Sailfin Characin (Crenuchus spilurus)

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Sailfin Characin

Crenuchus spilurus.jpg
Sailfin Characin

Crenuchus spilurus

76 Litres (20 US G.)

5-6 cm (2-2.4")

sg

Freshwater

pH

5.5 - 6.5

24 -28 °C (75.2-82.4°F)

4-6 °d

1:2 M:F

Carnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods

5-8 years

Family

Crenuchidae



Additional names

Sailfin Characin, Sailfin Tetra


Origin[edit]

South America: Orinoco and Amazon River basins; and coastal rivers in the Guianas.


Sexing[edit]

Mature males are larger and more colourful than females with a more dramatic dorsal fin.


Tank compatibility[edit]

A shy fish, this Characin does not shoal and males can be quite territorial to one another. Best kept as a single male with a group of females. Cannot be kept with larger aggressive or predatory fish. Keep with a shoal of dither fish to make this fish feel more secure.


Diet[edit]

Will generally not accept dry food, feed with live/frozen food such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.


Feeding regime[edit]

Feed once or twice a day.


Environment specifics[edit]

Must be kept in acidic water, peat filtered is best. A dimly lit tank with dense planting and floating plants and a dark substrate will make this fish feel secure.


Behaviour[edit]

A shy, mostly mid-bottom dwelling, fish. Males will be territorial to other males of the same species.


Identification[edit]

An elongate fish with a slightly humped back. The body is silver-yellow in colour and iridescent with a defined lateral line. It has a forked caudal and elongated dorsal and anal fins, the dorsal has a trailing filament, more prominent on males. The fins are iridescent, translucent with slight spotting.

Pictures[edit]

External links[edit]