Above: In this picture is a mature Leporinus Fasciatus, swimming in one of our tanks when one of our crew members took this picture.

Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see Premium Fish like this in any of the live fish stores that we visit.

Our Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.

Click here to learn more about Our Premium Pet Fish.

Origin: These Loaches are caught in the Amazon Basin in South America.

Maximum Size: In aquariums Leporinus can grow to be about 12" long, including their tails. Rarely very old females are even bigger.

Behaviors: Leporinus are active swimmers and quarrel gently with each other but are sometimes aggressive.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include Barbs, Rainbowfish, Danios, Gouramis, and many other small to medium size aquarium fish.

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Temperature: They live well from about 75 to 80+ degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 78 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when very small and small Premium Pellet Food when larger. Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: Leporinus seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 6.5 with moderate hardness is best. Most water in the US

seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water. Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 30-gallon tank, when they're less than 3" long, but a bigger aquarium is almost always better for the fish.

Allow at least 3-gallons of water for each Leporinus under 3" long.

They grow at a moderate rate and at about 3" should move into a 40 to 60-gallon aquarium.

Eventually they'll need to live in a much bigger aquarium with 150 to 300-gallons of water.

Decor: Leporinus do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality. Leporinus seem to do better in aquariums with live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start with a few Leporinus that are less than 3" long.

At 3" long Leporinus should move into a 40 to 60-gallon aquarium with a Penguin 350B Filter, and eventually a much larger aquarium with 150 to 300-gallons of water and as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit along the back edge.

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The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Leporinus can live in excess of 20-years, if they're fed premium food and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.

Gender: As they mature females become larger and plumper than males, who are raised in the same group.

Breeding: There've been a few reports of Leporinus spawning in aquariums, but it's rare.

Popularity: Leporinus are not that popular.

Names: The scientific name of Leporinus Fasciatus is Leporinus Fasciatus.

Variations: There are no known variations of this species.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.