The tropical stroll

Acarichthys heckelii is a South American cichlid that favors lakes and vegetated shores of the major Amazonian rivers. A piscivorous hunter, it digs the ground to protect its brood.

An ambush predator, the oscar quietly hunts fish, crustaceans, and insects in the calm, wooded waters of South America. It has been introduced to various countries with detrimental environmental consequences, notably in Florida and Puerto Rico.

It is one of the most known species to aquarists. It breeds easily in captivity, but it is too often taken from the wild. For several years, it has started to being raised in it home region. It became a source of income for local people.

It is accommodated to life in freshwater. It is ovoviviparous: the eggs hatch in it body, and it gives birth to fully formed juveniles. It acclimate easily in aquariums, but beware of the stings from its tail that can inflict very painful wounds.

Thanks to its small size, it is an ideal fish for beginner aquarists. It is easy to maintain and reproduce in the aquarium.

It is carnivorous, its sharp teeth have earned it the local name. (Pira = fish, Nha = tooth). Its dangerousness was often exaggerated: it serves as prey of many animals (alligators, giant otter ...). Piranhas are especially dangerous for humans in the dry season, when they lack food.

It is a nocturnal hunter. It lives in the bottom of the rivers, where it remains upright to hide among the reeds. It fits well in a large aquarium. But we must avoid leaving it with small fish that it could eat.

Trachemys scripta is a freshwater turtle, native to the southeastern United States. This species is invasive in many countries around the world. This situation is due to its strong popularity in pet stores during the second half of the 20th century. This trend combined with a remarkable reproductive adaptation potential has made its establishment possible in all temperate and subtropical areas where it has been introduced.