Family: Characidae
Distribution: Corynopoma riisei, commonly known as the Swordtail Characin, is distributed in the coastal rivers and tributaries of Trinidad, north Venezuela, and within the Villavicencio area in Columbia.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 22°C – 28°C (72 – 81F)
Hardness: 1 – 15 dH
Description: Corynopoma riisei can reach a maximum of 5 cm in an aquarium environment. This species has a cream colouration and long, translucent fins. The male has an interesting spoon-like extrusion that extends from the gills to halfway down its body. Males have long fins and an elongated caudal lobe, giving it its common name: Swordtail Characin. Females do not develop fin extensions. The only other way to sex this species is by noting that sexually mature females develop a rounder belly than males.
Diet: Corynopoma riisei feed upon small invertebrates in the wild, using their upturned mouths to take food from the water’s surface. In an aquarium environment this species will eat most things. Live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Cyclops, bloodworm, and small flying insects will be well received, but it will also learn to accept dried foods. .
Breeding: This species has an interesting breeding behaviour: the male fertilises the eggs while they are still inside the female. This is not a particularly difficult species to breed, as long as you have several adults in a mixed-sex group. Make sure the water is slightly soft and acidic; offer the adults live and frozen foods in a bid to trigger quality spawning. You should transfer the females to a separate tank when you notice spawning has occurred; the eggs, once laid, will hatch in 20 – 36 hours. Remove the females from the fry at this point to stop them eating their young. You can feed the young fry on an infusoria-type food for at least a week, before starting them on foods such as microworm.
Comments: Corynopoma riisei should be given plenty of space in which to swim, and a tank size of around 90 litres for an adult group. This species may be small, but it is very active and will require the extra space. Put in plenty of vegetation – including floating leaf litter and driftwood twigs – to simulate its natural environment. This species is suitable for beginners.
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Recommended Compatible Species: The Swordtail Characid is a very peaceful species, but males may occasionally flare up at each other. They will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
