Yaoshanicus normalis (Nichols & Pope, 1927)
Taxonomy – Distribution – Maintenance - Breeding
The Chinese ichthyologist LIN erected the genus Yaoshanicus in 1931 with monotypic status just containing Yaoshanicus arcus described from the Yaoshan mountains in south Chinese Guangxi Province. Four years later CHU erected the genus Nicholsicypris also in monotopy just containing Nicholsicypris normalis. According to the key of species in CHEN et al (1998) the only character to distinguish these two genera is the number of pharyngeal teeth rows; Nicholsicypris possesses 2 rows, Yaoshanicus 3 rows of pharyngenial teeth.
The first western ichthyologist, who dealt with these fishes’ taxonomy was the Swiss Maurice KOTTELAT (2001b). He did not recognize this simple character of differentiation and treats Nicholsicypris as a junior synonym of Yaoshanicus. Since KOTTELAT (2001b) all following authors are conform with this rearrangement.
Currently there are four species allocated in the genus Yaoshanicus:
Yaoshanicus arcus Lin, 1931
? Yaoshanicus dorsohorizontalis (Nguyen & Doan, 1969)
? Yaoshanicus kyphus Mai,1978
Yaoshanicus normalis (Nichols & Pope, 1927)
I followed the way of writing in KOTTELAT (2001b). The question marks indicate that the status of the species is uncertain. Except KOTTELAT (2001b) both species are not mentioned by any other author after their first description publication.
Yaoshanicus normalis is widely spread over Viet Nam and parts of southern provinces of China; SEROV, NEZDOLIY, & PAVLOV (2006) report Y. normalis from Red river basin to Huong river in central Viet Namnese Thua Thuen Hue province, ZHENG et al (1981) from the Zuo river in Guangxi province, PAN et al (1991) from the Dong and Bei Jiang river systems in Guangdong and different basins of Hainan province, KUANG et al (1986) from Hainan Island (= province).
All authors state that Yaoshanicus normalis lives in small streams or rivers with slow to stagnate current. This corresponds with the biotope EZ-CN 17-06 at Guangya (光椻) on Hainan Island where I caught my fishes. A small creek running out of a banana crop cultivation, roughly one meter in width and very shallow (max 50 cm deep), with no aquatic vegetation, but hydrophilic grass standing in the shore water and also hanging down from the banks. The creek’s bottom consisted of brown 2-3 mm gravel, which is typical for this area. The habitat was rather shady due to a partially closed roof of bushes and trees.
Water parameters:
Temperature 28.4 ºC
pH 7.6
Conductivity 121 µS/cm
Hardness total 2 ºGH
Carbonate hardness 3 ºKH
Nitrite <0.3 mg/l
Yaoshanicus normalis lived sintopic with Puntius semifasciolatus and Parazacco fasciatus. The hydrophilic grass was trenched with freshwater shrimps of the genera Macrobrachium and Caridina, which larvae are supposed to be the major part of the fishes diet.
All Yaoshanicus encountered were 38-50 mm SL and thus may be 6 month old juveniles. They frequent in this biotope and extraordinarily confiding and thus easily to catch. Within a couple of minutes I caught 12 individuals, of which 4 were immediately preserved. The rest and some Parazacco fasciatus I took back home. They endured the transportation over several days in a plastic bag with daily water changes without a loss.
For supplementary information about the biotope EZ-CN 17-06 at Guangya (光椻) on Hainan Island please surf over to the biotope section (Hainan 2006).
An adult female of Yaoshanicus normalis in breeding coloration from Hainan Island at Guangya (光椻), biotope code EZ-CN 17-06.
Adult females become rather corpulent. The fish shows normal coloration.
I am now keeping Yaoshanicus normalis for over 2 years in different tank setups. They seems to be quite hardy and tolerate almost any water parameter. Since they are coming from running waters the aquarists should try to keep Nitrite and the other NOx compounds at a low level. Massive water changes are appreciated. pH should be around neutral and hardness in the lower range corresponding with the conditions in the natural habitat. Regarding the water temperature Y. normalis is extremely tolerable. As I moved into a new flat in winter 2006/2007 the water temperature in the non heated room dropped down to 11ºC as the lowest cusp. The fishes managed to survive in water with less than 15ºC for more than 3 weeks without any sign of inconvenience, but with reduced motion and metabolism. In fact my first spawning of this species took place at 19.5ºC. I consider the water temperature met in the natural habitat on Hainan Island as the upper limit for aquarium maintenance. They make much better at 21-25ºC. I don’t use ancillary heating at all.
Although Yaoshanicus normalis was rather confiding in their habitat, they behave very timid in captivity. The aquarists need to provide shelter and refugia in a moderate shady to dark tank setup. Drift wood and water plants in the rear area help to mitigate the timidness. Even after 2 years of aquarium maintenance my wild caught fishes behave still the same; if anybody approaches the tank they retreat into the refugia providing shelter and protection. I am currently keeping around 35 half year old offspring in a 150 x 50 x 40 cm current tank just for themselves. Unfortunately they always retreat into the hiding places when approaching the tank. Remaining quite and motionless for a minute they hesitatingly come out.
Yaoshanicus normalis possesses very low intraspecific aggression when kept in a community tank. Juveniles show lateral posing including the for barbs familiar tail flapping. I never saw any aggression against other tank mates, even when they are pushed out of their beloved shelters. I consider Y. normalis rather boring in terms of species specific behaviour, since my wild caughts did not show any mating behaviour over years in community tanks.
The fishes are omnivore and easily feed upon almost everything which fits into their mouth. I feed flakes of different composition, frozen and living red mosquito larvae, frozen Artemia, Cyclops and living Tubifex. I also feed chopped blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Over the time I lost 4 of the 8 wild caught exemplares, the remaining are still in proper condition. I possess 1 male and 3 females. Sex differentiation is easy after the fishes reach an age of 1.5 years; males keep slim, while females are really getting corpulent. I guess the age of my wild caughts of 2.5 years, since I am keeping them now for more than 2 years.
Yaoshanicus normalis like to stay together. Sometimes they have body contact. They also like to rest on the bottom, just lying on the gravel with the belly.
Imagine, I kept them over 1.5 years and during this time they did not show any mating behaviour. This is absolutely untypical for barbs. Nevertheless I tried my first breeding setup in November 2007. I placed the male and 2 females in 70 x 50 x 35 cm fully decorated tank. When I got up the next morning they were spawning. I could not believe! The thermometer displayed a little less than 20ºC. The male was propelling both females through the tank, one by one. They showed a conspicuous coloration during courtship similar to the night coloration.
The male is chasing a female, both in courtship coloration; flanks are blueish purple, females show a red anal fin and red center rays of the caudal fin.
Usually the male drives the female into plant clusters, the more dense the better. Seldom, but also the singular roots of an Anubias were used as spawning spot. Once the female sticks in the dense vegetation the male tries to manage to come on her lateral side. Now the male uses his anal region to push her laterally coming into a S-formation. This moment takes approximately 2 seconds maximum. In the heat of the spawning the male flaps his tail in barb manner over her posterior dorsal region (behind the dorsal fin). This is the moment of eggs and sperm release. Due to the motion of the males tail flapping – fore and back – the eggs are spread over the substrate.
A pair spawning in dense clusters of Java fern. The eggs are scattered throughout the tank.
The scattered eggs stick everywhere. As you can easily gather from this picture the fertilization rate is low.
The male’s pressure is considerably. I witnessed completely exhausted females lying on the gravel bottom or hanging in the plants. Once a female rested for almost 30 seconds heavily breathing after the spawning act. Being a gentlemen during ordinary aquarium maintenance, the male now develops extreme aggression against females not ready to spawn. The aggression are directed against the females flanks. Sometimes there are 2 to 3 vertical rows of scales in the anterior area of the female’s flanks (in front of the dorsal fin) bitten of by the male. Even the dorsal fin is damaged from time to time. All my females make a very pathetic impression after spawning.
A female after spawning; usually the flanks are marked by the male’s bites. When kept under good conditions in water with low bacteria rate the wounds heal quickly.
The male’s pressure is considerably. I witnessed completely exhausted females lying on the gravel bottom or in the plants. Once a female rested for almost 30 seconds in an unnatural pose caught in the plants and heavily breathing after the spawning act. Being a gentlemen during ordinary aquarium maintenance, the male now develops extreme aggression against females not ready to spawn. The aggression are directed against the females flanks. Sometimes there are 2 to 3 vertical rows of scales in the anterior area of the female’s flanks (in front of the dorsal fin) bitten of by the male. Even the dorsal fin is damaged from time to time. All my females make a very pathetic impression after spawning.
So far I undertake 2 spawning setups, both ended successfully already on the next day. I am now about to undertake another one, just for photographic purpose.
The water parameters of the second setup were as follows:
Temperature 21 ºC
pH 7.9
Conductivity 260 µS/cm
TDS 130 ppm
The fertilization rate in both spawns was at around 60%. The maximum quantity of eggs released per female should be around 800.
The fry hatches 1 day later hanging in the plants, roots or other aquarium decoration. No more than 8 days later the fry is up swimming taking it’s first food. Nauplii of Artemia or Cyclops are eagerly taken. The fry is hardy and easy to raise. Since I don’t know anybody who is interested in some Yaoshanicus I fed the bulk of them to my always hungry Opsariichthys bidens.
Jjuvenile males start courting at an age of 5 months. I am not sure if they are really able to reproduce at this age. Reproduction is easily and reliably triggered by massive water changes with cool water, which let the temperature drop down by some 4 ºC.
Yaoshanicus normalis is not eye-catching beautifully colored, but easy to keep and breed. Therefore it makes a recommendable selection for any community tank. According to my information Y. normalis has unfortunately not been made available yet for western fish nuts through exports.
Marco Endruweit, 2008-4-6, modified on 2008-4-19
