Got him at the LFS, for only 5 bucks. The guys didn't know what he had! At the store I go to they are $59.00 for ones smaller than mine! He's awesome, kicks the sh*t out of the smaller flowerhorn I have in there... What a champion.
Juru-pi Jim
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A Freshwater Beast
The Freshwater Barracuda is a fierce predator not usually kept in the home aquarium
by Brenden Starp
The Freshwater Barracuda, or Hujeta, is an elongated gar-like characin that lives throughout the Amazon and its tributaries.
The body is very elongated and spindly, and the dorsal and anal fins are set very far back, nearly to the caudal peduncle. All fins are rounded. The mouth forms a beak-like snout full of tiny conical/villiform teeth. The mouth itself extends to just before the eye. Large nostril flaps are seen near the tip of the snout. In some specimens the tip of the snout has a small bulb on the upper jaw.
The coloring of this fish is white-silver which can slightly vary in darkness according to environment and mood. There is a black ocellatus mark on the caudal peduncle.
Tank Setup
In order to keep it, you will need a tank of larger size, not much less than 90 gallons. Even though they grow to 28" in the wild, if they are kept in small tanks they may only reach 10" in length.
For tankmates the best fish are ones that are peaceful and cannot be swallowed by the Hujeta itself. Other large predatory characins such as cachorros can also be kept with hujetas successfully and provide a more enlightening look. This fish is a top swimmer and therefore the tank must be well covered.
Feeding
This fish is a predator and coils itself into a characteristic "S" shaped position then springs forward to catch its prey in a powerful lunge. The upper jaw moves up and down just as the lower jaw does. Once prey is secured in the fish's mouth, it juggles it into position (headfirst) and swallows it. In the wild these fish often hunt in small packs near the surface and devour many other shoaling fish. Indeed, they are best described as gar- like in most respects.
Provide dense vegetation and live food in the form of fish, frogs, worms, and other soft-bodied organisms. Make sure the food is of appropriate dimension, because tall, flat bodied prey cannot be swallowed, and therefore not eaten. Dead food is usually grabbed but always seems to be spit out once the fish realizes its dead.
Water Chemistry
The water should have a neutral pH with a temperature between 76 and 84 degrees F. Allow the water to age before introducing it, and keep it well aerated and clean.
Breeding
Breeding can be done with pairs, but it is best to have two males for every female in a large tank. The temperature should be just over 80 degrees F. Over 1000 fry will hatch in just under a day.
Freshwater Barracuda; Hujeta; Slant-nose Gar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sci Name:
Ctenolucius hujeta
Family:
Ctenolucius
Origin:
Central and South America
Max Size:
28" - usually smaller
pH:
Neutral
Temp:
72-79 F.
Tank Size:
90 Gallons
Feeding:
Carnivorous
The Freshwater Barracuda is a fierce predator not usually kept in the home aquarium
by Brenden Starp
The Freshwater Barracuda, or Hujeta, is an elongated gar-like characin that lives throughout the Amazon and its tributaries.
The body is very elongated and spindly, and the dorsal and anal fins are set very far back, nearly to the caudal peduncle. All fins are rounded. The mouth forms a beak-like snout full of tiny conical/villiform teeth. The mouth itself extends to just before the eye. Large nostril flaps are seen near the tip of the snout. In some specimens the tip of the snout has a small bulb on the upper jaw.
The coloring of this fish is white-silver which can slightly vary in darkness according to environment and mood. There is a black ocellatus mark on the caudal peduncle.
Tank Setup
In order to keep it, you will need a tank of larger size, not much less than 90 gallons. Even though they grow to 28" in the wild, if they are kept in small tanks they may only reach 10" in length.
For tankmates the best fish are ones that are peaceful and cannot be swallowed by the Hujeta itself. Other large predatory characins such as cachorros can also be kept with hujetas successfully and provide a more enlightening look. This fish is a top swimmer and therefore the tank must be well covered.
Feeding
This fish is a predator and coils itself into a characteristic "S" shaped position then springs forward to catch its prey in a powerful lunge. The upper jaw moves up and down just as the lower jaw does. Once prey is secured in the fish's mouth, it juggles it into position (headfirst) and swallows it. In the wild these fish often hunt in small packs near the surface and devour many other shoaling fish. Indeed, they are best described as gar- like in most respects.
Provide dense vegetation and live food in the form of fish, frogs, worms, and other soft-bodied organisms. Make sure the food is of appropriate dimension, because tall, flat bodied prey cannot be swallowed, and therefore not eaten. Dead food is usually grabbed but always seems to be spit out once the fish realizes its dead.
Water Chemistry
The water should have a neutral pH with a temperature between 76 and 84 degrees F. Allow the water to age before introducing it, and keep it well aerated and clean.
Breeding
Breeding can be done with pairs, but it is best to have two males for every female in a large tank. The temperature should be just over 80 degrees F. Over 1000 fry will hatch in just under a day.
Freshwater Barracuda; Hujeta; Slant-nose Gar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sci Name:
Ctenolucius hujeta
Family:
Ctenolucius
Origin:
Central and South America
Max Size:
28" - usually smaller
pH:
Neutral
Temp:
72-79 F.
Tank Size:
90 Gallons
Feeding:
Carnivorous
Joined
·
1,089 Posts
Busey your fish seems to strongly resemble a Geophagus jurupari. If it is I wouldn't risk it with the FH once the FH grows. My roomie has a jurupari, nice communtiy fish, digs a lot.
mark
mark
Yeah thanks mark for the Name! I am moving the Flower horn out in Under a week. Is the Geophagus jurupari relatively tough with other fish? I want to keep him with a Small jewel, 7' Chineese Algae Eater and A firehorn. Right now The jurupari and the Chineese Alger Eater rule the tank. So will it be fine minus the Flowerhorn? And croz, How big a tank are you getting THATS AWESOME!
Joined
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18,670 Posts
garybusey congrats on the new pick up
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and its always great to get a real good deal
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and its always great to get a real good deal
Joined
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891 Posts
nice man, u did even better than me. i got my 6" one for 20 at a store.
Yeah he's awesome. Takes no sh*t. Chases the Flowerhorn around the tank whenever he gets pissed. Combine that with the 7' Chineese algae eater and the flowerhorn is getting beaten around. But when he grows they are both toast... so bye bye Flowerhorn, Jurupi Jim is here to stay.
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