Choosing the right fish to feed your tank is important for their health and growth. While livebearers are a great choice for beginners, there are several other species you should consider. These include Brown tail Pencilfish, Pearl Gourami, Labyrinth fish, and Pygmy Hatchetfish.
Contents
Brown tail Pencilfish
Pencilfish are a versatile fish that can survive in large, dense aquariums. Unlike most other aquarium fish, they need little space to swim and only need a few inches of water. To make their living conditions as comfortable as possible, they must be kept in schools of at least 12 fish. They are best kept in a 29-gallon tank with a peat filter. They are active swimmers and like to jump.
Pencilfish eat a variety of foods. They enjoy flake and pellet food, and will also eat live or frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. Because their mouth is so small, they must be fed in pieces that they can swallow. They should be fed several times a day.
Pearl Gourami
Because pearl gourami originate from bodies of water with abundant vegetation, they interact naturally with plants in your aquarium. While they don’t eat large amounts of plants, they will happily nibble on hornwort and Brazilian waterweed. A variety of rocks are also good options.
This species of pearl gourami breeds readily. However, you should not keep too many of them together, as they may fight and scrape each other. Keeping them in groups or in small tanks is fine, but try to keep the population under 30 fish. You can keep up to two or three Pearl Gourami at a time. They require a minimum of 30 gallons of aquarium space.
Male Pearl Gourami have distinctive sexual characteristics. Males have a bright orange throat and slightly longer fins than females. Their dorsal fins are also longer and pointed than those of females. Female Pearl Gourami are plumper than males and often have red or orange breasts.
Pygmy Hatchetfish
The Pygmy Hatchetfish is one of the most popular aquarium fish species. They require a well-maintained tank with plenty of food and cover. This fish will prefer to eat floating plants and floating leaves as well as algae and worms. They also need a tightly-fitting lid.
Freshwater hatchetfish can live in an aquarium with live plants. The plants will provide nearby cover to the hatching eggs. Additionally, the plants will also help keep algae at bay and saturate the water with nutrients. This means that your Pygmy Hatchetfish will be more likely to thrive in an aquarium with plants.
This fish is an excellent addition to your community tank. It is a peaceful schooling fish that thrives in large aquariums. They prefer shallow water and slightly acidic water. Their diets consist of small planktons, mosquito larvae, crustaceans, and tiny worms. The Pygmy Hatchetfish needs a minimum of 15 gallons (57 liters) of water to thrive.
Gasteropelecus sternicla
The Gasteropelecus sternikla is an incredibly unique fish. Its body is thin and deep, with an upturned mouth and high pectoral fins. In the wild, this fish jumps up into the air and eats insects. If you want to keep this fish in an aquarium, it is important to use a tank hood to keep them from jumping out of the tank.
This species of fish is native to the Amazon basin, where it is found in tributaries and near the surface. It lives in rivers and streams with abundant surface vegetation. It can grow up to two inches in length and can live five years in an aquarium.
