Aquarium Volume: 20 L
Fish and invertebrates: Hypsolebias mediopapillatus “Pindai”
Plants list: None
Biotope description: In this biotope aquarium there is a small temporary pond for seasonal South American killifish Hypsolebias mediopapillatus “Pindai”. The pond is, in fact, a small hole under the roots of a tree filled with rain water. Here often there is only one species of fish and aquatic plants are completely absent. Nevertheless, the aquarium, created based on similar water body is an interesting object for observation due to a number of its inhabitants. All killifish by way of life are divided into three groups: seasonal live in nature less than a year, during the wet season, when water fills a temporary pools and eggs are preserved in the mud from the last rainy season. There are juveniles that grow quickly and after 1.5 – 2 months begin to multiply, then to die, when the pond dries out again, leaving a new batch of eggs. Transient killi’s eggs depend on the degree of drought. They can wait the dry season in the diapause or no development in the water. And the off-season killi, who live longer than others, and their eggs that do not need drying. Males of different species of killifish usually are very colorful and show interesting rituals of courtship. This applies particularly to the seasonal types, because their whole life cycle in nature lasts few months, and during that time they have to do everything. Put in correct aquarium (small column of water, ambient lighting, a thick layer of soft dark soil), these fish begin to spawn. In the photos you can see how the male Hypsolebias mediopapillatus “Pindai” demonstrates his delightful color. A couple “dive” into the ground in the process of spawning. The video was filmed in 7-8 hours after the shooting, this time the females are tired of courting and hid in the roots and fallen leaves, and the males are mainly competing with each other. The next day spawning resumed.