Four-eyes

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Scientific Name

Anableps anableps

Min. Tank Size

100 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

75-82°F

pH

6.5-8.0/5-20°dGH

Size

12"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Livebearer

Compatibility

Best kept in a species tank with a minimum of 6 or more of their own species – if your budget permits, more is better; in larger tanks possible tankmates would include Gobies and Mollies.

Four-eyes

Four-eyes are named for their unique eye structure which allows them to see above and below water at the same time. These fish live in schools and are naturally found in both freshwater and brackish environments along the coast of north-eastern South America and into parts of Brazil. Four-eyes tend to spend a great deal of time at the surface of the water where they actively prey on terrestrial insects, invertebrates and small fish. This species has also been known to survive out of the water for short periods of time during low tide – some specimens have even been observed jumping out of the water into the mud to lay in the sun for several minutes at a time.

Tank Set-Up

This species comes from such a varied habitat that it is not very picky when it comes to water conditions in the home aquarium. Four-Eyes can tolerate salinity levels up to 30% and prefer warm, tropical temperatures. These fish are best kept in shallow water no deeper than 6 inches, since most of their time will be spent at the surface. In the wild, Four-eyes will leap onto the bank after small insects or other prey, so provide an area in the tank to allow this behavior. Stacking larger river stones from the bottom of the tank to just under the water level, say 1″ or less, could accomplish this. A combination of mud and stones could also be used. Strong, efficient filtration is a must to control the amount of waste this species produces. Cover the tank bottom with small gravel or sand with the addition of some well placed driftwood protuding through the surface of the water to complete the look. A layer of humid air is also important to further mimic their natural environment and provide for optimum living conditions. Because these fish are excellent jumpers, it is wise to keep a tight-fitting lid on the aquarium!

Feeding

Four-Eyes feed primarily on insects in their natural habitat, so live foods should be a major component of their diet when kept in the home aquarium. These fish will readily accept fruit flies, bloodworms, brine shrimp and chopped earthworms as supplements to a dried food diet. Feeding a regular varied diet will help to ensure optimum health and coloration. It is important to include as part of the regular diet a floating flake containing Spirulina. Bright light in the aquarium will also help to promote the growth of algae, which they will happily feed on.

Breeding

Breeding this species is most likely to occur when they are kept in mixed-sex groups. Four-Eyes are viviparous which means that the eggs are retained inside the body and receive nutrients from the mother. The gestation period for these fish is around 12 weeks and the female may become hostile and territorial just before giving birth. The fry are born fully-formed and usually measure between 1.5 to 2″ in length.