Red eye tetra

Red Eye Moenkhausia

The red-eye Moenkhausia ( Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae ) forms a kind of family of the Real tetras ( Characidae ). It is up to seven inches long and lives in South America, in the basin of the Rio Paranaíba, Paraguay and Argentina.

Hunting and

The animals in aquariums does not present any particular difficulties. Although the water in which the animals are indigenous, rather soft, slightly to strongly acidic and nutrient-poor water exhibit ( black water), red-eye Moenkhausia manage with a harder and less acidic water. General The following data is for entertainment:

• A GH value of 5 ° to 30 ° d
• A temperature of 22 to 26 ° C

Since the peaceful and easy to socializing fish is already frequently in community aquariums with other ( preferably) South American fish, known in this context, care instructions also claim validity. By peat or Moorkienwurzeln in the water introduced humic acids promote the well- being of animals. A yellowish to amber coloring of the ( clear ) water corresponds to the natural environment and makes the color of the fish better accentuate. As with many tetras it is recommended to ( at least partly ) floating vegetation for shelter animals and for shading of the aquarium. Dark substrate is often recommended.

An essential requirement of the maintenance of red-eye Moenkhausia however, is that an attitude of less than 8 animals should be avoided. This stocking rate marks the minimum required number. In smaller groups, couples or single housing the animals can not live out their species-typical social behavior. The animals are very active and need sufficient swimming space ( in the upper and middle aquarium area). An aquarium of 80 cm length should not be less than usually.

Red Eye Moenkhausia eat all the typical food animals, such as white, black and red mosquito larvae, water fleas. Plant food is also taken. Aquarium Plants allow the animals experience, largely undisturbed. Only individual Verbisse young plant shoots and the feeding of individual hundredfold occurring small duckweed ( Lemna minor) have been observed.

Gender differences can be determined with reasonable certainty only at adult animals: The females have a much more rounded tummy on.