Wetmorella nigropinnata
The spiny burbot or Wetmorella nigropinnata is native to the Indo-Pacific: Australia from Rowley Shoals to Ashmore Reef and Cape York to Heron Island, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Elsewhere, the species is widespread in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-West, central Pacific. The fish can be found in coastal rocky areas to a depth of 10 m. The fish are not difficult to keep, but they are rarely found in free trade.
Wetmorella nigropinnata - a small grayish-red sponge with a yellow transverse stripe on the head just behind the eye. A second similar stripe is at the root of the tail plumage. The eyes are large. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins have large black spots with a bluish edging. Young fish are brownish in colour with two pale stripes on the body. The maximum size of the fish is 7 cm.
Due to their small size the sharp-nosed boa is ideally suited for relatively small aquariums. The fish live a secretive lifestyle, usually disappearing into caves and rocks. They swim out very carefully in the open, and immediately swim back out at the slightest danger.
When keeping Wetmorella nigropinnata in a shared aquarium with other fish, you need to choose their neighbours, which lead a quiet life and will not compete with them for food.
Wetmorella nigropinnata is a small fish for beginners. Rocks with wide crevices in which the fish can hide should be placed in the aquarium. If there aren't enough hiding places, the fish will be overly fearful. Despite their small size, the fish require a large aquarium with a capacity of at least 250 liters. Keep the fish can be a pair, and large groups - mainly to ensure that the aquarium was spacious enough and each fish had its own shelter.
Water parameters: temperature 22-26° C, pH pH 8,1-8,4, salinity 1.023-1.025. requires filtration and aeration of water.
Gravels of various sizes can be used as substrate.
In the wild, the Wetmorella nigropinnata will feed on small invertebrates. In aquariums, these fish are accustomed to eating replacement foods such as frozen shrimp meat and frozen plankton. They can also be accustomed to dry food in the form of pellets and flakes, as well as to artemia, small krill and mizid. It should be noted that the substitute feed fish adapt within a few weeks, after that any problems with their feeding does not arise. Feed the fish once or twice a day.
Reproduction
Although some reports suggest it is possible, they are not bred in the aquarium. All fish, in limited numbers, are supplied to the domestic market from their natural habitat.
