Just picked up an Odoe
- Thread starter I31
- Start date
ewurm;1097112; said:
theyre an awsome fish ewurn. heres a bit of info on them.
The African pike characin
Hepsetus odoe
Size: There is a fair amount of conflicting opinion as to the eventual size of the species 60cm/24" long being one of them - and while this is quite possible, in my experience I have never raised one any larger than 30cm/12".
Guide price: I think the last one we had for sale in the shop was in the region of ?30 for a 6" fish.
Aquarium care: The minimum size tank for a single fish would be 120 x 45 x 45cm (48" x 18" x 18"), and 180 x 45 x 45cm (60" x 18" x 18") for a couple. The best set-up includes plenty of cover in the way of plants, driftwood, etc. Standard, fairly bright lights will be fine, so long as you provide them with cover so they have a good sense of security. Avoid any sharp tank d飯r.
Water parameters: Provide a pH of 7.0-7.5, temperature 76-79?F, GH 8-18 - this is not a fussy fish as far as water chemistry is concerned.
Diet: This fish can be difficult to feed with ?dead? food, so you may have to feed live food at the start.
The best "dead" food is small frozen fishes. These can be bought at most good aquatic outlets and are usually sold under the names of whitebait, silversides, lancefish and sprats. Always try and feed the whole fish rather than chopping it up.
Doing this ensures the predator gets all the nutrients it needs for optimum growth and health. Other suitable foods include large earthworms, mussels, cockles, and even the occasional beef heart.
Breeding: I have never heard of anyone breeding this fish in captivity, although I feel it isn?t out of the question if you provide them with
a huge tank, say 240 x 60 x 60cm (8? x 2? x 2?) for instance.
All the specimens I have ever encountered were of wild origin, and I cannot see this changing because, as with a great many of these oddball fish, there is a limited market. As such, commercial breeding programmes are not profitable.
What I find incredible about this fish is that it is a bubblenest builder, similar to many gouramis and Bettas. Very little is known about this, but they apparently exercise brood care.
info from http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=35