Phallichthys amates
Phallichthys amates, synonyms: Phallichthys amates amates, Phallichthys amates pittieri, Phallichthys pittieri, Poecilia amates, Poecilia pittieri, Poeciliopsis isthmensis, occurs naturally in small, low flowing, standing waters or calm bays of rivers in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Central America.
Phallichthys amates has a tall body flattened on the sides. The main coloration is yellow, the back is darker with a greenish tint. The abdomen is golden yellow. A vertical band passes through the eyes. fins pale yellow, dorsal fin with black and white trim. The male has a very long gonopodium. Female large with rounded abdomen. The size of males reaches 6 cm and females 8 cm.
Phallichthys amates is a calm, unpretentious, adaptable gregarious fish. These fish can easily be kept in a common aquarium with commensurate or smaller peace-loving fish. However, in full glory they present only in a community of their own in a species aquarium. Keep fish should be a group of at least 6 specimens.
The minimum volume of the aquarium is 50 liters. As the substrate used coarse-grained river sand or gravel. At the bottom are large flat stones, grottos and snags. Most of the aquarium should be densely planted aquarium plants. Also need to take care of the availability of places for free swimming fish.
Water parameters: temperature 20-25° C, hardness dH 10-25°, pH 6,5-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh.
The fish's menu in nature consists of diatom algae, which they harvest by filtering bottom detritus through their gills, as well as filamentous algae and insect larvae. Under aquarium conditions they are fed live and frozen artemia, daphnia, bloodworms, as well as a variety of dry food. The food is given 2 times a day.
Reproduction
Phallichthys amates is usually not difficult. Under normal conditions, females spawn every four weeks.
Males reach sexual maturity at the age of 4-5 months and females 6-7 months. Pregnancy lasts about 24 days. Depending on the size of the female gives birth to 10 to 80 fully developed fry, ranging in size from 3 to 5 mm, from the first days ready for independent life. Immediately after spawning, fry should be transferred to another aquarium, otherwise the producers may eat them.
The fry are fed cyclops and dry food 4 times a day.
Life expectancy of Phallichthys amates is 2-3 years.
