Little Amazonians
Most of the diversity of freshwater fish in the world is found in the Amazon basin, as it is an environment with many rivers, lakes, streams and igapós. New species are found every year, so it is difficult to know exactly the number of species present in this region.
Some of the small Amazonians are endemic to this region (found only in the Amazon basin). Many trunks, branches and leaves of trees fall into the rivers, which are accumulated at the bottom and with the decomposition of this material, the water becomes more cloudy, having a “tea color” and the ph, more acidic. The species you see here are very popular for aquariums, but overfishing these animals is a risk, as is the construction of hydroelectric plants and the degradation of their habitats, through mining, for example.
Heckel Discus - Symphysodon discus
It is an endemic species of Brazil, lives in dark waters in the Amazon river basin, and is found among roots and rock crevices. It is peaceful to live together with other individuals. It has parental care for the offspring and produces a mucus to nourish the fry in the first days of life. It feeds on insects, insect larvae, plankton and eventually fruits.
Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus
They live in the waters of South America. Associated with the bottom, they feed on algae and small crustaceans. They are fish with mouths in the shape of a suction cup, which facilitates scraping algae and fixing them on rocks, as they live in environments with a lot of current.
Darter characin - Characidium fasciatum
Common in the São Francisco and Paraná rivers, in environments with more still water, without current. They feed mainly on molluscs such as small gastropods, being good for eliminating snail pests in aquariums.
Brons corydoras - Corydoras aeneus
Found in Colombia and Trinidad, from the bottom of the Río de la Plata to the east of the Andes. Both in calm waters and running waters. They feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. They are nocturnal and live in shoals of 20 to 30 individuals.
Black tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Inhabitants of the Paraguay and Guaporé river basins in Argentina. They feed on worms, small crustaceans and insects. They are from the order Characiformes, as well as Piranhas and swim in shoals of at least 5 individuals.