Post by ASHLEY on Jul 15, 2012 17:37:15 GMT 1
Other Names:
Hujeta Pike Characin, Hujeta Freshwater Barracuda, Gar Characin, Rocket Gar.
Scientific Name:
Ctenolucius hujeta (Valenciennes, 1850)
Range:
South America: Río Magdalena and Río Sinú, Colombia, rivers draining into Lake Maracaibo, North Western Venezuela.
Maximum size:
In captivity, the Hujeta Gar reaches a size of about 8-10" (20-25cm.) on average, but in the wild its maximum size lies around 14" (35cm.).
Aquarium:
The torpedo-shaped body indicates that the Hujeta Gar is a agile, fast-swimming species that needs plenty of swimming space. And since it mainly inhabits the upper layers of the tank, the length and depth of the tank are therefore of more importance than the height. The minimum tank size for this species is 48x16x16" (120x40x40cm.) for a few specimen, but a larger is recommended for adult fish.
Tank decoration is of less importance, as this fish prefers to stay in near the water's surface. A few floating plants and/or tall, large-leafed plants may provide shelter and a good place from where to ambush prey, and plants or pieces of drift wood are recommended to provide hiding places.
The Hujeta Gar is a predatory fish, so a powerful and efficient filtration system is required to deal with the volumes of waste products it produces. Additionally, a good amount of currents, to mimick this species' natural habitat, is important for the fish' well-being, and can be provided either by a powerful filter or additional power heads.
Temperature: 24-30°C
pH: 5.5-7.5 Ideal conditions
Diet:
Like all freshwater Barracuda's, the Hujeta Gar is a predator, and requires a diet that consists mainly of meaty products. Suitable food items include granules, small pellets, flakes, freeze-dried and frozen foods (mosquito larvae, blood worms, krill, tubifex, artemia, etc.), pieces of shrimp, prawn, mussel, fish meat, and live foods such as small feeder fish* and earth/meal worms.
It can be hard to make this fish accept non-live foods, especially in case of recently imported specimen. The longer is refuses to accept non-live foods, the harder it becomes to achieve this, so reduce the amount of live feedings as much as possible, and start experimenting with prepared foods from the very first day.
* Live fish need to be quarantained first, so they are safe to feed (containing no disases or parasites). Goldfish, minnows and other members of the Cyprinid family (Carp-like fish) should be avoided, as these fish contain growth-inhibiting hormones (Thiaminase/Vitamine B1 inhibitors) that could negatively affect the fish's health and development.
Temperament:
The Hujeta Gar is a predator, but in general not very aggressive. It is a threat to everything small enough to fit its mouth, but larger fish fish are generally left alone. It is not highly territorial, although they do tend to defend a favorable patch of water from intruders for a while occasionally. Generally, the Hujeta Gar mainly stays in the upper regios minding its own business.
Amongst themselves, they can be somewhat quarrelsome, but aggression is usually restricted to a bit of chasing through the tank and nipping. Serious fight such as can be witnessed between Cichlids are rare.
Hujeta Pike Characin, Hujeta Freshwater Barracuda, Gar Characin, Rocket Gar.
Scientific Name:
Ctenolucius hujeta (Valenciennes, 1850)
Range:
South America: Río Magdalena and Río Sinú, Colombia, rivers draining into Lake Maracaibo, North Western Venezuela.
Maximum size:
In captivity, the Hujeta Gar reaches a size of about 8-10" (20-25cm.) on average, but in the wild its maximum size lies around 14" (35cm.).
Aquarium:
The torpedo-shaped body indicates that the Hujeta Gar is a agile, fast-swimming species that needs plenty of swimming space. And since it mainly inhabits the upper layers of the tank, the length and depth of the tank are therefore of more importance than the height. The minimum tank size for this species is 48x16x16" (120x40x40cm.) for a few specimen, but a larger is recommended for adult fish.
Tank decoration is of less importance, as this fish prefers to stay in near the water's surface. A few floating plants and/or tall, large-leafed plants may provide shelter and a good place from where to ambush prey, and plants or pieces of drift wood are recommended to provide hiding places.
The Hujeta Gar is a predatory fish, so a powerful and efficient filtration system is required to deal with the volumes of waste products it produces. Additionally, a good amount of currents, to mimick this species' natural habitat, is important for the fish' well-being, and can be provided either by a powerful filter or additional power heads.
Temperature: 24-30°C
pH: 5.5-7.5 Ideal conditions
Diet:
Like all freshwater Barracuda's, the Hujeta Gar is a predator, and requires a diet that consists mainly of meaty products. Suitable food items include granules, small pellets, flakes, freeze-dried and frozen foods (mosquito larvae, blood worms, krill, tubifex, artemia, etc.), pieces of shrimp, prawn, mussel, fish meat, and live foods such as small feeder fish* and earth/meal worms.
It can be hard to make this fish accept non-live foods, especially in case of recently imported specimen. The longer is refuses to accept non-live foods, the harder it becomes to achieve this, so reduce the amount of live feedings as much as possible, and start experimenting with prepared foods from the very first day.
* Live fish need to be quarantained first, so they are safe to feed (containing no disases or parasites). Goldfish, minnows and other members of the Cyprinid family (Carp-like fish) should be avoided, as these fish contain growth-inhibiting hormones (Thiaminase/Vitamine B1 inhibitors) that could negatively affect the fish's health and development.
Temperament:
The Hujeta Gar is a predator, but in general not very aggressive. It is a threat to everything small enough to fit its mouth, but larger fish fish are generally left alone. It is not highly territorial, although they do tend to defend a favorable patch of water from intruders for a while occasionally. Generally, the Hujeta Gar mainly stays in the upper regios minding its own business.
Amongst themselves, they can be somewhat quarrelsome, but aggression is usually restricted to a bit of chasing through the tank and nipping. Serious fight such as can be witnessed between Cichlids are rare.
