Home

Descriptions

General

Links

This site

Origin: Guyana countries, Brazil; Amazon Basin. Osteoglossum bicirrhosum are mainly found in the densely planted tributaries and in shallow lakes.

Etymology:

Synonyms: Ischnosoma bicirrhosum, Osteoglossum vandelli

First European import: Germany, 1912, by A. Rachow.

Description: see pictures.

Care: Larger tanks with well filtered water and a reasonable to strong current. Frequent waterchanges. The fish in the pictures are kept in a 3*2*0.60 cm tank. The water in the tank shouldn't be too hard, and neutral to slightly acidic. Peat filtration is recommended. The fish require a lot of free swimming space. Tank should be covered well, since the fish can jump very well(up to 3 meters high), and the fish also breathe atmospheric air(Temperature differences).

Temperature: 24-30 degrees.

Feeding: Live fish, mice, frogs. In nature birds and bats hanging from trees are caught by the fish, besides fish. Like all Osteoglossidae they posses a spiral shaped organ in the gills, which they use to filter plankton from the water. In nature this is one of the main foodsources during the dry season.

Size: Up to 1 meter 20.

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Has been bred in aquaria. Mouthbrooder, should be bred in pairs in larger tanks. Eggs are 1.6 cm large, and are brooded by the male for a period of 50-60 ays, after which the 8-10 cm fry are released.

Sexual dimorphism: Full grown males have a longer dorsal fin.

Prices: Depending on size, between 10 and 200 €.

Additional:

Picture references: All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)Sterba, G.(1979): Aquariumvissen. Elsevier Nederland B. V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.