Family: Cyprinidae
Tabira Bitterling — a Cyprinidae from Japan, peaceful; males spar gently in breeding dress. Reaches 5.9–8.7 cm; sociable; a larger group spreads any squabbles. 10–25 °C.
Acheilognathus tabira, a member of the family Cyprinidae, comes from Japan, where it inhabits clear streams and rivers over gravel. Peaceful; males spar gently in breeding dress and omnivore with a taste for vegetable foods and small live fare, it grows to 5.9–8.7 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 10–25 °C range. Other Acheilognathus species in our database include Acheilognathus barbatulus, Acheilognathus cyanostigma, Acheilognathus gracilis.
Difficulty: moderate. Peaceful; males spar gently in breeding dress. Sociable; a larger group spreads any squabbles.
Set the heater to 10–25 °C and avoid swings. pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–15 dGH suit it.
Expect 5.9–8.7 cm as an adult, living active throughout the water column. A 91 L tank or larger gives it room.
Omnivore with a taste for vegetable foods and small live fare. Feed two small meals a day rather than one large one.
Yes, with care. Peaceful; males spar gently in breeding dress — pair it with Other small peaceful cyprinids — Similar size, similar water and skip Fin-nippers — Their flowing fins invite damage.
Native to Japan, where it lives in clear streams and rivers over gravel. Moderate, well-oxygenated current; Appreciates well-oxygenated water.
Jumping is not a known issue; cover the tank anyway during water changes.
In the aquarium: spawns inside living freshwater mussels; no parental care. Males often slimmer and more colourful.