Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

They are generally active, peaceful, and excellent additions to a cleanup crew. They are constantly on the move, exploring the tank and grazing on surfaces. Some individuals may become slightly grumpy and territorial with age, chasing away other bottom dwellers from their favorite resting spots. For the most part, their aggression is mild and rarely results in injury.

Diet

Omnivore

They are fantastic algae eaters and are known to consume a wide variety of nuisance algae, including brush and thread algae. Besides algae, they are omnivorous and must be fed a varied diet of sinking algae wafers, spirulina pellets, and vegetable matter like cucumber or spinach. They also relish meaty foods such as bloodworms and daphnia. A diverse diet ensures they remain healthy and do not resort to eating soft-leaved aquarium plants.

Sex ratio

Solitary

They are not fussy about sex ratios and can be kept individually, in pairs, or in groups. A group of 4 or 5 is often recommended to disperse any minor territorial aggression that might develop as they grow. When kept in groups, they will establish a loose pecking order but generally coexist peacefully. Keeping a single specimen is perfectly fine if the tank is too small for a group.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

They are constant grazers and should have access to algae or vegetables throughout the day. Supplemental feeding with wafers or pellets can be done once daily, preferably towards the evening. If the tank is free of algae, they will require more frequent, small meals to maintain their energy levels. Be careful not to overfeed meaty foods, as it can deter them from their algae-eating duties.

Bioload

The Reticulated Flying Fox produces a moderate bioload that is easily managed in a standard, well-filtered aquarium. Their constant foraging keeps them active, leading to a steady metabolism and waste output. Regular water changes and routine substrate vacuuming are adequate to maintain good water quality. Like all algae eaters, their bioload increases relative to the amount of supplemental food provided.

Flow

Stagnant

They prefer moderate to strong water flow, mimicking the flowing streams and rivers of their native Southeast Asian habitats. Good circulation and high oxygenation are crucial for their long-term health. The addition of a circulation pump or a strong filter outflow will provide the required current. They are often found resting on objects directly in the path of the flow.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Captive breeding of Crossocheilus reticulatus is practically unheard of in the home aquarium. Commercially available specimens are usually wild-caught or bred in large outdoor ponds using hormonal stimulation. There are no reliable methods or documented accounts of inducing spawning naturally in a closed system. Determining the sex of these fish is also highly problematic until they are fully mature.

Compatibility & tankmates

They are generally peaceful and suitable for community tanks with a variety of fish. They do well with tetras, danios, peaceful barbs, and various loaches. However, as they age, they may become slightly territorial towards other algae-eating species or similarly shaped bottom-dwellers. They should not be kept with slow-moving, laterally compressed fish like angelfish or discus, as they might try to graze on them.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They are predominantly bottom and middle-dwelling fish. They spend their time actively moving over the substrate, rocks, and plant leaves in search of food. They are excellent at cleaning broad plant leaves without damaging them. They rarely visit the very top of the water column unless food is floating there.