Family: Characidae
Distribution: The locality of Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus can only be narrowed down to Peru, South America.
PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH
Temperature: 22 – 28 °C (72 – 82 °F)
Hardness: 2 – 15 dH
Description: Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus is a beautifully coloured member of the Hyphessobrycon species. With a base colour of silver, it appears to glow under lights. It has a prominent black stripe that starts behind its gills and runs to the caudal fins. The caudal fin lobes have splashes of red; and, on the males, the rest of the fins, whilst mostly transparent, also have red colouring on the distal edges (the females display no extra colouring). The upper part of the iris is a light pink-reddish colour.
Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus is often mistaken for Hyphessobrycon stegemani and the Peru Blue Tetra. The former differs from others with its deep body, hooks on the anterior fins rays of males and a short lateral line.
As they are unusual in the hobby, there is limited information available regarding social behaviours. However, if Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus is anything like its relatives, it will be active, peaceful and prefer to be kept in schools of at least six.
Diet: Feed your Hypessobrycon nigricinctus a diet that is rich in both flakes and live foods. Use flakes or pellets as their staple and treat them with the occasional live foods.
Breeding: As this fish is uncommon in the hobby, there are currently no breeding reports (successful or otherwise) available. If you want to give it a go, try the common Hyphessobrycon method.
Place a year old male and a year old female in separate conditioning tanks. Feed them on live food (blood worms, mosquito larvae, and the like) for three weeks before you introduce them into a breeding tank. Ensure the tank has fine-leaved plants, dim lighting, soft filtration and a warm temperature (26°C). It may take up to three days for the pair to spawn. If nothing has happened, repeat the conditioning process.
Remove the parents-to-be from the tank once eggs appear on the leaves, before they start to devour them. The roe will begin to hatch after 24 hours and once the fry are free swimming try feeding them baby brine, Infusoria or crushed flake.
As it is unknown whether the eggs of the Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus are light-sensitive or not, you should err on the side of caution and keep them in as much dark as possible.
Comments: Hyphessobrycon nigricinctus is rare in the hobby and therefore there is limited information available. Subsequently, information pertaining to the Hyphessobrycon species in general has been included.
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 07:54:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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