From Venezuela we could import Anodus orinocensis for the first time. As a young fish A. orinocensis often lives in mixed shoals with Hemiodus gracilis. The two species really look amazingly similar, but Anodus is a Aufwuchs eater, and also filters the water for small organisms and swims mostly in “normal” horizontal swimming position, while H. gracilis is a small animal eater and almost always swims in slanting head-up position. With a final length of a good 30 cm A. orinocensis becomes considerably larger than H. gracilis.
They are peaceful animals, which require an attentive diet with the smallest possible food (cyclops, fine flake food, small granules). The water composition is not important, but like so many species from the Orinoco, A. orinocensis needs warmth and should therefore be kept in the range of 24-30°C.
For our customers: the animals have code 205403 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
