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Etymology: annulatus(L.): yearly(?)

Synonyms: Haplochilus annulatus, Pseudepiplatys annulatus, Panchax annulatus, Aplocheilus annulatus

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Cypriniiformes Family:Cypinodontidae, subfamily: Ancistrinae

First European import: Belgium, 1955

Description: See picture

Care: These small fish require a species tank, or a community tank with only small co-inhabitants. Usually they will inhabit the upper waterlayers, and need places to hide near the surface. Floating plants, combined with plants that grow up to the surface are necessary. Water should be slightly acidic, soft or medium hard.

Temperature:22-25°C

Feeding: Only accepts live food! Small food like cyclops, artemia, grindal. Fully grown specimens can master a mosquitolarvae.

Size: Up to 4.0 cm (males)

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Not too difficult. As long as the water is soft, the fish will regularly spawn. The small eggs hatch after 10 days, and the fry are not eaten by their parents. Older fry will eat smaller, newly hatched fry!

Sexual dimorphism: The males are larger and more colorful, and have a pointy, larger, anal and dorsal fin

Prices:2-3€

Additional:

Picture references:Picture 1: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)

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