Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Two Tropical Tank Fish To Admire InYour Community

Two tropical tank fish are described here; the
One-striped African Characin (Nannaethiops
unitaeniatus) and the Pearl Danio (Brachydanio
albolineatus). Scientific names, preferred
conditions, colors description, sex differences
and breeding advice are given.

One-striped African Characin - Scientific name:
Nannaethiops unitaeniatus (Family: Citharinidae):

Right at home in a community aquarium. Resilient
to a large variation in water temperature but
about 23 degrees centigrade is fine. It is a
hardy peaceful fish but a bit shy and is not
particular about its food. It is also known as
the One-lined African tetra and is originally
from Equatorial Africa.

It can grow to nearly 8 cms with the male's
maximum length being about 6.5 cms which is one
way to see the differences between the sexes.
The female is also not as brightly colored as the
male, is thicker in the body and her back is more
arched. The fins on the male and female are
erect. They appear at their best, color wise,
when the water quality is at its optimum.

The upper part of the body color varies from dark
brown to a brownish red. This merges into a gold
color on the flanks, fading into white or
yellowish white below. A dark line is noted
through the middle of the fish from the mouth via
the eye to the tail. The caudal fin has a reddish
tint with the upper part having more red color.

Breeding wise, this fish is not a problem. A
water temperature of 26 degrees centigrade will
be ideal and a great plant for the tank is the
Miriophyllum. After spawning, take both fish out
of the breeding tank. This is important. After a
couple of days hatching will take place and the
fry can be fed on infusoria and brine shrimps
that have been just hatched.

Pearl Danio - Scientific name: Brachydanio
albolineatus (Family: Cyprinidae):

This tropical tank fish likes to swim around the
top part of the aquarium and is lively, so is
ideal for a community environment. In addition it
is undemanding regarding food diet and will also
love to have small live food meals. Twenty-three
to twenty-nine degrees Celcius is a good
temperature range for your water and a good level
of lighting will display your fish's colors at
their best.

The pearl danio is a slender fish. The main color
of the fish has a shiny appearance covering
green, blue and pink shades under indoor
lighting. The mouth leans upwards with the top
lip having barbels. Sexing the species is not
easy but the male is a bit smaller than the
female and has a thinner body and is less rotund.

For breeding you will need three males and one
female in the breeding tank. It is important to
note that these fish are keen egg-eaters so a
breeding trap or spawning mat must be used in a
long tank with a maximum water depth of 13 cms.
Separate the males and females before spawning
and only give them live food. Place the female in
the breeding tank a whole day before the males.

After the spawning about 20 sticky eggs may be
produced and after 48 hours hatching will happen
and fry will be swimming around after about 3
more days; and will grow rapidly.

There are other Brachydananio species and they
are all excellent community aquarium fish.
Amongst these is the Brachydanio nigrofasciatus,
also known as the spotted danio, that is
difficult to breed and there is also the
Brachydanio frankei, another favorite.

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