The Filomena fish, prized for its eye-catching hues and serene disposition, is a colorful and energetic addition to any aquarium. These fish are a fantastic option for both novice and expert aquarists because they are not only stunning to look at but also reasonably simple to care for.
Paying attention to the unique requirements of Filomena fish is necessary to maintain their well-being. Knowing what these fish need to survive in their aquatic habitat—from food to water quality—will help to ensure their success. Filomena fish can live long, happy lives and continuously enhance the beauty of your aquarium with the correct care.
We’ll go over the essentials of keeping and caring for Filomena fish in this post, along with some helpful hints and recommendations to help you set up the perfect habitat for these gorgeous fish.
| Aspect | Details |
| Tank Size | Minimum 20 gallons |
| Water Temperature | 72-78°F (22-26°C) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; flakes, pellets, live foods |
| pH Level | 6.5-7.5 |
| Behavior | Peaceful, best in groups |
| Tank Mates | Other non-aggressive fish |
| Maintenance | Regular water changes, clean substrate |
| Lighting | Moderate; avoid direct sunlight |
Description
Known by many names as red-eyed moenkausia (lat. Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae; English: Red-eye Tetra), Philomena is a member of the characin family and is indigenous to clean rivers in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.
The philomena fish has a long history in aquaristics and was once a highly sought-after species. Nevertheless, it gradually lost favor as more colorful and diverse aquarium inhabitants appeared, and these days, you hardly ever find it in pet stores.
In contrast to other members of the family, philomena can reach a maximum size of 7 cm. Its body is high, with strong side flattening, and it is silvery in color, lighter in the abdomen and darker at the back. The fish’s body is covered in large scales with a narrow black border that form a mesh pattern. From the base of the caudal peduncle to the middle of the tail, there is a broad, vertical black stripe. The iris of the big, reddish-orange eyes is painted on top. The most distinctive characteristic of philomena, also known as red-eyed tetra, is this bright spot.
In an aquarium, young fish tend to stick together in schools, especially if they have big neighbors. These fish mature with age, grow haughty, and only gather together in times of stress. They inhabit the water column and swim with an odd jerky motion, just like many other tetras.
Selection was used to breed the balloon philomena. The fish takes on the shape of a disc because its body is much shorter and its abdomen appears swollen. Its lifespan is shorter than the typical one, but its maintenance is the same.
Like other tetras, philomenas require very little maintenance because they are resilient and forgiving of the aquarist’s many errors. Because of this characteristic, the red-eyed moencausia is a great contender to be the first aquarium fish.
Pets should be kept in environments that are most like their natural habitat for a long and healthy life, and these environments are relatively simple to recreate:
- First of all, when purchasing a red-eyed tetra, you must remember that this is a schooling fish and it is advisable to keep it in a group of 7 or more. In such a flock, the fish demonstrates the most attractive features of their behavior, getting rid of a beautiful silver jamb.
- For a group of philomena, you will need a medium-sized aquarium – from 60-70 liters.
- The tank must be equipped with a lid, since active fish tend to jump out of the water.
- The biotope of the red-eyed moencausia has a large number of floating, submerged and coastal plants. To create this effect, you can use islands of floating plants: riccia, salvinia and hornwort. The same vegetation will dim the lighting, since it has been noted that philomena loves dim light and looks most attractive in it.
River sand can be used as soil, and the bottom can be decorated with dried beech, birch and almond leaves. They will help recreate the "old water", coloring it tea-colored and making the landscape more natural. The foliage must be replaced as it deteriorates, not allowing it to rot. - To create soft, slightly acidic water, you can use filtration through peat.
- Although the red-eyed tetra is hardy, it does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature well. For this reason, the water for replacement should be approximately the same temperature as the water in the aquarium.
Ideal water qualities:
- temperature: 22-26 °C;
- acidity: 6.0-8.0 pH;
- hardness: 3-20 °dH;
- weekly changes of a quarter of the water;
- filtration and aeration are mandatory.
Feeding
The primary food source for philomena in the wild is insects, along with other small invertebrates and their larvae that float at the water’s surface. It doesn’t pass by a plant’s fragile shoots.
It consumes any type of dry, live, or frozen food in the aquarium with happiness, including chopped shrimp and sea fish flesh, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. feeds mostly at the surface because of the stigma’s physiological makeup, which prevents it from absorbing food from the bottom.
Plant-based foods hold a special place in the tetra’s diet. If you don’t use food that contains spirulina, your fish will eat the aquarium plants’ shoots and ruin the grasshopper’s appearance.
Because of their peaceful disposition and eye-catching colors, filomena aquarium fish are a favorite among aquarists and are ideal for communal tanks. To keep these fish healthy, their environment must be clean, well-oxygenated, and well-balanced. The water temperature must also be kept constant. Filomena fish can flourish and enhance the beauty of any aquarium with the correct care, which includes routine water changes and keeping an eye out for any indications of stress or disease.
Breeding
You can practice breeding spawning fish on this tetra because philomena is a very simple species to breed.
Around one year of age is when sexual maturity occurs. There isn’t much sexual dimorphism; however, females have larger abdomens than males do.
The breeders are housed in separate containers and kept apart based on gender prior to spawning. Premature spawning in a shared aquarium must be prevented by taking this action. To encourage the breeders to procreate, the fish are now fed high-protein food derived from animals and undergo more frequent water changes.
Fish can be placed for spawning as soon as they form sexual products. The spawning tank is a small, poorly lit aquarium with a separator mesh covering the bottom that is covered in small-leaved plants (such as hornwort or Java moss) to keep the parents from eating the eggs.
The water should have a pH of 6.0–7.0, a dH of 1–10, and a temperature of 26–28 °C. Selecting an airlift filter is preferable since it produces a gentle current without sucking in the fry.
Both in a school and in pairs, spawning takes place. After being placed in a spawning tank in the evening, the breeders start to spawn early the next morning. The females spawn many small eggs after a brief courtship during which the males pursue them. The breeders are eliminated after spawning because they are a threat to the young and will eat eggs and fry whenever they get the chance.
The larvae hatch 24–36 hours after the eggs are incubated. For the first three to four days, they are on the bottom, occasionally moving by crawling. Upon dissolving their yolk sac, the small fish start swimming around in an attempt to find food. Frequent feeding with cultivated infusoria is required at this time. Once the fry reach adulthood, you can introduce them to microworms, brine shrimp nauplii, and grated egg yolk.
For any aquarist, caring for Filomena fish is a fulfilling experience. These fish are an excellent option for both novices and seasoned enthusiasts because they are not only stunning to look at but also reasonably simple to care for.
It’s critical to keep your aquarium’s environment stable and clean in order to promote the growth of your Filomena. A balanced diet, appropriate filtration, and routine water changes will keep them happy and healthy. Numerous common health problems can be avoided by keeping an eye on their behavior and modifying their care as necessary.
Your Filomena fish can add color and life to your aquarium for many years to come with proper care. Take pleasure in the process of giving these adorable animals the ideal home; they will show their appreciation by bringing their lively presence to you.
