Pethia stoliczkana
Pethia stoliczkana is naturally found in water bodies located in the north-eastern part of India, throughout Myanmar and Thailand, as far west as Laos. The fish gets its name after the Moravian zoologist Ferdinand Stolichka, who worked in India for several years. These fish are undemanding, easily get along with other aquarium inhabitants and can be recommended for beginner aquarists.
Pethia stoliczkana have a silvery colouration. At the root of the tail plumage is a fairly large black spot. The same spot, only smaller, is located just behind the gill cover. The dorsal and pelvic fins of males are reddish with dark mottling, while those of females are colorless. The females are paler than the males. Fish reach a size of 4.5-5 cm.
Pethia stoliczkana fish are peaceful and can easily be kept in a common aquarium with other peace-loving fish. Keep barbs should be a group of 8-10 fish, because only in a pack fish are less timid and will enjoy their interesting behavior and bright colours. Particularly attractive males during the courtship of females, when they are competing with each other for the attention of females, taking a saturated coloration.
The fish coloration is also influenced by the internal setup of the aquarium. Apply dark backing material and fill the perimeter of the aquarium with various plants, including floating plants, for maximum effect. Snags, tree branches and large rocks can be placed at the bottom.
Water parameters: temperature 18-26° C, hardness dH 1-15°, pH 6,0-7,5. Requires good filtration and strong aeration. Create a weak water flow in the aquarium by directing the withdrawal nozzle water filter along the back wall of the aquarium. Replace 1/3-1/2 of the aquarium water with fresh water each week.
Preferably, the lighting should be low. The duration of daylight hours of about 10 hours a day.
Fish are omnivores. In natural conditions they eat diatoms, small insects, algae, worms, crustaceans and organic detritus. In an aquarium, the fish are fed with daphnia, artemia, chironomid and various dried foods. Plant food additives are also desirable. Fish need to be fed twice a day.
Reproduction
Pethia stoliczkana spawn almost continuously in suitable keeping conditions. The females spawn in the water column, while the males immediately fertilize them. Once the eggs have dropped to the bottom, they are presented to themselves, and the spawners do not mind immediately eating them. To save the eggs need immediately after spawning females carefully collected from the bottom and moved to another aquarium with similar water parameters.
The eggs incubate for 24-48 hours after which the fry hatch and begin to swim and feed almost immediately.
The fry are fed with live dust and dried food intended for fry, and they are given artemia after a week.
The life expectancy of Pethia stoliczkana in an aquarium is about 3-4 years.
