Corynopoma riisei

Swordtail Characin

Classification

Characidae. Subfamily: Glandulocaudinae

Distribution

Northern Venezuela and the Villavicencio area in Colombia. There’s also a thriving extant population existing on the island of Trinidad.

Habitat

An exclusively freshwater species inhabiting coastal rivers and tributaries. In Trinidad it has been collected in various habitats from slow-moving, silt-laden to flowing, clear water environments.

Maximum Standard Length

Around 2.6″ (6.5cm), although usually a little smaller.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

It’s very active and despite the dimunitive adult size a group would need a tank measuring at least 30″ x 15″ x 12″ (60cm x 37.5cm x 30cm) – 88.5 litres.

Maintenance

C. riisei is predominantly a surface-dwelling, pelagic animal and thus the aquarium should contain plenty of open space for swimming. It looks particularly effective when maintained as a group in a well-planted aquarium with patches of floating vegetation. The addition of some driftwood twigs (stripped beech and oak are also ok) and leaf litter scattered on the substrate could make for a very natural-looking set-up.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 72 – 82°F (22 – 28°C). Ideally aim for the upper end of this range.

pH: Prefers slightly acidic water pH 6.0 – 7.0, although it can survive under more alkaline conditions.

Hardness: 1 – 15°H

Diet

The upturned mouth and keeled body shape suggest that this species feeds primarily on small invertebrates taken from the water surface in nature. In the aquarium it’s particularly fond of live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, bloodworm and Cyclops but most specimens will learn to accept dried alternatives given time.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Generally a very peaceable species, although males can sometimes squabble amongst themsleves. This is one very good reason why it should always be kept in groups of at least 6-8 individuals. It makes an excellent tankmate for loads of commonly imported South American species such as other similarly-sized characins, Corydoras and smaller Loricariid catfish and dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma. Basically though it can be kept with most other peaceful species that enjoy similar conditions.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males possess masses of glandular tissue on the caudal peduncle and extending into the base of the caudal fin itself. These caudal glands are partially covered by scales but are clearly visible in mature fish. As they mature males also develop a second set of glands on the anterior edge of the operculum, and also exhibit a fleshy, paddle-shaped appendage extending anteriorally from the operculum. Both the gill and caudal glands are thought to release particular pheromones that increase sexual behaviour in females (see section below).

Additionally, male specimens develop the elongated caudal fin that give rise to the common name of the species. The dorsal, anal and pectoral fins of males also become extended, with the anal fin possessing small hooks. It’s been hypothesised that these may aid in the transfer of sperm during mating. Females do not develop these fin extensions and as with most small characins, sexually mature individuals usually appear rounder in the belly than males.

Reproduction

This species has a particularly intriguing method of reproduction. As with other members of the family, females are literally inseminated by males, and chemical signals are thought to play a major role in the spawning process. Some details about these behaviours remain unconfirmed, although it’s thought the hooks on the anal fin of males may play a role in directing the sperm.

Despite the imprecise nature of much of the available data, it’s not an especially tough species to breed. The adult fish are best conditioned and spawned in a mixed-sex group. The water should be slightly soft and acidic in the range pH 6.0 – 7.0, gH 1 – 5, with a temperature between 77 – 82°F. Offer them plenty of small live and frozen foods and they should soon come into spawning condition. You may see males extending their opercular appendages and “twitching” them by moving their body in a certain way, causing females to become noticeably excited. Females have been witnessed rubbing against these appendages and even biting them.

You’ll need to set up a separate tank if you want to successfully raise any fry. This need not be large; something around 18″ x 10″ x 10″ in size is ideal. Use subdued lighting and add clumps of fine-leaved plants around the perimeter, with an open space in the middle. Fill this with water from the adults’ tank. A small air-powered sponge filter bubbling away very gently is all that is needed in terms of filtration.

If you’ve been observing courtship behaviour for a few days, it’s likely that at least some of the females will have been inseminated by the males. Apparently in nature females can retain fertilised eggs for several weeks, releasing them only when environmental conditions are to their liking. Transferring a couple of females to the raising tank and leaving them for a few days will therefore often result in the appearance of fry (according to Baensch, the eggs hatch in 20 – 36 hours). The fry are tiny but easily spotted with the aid of a magnifying glass. Once they are noticed the females are best removed in case they decide to predate on their young.

The fry should be fed on an infusoria–type food for the first week or so, after which they should be large enough to accept Artemia nauplii and/or microworm. Perform small (10-15%) daily water changes using water from the parents’ tank and growth rates should be quite rapid. Yields are usually smaller than with externally-fertilised small characins; this is thought to be related to the higher efficiency of the internal fertilisation method.

NotesTop ↑

This unusual tetra is not often seen on sale in the trade, but is never particularly expensive when available. It is currently the only member in the genus although the family Glandulocaudinae actually contains about 20 member genera. None are especially popular aquarium fish, although a couple of Mimagoniates species are occasionally seen in the hobby.

Almost all members of the Glandulocaudinae are characterised by the presence of secretory caudal glands in male fish, the particular structure of which varies between genera. These have been shown to release a concoction of pheromones that acts as an attractant to females of the species. Movement of associated hypertrophied scales is thought to facilitate the release of these chemicals, literally “pumping” them into the surrounding water.

Glandulocaudinids have further reproductive adaptations. Males possess unusually large storage areas for sperm, located posteriorally to the testes. Some species also produce spermatozeugmata, packets of sperm that lack an outer covering. In the majority of genera the sperm cell itself has an extended nucleus, although the extent of this does vary between the species.

Corynopoma is one of only a handful of glandulocaudinids to possess additional gill glands. These probably act as a secondary sexual organ, secreting a colloidal chemical which is thought to further stimulate sexual activity in females. They are formed by a modified section of lamellae on the first gill arch.