Alfaro Turquoise, Or Knife-shaped (Alfaro Cultratus)

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

Turquoise alfaro, or alfaro knife-shaped, or alfaro-knife (Knife livebearer) is a hardy and unpretentious type of fish that does not require special conditions of detention. The homeland of this fish is Central America, where it lives in shallow bodies of water. These are schooling mobile fish, so it is recommended to immediately buy at least 15-20 pieces. They eat any kind of feed. They breed easily in a shared aquarium.

Habitat: Central America - Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Brazil.

Description: the body is elongated in length, flattened from the sides, the back is high. The vertebral column is clearly visible to the lumen, since the alfaro's body is transparent. Males have gonopodia. A scaly outgrowth extends from the anal to the caudal fin.

Habitat: shallow streams (up to 50 cm deep), ditches, coastlines of large rivers, incl. brackish reservoirs.

Color: from light brown to greenish brown with a blue sheen. The fins are transparent - colorless or yellowish-green. The dorsal fin has a dark speck.

Size: males up to 7 cm, females are slightly larger.

Life expectancy: up to 3.5 years.

Photo © Andy Rapson, Aquarium: species aquarium with a lid on top, from 50 l.

Water: dH 5-12 °, pH 6.5-7.5. Some aquarists add salt to the water - 0.5-3 grams per 3 liters of water. A weak current is required. Weekly change of up to 15-20% water volume.

Temperature: 24-28 ° C.

Plants: thickets of living plants, including floating ones.

Lighting: moderate.

Substrate: any.

Decoration: driftwood and grottoes, free swimming space required.

Feeding: turquoise alfaro takes animals (insects and their larvae, bloodworms, tubifex, flakes and granules) and plant food from the surface of the water.

Adult fish are fed 2-3 times a day. Does not take food from the bottom. Therefore, you can add several ampularia or catfish snails to the aquarium.

Behavior: knife-shaped alfaro - schooling and mobile fish, you need to buy a school of 15-20 fish.

Water zone: middle layer of water (at a depth of 20 cm).

May be kept with: non-aggressive fish of the same size and larger.

Breeding fish: turquoise alfaro is a viviparous fish, eggs are fertilized and develop in the body of the female. Several males are needed per female. Spawning can take place in a community aquarium throughout the year.

Sex differences: The male has a gonopodium.

Puberty: begins at the age of 5-8 months.

Spawning aquarium: small-leaved and floating plants, low aeration.

Number of fry: 20-60 pcs.

Pregnancy: lasts 37-60 days.

Feeding juveniles: starter feed - "live dust", boiled egg yolk, brine shrimp and cyclops nauplii.

Jumping from parents: parents eat fry.