I recently acquired two species that I've been wanting to keep for the longest time. They are both veterans in the hobby, though rare these days, and have been kept by aquarists for over a century. And they both share an interesting trait; while both are perfectly social and well-behaved species, they each have a much more famous look-a-like species with a bad reputation for not playing well with others.
My two new acquisitions are Puntigrus partipentazona, aka the Dwarf Tiger Barb, and Phalloceros caudimaculatus var. reticulatus, aka the Dusky Millions Fish, or "the Caudo". P. pentazona's look-a-like is, of course, the troublesome Tiger Barb of commerce, while P. caudimaculatus's look-a-like is the fierce little mosquitofish Gambusia affinis or G. holbrooki. So I think of my new acquisitions as 'the good twins.' In addition to their behavioral advantages I also prefer their good looks. P. pentazona only has a flash of red in the dorsal and, when in top form, a flush on the ventrals, as opposed to the more gaudy coloration of Tiger Barbs. I also find their smaller size appealing. And P. caudimacualtus has spotted females in addition to males, which is a rarity among Gambusia females.
The P. pentazona ony just arrived, but the Caudos have been here a few months and have provided a tank full of F1 fry.
My two new acquisitions are Puntigrus partipentazona, aka the Dwarf Tiger Barb, and Phalloceros caudimaculatus var. reticulatus, aka the Dusky Millions Fish, or "the Caudo". P. pentazona's look-a-like is, of course, the troublesome Tiger Barb of commerce, while P. caudimaculatus's look-a-like is the fierce little mosquitofish Gambusia affinis or G. holbrooki. So I think of my new acquisitions as 'the good twins.' In addition to their behavioral advantages I also prefer their good looks. P. pentazona only has a flash of red in the dorsal and, when in top form, a flush on the ventrals, as opposed to the more gaudy coloration of Tiger Barbs. I also find their smaller size appealing. And P. caudimacualtus has spotted females in addition to males, which is a rarity among Gambusia females.
The P. pentazona ony just arrived, but the Caudos have been here a few months and have provided a tank full of F1 fry.
Last edited:
