Marbled Headstander
Abramites hypselonotus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 14 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
Species profile
Black Banded Leporinus
Leporinus fasciatus
Common names: Black Banded Leporinus, Banded Leporinus, Black-Banded Leporinus, Characin
Recognized speciesHeadstanders and Leporinus
Adult size
Up to 27 cm
Up to 27 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper with room for a large aquarium
- A mature, stable aquarium
Think carefully if
- You cannot provide about 756 litres for a fully grown fish
- Your tank is newly set up
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A bold, black and yellow banded fish that reaches about 27 cm. Keep alone or in a small group in 756 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A bold, black and yellow banded fish that reaches about 27 cm. It needs a tank at least 2 metres long and a very tight lid, and it will eat soft plants.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Usually hard to sex, although females are often rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 3,020–3,780 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 750–1125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 756 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 210 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Lightly planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
A long tank with a tight lid is best, because these fish jump. Use tough plants or wood, as soft plants are often eaten.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active fish that often swims nose-down as it picks at surfaces for food.
Often does best in a group, which spreads out aggression between individuals.
Can be quarrelsome with its own kind and similar-looking fish.
Keep with robust fish of a similar size. It may nip long fins. It is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Add this fish only to a mature, fully cycled tank, and keep up regular water changes.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
Takes plant matter as well as small foods. Include plenty of vegetable food.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Not commonly bred in aquariums, and little has been recorded about how it spawns.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Uruguay
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Lake, River
- Aquarium contexts
- Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Leporinus
- Family
- Anostomidae
- Species group
- Fish, Headstanders and Leporinus
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Red Banded Leporinus
Synaptolaemus latofasciatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Spotted Headstander
Chilodus punctatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Striped Headstander
Anostomus anostomus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C