Overview
- The Banded Leporinus (Leporinus fasciatus), also called the black-banded or striped leporinus, is a boldly striped South American headstander.
- Found through much of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the rivers of the Guianas.
- Grows to about 11 in (27 cm) standard length. Small juveniles are often sold without warning of the adult size.
Feeding
- An omnivore that feeds near the bottom on algae, invertebrates and detritus.
- Accepts most foods, but avoid foods very high in protein.
- Include plant matter, as wild fish eat fruits and seeds.
Habitat
- Needs a tank with a base of at least 84 × 24 in (210 × 60 cm).
- Sandy substrate, leaf litter and large driftwood. Plants may be eaten.
- Water: 68–82°F (20–28°C), pH 5.0–7.5, GH 1–15.
Fish Care
- Excellent water quality and strong oxygenation are essential.
- Never add it to a tank that is not fully cycled.
- Keep the tank covered. [UNVERIFIED] Leporinus are known jumpers.
Compatibility
- Good with larger characins, plecos, doradid catfish and peaceful cichlids.
- Avoid slow, long-finned fish.
Aquarium Behavior
- Quarrelsome with its own kind when only a few are kept.
- Keep either a single fish or a group of 6 or more in a large tank.
Breeding
- Not recorded in aquariums.