Family: Characidae
Distribution: The South American basins of the upper Solimões, Approuague and Mana Rivers. It prefers bodies of water with slow currents, as well as small creeks with a sandy substrate and clear water. It can be found in the section of rivers before waterfalls.
PH: 4.5 – 5.5 pH
Temperature: 24 – 28°C (75 – 82°F)
Hardness: 0 – 4 dH
Description: A beautifully coloured fish, the body of Hyphessobrycon copelandi varies (depending on lighting and surrounding) from a light to a deep pink. There is a vertically-stretched black spot sitting just behind its gills. The two distinguishing characteristics of Hyphessobrycon copelandi are its fins and a grey stripe. The stripe begins behind the head of the fish on the upper portion of the body and extends down to the tail. It expands around the area of the dorsal fin. The frontal edge of the pelvic fins is a bright white colour, whilst the dorsal fin has a white tip and also a thick white line near the base (can be faint or bold).
It will reach a maximum length of 3.5cm in captivity and is naturally sociable. It is a peaceful fish suitable for community tanks.
Diet: This species prefers a quite varied diet – if they are fed the same thing every day they get bored and will start to nibble on their tank mates. They will accept dry food but they also need an assortment of live foods (try blood worms, white worms, and insect larvae, amongst other things).
Breeding: There are no reports of successful breeding in captivity for Hyphessobrycon copelandi. If really wanting to attempt, follow a general Hyphessobrycon breeding methodology.
You should start by separating a year old male and female into two conditioning tanks. For three weeks, feed them on insect larvae and Drosophila; then introduce them into the breeding tank. A 38L tank is more than sufficient for Hyphessobrycon copelandi. Ensure the water has a temperature of 24 – 26°C (75 – 79°F), a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, and dH of 2 – 4. This species requires good, clean water and therefore weekly partial water changes are recommended. They should be kept in as much dark as possible. The tank requires only fine-leaved plants and soft filtration (a sponge or foam); do not use substrate.
Once introduced, the pair should spawn three days later. If they do not, repeat the conditioning process. They spawn into the leaves of the plants and should be removed immediately after otherwise they will consume the eggs. The eggs will hatch about two days later, with free-swimming fry appearing 2-3 days later. Feed your fry a diet of baby Brine Shrimp and micro-organisms for the first ten days, and crushed flakes after that.
Comments: Like the Hemigrammus species, use a tank of at least 40L that includes dense plantation around the sides and back, a large free-swimming area in the centre, dimmed light (floating plants) and a dark substrate. The substrate will help to being out the fish’s natural colours. The tank should also have a slow to moderate current.
The difficulty encountered when breeding would not make this an ideal fish for a beginner looking to start breeding. The variety of food may also prove expensive for those looking at a fish for a side hobby.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good 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 should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-04-21 01:55:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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