Red Cross Fish

1 Red Cross Fish Species Profile

The Red Cross Fish, also known as the Cross Fish or Red Cross Fish, gets its name from its red fins and the black cross pattern at the base of the caudal fin. This fish, native to Argentina, has a habit of attacking small fish, so it should not be kept with small species in a community tank.

Chinese name: Red Cross Fish

Also known as: Cross Fish, Red Cross Fish

Kingdom: Animalia

Distribution: Brazil and Paraguay, South America

Breeding: Egg-laying (oviparous)

Origin: Argentina

2 Red Cross Fish Appearance

The Red Cross Fish is a mid-water fish in the aquarium. Because it is somewhat aggressive, when kept in a community tank be careful not to keep it with small ornamental fish to avoid fighting.

The Red Cross Fish has a small adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins, and teeth in its mouth. Its fins are red, and there is a red cross pattern at the base of the caudal fin, hence the name Red Cross Fish. It is a very easy fish to keep and a good practice fish for beginners. It can tolerate low temperatures down to 18 C, is active, and schools when given space. Individuals vary in temperament—some are fierce, some relatively timid.

3 Red Cross Fish Habitat and Care

Water quality is very important when keeping the Red Cross Fish artificially. Although it can be a practice fish for beginners, you still need to pay attention to its husbandry requirements to keep it well.

For normal keeping, the recommended pH is 6.8 to 7.0 and hardness 5 to 8 dH. It can endure 21 C for a while; the optimal temperature is 25 C. Females are larger with a swollen abdomen; males are relatively smaller. For breeding in the aquarium, keep the temperature at 23 to 28 C, pH 6.0 to 6.8, hardness 2 to 6 dH. It lays adhesive eggs, so plant plenty of aquatic plants. Keep lighting soft—fertilized eggs have a high death rate under strong light.

4 Red Cross Fish Feeding

The Red Cross Fish is somewhat aggressive, so when keeping it be careful not to mix it with small ornamental fish. In addition, feeding during normal and breeding periods should be reasonably balanced to avoid nutritional imbalance.

The Red Cross Fish likes both prepared and live food, eats a lot, and the feeding amount should be increased. It has a big appetite and must be fed full, otherwise it will attack other small fish in the tank, especially nibbling their fins; it also eats aquatic plants, so it is best not kept with peaceful fish. After 20 to 30 hours of embryonic development, the fry hatch; after another 3 to 5 days of development they can swim horizontally and start feeding externally. The best first food is rotifers. Boiled egg yolk rubbed through a 60-mesh sieve can also be fed, but not too much each time to avoid fouling the water.