Flagfish

Floridakärpfling, males

The Floridakärpfling ( Jordanella floridae ) is a small freshwater fish that is native to Florida and lives in ponds, ditches and slow moving streams. The genus was named after the American zoologists, botanists and ichthyologists David Starr Jordan, the Art epithet refers to the area of ​​distribution. The species was first introduced in 1914 to Germany and is kept here as an aquarium fish.

Features

The Floridakärpfling is a stocky, relatively deep-bodied fish. The body height is one third of the body length. The body is flattened laterally, the caudal peduncle very high. Females are up to 6 cm in length and are plumper, males remain with a length of 4.5 cm. The unpaired fins are rounded, rounded tail fin. The dorsal fin, which begins in the middle between the eyes and tail fin base is longer than the anal fin. The mouth is occupied or permanently and with small tricuspid teeth. The scales are large. The fish are brownish to greenish. The back is darker, the belly almost whitish. The individual scales have an iridescent bluish to pale yellow dots. In the male form red dots along the lower edges of scales 9 to 10 longitudinal lines. On the flanks there is a hinted dark spot.

• Fins formula: Dorsal 16-18, 11-14 anal fin.
• Dandruff formula: MLR 24-27.

Way of life

The Floridakärpfling lives floor oriented in rich vegetation, standing and slowly flowing waters, also in brackish water. It feeds mainly on algae and plants, along with worms, small crustaceans and insects. Males are revier forming. During courtship, the male drives very strong and runs after a simple form of parental care. The data stored by the female in a trough 200 to 300 eggs are guarded by the male and befächelt. The brooding instinct of the male usually goes out after one day. Depending on the water temperature the fry hatch after 5 to 10 days.