Tail light tetra

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tail light tetra
Head - & - Tail-Light-Tetra.jpg

Taillight tetra ( Hemigrammus ocellifer )

Systematics
Sub-cohort : Ostariophysi
Otophysa
Order : Tetras (Characiformes)
Family : True tetras (Characidae)
Genre : Hemigrammus
Type : Tail light tetra
Scientific name
Hemigrammus ocellifer
( Steindachner , 1882)

The taillight tetra ( Hemigrammus ocellifer ), also known under the names Augenflecksalmler , Fleckensalmler , Leuchtflecksalmler , (false) lantern bearer and lantern tetra , is a freshwater fish that is widespread in the Amazon basin and in the three Guayanas .

features

It reaches a maximum body length of 4.5 cm and has a typical, but slightly high-backed shape. Males stay smaller, are slimmer and have ticks on the first rays of the anal fin. The body is translucent and delicate brownish to greenish-yellow in color. Behind the gill cover is a black spot, which is bordered in gold at the front and back. The tetra is named after a reddish-golden iridescent spot on the upper base of the tail. There is a black spot underneath. The upper part of the iris is red. The fins are transparent, dorsal, anal and ventral fins have blue-white tips. The swim bladder visible in the almost transparent body is more pointed in the male. In the female animals it is partially covered and thus appears rounded.

Way of life

Tetras live in groups close to the banks in low-current waters. They feed on small crustaceans , insects , worms, and plant matter. They spawn in pairs or in shoals with an excess of males. A female can shed up to 500 eggs. The fish larvae hatch after about 30 hours and swim free after about two to three days.

Systematics

The taillight tetra belongs to the genus Hemigrammus , which differs from the related genus Hyphessobrycon by a scaled caudal fin base. It was established in 1882 by the Austrian zoologist Franz Steindachner described . In 1952, the then head of the fish identification office of the Association of German Associations for Aquarium and Terrarium Studies, Hermann Meinken, described a form known from aquaristics without the characteristic shoulder mark as a subspecies Hemigrammus ocellifer falsus . The subspecies is doubtful today. A natural occurrence of these animals and thus a type locality are not known. According to the French ichthyologist Jacques Géry , these animals are identical to Hemigrammus matei ( Eigenmann, 1918 ) from northern Argentina.

Aquaristics

Keeping and care

The taillight tetra was first imported in 1910 for the purpose of keeping aquariums and is still part of the standard range of pet shops to this day. Today offspring are mostly sold. They are peaceful schooling fish that are suitable for community tanks.

Legal regulation in Austria

In Austria, the minimum requirements for keeping fish are defined in Regulation 486 in Section 7 and its Annex 5. See also the Wikipedia entry ornamental fish .

The following also applies especially to tetras: At least 5 animals of this type must be kept and the following limit values ​​must be observed:

value annotation
Minimum size of the aquarium 60 × 30 × 30 Length × width × height in [cm]
Area for the water temperature 23-29 Degrees Celsius [° C]
Area for the water hardness 0-15 Degree of German total hardness [⁰dGH]
PH range 5.0 - 8.0 Acidity
Maximum value of nitrate 50 [mg / l]

literature

Web links

Commons : Taillight Tetra ( Hemigrammus ocellifer )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Rüdiger Riehl, Hans A. Baensch: Aquariums Atlas . Ed .: Hans A. Baensch. 15th edition. Mergus, Melle, Germany 2006, ISBN 3-88244-227-1 , pp. 270 .
  2. ↑ BGBl 486., 2nd Animal Husbandry Ordinance. Retrieved February 16, 2019 .
  3. ↑ BGBL II No. 486 Appendix 5, Minimum Requirements for Keeping Fish. Retrieved February 16, 2019 .