Rap tetras

[tonyt]

It's hard to find true amaratus by me , but I found some 4 " Rhaphiodon vulpinus . Are these guy prone to ick? How hard to break off live food? Would a group of 3 do well in a 220?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Chub_by]

I can only answe the last question but yeah, 220g is easily big enough since raphiodon don't grow as large.

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

That isnt correct- the Rhaphiodon Vulpinus grow well over 2 ft and are incredibly nervous. I think it was vamptev who had one in a pond as it was the only way it could be safely housed.



I dont think there are many big ones in private aquaria...

 

[EvilTeeth]

@mynheers_a_print

Males are more abundant than females and matured at a smaller size. A predominance of females in the larger length classes suggests that females grow faster, and thus reach a larger size at a given age.

The size at first maturity can vary according to genetic differences (between the sexes), or as a result of different environmental conditions over the area where the species occurs, and in different years. Genetic differences may account for the smaller size of the males of R. vulpinus at sexual maturity.

Read more here

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

Good information. The thing is, even though the females reach a larger size-

The study was done in a clearwater river. According to Mongabay, the Tocantins river is moderate current (not quite whitewater). Although rhaphiodons also occur naturally in whitewater as well.

From what I have gathered, raphs can be sexed by mature sizes. The males appeared to mostly top out at 14" and females are likelier to grow larger (up to 20"). Other sources have said that raphs can grow to be two feet. This study in specific was done on 2711 raphs.

Also, the more important thing, it looks like they just breed in the rainy season when the water rises. So it looks like all you would need to do is keep the tank from being full for a while then start adding water. Not to mention you will probably need a very large tank or more likely a heated pond.

Source article: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/ni/v5n4/v5n4a07.pdf

(From http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-327666.html)

-smaller fish at 12-15" still struggle in small tanks. I actually kept one up to 6" and, ignoring for a moment it was assassinated by a H. Tatuaia, despite being in a (relatively) large tank, it seemed uncomfortable and actually bumped into the glass quite frequently. It's entirely possible to get one up to 12" but I'd say that a 220g (Assuming we're talking about, say, 72x 30 x 24 in the best case) it's still going to struggle, purely because of the space they require once at a decent size. they're far from lazy and their feeding style, whilst a sight to behold when they complete the back flip, requires space for them to achieve it.

here is the video that Vamptrev (I think, appologies if it wasn't) posted when I first considered them;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fvexYcFzM

Amazing fish but i'd wager very tough to keep outside of a speciallist environment/400+ gallon, wide tank.

My opinion, of course.