Characidae 1987 aquarium fish Common anostome Abramit postcard 10.5x15 cm

Inhabit the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The genus Anostomus is composed of more than 10 species, the genus Abramites of 3 only. Males more slender. Grow usually to 13—15 cm in captivity. Colouring of Common Headstander is yellowish (to red) with three dark longitudinal bars. Abramites are decorated with crooked brown transverse bars. Food: 60% animal and 40% vegetable. Sexually mature at 1.5—2 years. Spawning in pairs. Breeding is complicated; most effective results may be obtained using hormonal stimulation with injections of gonadotropic hormones. Fecundity up to 200 eggs, incubation period about 24 hours at 26 to 28? C. Feeding commences with smallest plankton.

The representative of other family— Curimatas (Curimatidae)—Spotted Headstander (Chilodus punctatus) (upper photo, right) with its head-down position is very close to above-mentioned species. The breeding of Spotted Headstanders is well accomplished without hormonal injections.