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Portrait of
Hemiloricariamelini.
Hemiloricariamelini
Hemiloricariamelini
The whiptail catfishes of the genera
Rineloricaria
and
Hemiloricaria
have long
been verypopular aquarium fishes, as their
appearance is very interesting,and theyare
also very peaceful, feed on algae, and are
relativelyeasy tobreed.
One of the most rarely imported and
simultaneously most attractive species is
Hemiloricariamelini.
Thisblackwater fishhas
proved rather a hard nut to crack when it
Dwarf Shrimp "RedTiger"
The Tiger Dwarf Shrimp is one of the
dwarf shrimp species that has been
known for a long time in the aquarium
hobby. Unfortunately, however, its
correct name is a matter of immense
confusion,
although
people
are
increasingly becoming aware that the
species is more closely related to
Caridina cantonensis
than to any other
shrimp species. For this reason it is best
termed
Caridina cf. cantoris
for the time
being.
The same scientific designation also
applies to the Crystal Red and the Bee
Shrimp,and in fact all these shrimps can
be crossedwithoneanother toproduce
fully fertile offspring. You need to be
awareof this if youwant tobreeddwarf
shrimps, as in that case it is important
always to have just one variant in the
aquarium to avoid producing a mish-
mash.
The Red Tiger Shrimp is an attractive
color form of the normal Tiger Dwarf
Shrimp, and differs from that familiar
form only in its coloration.
comes to breeding. The fishes generally
spawn, but the fry are very delicate and
grow only slowly. Hence it is particularly
pleasing that it has been possible to
organize further imports of these lovely
fishes fromBrazil.
H.melini
attains a length of around 15 cm.
Thesexesarebestdistinguishedbyviewing
the fishes from above,when itwill be seen
that the males have broader heads and
larger pectoral and pelvic fins. Like all
speciesof thegenus this isacave-brooder.
