FishWiki

Today we will take a peek at the African Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi).

The African Butterflyfish is a captivating and unique species of fish that comes from slow-moving, densely vegetated waters of west Africa. The common name of this surface-dwelling species is derived from it’s appearance when viewed from above, the large pectoral fins giving it the appearance of a butterfly. In reality, these fins serve a dual purpose. They help to camouflage the fish, making it look like a dead leaf floating on the surface, and along with the caudal fin, power the incredible jumps that it's capable of making. The fish jumps from the water to catch flying insects or to escape potential predators and it can make leaps of several meters in length. The eyes of the fish also have several structural features designed to allow it to see both down into the water and up into the air at the same time. They primarily feed on insects and small invertebrates that fall onto the water's surface, as well as any small fish that can fit in their mouths. For a fish with such power, it is actually quite an inactive species when not feeding, tending to remain motionless among the surface plants. It is crepuscular in the wild, becoming active during the hours around dusk.

In the aquarium, they should be kept in larger tanks as they grow to be ~5 inches (13 cm) and need tight fitting lids to keep them from jumping out. Live plants, especially floaters, provide needed cover. They also prefer dim lighting and little to no current. They are somewhat challenging to breed in captivity but it is possible. Their long, flowing fins are susceptible to fin nipping. The water should be soft and acidic, with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and a temperature of 77-80°F (25-27°C).

Sources and further reading:

• https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/freshwater/the-african-butterflyfish-pantodon-buchholzi
• https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pantodon-buchholzi/

This week we will look at the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas).

This North American native cyprinid may be a common feeder and baitfish, but they make surprisingly good aquarium inhabitants as well! Its golden or xanthic strain is known as the rosy-red minnow. Unfortunately, due to their popularity as baitfish, they have become invasive in many areas. The fathead's invasive status in Europe is cited as the main cause for the spread of redmouth disease among trout and eels there.

These minnows' ability to tolerate a wide range of water conditions allows them to survive in bodies of water that may be uninhabitable to other fish, such as waste drainage sites. It has also been studied to investigate the effects of these waste materials on aquatic life. This species is well known for being studied for possessing an alarm substance, known as Schreckstoff. This substance is released by injured fish, which alerts other minnows to seek safety. Fathead minnows learn to recognize an animal as a potential predator when they detect the alarm substance in the water, or the substance consumed by the predator. Prey fish with these chemical predator recognition abilities can inhabit areas with low visibility and more quickly detect ambush predators like the fathead minnow's primary predator, the northern pike.

Like many cyprinids, they eat just about anything from crustaceans and algae to detritus. They prefer a neutral to hard pH and cooler waters (50-70F or 10-21C). They need to be kept in schools of 6 fish or more, ideally in a 20 gallon or larger. They can be easily bred in the aquarium and are one of the only cyprinids to guard their nests (carried out by the male). Lifespan ranges from 2-4 years depending on if they have spawned and they usually grow to be about 3 inches long (7.5 cm).

Sources and further reading:

• https://theaquariumguide.com/articles/rosy-red-minnows
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathead_minnow

Ah, deep sea fishes. They can be pretty cute in their own weird, creepy way. This week we look briefly at the Sea Toad (Chaunocops coloratus).

Sea toads or coffinfishes are a family of deep-sea anglerfish. They are found on the continental slopes of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, at depths to at least 2,460 m (8,070 ft). During their gill ventilatory cycle, sea toads are able to take in high volumes of water, increasing their total body volume by 30%. They have a short bioluminescent lure that dangles forward over the mouth, and modified fins to act as legs for perching on the sea floor.

They live a mostly sedentary life and rely on a more opportunistic way of hunting, where they prey on anything within reach. It's believed that being bright red is advantageous for ambushing predators that use bioluminescent light to attract possible prey, since the red coloration of these species would conceal it and make it invisible.

Sources and further reading:

• https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5361
• https://www.fishbase.se/summary/9879
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_toad
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH5TFffP6VE