Bucktooth tetra

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Bucktooth tetra
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae Genus: Exodon Species: E. paradoxus
Binomial name
Exodon paradoxus Müller and Troschel, 1844

The bucktooth tetra (Exodon paradoxus) is the only member of the genus Exodon and is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. It is native to South America.

This species is of typical elongated tetra appearance; it is light tan in appearance with two distinct black spots (one before the tail and another below the dorsal fin). The dorsal fin is bright red. The most obvious feature of the bucktooth are its large protruding teeth. It grows to a maximum overall length of approximately 12 cm (4.7 in).

The fish's natural diet consist of small invertebrates, other fish, and plants. It is not a safe tank mate for fellow tetra because it will eat small fish and it is not a safe tank mate for larger species because it is a notorious scale eating fish. Bucktooth tetra are best alone or in large planted tanks with adequate coverage for other species. They are best kept in shoals of 8 or more, a shoal that is less than 8 will pick at each other and stress the exodons to a point where it will catch some disease or will die of fatal wounds.

Synonyms include Epicyrtus paradoxus and Hystricodon paradoxus.

[edit] References

• "Exodon paradoxus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.