Stiphodon Semoni

Datasheet

Behaviour

Stiphodon spp. can be kept in a community tank with peaceful, similarly-sized species that inhabit well-oxygenated streams. Suitable tankmates include Tanichthys, Microdevario, smaller Danio species, various characids, small poeciliid livebearers, and freshwater shrimp of the genera Caridina and Neocaridina. It is advisable to avoid aggressive feeders like many Schistura spp. Larger fishes should be omitted, while non-predatory, surface-dwelling species may be added in large setups. Males of Stiphodon spp. are loosely territorial, especially during breeding, but several can coexist if there is enough space and food. Females typically exist in loose groups, making it recommended to have a single male with two or more females. They can differentiate between females of different species.

Feeding and Diet

Specialized algal grazers, Stiphodon spp. feed on benthic algae and associated microorganisms. Their diet includes sinking dried products, small meaty foods like bloodworms, and vegetable matter. A mature aquarium with abundant algae-covered surfaces is essential for their long-term health. Providing a separate container with algae-covered rocks may be necessary if algae growth in the main tank is insufficient. Different algal types are preferred, such as diatoms, cyanobacteria, and green varieties. Due to their specialized diet, Stiphodon spp. are often seen emaciated in the aquarium trade, requiring a consistent source of suitable foods for recovery.

Reproduction & Dimorphism

Stiphodon spp. have a complex breeding strategy called amphidromy, where adults spawn in freshwater streams, and post-hatch larvae are carried downstream to the sea before migrating back upstream. Females can lay up to 10,000 eggs attached to solid surfaces. Males initiate spawning, guard the eggs, and care for the fry once hatched. Sexual dimorphism in Stiphodon spp. is pronounced, with males displaying a grey base body color and a bright blue to greenish lateral stripe, while females are lighter with a dark zig-zag lateral stripe.

Habitat and Distribution

Found in short coastal streams on tropical islands, Stiphodon spp. inhabit well-oxygenated, clear waters above waterfalls or cataracts. Their habitats consist of bedrock substrates with rocks and boulders, lacking aquatic plants but rich in biofilm. They actively select specific substrate types, exhibiting unique behaviors related to rock sizes. Stiphodon species are primarily tropical Indo-Pacific residents, with some also found in the eastern Indian Ocean, extending to Sri Lanka. The range of Stiphodon semoni includes western Sumatra, Indonesia, northern Papua New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands.