Family: Cyprinidae
Distribution: Rhodeus amarus, also known as European Bitterling, is a freshwater species found throughout Europe. It is distributed in the Rhone basin to the Neva in Russia; and south to the Black Sea. It is also in the Black, Aegean and western and southern Caspian Seas. It also appears in the Mediterranean basin and Drin drainages in Montenegro and Macedonia. This species occurs in plants over sandy, muddy-bottomed shallow waters.
PH: 7.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 10°C – 25C (77 – 84F)
Hardness: 15 – 20 dH
Description: Rhodeus amarus can reach a maximum length of around 10 cm; it is usually around the 5 cm mark. Most Bittlerlings have a dorsal blue-green line that runs from the dorsal fin to the caudal fin, where it results in a red spot. The fins and eyes can be red-tinged and the first rays of the pelvic fins are a white colour.
Diet: Rhodeus amarus is omnivorous and will take most foods in an aquarium environment. Give it flake, live foods, pellets, vegetables and algae tablets to keep it healthy and bring out its best colours.
Breeding: The male European Bitterling begins courtship of the female by dancing around and attempting to charm a freshwater mussel; if successful, the mussel attracts a female European Bitterling to the male. If the female is impressed, she will put her long, egg-laying tube into the mussel, and the male will promptly fertilise the eggs inside the mussel. The mussel will incubate the eggs for about one month, before the eggs hatch and the larvae leaves to swim freely. Interestingly, this species was once used for human pregnancy tests: female Rhodeus amarus were injected with the urine of a pregnant woman; the woman would learn she was pregnant if they fish’s ovipositors started to protrude.
Comments: You can house a small group of Rhodeus amarus in a 25 gallon tank. Your tank should have plenty of open swimming space, a substrate, some vegetation and, of course, when it is ready to spawn, add mussels to the tank.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: Rhodeus amarus is an unfussy species that should be tanked with peaceful fish that can live in cooler water temperatures.
Originally posted 2010-01-26 10:50:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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