Spotted wedge belly
Gasteropelecus spotted or Spotted wedge belly, scientific name Gasteropelecus maculatus, belongs to the family Gasteropelecidae (Klinopelecidae).
Contents
Habitat
The fish is native to South and Central America. The natural habitat extends to Panama and eastern Colombia. Inhabits river systems flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Found in small streams and rivers. It lives in the upper water near the surface near clusters of plants, overhanging foliage and other potential hiding places.
Description
In the wild, the spotted wedge belly reaches a length of about 6 cm. However, in aquariums in a favorable environment and in the absence of predators, the fish can grow up to 8–9 cm. ax blade.
In appearance, size and silvery coloration, it is similar to the platinum wedge belly, but differs in the presence of dark speckles.
Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed. Adult males and females are practically indistinguishable, but during the spawning season, females may look somewhat bloated due to eggs.
Behavior and Compatibility
Peaceful moving fish. Prefers to be in large groups, so it is recommended to purchase from 8-10 individuals. Compatible with most calm species of comparable size. A good choice would be fish that live in the water column or near the bottom.
Brief information:
- The volume of the aquarium – from 250 liters.
- Temperature – 20-28°C
- Value pH — 5.0–7.0
- Water hardness – 1–15 dGH
- Substrate type – any
- Lighting – subdued or moderate
- Brackish water – no
- Water movement – light or moderate
- The size of the fish is 6–7 cm.
- Food – any food that floats on the surface
- Temperament – peaceful
- Content – in a flock of 8-10 individuals
Maintenance and care, arrangement of aquariums
As noted above, Gasteropelecus spotted prefers the surface layer of water, therefore, in the design, the main emphasis is on the upper tier. It is necessary to provide free areas for swimming and several places for shelters. Plants reaching the surface can act as the latter. The design of the lower tier does not matter for this species.
The optimal size of the aquarium for a group of 8-10 fish starts from 250 liters. The surface area of the water is more important than the depth.
Poorly tolerate excessive flow. The main reason for the movement of water in the aquarium is the filter. When choosing a model, one should choose one that can provide a relatively calm, non-turbulent habitat.
Prefer soft slightly acidic water. They need warm, oxygen-rich water. Additional aeration may be required.
Food
The basis of the daily diet should be floating food rich in protein. Products that sink to the bottom will be ignored.
