Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Territorial

Overall, they possess an active, curious, and largely peaceful temperament suitable for many community aquariums. While generally tolerant of other species, males are known to exhibit territorial behavior and aggression toward rival males of their own kind. They are constantly in motion, exploring their environment and interacting with their surroundings. Their energetic nature adds a lot of movement to the tank, but it means they should not be housed with shy or easily stressed tankmates.

Diet

Omnivore

As omnivores, they readily accept a wide variety of commercially prepared flakes, pellets, and freeze-dried foods. Their diet should be regularly supplemented with live or frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp to ensure optimal health and coloration. Plant-based matter is also essential, so providing spirulina flakes or blanched vegetables will help meet their nutritional needs. A varied diet ensures strong immune system function and vibrant, healthy growth.

Sex ratio

Specific M:F ratio

To maintain a harmonious aquarium environment, a sex ratio of one male to at least two or three females is strongly recommended. Males possess a strong mating drive and will relentlessly pursue females, which can lead to severe stress and exhaustion if the ratio is imbalanced. Having multiple females helps to disperse this constant attention and ensures no single female is overly harassed. Keeping multiple males in the same tank often leads to aggressive territorial disputes unless the aquarium is exceptionally large and heavily planted.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Adults should typically be fed one to two times daily, offering only as much food as they can completely consume within two to three minutes. Overfeeding should be strictly avoided to prevent water quality deterioration and health issues like obesity or swim bladder disorders. Fry and juveniles require more frequent feedings, ideally three to four times a day with appropriately sized foods. Fasting them for one day a week can also help clear their digestive tracts and mimic natural feeding cycles.

Bioload

This species has a moderate bioload that is proportional to its active swimming nature and relatively large adult size. As active foragers and regular eaters, they produce a consistent amount of waste that necessitates robust mechanical and biological filtration. Frequent water changes are highly recommended to prevent the buildup of nitrates and other harmful organic compounds. Care should be taken not to overstock the aquarium, as their waste production can quickly overwhelm a marginally filtered system.

Flow

Stagnant

They prefer moderate water flow that provides adequate oxygenation without creating an overpowering current. In the wild, they inhabit flowing streams and rivers, so a steady, gentle current mimics their natural environment and encourages active swimming. A high-quality canister filter or hang-on-back filter usually provides the ideal amount of water movement and surface agitation. Excessively strong flow should be avoided, as it can cause exhaustion and stress, particularly for long-finned varieties.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are prolific livebearers, meaning the females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs. Males possess a modified anal fin called a gonopodium, which is used to internally fertilize the females. A single mating can result in multiple batches of fry over several months, as females can store sperm. If the fry are to be raised, providing dense vegetation or using a breeding box is necessary to protect them from being eaten by the adults.

Compatibility & tankmates

Harem only

They are generally peaceful community fish, but males can display pronounced aggression and territoriality toward one another. It is best to keep them in a ratio of one male to several females to disperse any harassment and reduce stress. They do well with other similarly sized, active, and peaceful community species like tetras, corydoras, and larger rasboras. Avoid keeping them with very long-finned or slow-moving fish that might be prone to fin-nipping, or with species small enough to be eaten.

Tank level

Top/Middle

They are highly active fish that utilize all levels of the aquarium, frequently swimming from the bottom to the surface in search of food. However, they tend to spend the majority of their time in the middle and upper levels of the water column. Providing plenty of open swimming space in these areas is crucial to accommodate their energetic nature. They also appreciate access to the surface for occasional feeding, but will explore the substrate when scavenging for leftover food.