Common Name: Orinoco Peacock Bass
Scientific Name: Cichla orinocensis
Other Names: Butterfly Peacock Bass, Orinoco Butterfly Peacock
The Orinoco Peacock Bass, like other members of its genus, is a robust and strikingly colored fish. It sports a predominantly green and gold coloration, often with distinctive dark spots or patterns on its sides. The species often has a pronounced black “eye-spot” near the base of the tail, which can be a striking feature.
Habitat and Distribution:
Cichla orinocensis is native to the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia. They inhabit slow-moving waters, such as river backwaters, lakes, and floodplain areas where they lurk amongst submerged structures to ambush prey.
Size and Lifespan:
The Orinoco Peacock Bass can grow up to 18-20 inches in captivity, although larger specimens have been documented in the wild. With proper care, they can live for 8-10 years or more.
Diet and Behavior:
Being a predator, the Orinoco Peacock Bass feeds primarily on smaller fish and crustaceans in the wild. In an aquarium setting, they can be fed a diet of high-quality pellets, live fish (like feeder fish), and frozen foods like shrimp. Their ambush predator nature makes them an exciting fish to observe during feeding times.
Breeding and Reproduction:
Peacock Bass are open spawners, typically choosing a flat substrate to lay their eggs. After spawning, both parents play a role in guarding the eggs and fry against potential threats.
Aquarium Care and Tank Requirements:
Due to their size and active nature, a large aquarium is a must. A minimum tank size of 150 gallons is recommended for a single adult, but larger tanks are preferable, especially for multiple individuals or community tanks. The tank should include hiding places using large rocks, driftwood, and robust plants, although they may uproot plants when they are in pursuit of food.
Ideal Tank Mates:
Orinoco Peacock Bass can be aggressive, especially during feeding or breeding. They do best with other large, semi-aggressive fish that can hold their own, such as other cichlids, catfish, or large characins. Smaller fish will likely become meals.
Intermediate to Advanced. Their size, diet, and potential for aggression require experienced fish keepers who can meet their needs.
• Temperature: 75-85°F (24-29°C)
• pH: 6.0 - 7.5
• General Hardness (GH): 5-15 dGH
• Carbonate Hardness (KH): 4-8 dKH
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <20 ppm
• Due to their aggressive feeding behavior, a secure lid is essential to prevent them from accidentally jumping out during feeding times.
• Regular water changes and powerful filtration are crucial to maintain good water quality, given their size and feeding habits.
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"Jina la kawaida: Orinoco Peacock Bass Jina la kisayansi: Cichlorochneus orycinensis Majina mengine: ""Butterfly Peacock Bass"" au ""Orinoco Peacock"" (Orinoco peacock bass) ni samaki mwenye nguvu na rangi ya kuvutia." Mti huo una rangi ya kijani-kibichi na dhahabu, na mara nyingi una madoa au michoro yenye rangi nyeusi kwenye pande zake. Mara nyingi spishi hiyo huwa na "kituo cha jicho" cheusi karibu na msingi wa mkia, ambacho kinaweza kuwa kipengele chenye kutokeza. Cichla orinocensis ni asili ya bonde la Mto Orinoco nchini Venezuela na Colombia. Wao huishi katika maji yenye mwendo wa polepole, kama vile mito, maziwa, na maeneo ya mabwawa ya mafuriko ambako wao hujificha kati ya majengo yaliyo chini ya maji ili kuwashambulia windo. Kwa mfano, Orinoco Peacock Bass inaweza kukua hadi inchi 18 katika utekwa, ingawa sampuli kubwa zaidi zimeandikwa katika mazingira ya asili. Kwa utunzaji sahihi, wanaweza kuishi kwa miaka 8 hadi 10. Chakula na Tabia: Kwa kuwa ni mwindaji, Orinoco Peacock Bass hula hasa samaki wadogo na wanyama wa mwituni. Katika aquarium, wanaweza kulishwa kwa kula pellets zenye ubora wa juu, samaki walio hai (kama samaki wa kulisha), na vyakula vilivyohifadhiwa kama vile udongo. Asili yao ya kuwinda kwa mtego huwafanya wawe samaki wenye kusisimua wa kutazama wakati wa kula. Uzazi na Uzazi: Peacock Bass ni spawners wazi, kwa kawaida kuchagua substrate gorofa kuweka mayai yao. Baada ya kuzaa, wazazi wote wawili huchukua fungu la kulinda mayai na watoto dhidi ya vitisho vinavyoweza kutokea. Matakwa ya Utunzaji wa Akwariamu na Tank: Kwa sababu ya ukubwa wao na asili yao ya kazi, akwariamu kubwa ni lazima. Ukubwa wa chini wa tank ya galoni 150 unapendekezwa kwa mtu mzima mmoja, lakini tank kubwa ni bora, hasa kwa watu wengi au tank za jamii. Wanyama hao wanapaswa kujificha kwenye miamba mikubwa, mbao, na mimea mikubwa, ingawa huenda wakavunja mimea hiyo mizizi wanapokuwa wakitafuta chakula. Wenzi wa Bwawa la Kihispania: Orinoco Peacock Bass inaweza kuwa na jeuri, hasa wakati wa kulisha au kuzaliana. Wao hufanya vizuri zaidi pamoja na samaki wengine wakubwa, wenye jeuri ambao wanaweza kujikinga wenyewe, kama vile cichlids nyingine, samaki-mti, au characins kubwa. Yaelekea samaki wadogo watakuwa chakula. Kiwango cha kati hadi cha juu. Kwa sababu ya ukubwa wao, chakula chao, na uwezo wao wa kuwa wakali, wanahitaji walinzi wenye uzoefu wanaoweza kutosheleza mahitaji yao. • Joto: 75 ° F (24 ° C) • pH: 6.0-7.5 • Ugumu wa jumla (GH): 5-15 dGH • Ugumu wa Carbonate (KH): 4-8 dKH • Amonia: 0 ppm • Nitrite: 0 ppm • Nitrate: <20 ppm • Kwa sababu ya tabia yao ya kulisha ya fujo, kifuniko salama ni muhimu ili kuzuia kutoruka kwa bahati mbaya wakati wa kulisha. • Mabadiliko ya maji ya kawaida na filtration nguvu ni muhimu kudumisha ubora wa maji nzuri, kutokana na ukubwa wao na tabia ya kulisha. Kujiandikisha leo na kupata 10% off ya agizo lako la kwanza! Kujiunga na jarida letu kwa ajili ya inatoa kipekee barua pepe na kukaa up-to-date juu ya kuwasili karibuni.