Category: Fish
These natives of the Paraguay Basin of Brazil are recognizable by the two distinct, longitudinal, adjacent stripes (one white and one black) running from right behind their eye all the way to their tail. They are common aquarium fish that should be kept in groups of at least six or more. The feed only at the surface of the water so captive specimens should be kept with bottom feeders such as corydoras cats, who will gobble up their scraps.
Undersea Conversations…
While it isn’t obvious, fish have ears, and are able to communicate to one another through sounds. They don’t have vocal chords, but instead vibrate their swim bladders, producing popping, grunting, moaning, barking, or chirping noises. While some species of fish, like the goldfish, are silent listeners, there are over 1000 species that are known to vocalize, and some, like the gurnard who are veritable chatterboxes. While we can’t have a conversation with them - at least not yet - it is theorized that they do it to attract mates, frighten away predators or competitors, to synchronize mating, call for help and warn others, or to orient themselves.
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