Three top tropical fish for tanks are described here; Scientific names, preferred conditions, colors description, sex differences and breeding advice are given for the Rosy Barb - Barbus conchonius (Family: Cyprinidae), the Striped Hatchet Fish - Carnegiella strigata strigata (Family: Gasteropelecidae) and the Swordtail - Xiphosphorus helleri (Family: Poeciliidae).

Rosy Barb - Barbus conchonius (Family: Cyprinidae)

The rosy color is only visible when the fish is ready to breed and goes away after spawning so its name is a bit misleading. The color range for the rosy barb varies from a dark green on the back to a brown green mixture on the body. This then decreases in intensity to an olive color on the sides to silver underneath. This fish has no barbels, its dorsal fin is dark and it has big scales like mirrors.

The Barbus genus has quite a few species and many can be found in the aquarist's aquarium. One of them is the cherry barb, Barbus titteya, which has red brown body with a dark stripe on the body. This lateral band has another, a lighter one, on top. The female has yellow fins and the male has red fins.

The male is longer than the female and can grow up to 8.5 cms. The female of the species is thicker in its body and has a higher back. Cherry barbs should have a large breeding tank with both thickly planted areas of fine leaved plants and open areas. A breeding trap may be useful.

Condition the breeding pair separately for at least seven days with a 100% live food regime before placing them in the breeding tank. Put the female in the breeding tank a day before the male. Use the standard feeding procedure for the fry which is starting off with infusoria followed by more adult food as they grow.

Note that the plants and the eggs that have been fertilized should be transferred to another breeding tank if you have not used a breeding trap.

Striped Hatchet Fish - Carnegiella strigata strigata (Family: Gasteropelecidae)

This particular tropical fish for tanks has a thin body shaped like a hatchet and will look at its best in a well lit aquarium. You should not have much trouble from this fish but you should make sure the tropical fish tank has a cover on. It will reach about 4 cms. Water should be at the usual tropical fish temperature and amongst the dried foods you should give it some live food regularly.

It usually feeds at the surface and the tank will need open areas at the surface and thickly planted at the bottom. Differentiating between the sexes is not easy, but the male has a slimmer body when compared to the female. The fish is a silver color with the back being an olive green and the flanks have dark diagonal markings starting from the dorsal fin.

It will be seen as an achievement of you can get them to breed in your aquarium. The breeding tank must have floating plants and fine leaved plants. You will have to wait some time for spawning to finish as eggs are laid over a prolonged period. But the eggs will be eaten by the fish unless you use spawning mats or their like. Feed the fry that survive with infusoria initially followed by tiny live food.

It is a pity that the fish is short lived. It ia also called the Marbled hatchet fish.

Swordtail - Xiphosphorus helleri (Family: Poeciliidae)

This is a very popular fish with beginner aquarists and a community tank. The name comes from the fact that its caudal fin, the bottom part, has a shape like a sword. The original color of the swordtail has changed from the original green with bright red stripe along the middle. Because of ongoing breeding taking place you will now find double swords, albinos and sailfins.

What is quite odd for this fish species is that as the female ages it can change into a male fish. A water temperature of 20 to 25 degrees centigrade, a big tank to display their swimming abilities and a cover as it also has a good jumping ability. Aside from the fact it loves algae there are no particularly specific food needs. The male can reach a length of 8cm and the female up to 12 cms (not counting the sword).

As a live-bearer this fish can give you up to sixty fry due to one fertilizing operation enabling it to have several broods. These fish will eat their young so a breeding trap is essential and feeding them only on live food will reduce their cannibalistic behavior. Conditioning them is probably not necessary due to their great liking for breeding!

The fry are not difficult to rear. Feed them tubed food and move on to finely sieved dried food. You can even let the female give birth in the community tank but you will need a densely planted tank and keep your fingers crossed for the young getting through the dangers in the first week.

So, there you are. Three additional tropical fish for tanks for you to look after.