Page 97 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CHARACOIDS/LARGER VEGETARIAN SPECIES 95

Citharinus citharus Semaprochilodus taeniurus Distichodus sexfasciatus
Lined Citharoid Silver Prochilodus Six-Striped Distichodus

ORIGINS West Africa, where it ranges from Senegal ORIGINS South America, where it is found in Colombia ORIGINS Africa, occurring in the Zaire basin and also
through to the Nile basin. and in the Rio Purus in western Brazil. in Angola.
SIZE 20 in (50 cm). SIZE 12 in (30 cm). SIZE 10 in (25 cm).
DIET Vegetable matter and live foods. DIET Mainly vegetable matter. DIET Vegetable-based foods.
WATER Temperature 73–81°F (23–27°C); soft to hard WATER Temperature 73–81°F (23–27°C); soft to hard WATER Temperature 73–79°F (23–26°C); soft to hard
(50–150 mg/l) and neutral to alkaline (pH 7.0–8.0). (50–200 mg/l) and acidic to alkaline (pH 6.0–7.8). (50–150 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.5–7.0).
TEMPERAMENT Peaceful shoaler. TEMPERAMENT Peaceful shoaler. TEMPERAMENT Nonaggressive.
The Silver Prochilodus has random spots on the Orange
rear of its body, and striped markings on its tail; background Tail turns grayer
the pelvic fins are reddish. The stomach consists color with age
of two parts; one of these parts contains little
more than mud scooped from the substrate and is
thought to help in digestion. These fish are able
jumpers. They put their ability to good use in the
wild, leaping over obstacles as they migrate
upstream to spawn.
Juvenile
This fine-scaled characoid is silvery in color, with Unfortunately, only
a steeply curved topline. The dorsal fin is located young Six-Striped Distichodus have the attractive
just below the highest point on the back. Young striped patterning and red fins, with the adults
Lined Citharoids may sometimes display horizontal being much plainer. Initially, the young fish may
black stripes on the body. The Lined Citharoid be confused with the Long-Nosed Distichodus
is a large species and is usually kept in groups. (D. lusosso), although their snouts are rounded
Although it typically grows to a much smaller rather than pointed. They tend to be destructive
size in aquariums than it does in the wild, it still toward plants growing in the aquarium, but Java
needs a sizable tank. Fern (Microsorum pteropus) is usually ignored.

Distichodus affinis
A VEGETARIAN DIET
Silver Distichodus The relatively small size of the Silver Distichodus
means that this fish is suitable for a community Browsing on plants calls for strong jaws that
ORIGINS Africa, occurring in the lower part of the aquarium. There are three very similar Distichodus can cut through leaves and young stems
Zaire basin. species, all of which have red fins and a black spot without difficulty. A relatively wide gape is
SIZE 5 in (13 cm). at the front of the dorsal fin. This particular also helpful when it comes to swallowing
DIET Vegetable-based foods. Distichodus can be distinguished by the fact that its plant matter. In the case of the Silver Dollar
WATER Temperature 73–81°F (23–27°C); soft to hard dorsal fin is shorter than its anal fin. All Distichodus (Metynnis argenteus) seen here, the bottom
(50–150 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.5–7.0). have similar care requirements. Their breeding jaw acts as the main cutting blade, slicing
TEMPERAMENT Nonaggressive. habits have yet to be documented in any detail. upward against the more rigid top jaw.
Internally, the digestive system has to be
adapted to processing large quantities of
food with low nutritional value. In order to
obtain enough nutrients, vegetarian species
must eat more frequently than their
carnivorous counterparts.

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