Explain The Difference

[panda_cory]

This is going to make me sound stupid. :stupid: But can someone explain which fish go under which catagory?Cyprinids, Characins and Atherinids?

 

[LucyB]

I never know - I just post in 'Tropical Discussion' and 'Tropical Fish Emergencies'

Saves me a lot of googling

 

[panda_cory]

LOL

 

[ZoddyZod]

how about trying to look up the species first to see what they are, then posting them in the correct section?

saves us Mods a load of moving threads around!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

This is where you talk about tetras; barbs; loaches; silversides (fish like Celebes and I think Madagscan Rainbowfish, which are not true rainbowfish).

 

[panda_cory]

Just wondering which fish fit into which catagory. for example which one do neon tetras go into Cyprinids, Characins or Atherinids?

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, cyprinids are basically the barbs, minnows and carp, characins are the tetras, and atherinids are the rainbows.

It's not easy to tell which is which, just by looking; piranhas, for instance are tetras!

You can usually find out which fish is in which family by Googling; the Wikipedia pages are pretty good for classification.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

The full name for the family is Characoidae. They are

Hatchetfish
Pencilfish
Tetras
Piranha
Pacu
Headstanders

Cyprinidae
Barbs
Carp
Minnows

Atheridae
Silversides
Rainbowfish

 

[panda_cory]

Thanks.

 

[Bugdozer]

At a glance method: Does it have really obvious looking scales and remind you slightly of the 1970s? - Cyprinid.
Does its name contain the word "tetra"? - Characin.
Is its head too small for its body? - Atherinid.

 

[panda_cory]