{"product_id":"banded-leporinus-leporinus-fasciatus","title":"Banded Leporinus | Leporinus fasciatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Banded Leporinus is a striking gold-and-black banded torpedo — active, handsome and full of presence. It is a bold characin that grows large, reaching around 25–30 cm, and can be nippy and prone to nibbling plants, so it suits a roomy tank with robust tankmates rather than a peaceful nano community. A real statement fish for the experienced keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeporinus fasciatus is widespread through the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America, where it lives in fast-flowing, rocky rivers and flooded forest, grazing on plants, fruit and small animals among the current. A large tank with strong flow, driftwood, smooth rocks and a tight lid recreates its home — and it is an accomplished jumper.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn elongated, torpedo-shaped characin with a small head and a bold pattern of alternating black and golden-yellow vertical bands along the body. Young fish are especially crisply marked, and the number of bands increases with age. It is powerfully built for life in current, and colour and pattern stay vivid in a well-kept fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eActive, curious and semi-aggressive, particularly as it matures or when kept singly or in small numbers. It can nip fins and will eat much smaller tankmates, so it belongs with robust, similarly sized fish in a spacious tank. A group of six or more in a large aquarium spreads aggression; small groups tend to bully one another.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrimarily a herbivore that also takes animal foods. Offer plenty of vegetable matter — blanched vegetables, spirulina, algae wafers — alongside quality pellets and occasional frozen or live foods. A vegetable-rich diet keeps it healthy and reduces its tendency to strip aquarium plants.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 300 L, with larger far better, and a very secure lid as it jumps readily. Keep temperature at 23–27 °C, pH 5.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water, around GH 5–20. Provide strong flow, good oxygenation, smooth rocks and driftwood, and robust filtration. It tends to nibble and uproot plants, so use only tough species or none at all.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreeding is essentially unknown in the home aquarium. Leporinus fasciatus is a large, migratory river spawner whose breeding conditions cannot be reproduced in a tank, and it is not bred by hobbyists. Stock is wild-caught or from commercial operations, so keepers should simply focus on providing a suitable long-term home.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLeporinus fasciatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBanded (Black-banded) Leporinus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmazon and Orinoco basins, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 25–30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore (mainly): vegetables, algae wafers, pellets, some animal foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderate, around 5–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, high-flow aquariums with robust tankmates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (nibbles and uproots plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other robust, similarly sized fish such as larger characins, medium to large catfish, robust cichlids and other active river fish that can hold their own.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with small or long-finned fish that will be nipped or eaten, slow gentle species, and delicate planted-tank companions. Avoid an open-topped or undersized tank.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232884015395,"sku":"BA8437","price":47.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232884048163,"sku":"BA8437-M","price":52.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232884080931,"sku":"BA8437-L","price":62.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-30cm)","offer_id":55351970857251,"sku":"BA8437-XL","price":72.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/banded-leporinus-leporinus-f-43091604734243-lv.webp?v=1790307184","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/banded-leporinus-leporinus-fasciatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}