Banded Leporinus Care Guide
Leporinus fasciatus is a large yellow-and-black banded headstander from the Amazon basin that becomes increasingly herbivorous and assertive with age.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Leporinus fasciatus is a large characiform of the family Anostomidae, the headstanders. It is recognised by bold yellow-and-black vertical banding along the elongated body. FishBase gives a maximum length of about 37 cm total length. Adults occur in rocky areas of rapidly flowing water.
Taxonomy
- Family: Anostomidae
- Genus: Leporinus
- Scientific name: Leporinus fasciatus (Bloch, 1794)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Amazon River basin, where adults inhabit rocky stretches of fast-flowing rivers. It is a benthopelagic freshwater fish of tropical lowland waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.8
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- Group size: 5 or more if kept in numbers
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- Provide a long tank with current, rockwork and a secure lid
Diet
FishBase lists worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter among the natural foods. The species becomes increasingly herbivorous with age and will readily eat aquarium plants. In captivity it needs a varied omnivorous diet with a strong vegetable component such as blanched greens, alongside prepared and occasional meaty foods.
Compatibility
Leporinus fasciatus is a semi-aggressive, mid-water fish that tends to harass tankmates as it matures. It requires a spacious tank and robust companions such as large cichlids and plecos. Small fish and live plants are not suitable, and intraspecific aggression can occur.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020).
Banded Leporinus (Leporinus fasciatus) Breeding Guide
Overview
Leporinus fasciatus, the banded leporinus, is an anostomid occurring throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river systems across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, reaching about 250-270 mm standard length (Seriously Fish). It is a large, plant-eating headstander often sold young without warning of its eventual size.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, sexual dimorphism is minimal: mature females grow slightly larger and tend to be rounder-bellied than males.
Breeding Setup
Seriously Fish lists reproduction for this species as unrecorded, so no reliable home-aquarium breeding setup can be described. Aquatic plants may be used in the display but are liable to be eaten by the fish (Seriously Fish).
Common Challenges
The combination of unrecorded captive reproduction (Seriously Fish) and large adult size, which demands a very spacious aquarium, means home breeding is effectively undocumented; the fish's habit of eating plants further complicates any planted spawning environment.