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Edit Brachychalcinus orbicularis

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Name

Scientific name

Brachychalcinus orbicularis

Described by

Authority Valenciennes, Year 1850, Bracketed

Family

Characidae

Common names

Discus Tetra

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

The discus tetra, Brachychalcinus orbicularis, is a deep-bodied characid generally considered endemic to coastal watersheds of Guyana and S…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

90mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–27°C, pH 5–7.5

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Social needs

A shoal or group

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Caura, Coppename, Corantijn, Courantyne, Demerara, Essequibo, Orinoco, Orocopiche, Yarakita

Writing

Etymology

Brachychalcinus: from the Greek βραχύς (brakhys), meaning 'small, little', and χαλκός (khalkos), meaning 'brass'. orbicularis: from the Latin orbicularis, mean…

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Distribution

Generally considered endemic to coastal watersheds of Guyana and Suriname with type locality the Essequibo River, Guyana, but recent records suggest it or a si…

Habitat

Lowland rivers, creeks and tributaries, more rarely pools or impoundments.

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring at least 120 ∗ 30 cm is required.

Maintenance

Not difficult to keep in a well-maintained set-up, though we recommend aquascaping the tank to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to be an opportunistic omnivore consuming a variety of aquatic invertebrates, insects, algae and plant materia…

Behaviour and compatibility

Peaceful but it can intimidate much smaller or more quiet species with its relatively large size and somewhat vigorous behaviour, particulñarly at feeding time…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult females grow a little larger than males and are noticeably rounder-bellied when gravid, while males possess very small hook-like extensions on the anal-f…

Reproduction

We've been unable to locate any detailed record but according to Baensch, spawning is possible in large aquaria and a single female may deposit up to 2000 eggs…

Notes

This species is uncommon in the aquarium trade. The genus Brachychalcinus currently contains five species: B. copei (Steindachner 1882) from the rio Madeira an…

References

References

4 on this profile