Datasheet Red-Blue Colombians
German name:
Red-Blue Colombians
Scientific name:
Hyphessobrycon columbianus
Origin:
South America (minor streams and rivers in the upper Rio Acandi drainage basin in Colombia)
Size:
Body length up to 5 cm – 6 cm
Aquarium
Length:
Length from 100 cm width
Contents:
from 200 liters
water values
Temperature:
24°-27° C
pH:
6 – 7.5
GH:
5° – 19° dH
Behave
Area:
middle area
Lining:
smaller live food, dry food, fine frozen food
Behave:
sociable, peaceful, socialization with other peaceful fish is possible without any problems
Number:
in small groups, 8 to 10 animals
Difficulty level:
Novice Marrabbio2, Hyphessobrycon colombianus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Red-blue Colombians, Hyphessobrycon columbianus, eat quickly and heavily. They sometimes look almost like puffer fish after feeding. If not enough food is given, other fish hardly get any food.
Black spots in red-blue Colombians
Red-Blue Colombian with Black Spots Photo: CL
Red-blue Colombians often get black spots on their skin. The cause is unclear. Genetic causes are suspected.
In the book Lexikon freshwater aquarium fishes by Rolf Meyer you can read that red-blue Colombians get black guanine scales as they get older.
Guanine crystals are normally stored in the cells of the epidermis, ie the skin, of the fish. These crystals reflect light brightly – whitish. Whitefish are the classic case among cyprinids. At the same time, guanaine crystals are a kind of excretion product of the nitrogen metabolism.
According to anecdotal reports, some animals became ill or died after black spots appeared. Maybe this was coincidence and there was no connection. As a rule, the animals with the black spots continue to live apparently unimpaired.
In any case, there is no evidence of a risk of illness or infection from the black spots.
gender differences
Hyphessobrycon columbianus Photo: Jürgen Vogt
In males, the lower half of the caudal fin is conical, ie it curves outwards.
In females, the lower half of the caudal fin is almost straight.
Because the bulge can vary in strength, it is not a sure differentiator.
Notes on Breeding
Hyphessobrycon columbianus Photo: Jürgen Vogt
Breeding is possible in soft water, e.g. B. at a pH value of 4, a conductivity of 80 ms and a hardly detectable total and carbonate hardness.
They also multiply at a carbonate hardness of around 5 and a total hardness of around 7.
The animals spawn in the early morning hours in dense, fine-feathered or small-leaved plants or pads of dense java moss.
The young are very small and can hardly be seen. The adults eat the young.