Astyanax leopoldi
Leopold's Tetra
Classification
Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae
Distribution
Native to the Approuague and Oyapock river basins in French Guiana and northwestern Brazil.
Habitat
It is most common in fast flowing waters, where it can be found swimming in large shoals in marginal or otherwise ? calmer areas.
Maximum Standard Length
50 – 60 mm.
Aquarium SizeTop ↑
A? tank? with base dimensions measuring 60 ∗ 30 cm or similar should prove sufficient.
Maintenance
Quite adaptable. It will thrive in a stream-type setup with a gravel substrate, smooth stones and a good amount of water flow. It is equally happy in an Amazon-style arrangement? or heavily-planted tank, though. Given its natural habitat, assume good oxygenation to be key for its long term survival.
Water Conditions
Temperature: 23 – 27 °C
pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Hardness: 18 – 268 ppm
Diet
Apparently preys on invertebrates and smaller fishes in nature. Its captive diet should contain plenty of small live and frozen morsels alongside good quality dried foods.
Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑
Very peaceful and suitable for many community tanks. Don’t keep it with anything very large or aggressive. Good tankmates include small characins, dwarf cichlids and peaceful catfishes from the families Callichthyidae and Loricariidae. It’s a schooling? species by nature, so buy a group of at least 8-10.
Sexual Dimorphism
Sexually mature females are heavier-bodied than males.
Reproduction
Has apparently been bred in captivity but we’ve been unable to obtain any specifics thus far.
NotesTop ↑
Most? Astyanax? spp. are not popular in the aquarium hobby, though the genus is among the most speciose within the family Characidae.? A. leopoldi? is no exception in that you’ll rarely see it offered for sale but may find the occasional specimen mixed among other species in shipments of wild fishes from Peru.
