Armor Bill Tetra (Phago loricatus)

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Armor Bill Tetra

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Armor Bill Tetra

Phago loricatus

132 Litres (35 US G.)

14-16 cm (5.5-6.3")

sg

Freshwater

pH

6.0 - 7.2

22 -27 °C (71.6-80.6°F)

8-15 °d

1:2 M:F

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods

3-6 years

Family

Distichodontidae



Additional names

Armor Bill Tetra, African Pike-Characin

Additional scientific names

Phago maculatus


Tank compatibility[edit]

A predatory fin-nipper that is best kept in a species tank alone or in a group of 4-5 or more of its own species, as it will be predatory to both smaller and larger fish. May well eat inverts too.


Diet[edit]

Requires a meaty diet with live/frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm. May accept flakes or pellets but will take some weaning.


Feeding regime[edit]

Feed once or twice a day.


Environment specifics[edit]

Needs a mature laterally spacious dimly-lit tank with some dense planting combined with open swimming space and a very secure lid as this fish may jump.


Behaviour[edit]

A slender predatory fish known for fin nipping and removing scales of other fish.


Identification[edit]

This fish is a long slender elongated fish with large round eyes and a pointed snout. It has 3-5 vertical black stripes on dorsal fin formed by small black spots. It has 2-3 brown-black oblique stripes on caudal fin. The flanks are uniformly coloured or marked with vertical spots on lateral line generally joining together at the back end of the fish.

Pictures[edit]

External links[edit]