Oreichthys crenuchoides
The Oreichthys crenuchoides is naturally found in the Brahmaputra River basin that flows through Bangladesh and India. The fish can be found in low currents along banks densely overgrown with aquatic vegetation. The ground in these areas is mostly silty, although sandy shoals can also be found. The fish are unpretentious and can be kept by experienced aquarists.
Male Oreichthys crenuchoides are brightly colored and slightly larger than females. The coloration of males yellow-pink, at the root of the tail plumage is a dark spot. A sort of business card of the fish is a large yellow dorsal fin with dark mottling. Females look pale on the background of males, their coloration is silvery, with a dark spot near the tail feathering root and a small black-yellow band on the dorsal plumage. The maximum size of the fish is 4.5 cm. In general, the appearance of this fish is very similar to the Puntius cosuatis, and the two are very often confused.
Oreichthys crenuchoides are not large, peaceful fish that can be kept in a shared aquarium with other peaceful, similar sized fish. These fish cannot be considered gregarious, although they can occasionally be seen swimming in small groups. In order to display the males with their more striking coloration and interesting behavior, it is advisable to keep the fish in a group of at least 8.
An aquarium should have a volume of at least 80 liters. The perimeter should be densely planted with aquarium plants, including those floating on the water surface. Coarse-grained river sand can be used as substrate. In order to maximally approximate the living conditions of fish, you can place pre-dried beech or oak leaves on the bottom, which should be changed once every 3-4 weeks.
Water parameters 23 - 28° C, hardness dH 1-10°, pH 6.0-7.5. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water.
The menu of fish in the aquarium consists mainly of a variety of dry food, but they should not be fed alone. Live and frozen food should be provided: daphnia, artemia and chironomid. This will contribute to a brighter coloration. Feed the fish twice a day.
Reproduction
Like many species of carp fish Oreichthys crenuchoides do not parental care over eggs and fry. In a shared aquarium, fish spawn periodically and produce fry, but the percentage of surviving fry is very low. In order to maintain the stock of fry should be bred fish in a specially designed for this purpose spawning aquarium of about 30 liters.
At the bottom of the spawning tank should be placed separator mesh with a mesh size through which the eggs can freely pass, but the fish can not swim through. The spawning area is occupied by 1-2 pairs of fish.
The females lay eggs on the underside of the broad leaves of the plants. Some eggs do not stick to the leaf and sink to the bottom. The first 2-3 days of producers can be left in the spawning tank, the eggs they do not touch. Then they are transferred to a common aquarium.
The eggs are incubated for about 3 days after which the larvae hatch. The first 5 days of life, fry eat their yolk sacs, after which they begin to eat microscopic dry food. after 7-8 days, fry become large enough to eat Artemia nauplii. The fry are fed 4 times a day.
Life expectancy Oreichthys crenuchoides in an aquarium environment is 4-6 years.
