Biara (Rhaphiodon vulpinus) is the most widely distributed member of the Cynodontidae family. The species is only indicated for public aquariums or enthusiasts who have really very large tanks. Below, check out a complete Biara care guide. Learn about water parameters, food and feeding, appearance, behavior, tank mates, reproduction and aquarium setup.
Biara – Complete Care Guide
Technical Details
Name: Biara;
Scientific Name: Rhaphiodon vulpinus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829);
Family: Cynodontidae;
Species Origin: South America (Amazon, Paraná and Orinoco Basins)
Length: Up to 31 inches;
Life Span: Unknown;
Care Level: Moderate;
Water Parameters
pH: 7.0 – 7.5;
Water Hardness: Between 10 – 15;
Temperature: Must be kept between 4 – 22°C;
Distribution / Habitat
Biara fish is the most widely distributed member of the Cynodontidae family. Quite common in Brazilian rivers, it inhabits the Amazon basin, the Ucayali River system in Peru, as well as the Xingu, Tocantins and Capim rivers.
In addition, the species is described as inhabiting the waters of the Orinoco River in Venezuela, drainages of the Rupununi system in the upper part of the Essequibo River, and in the basins of the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers.
The Biara likes to live in mid-water environments with fast flow full of trunks and rocks, occurring basically in channels and beaches of rivers, lakes and in places of flooded forest.
Description
Biara fish presents a degree of morphological and phenotypic variation with species from the Upper Xingu, as it has a greater number of scales on the lateral line and branched rays on the anal fin, compared to specimens from other regions. Fish from the Rio Negro, for example, tend to have a more brownish color.
The species has very small scales, a very elongated and compressed body, in addition to a large and oblique mouth. The Biara fish has canine teeth and a pair of tusks that fit in the upper jaw. The dorsal fin is located in the posterior half of the body, in the same direction as the anal fin. Finally, its pectoral fins are long and its coloration is usually silver but a little dark in the dorsal region.
See Also:
Foods and Feeding
The Biara is piscivorous, that is, it feeds on other fish. In nature, for example, it usually eats really big prey, ambushing them behind branches, trees and rocks on the banks of rivers.
Imported specimens will generally refuse to accept anything other than live fish, but most can begin to accept dead alternatives once recognized as edible.
Like the vast majority of predators, this species shouldn’t be fed with mammals or birds meat, such as beef or chicken heart, as these foods can bring parasites or diseases with them.
Try to feed the Biara with fish, worms and insects. Once you are used to the domestic environment, you will be able to accept fish and shrimp fillets.
Temperament / Behavior
Despite being an animal with an aggressive appearance, the Biara fish is relatively peaceful and can be kept either alone or in groups of at least 4 specimens. However, to keep them in groups, the aquarist will need a really big tank to hold all the fish.
Tank Mates
You can keep the Biara with non-aggressive species of similar size, as they will not fit in your mouth.
Take care when adding it with aggressive species, as it can be easily overpowered by them.
Sexual Differences
The sexual dimorphism of the Biara is still unknown.
See Also:
Reproduction
In nature, the Biara reproduces between the months of September/October to January/April, a period that coincides with the high water levels and abundance of food in most of its geographic distribution.
The species reaches sexual maturity at 9,44 inches in length. In addition, it’s said to have a seasonal reproduction strategy, with the beginning of the cycle associated with the flow regime of its native rivers, in addition to migrating to flooded areas to spawn.
There are no information about reproduction in fish tanks.
Aquarium Setup
The Biara should only live in public aquariums or very large private tanks. A single specimen needs at least 190 galloons to live happily and comfortably.
The tank should be designed to resemble a stream or river with a substrate of different sized rocks, sand, fine gravel and some larger boulders. In addition, the aquarist can also add roots, branches and trunks. However, remember to leave plenty of open areas for the fish to swim.
These fish like environments with a lot of oxygen dissolved in the water and, therefore, the filtration must be efficient. As the water conditions are mandatory for its well-being, the Biara should never be added in places that have not been properly Cycled.
Finally, the aquarist should add a very tight lid to the tank, as the species is easily frightened and also because it loves to jump.
References
Toledo-Piza, M., 2003. Cynodontidae (Cynodotids). p. 234-237. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 38270);
Benedito-Cecilio, E., A.A. Agostinho and R.C.C.-M. Velho, 1997. Length-weight relationship of fishes caught in the Itaipu Reservoir, Paraná, Brazil. Naga ICLARM Q. 20(3/4):57-61;
Reuberger, A. L., E. E. Marques, C. S. Agostinho and R. J. de Oliveira , 2007 – Neotropical Ichthyology 5(4): 479-484 Reproductive biology of Rhaphiodon vulpinus (Ostariophysi: Cynodontidae) in the Tocantins River Basin, Brazil.;
Britski, H.A., K.Z. de S> de Silimon and B.S. Lopes, 2007. Peixes do Pantanal: manual de identificaçäo, 2 ed. re. ampl. Brasília, DF: Embrapa Informaçäo Tecnológica, 227 p.;
