Wedge-bellied fish — family Wedge-bellied fish (Gasteropelecidae)

As members of the Gasteropelecidae family, wedge-bellied fish are an intriguing group of freshwater species distinguished by their extraordinary ability to jump. These little, nimble fish are indigenous to South American rivers and streams, where the swift currents suit their needs.

The unique feature that sets wedge-bellied fish apart is their compressed, wedge-like body, which makes it easy for them to move through the water. They are a vibrant and enjoyable addition to any aquarium because they are surface-dwelling fish that are frequently observed darting around the top of the tank.

Along with their lively behavior, wedge-bellied fish are also fairly low maintenance, which makes them a favorite choice for both beginning and seasoned aquarists. These fish can infuse your aquarium with a lively energy if given the proper conditions and attention.

Characteristic	Description
Family	Wedge-bellied fish (Gasteropelecidae)
Common Habitat	Freshwater rivers and streams in South America
Appearance	Small, with a distinct wedge-shaped belly and streamlined body
Behavior	Peaceful, often found in schools, prefers the upper levels of the aquarium
Diet	Omnivorous, enjoys small insects and plant matter
Aquarium Care

Habitat

The tropical regions of South America are the native habitat of wedge-bellied fish. They can be found in quiet backwaters, small rivers, and forest streams with soft, clean, slightly acidic water, spanning from La Plata to Panama. The dense, low-hanging coastal vegetation, as well as the fallen leaves, tree roots, and branches at the bottom, define these habitats.

Description

Fish belonging to the Gasteropelecidae family have an extremely unusual high body shape that is firmly compressed on the sides. The name originated from the abdomen’s strong, sharp arc-shaped curvature, which contrasts with the back’s straight line. There is a concentration of shoulder girdle muscles in the chest region.

The fish can "fly" above the water by up to 5 meters and have wing-shaped, elongated pectoral fins that help them do so. This is one of the fish’s distinguishing characteristics. The anal fin is large, the ventral fins are tiny, the dorsal fin is pushed back, and the tail is broad and well-defined. There is also no adipose fin. While some species have a large mouth, others have a tiny one.

Males are brighter, while females are larger and have a full abdomen.

Certain members of the Wedge-Bellied genus range in size from 2.5 to 9 cm.

Aquarium

The majority of these species’ lives are spent close to the water’s surface. Wedge-Bellied fish are all quite calm and shy creatures that prefer to live in schools of five or more; ten is preferable as this encourages the fish to act more naturally and boldly. Corydoras and Loricaria, two species of peaceful catfish, and dwarf cichlids, which are different kinds of Apistogramma, would make excellent neighbors.

For them, an aquarium should have a large water surface area and be elongated (starting at one meter). thickets of aquarium plants, it’s best to use floating plants to cover the majority of the water’s surface, branching snags can be used, and a dark substrate is preferred.

The vegetation will stop the fish from jumping out when they are scared, as they will jump very quickly. The aquarium needs to have a lid or cover glass on it for the same reason. It is advised to space the water’s surface and lid by ten to fifteen centimeters. dim or weak lighting.

Water parameters:

PH 6-7, dH 4-15, and 22–28°C.

Installing a strong filter that offers aeration and moderate water movement—where fish typically congregate—is essential.

Sensitive to higher concentrations of organic matter.

Nutrition

Different kinds of food, including dry, live, and frozen food, must be fed to animals like Artemia, Bloodworm, Corethra, Daphnia, Moina, Tubifex, and so on. They adore flies, Drosophila, mosquito larvae, and a small amount of dried daphnia.

The fish’s lifespan is shortened by a poor diet of only dry food. The wedge-bellied’suniquemouth structure enables them to only consume food at the surface; they do not suck it down.

Breeding

It is currently unknown how the wedge-bellied fish reproduces exactly. Numerous species, such as Gasteropelecus maculatus, Carnegiella marthae, C. strigata strigata, C. striga fasciata, and G. sternicla, have been successfully bred. The water used was soft and acidic in nearly every instance. Among floating plants, spawning takes place.

Large numbers of floating, small-leaved plants are ideal in an elongated spawning tank. It is essential to establish a gentle water flow and soft, diffused lighting. A lid should be placed over the aquarium, leaving 15-20 cm above the water.

The spawning tank’s water parameters are 25–28 °C, pH 5.5–6.5, and dH up to 5.

Fish with a female preponderance are gathered in groups to spawn. Either at dawn or in the evening, it starts. The majority of the time, females deposit their eggs close to the surface of plant leaves. The eggs might sink to the bottom in part. Subsequently, the producers are extracted from the spawning tank, or the eggs are transferred to a different container, ideally one that will be darkened.

The period of incubation is 24 to 48 hours. On days three through five, fry can swim and take in Artemia nauplii.

Belonging to the Gasteropelecidae family, wedge-bellied fish are intriguing freshwater species distinguished by their distinct body form and capacity to float above the water’s surface. Their unique look and lively nature make these little, placid fish a popular choice for aquariums. Both novice and expert aquarists can enjoy them because of their easy maintenance and elegant appearance, which comes from their shimmering scales and wedge-shaped bodies.

Genus Carnegiella (Carnegiella)

The lack of an adipose fin and the tooth structure are the primary differences from other members of the family. inhabit the reservoirs in French Guiana and the streams in the upper and central Amazon basin. The fish needs to be quarantined before being released into a regular aquarium if it has visible white spots on its body because they are difficult to transport.

Carnegiella marthae or Flying Carnegiella (Carnegiella marthae)

Venezuela and Brazil are the fish’s native countries. grows to a maximum of 3.5 cm. The hue is beige-silver with dark flecks; the ridge of the abdomen is lined with a chocolate-colored rim. They remain close to the surface and react to higher levels of organic matter. needs dim lighting. Extremely unpredictable, hard to please, and thus unsuitable for novices. 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, pH 4.0 to 7.0, and hardness 5 to 19.

Carnegiella myersi or Pygmy wedge-bellied fish, glass, dwarf (Carnegiella myersi)

It was about ornamental aquariums from Peru and Bolivia, which are located in the upper Amazon. The wedge-bellied family’s tiniest fish measure between 2.2 and 2.5 cm. There are dark spots on the abdomen and a dark line running along the spine. The light, nearly transparent body has an olive sheen. Extremely timid; best kept in a school of five fish. pH range: 5.5–6.5; range of dH: 10–20. In the range of 23 to 26°C. Suggested only for proficient aquarium keepers.

Carnegiella strigata GUNTER, 1864

Strigata, which gets its name from the Latin "strigatus," which means "having transverse stripes," is named after Margaret Carnegie. 30 to 35 mm in size.

Since this species is the most popular in aquarium hobby, no commercial breeding has been done on it; all C. strigata available for purchase are wild caught.

It has two main subspecies: C. strigata strigata, which is found in Guyana, Suriname, and C. strigata fasciata, which is found throughout the Amazon and has a »V »-shaped pattern. Intermediate forms have also been observed, and they are found in the Rio Negro and Orinoco.

The Purus River, which passes through Guyana, is home to Carnegiella strigata strigata. The body is speckled with silver and colored chocolate, purple, or yellowish-green. The fish’s oblique stripes of dark chocolate help it blend in with the foliage. The dark olive back is speckled with dark stripes and spots. The dark stripe that extends from the gills to the tail has a silver border. Uneven black stripes forming a marble pattern on the abdomen. Fins without color. only hold up in big gatherings. It is preferable to have dark soil. While they get along well with tiny tetras, they get very apprehensive and scared around aggressive fish.

20 to 28 degrees Celsius, pH 4.0 to 7.0, and hardness 5 to 19.

Carnegiella strigata fasciata inhabits the Colombian portion of the Amazon. The sides are silvery with a blue, yellow, or green tint, and the back is olive. From the gills to the tail, there is a golden stripe that is followed by three dark, oblique stripes. The body’s lower portion has striped patterns with erratic shapes that resemble marbles. The fins are transparent and colorless. They enjoy roots that have grown on floating plants. The color seems bland in strong light.

Genus Gasteropelecus

Gasteropelecus sternicla or Common wedge-bellied fish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)

As a rule, it is considered the most resistant and accessible species in aquariums, it lives in Amazonia, Ecuador, Peru and Guyana. The size of the fish is about 6.5 cm. The back is grayish-yellow, the lower part is silvery, along the sides there is a black longitudinal stripe. The whole body is covered with small dark dots. Transparent pectoral fins shimmer with a bluish or greenish tint depending on the lighting. Need to be kept in a school of 6 individuals. Very jumpy and like a good current. Demanding of water quality. Require delicate handling when adapting to new conditions. Temperature: 23-27° C, pH: 6.0-7.0, Hardness: 2-12°

Gasteropelecus levis or Silver wedge-bellied fish (Gasteropelecus levis)

Inhabits the Amazon’s lower regions. reaches a maximum growth of 4 cm. Silver is the background of the body. There is a black spot close to the dorsal fin and a dark stripe at the base of the anal fin. incredibly jittery, lively, calm fish. dislikes the movement of water on its surface. Temperature: 24-28°C; Hardness: 1–12°; pH: 5.0–7.0

Gasteropelecus maculatus or Spotted wedge-bellied fish (Gasteropelecus maculatus)

Prefers South American standing waters (lakes, ponds), including those in Suriname, Panama, Venezuela, and Colombia. a sizable family representative that measures up to 9 cm. olive tint with a hint of silver. It jumps out of the water like all other wedge-bellied fish, but it is different in that it prefers the middle layer over the upper layer. Hold five to seven people. The primary component of the diet ought to be insects. highly susceptible to an abundance of organic matter in the water. Temperature: 23–28 °C, Hardness: 6–15 dH, pH: 6–7. Not suitable for novices.

The Gasteropelecidae family of fish includes the fascinating wedge-bellied fish, which are distinguished by their unusual shape and capacity to float above the water’s surface. They are a popular choice for aquarium enthusiasts wishing to add something unique to their tanks because of their unique appearance and lively behavior.

As long as their unique requirements are satisfied, these fish are fairly simple to care for. They flourish in aquariums with secure lids that keep them from jumping out and lots of open swimming space, just like in their natural habitat. Since they are not very picky eaters, feeding them is simple.

Including wedge-bellied fish in your aquarium can give it a dynamic and eye-catching touch. Everyone who witnesses them will be enthralled by their vivacious demeanor and remarkable capacity to leap out of the water. These fish can make a fun and interesting addition to your aquatic collection if given the right care.

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