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Edit Hydrolycus scomberoides

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Name

Scientific name

Hydrolycus scomberoides

Described by

Authority Cuvier, Year 1819

Family

Cynodontidae

Summary

The vampire tetra, Hydrolycus scomberoides, is a predatory dogtooth characin from the central and upper Amazon in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

300mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 210 cm, Minimum depth 75 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 24–28°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Social needs

Solitary or specimen

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries

Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru

Supporting text

Etymology

Hydrolycus: from the Greek hydro, meaning 'water', and lykos, meaning 'wolf'. scomberoides: from the Greek skombros, meaning 'tuna, mackerel', and the suffix -…

Distribution

Type locality is given simply as 'Brazil' but this species is currently understood to be widespread in the central and upper Amazon River system in Brazil, Bol…

Habitat

This species is pelagic and adults tend to be associated with flowing stretches of main river channels and larger tributaries of both white and black water riv…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 210 ∗ 75 cm84 ∗ 30 in should be the absolute minimum considered.

Maintenance

The aquarium should ideally be designed to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel, and some larger wate…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

An obligate but generalised piscivore capable of consuming surprisingly large prey. Newly-imported specimens often refuse to accept anything but live fishes bu…

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Behaviour and compatibility

Best kept alone or with similarly-sized, non-aggressive fishes since it's actually quite peaceful with those too large to be considered food. It can also be ma…

Sexual dimorphism

Not written yet

Reproduction

Not written yet

Notes

This species may be referred to using a variety of names including 'scomb', 'sabre tooth tetra', 'sabre tusk barracuda', 'dog tooth characin, 'vampire fish', '…

References

References

3 on this profile