bam Demanding level

Saigon River floodplain, Binh Duong, Vietnam

Viet Nam, Binh Duong Province

Dermogenys pusilla is a very common fish found in almost any body of water with slow-moving or still water around my area. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the unique appearance of these fish, yet I rarely see anyone recreate its biotope or the Saigon River environment in general. This has motivated me to give it a try and mimic a fraction of the Saigon River floodplain in my area.

Submitted by: Nguyen Minh Tri
Approved by: Heiko Blessin, Heok Hee Ng & Greg Martin

GPS: 10.9245119, 106.6821289

Geographical region: Southeastern Asia
Drainage Basin
River catchment: Saigon
Water body type: Wetland
Water body name: Floodplain
Water body part
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: fresh-water
Water color: White water
Water transparency: Low
Concentration of sediments: High
Water temperature: 27 °C
Water flow/curent: Slow

Chemical parameters

pH: 7
Conductivity
GH: 214 mg/l
dGH
KH: 107 mg/l
dKH
Dissolved Oxygen

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

February, 2024

Aquarium decoration

I tried to recreate the riparian zone of the floodplain where tree roots are exposed and emergent plants grow densely along the shore. Initially, I planned to include a part of the terrestrial area near the edge, but since my aquarium is not very big, it would take up a lot of space.

The substrate includes mud, twigs and dead leaves that can be found in and around the area to imitate the bottom of the floodplain as much as possible. This helps create a more natural and authentic environment for the inhabitants. The water is kept slightly tinted to enhance the lighting effect.

I was told that many parts of Barringtonia acutangula are poisonous to fish. While this may not affect fish in the wild since the water in the area is not stagnant and mostly affected by the river, it’s a different story in a closed habitat like an aquarium. So I replaced them with leaves of Terminalia catappa (which is also a common tree here) for fish safety. The roots and branches are also thoroughly treated before being added to the aquarium.

Aquarium equipment

Filtration: Sobo WP-707c
Lighting : Odyssea T5 HO Dual Pro
No heater is needed since it’s warm all year round

Fish care

All species in the aquarium were caught from the same biotope. I chose similarly-sized and peaceful tankmates for the Dermogenys pusilla. Since the tank is relatively small, I can’t keep many of them.

Feeding once a day with Infusoria, small worms, flake food.

Fishlist:

Dermogenys pusilla (Hemiramphidae) – 3
Poecilia reticulata (Poeciliidae), invasive – 4
Oryzias minutillus (Adrianichthyidae) – 2

Molluscs:

Filopaludina sumatrensis (Viviparidae) – 1
Radix rubiginosa (Lymnaeidae) – several

Crustaceans:

Caridina flavilineata (Atyidae) – 1

Plant care

8 hours of light per day. Occasional trimming to create space for fish to swim through. No fertilizer is needed for now since the substrate is rich in nutrients.

Aquatic plants: