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Hemigrammus bleheri, Gery, 1986

Origin: Brazil; Rio Negro, Colombia; Rio Vaupes

Etymology: Named after Heiko Bleher.

Synonyms:None.

First European import:Germany, 1965, by Heiko Bleher.

Description:See picture.

Care: Can be kept in normal community tanks, but should be kept in groups of minimal 6 animals. Minimum an 80 cm tank, with soft, neutral or slightly acidic, water. The fish are susceptible to nitrate pollution, and require frequent waterchanges.

Temperature:23-26 degrees.

Feeding:Flakefood and small live and frozen food.

Size:4.5 cm.

pH: 5.5-7.0

Breeding:A large breeding tank is required, with dark soil, peat filtration and soft(under 4KH)acidic water. Lots of plants, in between which the fish will lay their eggs. Frequent waterchanges and large amounts of live food will induce group spawning. Best to keep a larger school in such a tank, and to remove the fish after spawning since they are avid egg eaters.

Sexual dimorphism:Can only be seen if females have eggs, then their belly is fuller.

Prices: Netherlands: 2€

Additional: After extensive research in the cranial differences Hemigrammus bleheri appeared not to be a colormorph from H. rhodostomus, but a valid species. The fish in the picture could also be H. rhodostomus, since the difference is hard to see.

Picture references: All pictures: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.

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