Characidae family
Characins family is part of Characoidea subclass, which is included in Cypriniformes class. Characidae fish come from freshwater fish from Africa, South and Central America and south SUA. The most specific thing of this family fish is their adipose fin which makes them look like the salmonides. They are related to carps too, but the difference between them is represented by the presence of this adipose fin, the lack of mustaches and the denture. Most Characidae fish have small teeth, different by shape and composing material. Some of them have very sharp teeth for the use of rending the food.
Characidae family contains about 1300-1400 species of fish. All the species prefer clean and soft water, with a light acid pH. The temperature of the aquarium water should be between 22 and 26° C. They like well planted aquariums, with zones where you can have morning light coming from Sun. For reproduction they need aquatic plants with small leaves: Fontinalis or Myriophyllum. The water for spawning has to be soft and light acid, with a temperature of 25-27° C. You have to chose an active pair, which shows signs of reproduction `plans`, from the common aquarium. In the reproduction aquarium, the fish can be fed only with Enchitreis which stimulate the spawning. All Characidae species eat their spawn, that`s why you must take them out of the reproduction tank. The fry hatches after 24 hours and they swim free after 3-5 days.
Gery says that Characoidea subclass divides into two families:
- Characoidae, which have a long anal fin
- Erytrinidoidea, with a short anal fin.
In Characoidae family we include these subfamilies:
- Characidae with genus: Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Megalamphodus, Moenkausia, Tayeria, Alestens, Micralestes
- Serrasalmidae with genus: Metynnis, Milossoma, Serrasalmus
- Gasteropelecidae with genus: Thoracharax, Carnegiella, Gasteropelecus.