艾氏丝鳍脂鲤

Overview

An upper-level fish from the Orinoco system, Copella eigenmanni has a broad dark marking between the snout and eye. It lays eggs among plants, with the male tending the clutch, and suits a mature, shaded planted aquarium.

Distribution & habitat

Confirmed records concern the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela, including the Orinoco and major tributaries such as the Meta, Caroní, and Apure. Reports from Guyana and Peru still require confirmation.

Aquarium setup

Allow surface dimensions of at least around 80 × 30 cm for long-term maintenance. Dense planting or a paludarium, floating cover, and shaded roots or overhanging vegetation provide useful structure. Much of its activity occurs near the surface.

Dry leaves add shelter and support microorganisms that can supplement fry food. Maintain oxygen with gentle surface movement. A biologically immature aquarium is unsuitable because stable water chemistry is important.

Diet & feeding

Tiny invertebrates and other zooplankton probably form much of the wild diet. In captivity, combine appropriate-sized prepared foods with daily Artemia nauplii, small water fleas, grindal worms, and similar live or frozen items. Small crickets and fruit flies may be offered after feeding them flakes or vegetable matter first.

Behaviour & compatibility

Peaceful temperament does not make every community suitable. Consider similarly sized small characins, smaller bottom-dwelling catfishes, or diminutive nonpredatory cichlids only where environmental requirements match.

Maintain at least eight to ten in a mixed-sex group. Peaceful schooling companions may improve confidence. Males display for females and establish small temporary territories around spawning sites.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are markedly larger, more colorful, and longer-finned. Females have a rounder outline, especially when carrying eggs.

Breeding

Occasional fry may survive in a mature planted aquarium. For greater control, use a separate tank with sponge filtration and floating or surface-reaching plants, or suitable artificial spawning material.

Eggs may be placed on broad leaves or scattered into finer vegetation if leaves are unavailable. Remove females after spawning and leave the male to tend the clutch. Hatching generally takes 36–72 hours. Care then ends and the male may eat fry, so remove him when hatching begins.

Start fry on Paramecium or very fine foods around 5–50 μm. Add Artemia nauplii or microworms once they can be swallowed. Growth is slow.

Notes

Colombian populations were formerly called Copella metae before being treated as this species, explaining older trade names. Identification uses the broad snout-to-eye stripe, a narrower pale line above it, the silvery-white area below, and the absence of a black triangular mark in the lower tail lobe.