olomina

Scientific name Alfaro cultratus
Descriptor Regan
Year of description 1908
IUCN category (World) LC
Family Poeciliidae
Genus Alfaro
Alfaro cultratus Alfaro cultratus

Introduction

Alfaro cultratus, commonly known as olomina, is a fresh water fish from the Central America.

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Who is it?

Morphology

  • Type
  • Average size
    6 cm
  • Maximum size
    8 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year
  • Shape
    Oval
  • Type
  • Average size
    6 cm
  • Maximum size
    8 cm
  • Longevity
    5 year
  • Shape
    Oval

How to recognize the olomina ?

The olomina measures between 6 and 8 cm.

Sexual dimorphism

The male has a visible reproductive organ called gonopod which allows him to fertilize the female.

The females have a more rounded abdomen than the males, they are generally stockier. This characteristic is exacerbated in the period of reproduction.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous
  • Sociability
    living in small groups
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    diurnal

The olomina is a fish living in small groups naturally found near to the surface. This species is carnivorous .

Although the olomina is non-territorial, it is sometimes aggressive towards other species.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovovivipare
  • Polygamy
    Yes

The olomina is a fish ovovivipare. In this species, the dominant males are polygamous and reproduce each season with several females.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    24 - 28 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 8
  • gh (hardness)
    5 - 20
  • Flow
    Slow

Biotope presentation

This animal evolves in areas characterized by a strong presence of vegetation (aquatic and marsh plants, decaying organic matter, roots...).

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    100 liters
  • Population min
    5
  • Temperature
    24 - 28 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 8

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    easy
  • Robustness
    tolerant
  • Behaviour
    slightly aggressive
  • Availability
    occasional

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the olomina

The olomina is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 24 °C and 28 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 31°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Breeding this species is accessible to any hobbyist. It is recommended to follow some basic rules and to be rigorous to achieve a good maintenance.

This species is generally available in specialized shops or from aquarium clubs. Specimens that have been bred for a long time are easier to breed, but special water parameters must be respected.

Cohabitation & Environment

Being a living in small groups fish, it is advisable to install at least 5 individuals in an aquarium of 100 liters minimum (for 50 cm of frontage). Group maintenance is a prerequisite to ensure their well-being. Lonely individuals tend to quickly become stressed and become especially susceptible to disease. Warning, mixing several species living in the same living area is not recommended if the volume is not significant.

This fish being polygamous, the male must always be maintained with several females. A ratio of three females to one male seems to be a good compromise for the constitution of the group.

Males have the particularity to be particularly oppressive with females. This behavior can tire the females to the point that it sometimes leads to their death. It is important to set up a planted aquarium with many refuges.

The species enjoys a particularly vegetation-rich environment. The addition of plants will provide many useful hiding places for resting. These areas are also conducive to possible breeding in the aquarium. Floating plants such as Salvinia can be added to recreate the subdued atmosphere characteristic of its living conditions in the wild.

Tips for feeding

The olomina is carnivorous.

This species can eat dry food (flakes, pellets), fresh food and frozen food. To avoid deficiencies, it is recommended to vary the types of food.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • Maintenance difficulty
    easy
  • egg-laying protection
    No

Reproduction of this species in an aquarium is considered easy. Ideally, it takes place at a temperature of around 26 ° C for a pH of 7 .

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Patrick Chartrer

Patrick Chartrer

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

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