All fish / Anostomidae

Banded Leporinus

Leporinus fasciatus

Also known as black-banded leporinus, banded leporinus, striped leporinus, leporinus, black banded leporinus, ปลาม้าลาย, レポリヌス・ファスキアータス, 九间鱼, 帝王九间

A long, torpedo-like characin with bold black bands on a yellow body, giving it a wasp-like look. Keepers like its striking pattern and active, curious behaviour in large South American community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

600 litres

Keep as

Alone or in a group of 5 or more; small groups fight

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, live and frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

South America: Amazon and Orinoco basins and Guiana Shield rivers

Breeding

It has not been reliably bred in home aquariums. Fish sold in the trade are wild-caught or farmed using hormones.

Good to know

It gets large and nips fins, and it will eat aquarium plants, so give it a big, tightly covered tank because it jumps. Keep it with robust tankmates of a similar size.