Leporinus Lipstick 6cm

Leporinus Lipstick

If you're after a bold, active fish with a touch of flair, the Leporinus Lipstick is hard to ignore. This striking mid-to-large-sized fish gets its nickname from the vivid, cherry-red colouration around its mouth, giving it the distinct appearance of having put on a bright coat of lipstick. Combined with its sleek, torpedo-shaped body and horizontal black-and-yellow banding, the lipstick leporinus is a visual standout in any aquarium and brings a high-energy personality to match.

Leporinus are part of the Anostomidae family and are native to river systems across Central and South America. The arcus variety tends to be one of the more peaceful Leporinus species, making it a great entry into the genus for aquarists interested in something a little different. As juveniles, they are incredibly fast and curious, darting around the tank and exploring every inch of their environment. With age, their bold markings deepen and their "lipstick" becomes more vibrant, especially in well-fed and healthy specimens. These fish can grow fairly large, reaching up to 20 cm, so a spacious tank is essential. They also appreciate strong currents and clean, oxygen-rich water. While not aggressive, Leporinus can be boisterous and may nip at very slow or delicate tank mates, so choosing companions with care is important.

Whilst lipstick leporinus have been bred in captivity the information is quite limited; these are an egg-laying fish with reports suggesting that the parents will create a nest and guard the laid eggs until they hatch. Sexing these fish is also quite difficult, as males and females have no distinguishing factors either. The best bet to breed these fish would be to put them in a species-only tank and trigger spawning through feeding high-protein foods, doing water changes, and temperature fluctuations.

Tank Recommendations for your lipstick Leporinus

As the lipstick leporinus do reach around 20 cm, but more importantly are incredibly active, it is best to keep them in an aquarium with a minimum volume of 200 litres. This ensures that they can be kept in a trio, which would be their bare minimum school, whilst also having ample swimming space. These fish are not plant safe and will basically shred or eat any plant added to the aquarium. They are mostly mid to top water-dwelling fish, so the choice of substrate and aquarium hardscape is not a major concern. They are however excellent jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is a must for the aquarium. These are also tropical fish which are best kept at 24-26 degrees.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The lipstick leporinus is a peaceful fish and can generally be kept with smaller and larger peaceful fish. It is however, best to avoid slow-moving nano fish that would fit in their mouth. There are also reports that lipstick leporinus can be severe fin nippers, so avoiding long-finned species is also ideal.

Usually Compatible
Severum, Geophagus, corydoras, plecos, rainbowfish, large tetras, Raphael catfish, and other fast-moving or medium to larger-sized, peaceful community fish.

Sometimes Compatible

Angelfish, oscars, discus, black widow tetras, and other semi-aggressive, long-finned or slower-moving fish.

Rarely Compatible

Aggressive species that may prey on the lipstick leporinus. Any incredibly small species, such as shrimp and neon tetras, should be avoided as they may be eaten by the leporinus.

Feeding your Lipstick Leoprinus

Lipstick Leoprinus will take to aquarium foods very easily. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. By giving them a varied diet, it ensures that they have optimal nutrition. The ideal diet would be a good quality floating food, supplemented with green and veggie matter like lettuce, zuchinni, and even pumpkin.