Lepornius

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shinypenny

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 30, 2007
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Any people on here had much experience with Lepornius? Sorry I can't nail down the nexact species, the ones I have are about 1.5" and have crisp black bands surrounding a yellow body.

The literature i found and the LFS both thought that it was a fairly peaceful fish that would be fine with Opaline Gourami and Angelfish (not long finned) however, after adding the Lepornius I noticed that they were nipping at both the Angels and the Gourami.

Are thery just establishing a pecking order, or is this something that is likely to get worse as they grow?

Also in the tank are a couple of small firemouths, some rosy barbs and a pleco. none seem particularly bothered, but the barbs are a bit more skitish than they were (I assume that they will calm down when they get used to the new inhabitants).

Anyone have any advice?
 
What you have is most likely Leporinus fasciatus. Not peaceful and can reach 12 inches at most. They're rather notorious for being nippy and are best left with fish that can defend themselves. Not to be kept with long-finned species as well.
 
IME they are real mean! Very aggressive and killers. Seriously! I still have one that is about 8" and they can wipe out a tank. THey have beaver like teeth. They only thing I can keep mine with is african cichlids or a red devil. GL
 
I have gathered all the info I can on these fish and some say they are killers and some say peaceful, many more say dangerous than peaceful, it seems to depend on the individual fish. I also want one of these later when I set up my big tank and plan to put him in later than the other fish, try putting in a pvc pipe and see if he hides in it, this may help curb the intensity of the picking, I have read they like hiding caves.
 
I don't really want to take that chance. I had four of them and they were not leaving the other fish in peace. A few years ago I would ave lef them to see how it panned out, these days i tend to think it's not worth it. Especially as I don't have a hospital tank set up at the moment.

There are many species and sizes of Lepornius so maybe that explains the disparity in opinions. As for me, they will hopefully be going back to the store tonight, after living today in a large bucket... It took me the best part of an hour to get the little things out of the tank. For others reference though, the Firemouth and the Barbs were not unduly worried by their agressive tankmates, but that might be because the others were easier targets. in due time the FM may have come in for harassment.
 
My friend has some 10-14" in a 2000 gallong tank with everything from black ghosts, chocolate cichlids, convicts, firemouths, distichodus, flag-tail prochilodus, redtail sharks, and a bunch of others and they don't bother anyone.
 
nolapete;1203461; said:
My friend has some 10-14" in a 2000 gallong tank with everything from black ghosts, chocolate cichlids, convicts, firemouths, distichodus, flag-tail prochilodus, redtail sharks, and a bunch of others and they don't bother anyone.
Click to expand...

haha. yea in a tank that size i cant see them bothering anything.:ROFL:

i think as long as u have them in a large tank they are peaceful. I have a 10" leporinus in a 135g that is overstocked and its completely peaceful.
 
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