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Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 01 Sep 2015, 15:35
by Gerald CapeTown
I am interested in getting some of these fish, but finding any information on them is not easy, has anyone on the site kept them.
Darter's are not complicated in general but this particular spieces?
I'd be greatful for any advice.

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 01 Sep 2015, 16:33
by racoll
I was lucky enough to see these beautiful fishes in the wild. Here's a vid. Be sure to watch in HD.



Image

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 01 Sep 2015, 16:54
by Gerald CapeTown
Of course, I have watched your video, one of the very few pieces of information I could find on them. You haven't by any chance kept them?

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 02 Sep 2015, 02:41
by racoll
Sadly never kept them, or even seen them for sale in an aquarium store. I think a tank planted with Vallisneria, a bit of current, and a diet of frozen foods would see them well. Would make a nice mix with , I think.

Where I caught them (Rio Paratucu) the water was 27.9C and very soft.

For more info, here is the species description. There's also a really nice paper about this fish's biology, but I don't have access to this journal: Zuanon et al. (2006). A chamaeleon characin: the plant-clinging and colour-changing Ammocryptocharax elegans (Characidiinae: Crenuchidae)

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 03 Sep 2015, 12:57
by dw1305
Duplicate post.

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 03 Sep 2015, 13:01
by Gerald CapeTown
Hmmm, seems I have to resort to Planetdarter! :-\

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 03 Sep 2015, 13:05
by dw1305
Hi all,
racoll wrote: I think a tank planted with Vallisneria, a bit of current, and a diet of frozen foods would see them well. Would make a nice mix with , I think. Where I caught them (Rio Paratucu) the water was 27.9C and very soft.
That would be a great tank.

I think you may need an alternative to Vallisneria spp., as I've never had much success with them in very soft water.

The plant in the video looks like an Eleocharis sp., and I know that there are quite a few species native to northern S. America. Ivan Mikolji photographed a nice red leaved one: <http://www.aquatic-experts.com/Eleocharis_sp_red.html>.

Alternatively one of the Echinodorus spp. with a more lanceolate leaf might do, Echinodorus "quadricostatus" (http://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetai ... 68%29/4511)?

I know Tom Black was looking for Ammocryptocharax in the UK, but I don't think he found them. They have been on Aquarium Glaser's list (http://www.aquarium-glaser.de/en/ammocr ... _1590.html), so there may be people in Europe keeping them.

cheers Darrel

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 03 Sep 2015, 13:20
by racoll
dw1305 wrote: I think you may need an alternative to Vallisneria spp., as I've never had much success with them in very soft water.
You're absolutely right Darrel, this plant does a lot better in hard water. Forgot about that.

Assuming the fishes are healthy when they arrive, I don't think that they'd be too tricky to keep. The problem is finding them for sale.

Re: Green Darter tetra -Ammocryptocharax elegans

Posted: 03 Sep 2015, 17:17
by Gerald CapeTown
Thank you guys, that is kind of what I was thinking.