“Geek” Fish Corner - 2

August 1, 2022 Bill Wymard, Marine Biologist

Freshwater-Asia

1. Pentazona Barb or 5-Line Barb (Puntius pentazona)

· Peaceful, community fish, timid with more boisterous fish. A great substitute for the more popular Tiger Barb.

· Males tend to be more colorful, smaller and slimmer than females

· PH 6.5-7

· Temperature 73-79F

· Best kept in a school

· Only gets to about 2 inches

1. Ctenopoma ansorgii

· Moderately compressed, elongated species with a pointy head and round caudal fin. Body is marked with about seven brown transverse bands.

· Found in shallow shore areas around Stanley Pool in Zaire

· Males are belligerent towards one another, otherwise a peaceful species

· Smaller fish may be preyed upon

· Food-live small fish, tubifex, insects, crustaceans, chopped earthworms, lettuce, spinach, pellets, flakes, oatmeal and peas

· PH 6.5-7

· Temperature 77-82F

2. Distichodus sexfasciatus

· Found in the middle and lower Congo River in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lake Tanganyika

· Best in shoals

· Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter

· Can get up to 33 inches

· Approximately a 450 gal tank will be needed to house this fish at full size

· Temperature 75-80F

1. Bicolor Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinoides)

· Best with non-aggressive tankmates

· Can keep more than one per tank, but must add them simultaneously

· Need plenty of open bottom space and a sand substrate

· Can get up to 6 inches

· Coral safe but not invert safe

· Need at least a 20 gal tank

2. Black Ocellaris (Amphiprion ocellaris var.)

· Rarely available in the trade. Only tank raised ones are available

· Occurs naturally in the Magnificent and Carpet Anemones

· Reef safe

· Hails from the Coral Sea

· 72-78F, 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4

· Needs at least a 30 gal tank

· Omnivorous