Keyhole Habitat

[digital_run]

Hi there.... We'll im going to be setting up this 24gal noncube as a species tank for my pair of keyholes...My severum is becoming a bit too aggressive for my liking and i adore these guys so i don't want to see any harm come to them. Now i want to set this tank up as close as possible to their natural habitat. I know they come from rivers in south america and the Orinoco delta...the thing is i have no idea what the Orinoco delta looks like

Help/Suggestions/Pictures would be great!!

Ðigital

 

[wixx]

i dont know either. i think keyholes like caves

 

[digital_run]

heres an aerial view of the Orinoco....N

Closer but still no luck with a submerged shot.

...Thanks wixx...there will most definately be caves present in the tank..They currently live in a 75gal and have plenty of little caves that they use.

DR

 

[wixx]

i found this online

''The tank should be well-planted with plenty of hiding places. The substrate should be fine gravel or sand. Leave open swimming areas.''

''They live in small creeks near the Caribbean coast of South America which have clear and still waters, as well as a lot of decaying wood.

They like their aquarium to have shelter, lots of plants and lots of open space. There are apparently also flat surfaces available to them in the wild, as the breeding report will show.''

 

[Ben]

I know its not natural but i have a few clay pots in my keyhole tank.
I have loads of java moss in it(mainly because of fry, but they still like it) and some amazon swords,java fern and Vallis
Might not be their ecosystem but it definitly works.
Oh and i have a sand substrate with a few rounded/flat rocks which they spawn on.
And a few peices of driftwood wouldn't hurt either
(i just dont use it anymore because it gets in my way when i clean the tank)

Conclusion:
Lots and lots of shade, comfort and cover.

They're a very rewarding fish to keep and breed

Good luck

DD

 

[aloaring]

i would also recommend putting a small shoal of neons or some other small fish with breeding keyholes as they become very nervous and shy. Form experience i know they like an area in the tank that is planted , so they can hide and love to lay their eggs on top of bogwood so that they can sit on them!!

 

[Ben]

Good point point Aloaring, but don't do Neons IME.
Mine love them as expensive meals.
i recomend Black Phantom Tetras(peaceful, non nippy, stay to themselves)

DD

 

[digital_run]

Thanks for the replys guys...This isn't going to be a breeding tank...I've had my pair of males for a year + and i just want to give them a tank for themselves. I've just never set up a tank specifically designed to recreate a natural enviroment.

DD - The clay pot is a great idea...I'm just not very big on clay pots But there will definately be a sand substrate and plenty of cover for them.

Aloaring - I was also thinking of a small schooling fish for the tank...But i'd want it to be something found in their natural habitat.

I think im asking for too much

Ðigital

 

[aloaring]

Well if youare not breeding i would be tempted to have the two keyholes
and also have a couple of Microglanis iheringi - really cool catfish ,hide a lot but look awesome and a shoal of hatchet fish or maybe some pencil fish. There you would have my perfect amazon biotope!! ............so wish i had a big tank!
Heres a website about amazon biotopes:
website

 

[digital_run]

Great link Aloaring...Gives me some direction with the plants im going to go for. It's only 24g so stocking won't be too extensive...maybe if i can find a small schooling fish from the region i might do it...But i'd be perfectly happy with just the Keyholes.

I'll look into other inhabitants and if you guys think of anything please let me know!

Thanks for the help

Ðigital

 

[Ben]

Just keyholes wont do, they're an extremly shy fish and need dithers, otherwise they'll just be hiding in the caves the whole time

Good luck

DD

 

[simonbrown403]

how about these simalar a have a few other somewhere il post them when i find them.
(click to enlarge)



heres a good site loads of pics
http/apisto.bravepages.com/AMAZONIAN%20JUNGLEarticle.htm
http/images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

 

[pica_nuttalli]

sorry this is late, but do you know what else comes from the Orinoco River? L200 plecos.

sounds like a good excuse to me

 

[Griz]

Pencilfish sound like they may be a good fit for you. There are a few different varieties. I have a pair of one-lined pencilfish in a community tank and I just love them. They are found in the Amazon Basin and enjoy similar condistions to your Keyholes, They get 2.5 inches and like to be kept in a small school. A group of 3-5 might be nice in your tank. They are peaceful and a very interesting fish.

I have an idea for an alternative to clay pots, coconut shells. I think they look a lot more natural. These are used for apistogramma which are much smaller but I think if you used 3/4 of a large coconut it just might work.

 

[UBigBobby]

FishBase

Theres a good site that will list all fish species in most major ecosystems in the world, including the Orinoco and the Amazon Basins. I'm currently turning my 10 Gallon into an Orinoco biotope with a Blue Ram and some RUmmynose Tetras.