Pachypanchax omalonotus
Madagascar Hecht Ling ( Pachypanchax omalonotus ), red color form
The Madagascar Hecht Ling ( Pachypanchax omalonotus ) is an endemic species in Madagascar. As ornamental fish he has importance for the aquarium, but is kept relatively rare.
In older literature, it is often performed under the synonym P. homalonotus.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Madagascar Hecht Ling limited to the island of Nosy Be, the basin of the Sambirano in the immediately adjacent mainland and some smaller coastal rivers on the Nosy Peninsula.
On Nosy Be, he lives in the freshwater of the upper and middle courses of smaller rivers and streams. On the mainland, he inhabits both shaded rivers and shallow, marshy lakes in the flood plain of the Sambirano.
Features
The exterior is the typical shape of representatives of the genus Pachypanchax, only the caudal fin is more spade-shaped and the dorsal and anal fins run in a tip. The sides are of an emerald color, the scales are edged with reddish. Anal and caudal fins are lined below pale yellow or white. There also exists a variation with mainly red coloration.
Fins formula:
- Dorsal II-III/9-11
- Anal II-III/14-17
- Pectoral 12-16
- Ventral I / 5
Way of life
The intraspecific quite incompatible Madagascar Hecht Ling feeds mainly on invertebrates. These are collected as either approach food at the water surface or trapped on the seabed. From the spawn near the surface stored in delicate plants, the larvae hatch after about two weeks. For observations in captivity, the females laid about 20 in diameter of 1.5 millimeters large eggs daily.