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General Information

Scientific Name:

Bedotia leucopteron - Loiselle, P.V. & Rodriguez, D. 2007

Common/Native Name:

White-finned Rainbowfish

Zono (ZOO-new) - translates to "small fish"; used for bedotiids in other regions of Madagascar

Type Locality:

Madagascar: Toamasina Province: Iaroka-Rianila drainage basin: Sandrakatrana Stream: near village of Ampasimbe

Pronunciation:

Buh-DOUGH-tee-ah lew-COP-ter-on

Etymology:

Derived from greek: leukos - white, and pteron - fin or wing

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Species Details

Maximum Size:

3.0 inches (7.62cm)

Identification:
Both Sexes:
Numerous small, irregularly distributed black spots on the flanks; broad, iridescent white margins of the vertical fins

Population differences:

 

Sexual Morphology:

 

First Description:

A new species of Bedotia (Teleostei: Atherinomorpha: Bedotiidae) from the Rianila drainage of Eastern Madagascar, redescriptions of Bedotia madagascariensis and Bedotia geayi

in: Zootaxa 1520: 1-18 (2007)

Synonyms:

Bedotia "lazana"

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Habitat Information

Distribution/Collection Locales:
Sandrakatrana Stream
- 2000 by local villagers.
Beforona River
- 1961 by local villagers.
Lazana river
- 1996 by local villagers.
Amalabe creek
- 1997 by P.V. Loiselle and villagers.
Sahamamy River
- 1997 by local villagers.

Conservation Status:

Loiselle and Rodriguez state that the middle reaches of the Iaroka-Rianila basin are characterized by much reduced and at best degraded forest cover, but find that Bedotia leucopteronis quite abundant within its range (Loiselle & Rodriguez, 2007).

They go on to note that, at present, B. leucopteron does not seem to be seriously endangered notwithstanding the presence of naturalized poeciliids throughout its range and of Channa maculata at its lower range (Loiselle & Rodriguez, 2007).

Typical Habitat:

Riverine; collected in areas without overhead vegetation; undercut banks and tangled wood instream.

Strongly flowing rivers.

Typical Water Parameters:

pH: 6.0-7.0

Temperature: 62.6-78.8 °F

Conductivity: 10-21 µS

Cohabitates with:

Rheocles alaotrensis

Rheocles sp. nov

Ratsirakia sp.

Channa maculata

Xiphoporus maculatus

Gambusia holbrooki

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Husbandry Information

Origin of Captives:

Captive populations in North America stem from a collection in 1996 from the Lazana River by Paul Loiselle and local villagers.

Aggressiveness:

Large males can be somewhat aggresive to both females and suborniate males if kept in tight quarters.

Tank Size:

Compatable pairs can be kept and bred in 15-20 gallons. Populations of 3-4 males and 5-8 females require 50-75 gallons.

Feeding:
In the wild:

This species feeds on aquatic and terrestrial insects

In captivity

Flake food, hacthed brine shrimp nauplii, bloodworms, black/tubifex worms all readily accepted

Water Parameters:

pH: <7.3

Temperature: 70.0 - 80.0 °F, midrange preferred.

dKH and dGH: 0 - 4°

Tank Filtration/Set-up:

An undergravel filter with weekly 30-50% water changes is sufficient.

Breeding Requirements:

Can be bred in groups, but more luck has been recorded in small trios; in this case aggression must be monitored closely.

Yarn mops may be supplied, but successful reproduction has taken place with only gravel substrate available.

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