#Citharinus citharus

[aquariuminfobureau]

There is something quite eyecatchng, despite their lack of gaudiness, about silvery, schooling fishes. Though they are less common in our tanks than more colorful species, some well known species are popular, including the piranhas called silver dollars, and the carps called tinfoil barbs. A less popular member of this category, would be the moonfish, Citharinus citharus, which is usually categorized as a riverine fish usually categorized as native to the zone south of the Sahara. This is not the most popular source for fish imports, so C. citharus is quite a rarity in the aquarium, despite their abundance in African rivers. But in parts of West Africa their rage does extend further south, and they do extend eastwards, with records from such lakes as Albert and Turkana. The eastern fishes are often regarded as a separate race of the species

This is quite a large fish as it grows potentially to 58 centimeters, or about 23 inches. Ecologically it's niche is as a planktivore and a grazer of biofilms, and it has been compared to unrelated fishes inhabiting the freshwaters of other continents. Taxonomically, they are the namesakes of the grouping called the citharinoids, which are an important group of African freshwater endemic fauna. Traditionally the cutharinoids are regarded as a side branch to the mainline of Afro-American tetra (or characiform) radiation; more recently, molecular data has cald this into question, although it remains important that the morphology of citharinoids still suggests their close kinship with the 'true' tetras, and this remains the scientific concebsus.

C. citharus are schooling fishes that must be kept in groups, with spatial provision to cruise and shoal unobstructed. Towards other fish species, they are very peaceful, and very appropriate for mixed species communities. Their tolerances of chemical parameters are probably quite wide, eng present both in localities, such as the White Nile, where the pH of the water exceeds 8, and others such as in Nigeria, where it may drop below 6.5. Wild C. citharus appear to favor waters where the temperature is a little warmer than is the average tropical tank, so circumneutral pH and a temperature of about 27 degrees centigrade, are probably fine when caring for all C. citharus. This fish is quite a habitat generalist within rivers, and is sometimes recorded from lakes also, but everywhere, the species favors life in deep, wide water bodies. Therefore the aquascape is of limited importance, other than opportunity to cruise, school together and forage.

C. citharus are quite omnivorous overall. Their main diet is algal, yet they also ingest insect, fish, annelids, zooplankton, and plant roots during the course of their feeding behaviors. Juvenile and adult C. citharus are known to consume the same food items They are well categorized as aufwuchs and plankton eaters, but it might also be added that they ingest detritus as well, at least incidentally during their benthic foraging activities. Because they naturally swallow sand and mud, it is better that their aquarium substrate be as fine grained as humanly possible. Food items should ideally be small, and any algal or other vegetable component should forn a significant proportion of their feed.

[fishfolkart]

Moon fish - is a member of the Lutefish family and is native to the White Nile, Blue Nile and the lower Nile to Lake Nubia, Africa. There are other species with this particular name this specie is Citharinus citharus. It is strictly a vegetarian. It can reach a maximum length of 58 cm (about 23 inches) with a maximum published weight of 7 kg (about 15 pounds). All profits from sales will be given to the Lighthouse Mission to assist the homeless. https://www.redbubble.com/people/fishfolkart/works/140045410-moon-fish?asc=u