The crazy fish is a freshwater fish that is known for its active and playful personality. This fish is relatively easy to care for, making it one of the best choices for beginners.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about crazy fish care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
Crazy fish (scientific name: Chilatherina wakandae) are found in New Guinea, specifically in the rivers of the Fly and Ok Tedi basins.
They prefer slow-moving waters with plenty of vegetation, which is something that’s common among many freshwater fish species.
Crazy fish are relatively peaceful, although they can be a bit nippy toward other fish that are similar in size. They are also known to be quite shy, so it’s important to provide them with plenty of hiding places in their tank.
The main attraction of crazy fish is their bright blue coloration. This makes them stand out in any aquarium and is sure to catch the eye of anyone who sees them.
Appearance
The Crazy fish is a brightly colored freshwater fish that is sure to stand out in any aquarium. They have a very striking coloration that is made up of a few different shades.
The body of the fish is a dark greenish-black. This color extends from the top of their head all the way to the bottom of their tail.
On the sides of their body, you’ll find a bright yellow stripe. This stripe starts at the gills and extends all the way back to the caudal peduncle.
Just above this stripe, there is another one that is bright orange. This stripe is a bit thinner than the yellow one and doesn’t extend the full length of the body.
The fins on this fish are also brightly colored. The dorsal fin is tall and thin with a yellow stripe running down the center. The anal fin is similar in shape and also has a yellow stripe.
The caudal fin is forked and has a yellow and black coloration. The pectoral and ventral fins are both clear.
Crazy fish also have a very distinctive face. They have large eyes that sit on the top of their head. They also have a large mouth that extends past their eyes.
Lifespan
There is no one definitive answer to this question. The lifespan of a crazy fish can vary greatly depending on the species, the environment, and the level of care it receives. Some crazy fish might only live for a few months, while others could potentially live for several years.
Size
Crazy Fish can grow to be about 3 inches long.
Tank
Tank Size
The recommended tank size for crazy fish is at least 10 gallons. If you’re planning on keeping more than one fish, you’ll need to add an additional 2 to 4 gallons of space per fish.
Crazy fish are a bit more active than some of the other fish on this list and they do best in tanks that are at least 20 gallons.
Water Parameters
Crazy fish are very sensitive to changes in water parameters. It is important to maintain a consistent environment to prevent stress and illness.
- Water Temperature: 73-79 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH Levels: 6.5-7.5
- Water hardness: 5-19 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 3-10 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
When it comes to setting up the inside of an aquarium for crazy fish, you have a few options. You can either go with a standard setup that includes a few basic decorations, or you can get creative and include a bunch of different things.
We recommend some of the standard decorations that you find in a lot of freshwater tanks. There are a ton of great plants you can include (like hornwort or water wisteria). You can even throw in some floating aquarium plants too!
Rocks, driftwood, and caves are all suitable as well. It’s important to avoid going overboard with this since these fish like some room to swim.
Also, if you’re keeping your crazy fish in a smaller tank then it’s going to be difficult to include a lot of this stuff anyway.
A classic gravel substrate is always a good choice, but you can do with something soft and sandy if needed too (use other species you keep as a guide with this).
Common Diseases
There are a few diseases that you’ll want to keep an eye out for with your crazy fish. They aren’t prone to sickness like some other species of fish, but they aren’t immune to subpar living conditions either.
The first one that you’ll want to be aware of is hole-in-the-head disease. This is a rather gruesome looking illness that stems from poor water quality and the presence of activated carbon in your tank.
This will present itself as one or two pits/holes in the skin of your crazy fish’s head. While it’s almost always curable (fixing your water quality and removing activated carbon is usually all you need to do), it will usually leave some scarring on your poor fish!
The other disease you should keep in mind is ich. This is a very common parasitic infection that can affect any fish, regardless of species.
This will show itself as white spots on the body, fish, and gills of your fish. We won’t do a full ich treatment guide here (there are plenty of those online) but it’s something you need to take very seriously if it affects your crazy fish.
Behavior & Temperament
Crazy fish are known for their high energy and playful nature. They are often the first to greet you at the glass and are always up for a game of catch. These fish are also known to be curious and can be found exploring their tank and investigating their tank mates.
While they are generally peaceful, crazy fish can be nippy and may harass other fish in the tank. They are also known to jump out of the tank, so it is important to have a lid on their tank.
Tank Mates
Crazy fish are best kept with other peaceful fish that can handle similar water conditions. These fish are not too picky and will do well in a variety of tanks.
Some good tank mates for crazy fish include:
- Neon Tetras
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Platies
- Swordtails
- Danios
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Breeding
Crazy fish are known for being, well, crazy. They’re active, playful, and always on the move. That energy level can make them a challenge to keep in an aquarium, but it also makes them a lot of fun to watch.
If you’re thinking about breeding crazy fish, you need to be prepared for a bit of a challenge. These fish are not easy to breed in captivity. In fact, it’s estimated that only about 10% of fry survive to adulthood.
The first step is to set up a breeding tank. It should be at least 20 gallons and filled with soft, acidic water. You can use a sponge filter to help keep the water clean.
Next, you need to add some plants. Crazy fish like to hide, so add plenty of dense vegetation. Java moss is a good option.
Now it’s time to add the fish. You’ll need at least one male and one female, but it’s best to add more. A ratio of 2:1 (male to female) is a good place to start.
Once the fish are in the tank, it’s time to wait. These fish are known for being finicky breeders, so it might take a while for them to get comfortable and start spawning.
When they’re finally ready, you’ll see the female lay eggs on the plants. The male will then fertilize them.
At this point, it’s critical that you remove the adults from the tank. If you don’t, they will eat the eggs.
The eggs will hatch in about a week. Once they hatch, you can start feeding the fry live foods like brine shrimp or daphnia.
Crazy fish are notoriously difficult to breed, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see success right away. Keep trying and you might just get lucky.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few things to consider before you add a crazy fish to your tank.
They can be a lot of fun to watch, but you need to make sure that you’re prepared to deal with their potential problems.
If you think you can handle a crazy fish, then we say go for it! They’re unique and interesting fish that will add some excitement to your tank.
