trying to put together a sticky-worthy Wolf care guide- help required.

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mynheers_a_pint

Candiru
MFK Member
May 4, 2008
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United Kingdom
So, It seems there has been an influx of people asking about information regarding wolf species and whilst i'm not going to make a big song and dance out of it, there is a lot of repetition and dubious information flying round. with that in mind, and off the back of Caribemob's attempt at the end of last year to get a sticky sorted i thought i'd throw something together quickly to get the ball rolling. However, I'm no expert and am reliant on the information shared on here as well as good-ol-google. So, what i'm hoping for is some good information to be added. here is what i have so far;

Family Erythrinidae - Trahiras ​



Forward​


The information shared here is a collaborative effort, obtained from various web sources as well as information shared on MFK. Data shared is freely circulated and presented here in an attempt to provide better understanding of the Family Erythrinidae and to provide guidance of successfully maintaining these species in captivity.


Bibliography​


http://www.fishbase.org/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=103
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152940



Species summary​


Species of this family occurs in South America. Body cylindrical. Gape reaching beyond anterior margin of orbit. Branchiostegal rays 5. Pectoral fin rays 9-14. Dorsal fin rays 8-15 and 3 vestigial rays. Dorsal fin origin anterior to anal fin and usually above pelvic fins. Anal fin rays 10-12. No adipose fin. Rounded caudal fin. Relatively large scales. Lateral line with 32-47 scales. Palatine teeth numerous. Some predaceous. Some capable of air-breathing and moving to other ponds by land. Nest-builders. About 1 m maximum length attained in Hoplias macrophthalmus of the Guianas.

16 individual species so far identified (fish base link);


Sp. Macrophthalminus discredited*



Origin and Habitat​



Erythrinidae species are found in freshwater environments across South America ranging from Argentina to Guyana and Venezuela. Notable source locations include Rio Xingu, Rio Orinoco though their coverage is great.

A diverse and adaptable species, Erithrinidae are capable of inhabiting most fresh water environments from fast flowing streams and rivers to near stagnant pools and drainage ditches. Thanks to their adaptability, most Erythrinidae species will survive in a wide range of water conditions and temperatures though avoid extremes.


Habit​


All Erythrinidae are predacious, though specifics diets vary from species to species. Some are dedicated Peiscovores, others feeding on insects and larvae through to small rodents and amphibians. Generally a solitary species, they are nocturnal ambush predators, choosing to rest in foliage during the day and hunt actively during the night. Sizes range from relatively small at just over 6” or 15cm through to over 100cm or 39”.


General Aquaria information​


Erythrinidae are predacious and as such, are generally unsuitable for the community aquaria. That said, examples do present themselves on a somewhat regular basis where specimens are kept in relative harmony with other large, robust species. However, it is widely accepted that this is generally down to the individual specimen rather than the species in general. Water chemistry is generally of secondary importance however water quality should be high. Due to their predacious nature, they are generally a messy eater, producing large quantities of waste.

When housing any Erythrinidae ensure the general rule of fish keeping is followed- 2x length = width, 4-6x length = length. Water depth is of secondary importance however overall footprint is most important. When housing large species, the above rules may seem unfeasible- Aimara for instance would require a tank of 18’X6’ so use common sense- you can never have a big enough aquarium.


Common traded species profile​





Hoplias Malabaricus​

Max size in captivity - 20"+

Locale – Central to Northern South America

Minimum tank size - 120g 48" x 24" x 24"

Diet -piscivores - generally accept dead and live food

General information

The common Wolf fish is one of the more readily available members of the Wolf fish family. They are ambush predators, relying on their mottled coloration to camouflage themselves. They are very adaptive and can survive in varying water qualities.

The Malabaricus is a solitary species and incredibly aggressive towards all other fish regardless of size. It is generally a bad idea to try and mix a Common Wolf with any other fish. However, a number of people have tried with relative success to keep the Malabaricus with other fish of similar size or larger and even other Common wolves though success is rare. Breeding has been achieved in captivity, given enough space. The Male Malabaricus has a more slender body than the female.

In the aquarium, the Wolf should be provided with cover and relatively low lighting. Whilst PH and general water quality isn't important, ensure efficient filtration. The aquarium should have a secure fitting hood due to the Wolf being a notorious jumper.

Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus

Max size in captivity - 16"

Locale - South America

Minimum tank size - 120g/ 48" x 24" x 24"

feeding - piscivores- readily accept dead due to voracious appetite

General info -

The Gold Wolf is one of the most unusual of the Wolf fish family. Unlike Hoplias Sp. or Ery. the Gold Wolf readily shoals with others of it's species. When others of its type are not available they happily shoal with characins of similar body shape (personal experience) such as Chalceus. Whilst small, they are fin nippers and generally very brave during feeding time.

They will co-habit with larger Characins and Cichlids, though ensure Cichlid species are not too aggressive or territorial. Whilst the Gold Wolf is not as aggressive as other wolf species, they are still capable of a fairly damaging bite. Catfish and Pleco's are also ideal choices.

Ensure plenty of open swimming space as these are among the most active of all Wolf Fish. Cover in not necessary due to the active nature of the species. As with most other Wolf variants, ensure a tight fitting lid due to their tendency to jump when gulping air.



Identification​
Click to expand...

As you can see, i'm lacking info on specific species- Ery, Curupira, Lacerdae and Aimara are significant however, extra info on Malabaricus and Hoperythrinus U. is welcome and appreciated. The other component is identification. now, i guess i coulsd have thrown something together before posting but i felt it worthwhile asking for this information as there are a few people on here who are fairly adept at the identification process so rather than simply copying and pasting info, i'd like to try and get the info from expereinced people on here!

If there is anything i have missed, or any info I have noted incorrectly, please let me know. Oh and if I've stepped on any toes, please feel free to correct me!

Ta.
 
we tried to get a wolf sticky, the post your wolffish thread is 140-150 pages long and it isn't a thread yet so , I doubt we ever get a wolf info thread:(
 
caribemob;3922184; said:
we tried to get a wolf sticky, the post your wolffish thread is 140-150 pages long and it isn't a thread yet so , I doubt we ever get a wolf info thread:(
Click to expand...

Still, if the info was good enough and demand for the stick was high enough... surly a mod would have to take notice?
 
mynheers_a_pint;3924356; said:
Still, if the info was good enough and demand for the stick was high enough... surly a mod would have to take notice?
Click to expand...

cool I understand I emailed the mods about the thread im talking about and nothing happened , but GL we need it, wolves are my favorite fish:headbang2
 
IME care for all of them is the same,except for size and aggression.
in general it'd be:

hardy fish,any pH around neutral is fine.
can be kept with most fish not big or aggressive enough to be a threat,and not small enough to get eaten (except in the case of the aimara,and sometimes other hoplias individuals as well,the erythrinus and hoplerythrinus are usually fine with other species)
except for the hoplerythrinus,they do not enjoy the company of others of the same species (many have had success with several malabaricus kept together,some have ended in failure.)
easy to get off live foods,feed meaty foods like smelt and shrimp,some will take pellets.

size can be frustrating.
often one species will have variations,some getting bigger and some getting smaller.
i can tell you that
erythrinus erythinus usually gets to 8",with some getting to almost 10".
erythrinus sp. peru gets to about 8" as well.
hoplias malabaricus usually get to around 20",but i have seen 24" specimens.
hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus gets to about 16".
 
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