Family: Characidae
Distribution: Hyphessobrycon ecuadorensis is endemic to the Guayas River basin in South America.
PH: 5.5 – 7.0 pH
Temperature: 24 – 27°C (75 – 81°F)
Hardness: 12 gdH
Description: Reaching a maximum length around 2cm, they are one of the smallest of the Tetra family. Hyphessobrycon ecuadorensis are similar to their relatives: generally peaceful and preferring to be kept in groups of at least 6.
This species have a silver body with a blue-green shimmery gleam under lights. The fin colour varies from pinks to red. The sexes can be differentiated through the finnage: the males sport a hooked anal fin and will often have more colourful fins.
Diet: Flakes and pellet foods are a good staple for the diet of your Hyphessobrycon ecuadorensis, however there will need to be a variety of both to keep them interested. If you want to show off their colours to their best, include frozen or live foods such as blood worms or brine shrimp. Remember to crush the flakes and pellets and to chop up the meaty food finely, as their mouths are tiny.
Breeding: Separate a year-old female and a year-old male into two conditioning tanks. They should be fed with insect larvae and Drosophila for two-to-three weeks, when they can then be introduced into a breeding tank. A 38L tank is sufficient size for the small Hyphessobrycon ecuadorensis.
The breeding tank should have a temperature of 24 – 26°C (75 – 79°F), a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, and dH of 2 – 4. It must be kept consistently clean and in the dark. It does not require any substrate, simply some fine-leaved plants and soft filtration (such as a foam or sponge).
The pair should spawn within three days – if not, repeat the process. Hypessobrycon ecuadorensis spawn into the leaves of the plants and should be removed immediately after the eggs are laid (cannibalistic). The eggs will hatch within 2 days, and the fry will be free-swimming a few days after that. The fry can be fed on micro-organisms and baby Brine Shrimp for the first ten days, and then on crushed flake foods. The water should be partially changed on a weekly basis.
Comments: When setting up an aquarium, you must include: dense plantation along sides and back; an open area for swimming in the centre; dimmed light (keep out of direct sunlight and use floating plants); a dark substrate (will make the colours pop); wood, shells, PVC pipes or other items to provide other hiding spaces; and it will require a slow to moderate current.
If you want to include live plants in the tank, ensure they have broad leaves. Hyphessobrycon ecuadorensis will nibble on the finer-leaved variety.
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 02:06:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Comments on this entry are closed.