Leporinus affinis - Many-banded Headstander

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Jon M

Jon M

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2010
1,252
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Port Saint John, FL
Anyone know anything about this fish or kept them before? Besides of course what is on google. I've established it grows up to 10" usually, peaceful in larger community tanks, etc. I'm just curious if anyone has any actual experience or some helpful information on this guy. I guess an explanation is in order.

I saw this guy in one of the larger tanks at my lfs, Petland. He looks really stunning. It's real big and a solid 10". He's been there for quite a while with a large common pleco. I asked the guy where they got him and he said someone found him in a container behind a building out in the Florida weather in a garbage and they didn't want him to die so they brought him into the lfs. The guy was like "you want him?" He really sounded like they didn't like the fish and wanted to get rid of him. I felt bad for this guy cause he is really a great looking fish and felt bad someone just tossed him like that. Too messed up. And then the lfs people are hating on him too? I had to get him. So I talked them down to 16$ and brought him home and put him in my 125g w/ my Oscar and large school of SD. This guy deserved better than a fricken' dumpster outside or the lfs.

Anyhow, I'll post pictures in the morning when the lights back on but until then does anyone have any experience with this fish or know any useful information about them? Anyone ever kept them before? I didn't even know what section to post this guy in as far as the fish species sub sections so I just put him in general aquaria. What section would this guy go in anyhow? Characin?
 
Yeah, he's a characin. I've never kept them, but I've heard they can be nippy. I do know one thing for sure though: they are very strong jumpers. I was in a canoe in the Amazon basin a couple summers ago and one jumped into the canoe with us. Almost got me right in the face, haha
 
Oh, I found out about the jumping thing at the lfs! Dude was trying to net him and that fish wasn't having it! He jumped out of the tank a few times. He was thrashin' pretty hard in the bag too. The lights out for the night and I hope he adjust overnight and is out tomorrow. He wasn't shy in the least in the lfs tank, and my 125g is definitely a lot bigger than their tank. As far as nipping, I hope that isn't the case because I have no place for nippers in my 125g. However he wasn't bothering any of the other fish in the tank he was in, which included a huge common pleco, a Jack Dempsey and I don't remember what else.

I'm excited to see how he feeds. If he's like a lightning bolt snap like my Pbass, or is going to chill and wait for food to come down.
 
EarthEaterBob said:
Great fish, but they are fin nippers, had to get rid of mine because he was nipping my Geos' trailers.
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Indeed, they're nippers and will take it a step further. I have 3 of them. One of them started harassing my 2 gar, which were almost 3 times as large as the Leporinus. It did severe damage to my gar's fin. I removed him and placed him in another tank with 2 smaller Leporinus and several other fish. He's stopped attacking. They're attractive and do much for coloring up a tank, but watch them carefully. They harass and cill even kill. They also grow fast.
 
Good information to know. How big are yours phillydog? This guy is already a solid 10" so do you really think he'll grow much more? Not that if he did it would concern me. He's in a 4.5' long x 2' tall and deep tank so that should be fine for him. He didn't seem to be bothering any of the fish in the tank he was in in the lfs so that's a good sign right? I hope he doesn't nip anyone because I definitely have no tolerance for nipping and will be forced to rehome if that is what ends up happening. He seems quite timid. Man are his colors really awesome and vibrant.
 
I visited the local zoo last month. They have several in the large Amazon exhibit. They were Just over a foot long. Two of mine were purchased from Petsmart and were about 3 inches and thin. The one larger fish was purchased from a LFS and was about 4 inches and had considerable girth. I've had them about 2 months and they all have added an inch in length and putting on more girth. Mine seemed timid until one day he suddenly started picking on my gar. Don't worry about it. You might be OK. Keep in mind that they're schooling fish and seem to do better when in numbers.
 
I'm not too concerned about it. I just hope he doesn't begin to nip at any of my fish. Again, he seemed fine in the lfs tank. I wasn't aware they were schoolers but he doesn't seem to mind being a loner. I don't have any plans to purchase more of these as my schoolers are SD. I have 6 more growing out in a smaller tank atm to add to the 7 that are already in there. Maybe when my 125g stock moves to a 300g when I move I could get more but knowing this nipping thing about them would make me not want to take my chances with any more.
 
I have seen them kept with agressive mbuna african cichlids before. They seem to hold their own with them. I would say keep them away from geophagus angelfish or any other slow moving peaceful fish with trailers and you should be fine. I had one in an 85 with my big pseuda pleco and redhook silver dollars and he was fine with them. I finally gave him to a realative who was bugging me for it. He keeps his with African cichlids with no issues.
 
Sure is a fin nipper, but with your setup it should be fine. Also, this fish eats vegetables, whether its live plants or something like cucumber
 
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