The Threespot Leporinus (Leporinus friderici) is a fish with scales found in fast flowing rivers, very important for subsistence fishing in several regions of South America. The species is very popular in fishkeeping hobby because of its elongated and narrow body, and also because of the three dark spots in the his central region.
Below, check out a complete Threespot Leporinus care guide. Learn about water parameters, food and feeding, appearance, behavior, tank mates, reproduction and aquarium setup.
Threespot Leporinus: Complete Care Guide
Technical Details
Name: Threespot Leporinus;
Scientific Name: Leporinus friderici (Bloch, 1794);
Family: Anostomidae;
Species Origin: South America (Amazon and Suriname river basins); Reported in Argentina;
Length: Up to 15 inches;
Life Span: 7 years or more;
Care Level: Moderate;
Water Parameters
pH: 5.0 – 8.0;
Water Hardness: Between 4 – 12;
Temperature: Must be kept between 23 – 26°C;
Distribution / Habitat
The Threespot Leporinus was first described in the Suriname River, although the exact location was not mentioned. However, this fish is known to occur in much of the Amazon River system in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia, in addition to additional records in coastal drainages of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The species has also been reported in the Paraná river basin.
Adult fish of the species like to live in rivers with strong currents. During the rainy season, they invade flooded areas and are caught with nets, but in the dry season, they’re confined to the deepest parts of rivers, where they are caught with fishing rods.
Description
The Threespot Leporinus is a fish with a distinctive appearance, with an elongated and narrow body. It usually has a silver color with three dark spots scattered in its central area. One spot is located at the base of the tail and the other two are positioned near the central region.
The scales on the body of the Threespot are large and iridescent. Its fins are transparent and its large mouth has four sharp teeth, used to eat crustaceans and other aquatic organisms.
The meat of this fish is highly appreciated in cooking, although it’s also famous for the amount of thorns.
See Also:
Foods and Feeding
The Threespot Leporinus is an omnivorous fish, although it has a tendency to be herbivorous. It feeds on fruits, seeds and termites, using its four strong teeth to crush them.
In an tank, he will readily accept live foods and flake or pellet feeds, but the aquarist should avoid overfeeding him with protein-rich foods.
It’s very important to offer a varied diet to ensure the well-being and health of the fish. In addition, observing the amount of food inserted in the tank helps to avoid overfeeding and the consequent pollution of the water.
Temperament / Behavior
The Threespot Leporinus behavior is very similar to that of other fish that live in fast water environments. He’s very active and likes to swim in all areas of the tank. Additionally, it’s known to be territorial, meaning it can be aggressive towards other similarly sized or smaller fish. Therefore, it’s very important to keep the Threespot in an tank of adequate size and that has enough space for it to swim freely.
Above all, as it’s a gregarious species, the aquarist must keep a group of at least six fish. Although there are certain disputes between them, when they form hierarchies, the fish will live peacefully.
Occasionally, the Threespot Leporinus can nibble on the fins of fish that swim slower or have sedentary habits.
Tank Mates
There is no too much information about Threespot Leporinus tank mates, although there is a consensus that it should live with other fish of similar size, but that don’t have similar colors or the same shape.
It’s important to remember that these fish are territorial and therefore the aquarist needs to provide open areas for the fish to swim freely and also hiding places for fish that are being harassed.
See Also:
Sexual Differences
Differentiating Threespot Leporinus male and female can be a bit difficult for a casual observer. Overall, males tend to be slightly larger and stronger than females, although the difference in size is minimal.
One way to identify the sex of fish is to observe their behavior during spawning periods. Males are normally more active and aggressive, protecting their territories and showing spawning behaviors. On the other hand, females become more swollen near the spawning season, indicating that they are carrying eggs.
The best way to differentiate the male and female is to examine their genital characteristics, which requires a lot of skill and experience.
Reproduction
Oviparous. It’s known that the Threespot Leporinus spawn in nature during the flood season, when the waters are deeper and the current weaker. There are no reports of reproduction of this fish in captivity.
Males reach sexual maturity at around 1 year, while females at around 2 years. Reproduction occurs in the range from November to June, with a peak from December to March.
Females spawn around 100,000 to 200,000 eggs.
Aquarium Setup
The ideal fish tank size for Threespot Leporinus can vary depending on the amount of fish you plan to keep. As a general rule, it’s recommended to keep a single specimen of the species in an tank with at least 75 gallons (285 liters).
It’s also important to pay attention to filtering, as this fish is usually very dirty and needs good quality water to thrive. Also add hiding places (rocks, logs and roots) and leave open areas with good water flow to simulate their natural habitat.
Finally, don’t forget to add a very tight lid to the tank, as the Threespot Leporinus is an excellent jumper.
References
Garavello, J.C. and H.A. Britski, 2003. Anostomidae (Headstanders). p. 71-84. 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. 36801);
Lopez, H.L., R.C. Menni and A.M. Miguelarena, 1987. Lista de los peces de agua dulce de la Argentina. Biologia Acuatica No. 12, 50 p. (Instituto de Limnologia “Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet”).;
Riede, K., 2004. Global register of migratory species – from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p.;
Sidlauskas, B. L. and R. P. Vari, 2008 – Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154(1): 70-210 Phylogenetic relationships within the South American fish family Anostomidae (Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Characiformes);
