. Parents must be well fed. 85°F. Brackish water species, some salt should be added to the aquarium. Glassfish Ambassidae or Centropomidae Chanda ranga [ran'-ga] India and Burma. 2 inches. Community. 68 - 90°. Daphnia and brine shrimp. Male has color on his anal and dorsal fin margins. Best with a 50% mix of sea and fresh water. 85°F. Brackish water species, some salt should be added to the aquarium. aka: C. lala Flag Cichlid Cichlidae Aequidens curviceps [cur'-vi-ceps] - curvi = curved; ceps = head. Amazon River. 3 inches. Aggressive. 72 - 85°F. Male has longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 2½ inches. 76°F. Keyhole Cichlid Cichlidae Aequidens maroni [ma-ron'-i] - named after a river. Guianas. 3½ inches. Somewhat peaceful for a cichlid. 72 - 85°F. Male has longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 2½ inches. 80°F. Black Acara Cichlidae Aequidens portalegrensis [por'-ta-lay-gren'-sis] - named after a location. Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraguay. 5 inches. Somewhat peaceful. 72 - 85°F. Female has bulging sides. Breeds at 3 inches. Good parental fish. aka: The Port. Blue Acara Cichlidae Aequidens pulcher [pul'-cher] - pulcher = beautiful. Panama, Columbia, Venezuela and Trinidad. 6 inches. Aggressive. 72 - 85°F. Male has longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 4 inches. 78°F. May also be known as: Green Terror. Agassiz Dwarf Cichlid Cichlidae Apistogramma agassizi [ag'-as-siz-eye] - in honor of Louis Agassiz. Amazon Basins. 3 inches. Somewhat peaceful. 72 - 85°F. Male is larger, and has longer and more pointed anal, caudal, and dorsal fins. Breeds at 2 inches. Yellow Dwarf Cichlid Cichlidae Apistogramma pertense [per-ten'-se] - per = throughout; tense = slender. Amazon Basin. 2 inches. Somewhat peaceful. 70 - 85°F. Male has more color and has longer and more pointed anal, caudal, and dorsal fins. Breeds at 2 inches. Ramirez's Dwarf Cichlid Cichlidae Apistogramma ramirezi [ram'-i-rez'-eye] - named in honor of Manuel Vincente Ramirez. Venezuela in Rio Orinoco Basin. 3 inches. Somewhat peaceful. 72 - 85°F. Tubifex worms, Daphnia, etc. Male shows longer rays on the first part of his dorsal fin. Breeds at 2 inches. Parents may need to be removed. 78°F. Does not feed at the surface unless it's near starvation. Oscar / Velvet Cichlid Cichlidae Astronotus ocellatus [os'-sel-lay'-tus] - ocellatus = spotted as with little eyes. Eastern Venezuela, Guianas, Amazon Basin, to Paraguay. 1 foot. Aggressive. 72 - 85°. Some like live, others prefer dried. Male has more red color. Breeds at 7 inches. 78°F. Very popular and very friendly. Males may treat females rough at times. Golden Cichlid Cichlidae Cichlasoma aureum [au'-re-um] - aureum = color of gold. Southern Mexico to Guatemala. 6 inches. Aggressive. 68 - 85°F. (74°F). Male has more color, longer & more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 4 inches. Two-Spotted Cichlid Cichlidae Cichlasoma bimaculatum [bi-mack'-u-lay'-tum] - bi = two; maculatum = spots. Trinidad, Venezuela, Guianas and Brazil. 8 inches. Aggressive. 68 - 85°F. Male has longer, more pointed, anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 5 inches. Parents should be removed. 74°F. Not suitable in a planted aquarium. Jack Dempsey Cichlidae Cichlasoma biocellatum [bi-os'-sel-la'-tum] - bi = two; ocellatum = eyespots. Rio Negro, and Amazon Basins. 8 inches. Aggressive. 68 - 85°F. Male has more color and has longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 5 inches. Good parental fish. 78°F. Not suitable in a planted aquarium. Chocolate Cichlid Cichlidae Cichlasoma coryphaenoides [cor'-y-phe-noi'-des] - coryphaenoides = a dolphinlike fish. Amazon and Rio Negro Basins of Brazil. 8 inches. Aggressive. 70 - 80°F. Male has more red color and has longer and more pointed anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 6 inches. Not suitable in a planted aquarium. Males may treat females a bit rough at times. Fire-Mouth Cichlasoma Cichlidae Cichlasoma meeki [meek'-eye] - in honor of Seth Eugene Meek. Yucatan. 5 inches. Aggressive. 68 - 85°F. Male has longer, more pointed, dorsal fin. Breeds at 4 inches. 74 - 80°. The larger the aquarium, the warmer. Not suitable in a planted aquarium. Males may treat females a bit rough at times. Convict Cichlid Cichlidae Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum [ni'gro-fas'-see-a'-tum] - nigro = black; fasciatum = banded. Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama. 6 inches. Aggressive. 65 - 80°F. Female has rounder fins and more reddish color than the male. Breeds at 3 inches. 75°F. Not suitable in a planted aquarium. aka: Zebra Cichlid Pike Cichlid Cichlidae Crenicichla lepidota [lep'-i-do'-ta] - lepidota = scaly. E. Brazil to Rio Sao Francisco, Rio Grande do Sul. 8 inches. Aggressive. 70 - 85°F. Female has longer, more pointed, anal & dorsal fin. Breeds at 6 inches. Parents should be removed. Should be in a covered aquarium, and prefers it planted. Pearl Cichlid Cichlidae Geophagus brasiliensis [bra'-zil-i-en'-sis] - named after Brazil. Amazon & Orinoco Basins. 10 inches. Semi-Aggressive. 72 - 85°F. Female is plumper. 4 inches. aka: Mother of Pearl cichlid. Jewelfish Cichlidae Hemichromis bimaculatus [bi-mack'-you-lay'-tus] - bi = two; maculatus = spotted. Nile River in Africa to Niger and Congo. 4 inches. Aggressive. 70 - 85°F. Male may posess a larger jewel spot on the gills. Breeds at 3 inches. Male may treat female rough at times. Texas Cichlid Cichlidae Herichthys cyanoguttatus [si'-a-no'-gut-tay'-tus] - cyano = dark blue; guttatus = spotted. NE Mexico and into Texas. 10 inches. Aggressive. 65 - 85°F. Male has longer anal and dorsal fins. Breeds at 6 inches. Parents should be removed. 75°F. Eyespot Cichlid Cichlidae Pelmatochromis subocellatus [sub'-os-sel-lay'-tus] - sub = under; ocellatus = eyespot. Africa from Gabon to the lower Congo, 4 inches. Community. (with larger fish). 72 - 85°F. Water Chemistry. Food............ Male has an eyespot on the dorsal fin; female has the eyespot on the anal fin. Breeds at 3 inches. 80°F. Sometimes incorrectly refered to as a Kribensis. Males maybe hostile towards females. aka: Pelvicachromis subocellatus. Discus Cichlidae Symphysodon discus [dis'cus] - discus = disk-shaped. Rio Negro and Amazon Basins. 9 inches. Community. 70 - 85°F. Tubifex worms, fairy shrimp, Daphnia, brine shrimp. Male shows more red color in the belly. Female is more golden. Breeds at 4½ inches. 78°F. Expensive fish. Spiny Eel Mastacembelidae Macrognathus aculeatus [a-kue'-lee-a'-tus] - aculeatus = sharp pointed. India, Burma, Indochina, Malaya, Borneo and Moluccas. 1 foot. Community - will eat fry. Nocturnal. 74 - 80°F Worms in any shape, bits of clams, etc. Spends most of the time buried in the sand. Should be in a covered aquarium.
