Painted Platy

Painted Platy
(Xiphophorus maculatus)

QUICK STATS

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 64-77° F, KH 10-25, pH 7.0-8.2
Max. Size: 2"
Color Form: Black, Orange, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Malaysia, Singapore
Family: Poeciliidae

The Painted Platy is a beautiful, orange, yellow and black color variety of the popular Xiphophorus maculatus Platy. Iridescent black sides and a brilliant golden profile appear as though an artist personally painted each fish. Through selective breeding, platies are now available in a wide range of new color and fin variations. The Painted Platy is a great example of an atypical color variation.
The Painted Platy adds brilliant color to the aquarium and are very easy to keep. These features make it a great fish for beginners and accomplished aquarists alike. The Painted Platy requires an aquarium of at least 10 gallons that is densely planted with hardy plants like Java Fern and Java Moss. The Painted Platy is a very peaceful fish and makes an excellent addition to the freshwater community aquarium. Any other peaceful fish can be housed with them.

The Painted Platy is a livebearer capable of reproducing at three to four months of age. The male is smaller and more brightly colored than the female, and can be distinguished by his gonopodium. The fry will most often reach maturity in a community aquarium.

The platy is an omnivore that will eat commercially prepared flaked foods and algae, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Pink Convict Cichlid

Pink Convict Cichlid
(Archocentrus nigrofasciatus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Aggressive
Water Conditions: 68-73° F, KH 9-20, pH 6.5-8.0
Max. Size: 6"
Color Form: Pink, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Central America
Family: Cichlidae

The Pink Convict Cichlid is a pseudo-albino of the Archocentrus nigrofasciatus Convict Cichlid. Sometimes called Zebra Cichlid or Convict Cichlid, this fish is monotone in color, with the female having an orange patch on her stomach. The male is larger, monotone, has a steeper forehead and longer fins. As it ages, the male will acquire a fatty lump on the forehead. A striking addition to any aquarium, they are not recommended for the community tank due to their aggressive tendencies.
The Pink Convict Cichlid requires a minimum tank of 30 gallons with a gravel bottom, rocks and plenty of hiding places among the rocks or some inverted pots. Floating plants are recommended as a form of cover. Because of their aggressive nature, Pink Convict Cichlids should only be housed with other more aggressive fish of the same size or larger.

The Pink Convict Cichlid is a cave-breeder and will accept a range of water conditions. To promote breeding increase the water temperature to between 75-79°F. Some females will spawn between a cave and an open area. The Pink Convict Cichlid readily pairs and forms a patriarch/matriarch family and both the male and female will care for the young. The fry will respond to signals from both the male and the female.

The Pink Convict Cichlid is omnivorous and will eat most prepared and frozen foods, including freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and Cichlid pellets.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Peppered Cory Cat

Peppered Cory Cat
(Corydoras paleatus)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 72-79° F, KH 2-12, pH 5.8-7.0
Max. Size: 2½"
Color Form: Black, Green, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: South America
Family: Callichthyidae

The Peppered Cory Cat comes from the tributaries of larger river systems in South America, and is a peaceful bottom dwelling scavenger. The Peppered Cory Cat has black and dark green spots, with a white underside.
The Peppered Cory Cat requires a well-planted aquarium with plenty of hiding places that provide relief from the light. A smooth sand or gravel substrate is needed because of the easily damaged barbels. They enjoy being in numbers, so a small school of six or more is ideal for these cats.

Breeding the Peppered Cory Cat is achieved by keeping a number of these cats together and allowing them to pair off. After spawning, the breeding pair should be separated from the eggs, or the eggs transferred to another system. The fry become waterborne in approximately 5 days, at which time, they should be fed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food.

The Peppered Cory Cat is omnivorous and will require a well-balanced diet including freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex, sinking catfish pellets, flake food, frozen, and live foods. Feed a quality flake and pellet food as well as frozen brine and live worms.

from www.liveaquaria.com

Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami
(Trichogaster leeri)

QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 75-86° F, KH 5-18, pH 6.5-8.0
Max. Size: 4"
Color Form: Clear, White
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra
Family: Belontiidae

The Pearl Gourami is a peaceful fish that is also known as the Leeri or Lace Gourami. It is one of the most attractive, hardiest, and easy-to-keep gouramis. The body is stretched out and laterally compressed with ventral fins that are long and thin, having the look of feelers. It is covered with iridescent pearl and brown flecks that give it a mother of pearl appearance. There is a horizontal black line that runs from the lips to the tail, where it ends with a spot. The Pearl Gourami is a Labyrinth Fish. Fish in this group breathe directly from the air and must have access to the surface of the tank.
The Pearl Gourami requires a 30 gallon or larger tank with water approximately 12 inches deep, and a covering of floating ferns that may be used as hiding places. The substrate should be dark and the light subdued. The ideal tank mates for the Pearl Gourami would be similar in size and temperament. They should not be housed with aggressive tank mates, like Cichlids. They will hide in a corner, begin to loose color and may refuse to eat if kept with overly aggressive fish.

It is easy to tell the male from the female because he has extended, pointed dorsal and anal fins, and is more red. Prior to breeding, the pair should be fed live or frozen brine shrimp and worms for conditioning. The water temperature should also be raised to 80°F. When breeding, the water level in the tank should be reduced to 4-5 inches. The male will build a bubblenest under which spawning will take place. After spawning the female should be moved to a separate tank. The male Pearl Gourami tends to the eggs, and once the fry are hatched, the male should also be removed.

The fry should be fed liquid food or infusoria culture several times a day. At approximately two weeks, freshly hatched (or frozen) brine shrimp may be offered to the fry. When the fry reach approximately one month, fine flake foods may be offered. Water should be changed every two to three days, and as the fry grow larger, they should be distributed between several tanks to reduce lethal build up of wastes.

The Pearl Gourami is an omnivore and prefers both-algae based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com