Info wanted on: Opsaridium microlepis

matongflush · Post by **matongflush** » 05 Feb 2005, 02:26

Anyone keeping them, info on temp, foods, pH, current etc? Anyone has any pictures to share of this fish?

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Feb 2005, 04:20

These are large, predatory fish that need a lot of swimming room. Since it can reach up to 50 cm, you'd best make sure you have enough space to accommodate it.

matongflush · Post by **matongflush** » 05 Feb 2005, 07:42

You are right there.

Can't find out much about it on the net.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 05 Feb 2005, 11:13

It's behaviour is likely close to that of Barilius/Rayamas, I think. Sort of a "tropical trout" but faster.

I've kept a shoal of B christyi for quite a while in my 2meter tank before I switched to Tanganyikans.

they're very active fish with very diverse behaviour; fast, powerfull swimmers and tremendous jumpers; and quite sturdy.

the latter came in handy because on occasion I've got a face-full of fish exactly like the guys in Asterix le Gaulois

just by opening the tank.....

matongflush · Post by **matongflush** » 05 Feb 2005, 13:31

the latter came in handy because on occasion I've got a face-full of fish exactly like the guys in Asterix le Gaulois

Ouch, that must have hurt! Not just the fish but you!

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 05 Feb 2005, 16:40

hurt?
nah

but YES I was surprised, and suddenly fully awake, allright.

nothing gets me out of my usual stupor like being smacked in the face with 8" of cold, wet, slimy Barilius

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 05 Feb 2005, 19:43

sidguppy wrote:nothing gets me out of my usual stupor like being smacked in the face with 8" of cold, wet, slimy Barilius

I feel more sorry for the Barilius

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 06 Feb 2005, 18:01

btw; back on topic:
fish like these like to eat insekts more than anything else!
they're really easy feeders, but tossing in a handful of crickets or roaches will get them going like nothing else.....

my Barilius grew very good on that, and often spawned.

spawning is a GREAT thing to watch!
we cannot keep Salmons in our hometank for obvious reasons, but watching the spawning behaviour of fish like these is the next best thing.

the males display and chase each other with lightning speed, often jumping clear out of the water (you can hear a "plionk" sound when they hit the lights; they never got wounded, very tough fish).
the most dominant male gets the girl, and they dive towards the sand; they make a depression in the sand by laying on it and making fast "swimming motions" EXACTLY like a Salmon.....
then the female looses the eggs (visible) and the male his sperm (couldn't see anything of this; colorless?).
unfortunely the whole circus was always closely watched by the rest of the tank; especially my Polypterus eel had a taste for "caviar"

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Feb 2005, 18:10

Opsaridium microlepis is a hunter that feeds on pelagic zooplanktivores (e.g. Engraulicypris sardella) when adult.

More info available from Tweddle, D, 2001. Threatened fishes of the world: Opsaridium microlepis (GÃ¼nther, 1864) (Cyprinidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 61: 72.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 06 Feb 2005, 21:26

not surprising given the size of that fish.

more comparible with a mackerel than with a trout.