Carinotetraodon lorteti
The Carinotetraodon lorteti naturally inhabits the lower Mekong River basin in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. These fish can also be found in numerous smaller, slower flowing tributaries of the river, as well as shaded backwaters with standing water. These areas have dense aquatic and riparian vegetation, and the substrate often consists of a thick layer of fallen leaves and branches. The fish supposedly got its name after the French zoologist Louis Charles Emile Lorte (1836-1909).
Carinotetraodon lorteti belongs to a group often called 'red-eyed tetraodons', which currently includes four recognised species distributed in Indochina and the Greater Sunda Islands. It can be distinguished from C. borneensis, C. irrubesco and C. Salivator by the following combination of features: 12-13 dorsal fin rays, 14 pectoral fin rays, 11-12 anal fin rays, 11 caudal fin rays. The eyes do not protrude above the head. In males the dorsal fin is reddish, with a black spot at its base. The base of the pectoral fin is transparent. The anal fin is reddish with a black spot at the base. The caudal fin is black with a white rim. Adult males have well-developed dorsal and ventral carinae on the body, which rise during threatening and courting displays. In addition, males have the same colour body and tail fin, while females have a reticulated coloured pattern on the body and tail fin. The fish can reach a maximum size of 5-6 cm.
The Carinotetraodon lorteti is unsuitable for keeping in a community tank with other fish. These fish should preferably be kept alone due to their tendency to bite the fins of fellow aquariums, especially in small tanks. They are aggressive and territorial fish. A small group of these fish can be kept together only if the aquarium will be sufficiently spacious and it will be numerous shelters.
Snags and large boulders should be placed at the bottom of the aquarium. The entire perimeter of the aquarium should be densely planted with a variety of plants, including floating on the water surface. At the bottom is desirable to arrange a leaf litter, consisting of pre-dried oak leaves.
Water parameters: temperature 20-28° C, hardness dH 2-12°, pH 5,0-7,5. Water aeration and filtration is required. The water flow should not be too high. Need a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh water.
Lighting is moderate, lasting about 10 hours per day.
Carinotetraodon lorteti have no real teeth, and the jawbone itself is converted into four fused toothed structures. They continuously grow at an astonishing rate, so offer the fish regular meals of shell-cleared invertebrates such as snails, small crab legs, clams, etc., to keep them at a reasonable length. There is some evidence that algae make up a large part of the natural diet, so it may even be worth encouraging the growth of algae on solid decor items.
Supplementary foods can include crushed clams, small earthworms, live or frozen bloodworms, artemia nauplii, etc. Dry food should not make up the bulk of the diet.
Reproduction
The Carinotetraodon lorteti breeds under aquarium conditions. Courtship is initiated by the male and is characterized by an enhanced colour pattern plus manifestations on the dorsal and ventral crests. The female lays eggs among the aquatic vegetation.
After spawning, the male takes sole responsibility for guarding the clutch. The larvae hatch within 60-72 hours. Initially, the fry feed on substances in their yolk sac, and after 3-4 days they begin to swim and feed freely. Their starter food is infusoria. As fry mature, they are transferred to larger food.
