[robertprice]

The Festivum is one of the oldest fish ever kept by aquarists, dating back to 1908, It's Latin name, Mesonauta festivus means festive middle sailor, referring to the fish's handsome appearance and tendency to stay in the middle levels of the water. They are great companion fish for Angelfish. They come from the Amazon, live in 73-82 degree moderately hard water, at pH 6.5 to 7.5. They get 5-6 inches long, but rare indivudals grow over 8 inches in captivity. Females are genrally slightly smaller but hey can only be sexed by venting. They need a 25 gallon tank for one, or a community 55 gallon.

The color pattern is complex, and the most noticeable feature is the dark thick diagonal stripe that extends from the rear of the dorsal fin through the eye to the mouth. The eye is red. There are 7 vertical faint brown body stripes. The base color above the stripe is dark brown, and below is silvery green-yellow. Most of the fins are tinged with yellow. The Festivum has a pointy head and a deep square body with the Dorsal, Ventral and **** fins long and pointed and extending back horizontally. (See Images of Festivum.)

They are peaceful omnivores which eat most foods. They will eat guppy sized fish though. They are also social and like to live in small groups. They are prone to jumping when scared, so should be in a covered tank.