BLOOD FIN: (above) APHYOCHARAX RUBRIPINNIS
(Argentine)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Iridescent steel blue with deep red fins. Sex determined same as
Silver Tetra.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Use large tank, cover bottom with fine
plants, and ample tall ones. Fish spawn at surface, some eggs
adhering to tall plants, others falling. Remove parents. Fry
appear in about 24 hours. Feed Brine Shrimp. Fry grow rapidly.
Temperature: 70° to 78° F.
Temperament: Peaceful.
SILVER TETRA: CTENOBRYCON SPILURUS
(Br. Guiana)
Color: Steel blue body covered with very fine bright silver scales. Body
very thin. Large black spot at base of caudal. Tetras are all
easily identified by the small adipose fin between dorsal and
caudal. Male slightly smaller with invisible processes on anterior
tip of anal which catch in fine net. Sex is determined in this
way.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—lay great quantities of adhesive eggs on
fine plants. Plants or parents should be removed as soon as
spawning is completed. Fry will make their appearance in a few
days. Be sure there are no snails in tank with eggs.
Temperature: 70° to 90° F.
Maturity: 6 to 8 months.
Temperament: Very active. Not for community tank.
TETRA FROM RIO (above): HYPHESSOBRYCON FLAMMEUS
(Brazil)
TETRA FROM BUENOS AIRES: HEMIGRAMMUS CAUDOVITTATUS
(Argentina)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: TETRA FROM RIO—body bright silver—3 black bars near head; fins
brilliant red edged with black; black edge on anal of male wider
than on female. During mating season red runs well into body.
TETRA FROM BUENOS AIRES—body bright silver, fins blood red. Large
diamond shaped spot at base of caudal. Sex determined same as
Silver Tetra.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Use 15 gallon tank, 6 to 8 inches of water.
Stock tank heavily with Cabomba, Myriophyllum, or other fine
floating plants, also a thicket on bottom. Semi-adhesive eggs are
deposited on plants, some sinking to bottom. Best results are
obtained with 2 males and 1 female. Remove parents after spawning
is completed. Fry appear in about 3 days. Tiny fry hang on plants
and sides of aquarium about 3 days. Tetras may not spawn
immediately—have patience.
Temperature: 70° to 90° F.
Maturity: From Rio—8 months. Buenos Aires—10 months.
Temperament: From Rio—Very peaceful, Buenos Aires—Fairly peaceful.
PRISTELLA RIDDLEI: (above)
(Venezuela and Guiana)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Silvery body, caudal reddish, anal and dorsal light yellow with
dark spot. Difficult to distinguish sex.
Breeding Habits: Egg Layers. Spawn on fine plants, Myriophyllum or
Cabomba—very small adhesive eggs, expelled 6 or 8 at a time, often
fall to bottom. Sometimes as many as 200 eggs at a spawning.
Remove parents after spawning.
Temperature: 72° to 80° F.; best above 75° F.
Maturity: About 1 year.
Temperament: Peaceful.
HEAD AND TAIL LIGHT: HEMIGRAMMUS OCELLIFER
(Amazon River, S. A.)
Color: Body translucent green, faint gold line through center of body,
thin black line toward caudal base broadens into diamond shape.
Gleaming gold spot on tail and brilliant red eye give fish its
common name. Male smaller, more slender and has pointed instead of
rounded dorsal.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers. Adhesive eggs are deposited on fine plants.
Use 2 males to one female for best results. Fry hatch in 2 days.
(See Pristella Riddlei.)
Temperature: 72° to 80° F.
Maturity: About 8 months.
Temperament: Peaceful. Young fairly hardy.