Eastern & central China — Yangtze and Yellow basins
物种概述
The rosy bitterling is China's living jewel — a small, deep-bodied carp that depends on freshwater mussels to breed. In the breeding season males flush iridescent rose and violet. In the aquarium it is peaceful, adaptable and fascinating, provided a few mussels or substitute spawning sites are offered.
原生生境
栖息地
Slow rivers, ponds and lake margins
水流
Still to gentle
溶氧
Tolerates low oxygen well
造景与硬件
底床
Fine sand; a mussel bed anchors the biotope
硬景观
Leaf litter and empty mussel shells
水草
Fine-leaved plants plus open swimming space
性格食性与混养
群游性
Keep 6+; males display in groups
食性
Omnivore; algae, flakes and small live foods
推荐混养
White cloud minnow — Cool-water cousins
Rosy barb — Similar size, similar water
Nerite snails — Share the same clean-up niche
避免混养
Cichlids — Too aggressive
Large labyrinth fish — Fin damage
Crayfish — Will eat them overnight
繁殖与备注
雌雄差异
Breeding males turn rose-violet with longer fins; females stay silver with a deeper belly
繁殖方式
Mussel spawner. The female deposits eggs inside a freshwater mussel's gills via a long ovipositor; the male fertilizes them at the siphon — fry emerge after 3–4 weeks.