Ecology Summary - Copella arnoldi
Ecology of Copella arnoldi
 
Main Ref. Mills, D. and G. Vevers, 1989
Remarks Occurs in groups at the surface of small creeks with clear waters. Also found in ponds where it is found together with Rivulus (Ref. 27188). Feeds on Ephemeroptera larvae and ants (Ref. 12225); also on worms, insects and crustaceans (Ref. 7020). Known among aquarists by its unique breeding behavior and parental care: male and the female line up side by side at the surface of the water and jump together out of the water, to spawn. The fertilized eggs are then laid on the underside of an emergent leaf and the male then splashes them with its tail for about three days until they hatch, hence the popular name 'Splash tetra'. It was also observed that just before lining up to jump out of the water toward the upper glass of the aquarium, the female follows the male, touching her abdomen at the anterodorsal portion of the male several times, swimming agitatedly (Ref. 137764).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Copella arnoldi may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Mills, D. and G. Vevers, 1989
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Mills, D. and G. Vevers, 1989
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 3.26 0.40 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. oophagy)
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