Edit Tellia apoda

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Name

Scientific name

Tellia apoda

Described by

Authority Gervais, Year 1853

Family

Aphaniidae

Common names

Footless Toothcarp

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

The footless toothcarp, Tellia apoda, is endemic to a small area of the Tellian Atlas mountains in northeastern Algeria. It lacks ventral f…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

45mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 16–30°C, pH 7–9

Hardness

15–30dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Algeria

Writing

Etymology

Tellia: named for its type locality, given as "springs of Tell, south of Constantine, Algeria". apoda: from the Greek a- (Gr. ἀ-), meaning 'without', and pódes…

Distribution

Endemic to a small region of the Tellian Atlas mountains in northeastern Algeria, between the cities of Constantine and Batna. The last collection of the speci…

Habitat

Little information is available but likely to inhabit streams, springs and ponds with growths of aquatic vegetation and/or filamentous algae.

Aquarium size

A pair or trio can be kept in a container with base dimensions of 60 cm x 30 cm or so but as a general rule members of this genus do better when maintained as …

Maintenance

Even for long-term maintenance a simple set-up will suffice. The most important factors are the provision of cover and a suitable medium in which the fish can …

Even for long-term maintenance a simple set-up will suffice. The most important factors are the provision of cover and a suitable medium in which the fish can deposit eggs. Much of the available space can therefore be filled with acrylic wool mops (use a fine grade if available) and ideally filamentous algae. Fine-leaved plants such as Java moss or Ceratophyllum can be used but may fail to thrive as the addition of marine salt to the water in the ratio of 1-2 g/L is recommended.

Similarly, there's no need to add a substrate although inert sand or gravel can be used if you prefer and filtration need not be too strong either. It is possible, and preferable, to maintain it outdoors all year round in many countries and it will show better colours and overall condition if exposed to at least a few hours of natural sunlight each day. There is no real need to use an aquarium in this case and we keep our Aphanius outdoors in large plastic storage containers.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Water conditions

Temperature: Active over a wide temperature range of 16 – 30 °C. It should be provided with a 'winter' period of several months during which it is maintained a…

Diet

Aphanius species are basically micropredators feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton although algae and other plant m…

Behaviour and compatibility

Given its particular water requirements and precarious conservation status we strongly recommend maintaining it alone, the emphasis being on captive reproducti…

Sexual dimorphism

As with all members of the genus sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Males exhibit a body pattern consisting of a yellow belly with 6-8 vertical bars giving way t…

Reproduction

Captive reproduction is not difficult if the tank or container is properly arranged and maintained (see 'tank set-up'). It is a fractional spawner with females…

Notes

The genus Aphanius currently contains 22 species and subspecies which are thought to have derived from a common ancestor originally distributed around the peri…

References

2 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References