Fish I hadn't seen before

[skipper]

Hello

Just wondered if anybody had heard of or knew anything about a fish I saw in my lfs at the weekend. It was called pop. furcarto or something like that and was a transparent tetra-like fish with attractive yellow-tipped fins... I've read loads of books but can't find anything about them!

Would be grateful if anyone could tell me anything about these fish, and whether or not they would be okay to add to a 4/5 week-old tank with 2 guppies and 3 platys. Have been monitoring water quality closely and levels (ammonia/ nitrite/ nitrate seem pretty good.

thanks

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Are they like pristella tetra?

I am not very good wth tetra but these came to mind.

 

[skipper]

Thanks for the help, but no they're not pristella tetra...!!! They have what appears to be a couple of extra fins, tipped with yellow, that are just behind the 'ears' and the yellow tips on the top dorsal and bottom fins form an "x" shape with the yellow tips on the tail fin...

Confusing I know !! Just interested in finding out more about them!

 

[EddieW]

Skipper,

Popondetta Furcata - also known as Pseudomugil furcatus which is what they were when I got my pair. The female is quite drab but the males are stunning. They are a type of rainbow fish which grow up to 5.5 cm(2 1/4").

A good info page here.

I will have to get some more of these as apparently they are better kept in groups - my pair seem happy enough.

HTH, Eddie

 

[skipper]

Eddie

You're right on the money with this one - thanks a lot. Very interesting fish and I'm tempted to get some.

Cheers

Scott

 

[EddieW]

If you've got the space and suitable companions, go for it. They are great little fish. I have just moved mine from a smaller community to my 1m tank which is changing from larger fish to lots of smaller fish - there are a couple of kribs still in there with some fry, 2 S.A.E.s, a couple of ancistrus, two pair of threadfin rainbows, a shoal of about twenty or so cardinal tetras and ten harlequin rasboras. The furcatas fit in really well and I think I will try and add another couple of pairs.

Cheers, Eddie

P.S. Before anyone jumps on me for over-stovking, this tank is very over filtered as it had a load of larger fish which produced a lot more waste than these smaller ones will.

 

[jams.alaskan]

That's an interesting little fish - I get the "ear" description now...

ALASKA

 

[Sky042]

wild looking fish. almost looks upside down.