Green Giant, also known as "Giant Pearl", is an ornamental fish. It is a noble member of the Texas Leopard family and is mainly found in North America and Mexico. It is a carnivorous and aggressive fish species that is not suitable for cohabitation with small fish. It has a strong physique and can generally grow in various water qualities, with the optimal water temperature being 22-26 degrees. It has a small appetite.
Common names: Green Texas Leopard
Scientific name: Herichthyscarpintis
Geographical distribution: North America, Mexico
Adult fish length: 20.0-30.0cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Reproduction method: Oviparous
Green Giant is a noble member of the Texas Leopard family. Hong Kong compatriots call this fish "Giant Pearl" because its body color is very green, so it is called "Green Giant" in mainland China, which is equivalent to "Giant Pearl". Some novices see the first impression and think that this fish is an ordinary Texas Leopard, but it is definitely different from ordinary Texas Leopard.
Green Giant is basically covered with large and dense green pearl spots all over its body. At least 2 centimeters starts to have shiny pearl spots on the fins. The ink marks on the body are not regular, and there will be 1-3 or 4 black spots more or less; while ordinary Texas Leopard has the same size and light blue shiny scales, which feels a little fleshy and not as shiny as Green Giant. Green Giants may have black sand on the dorsal fin when they are young, but it will fade away when they grow up, while ordinary Texas Leopards do not have it. The eyes of Green Giants, whether they are adults or juveniles, present a purple halo at certain angles, while ordinary Texas Leopards are only yellow.
Some mature Texas Leopards are sold as Green Giants in the market. For such a large fish, the head shape is also a distinguishing aspect. Firstly, the head shape of Green Giants is rounded and smooth, while ordinary Texas Leopards have some hard angles and feel like powerful strokes.
When Green Giants grow to 8-10 centimeters, the original pearl spots begin to evolve into a line-like bright pattern, which can be called "worm pattern". Such patterns winding all over the body do look somewhat interesting. Female fish may show this pattern to a lesser extent, but male fish are indeed strong in this aspect.
If you love to watch fish, it is recommended to keep Green Giant, which is a typical omnivorous fish. So don't worry about it not liking to eat, just as long as it can eat. According to friends with experience in raising Green Giants, if you want them to grow faster, you can buy some red worms to feed them, or buy some specialized fish food for Green Giants. However, you must pay attention to the size of the pellets, it is best to buy small pellets, such as sinking type rainbow specialized feed, which is about 500g per pack; you can also buy some specialized shrimp feed and feed it after cutting it into small pieces. It is important to note that you should not feed too much feed at once, otherwise it will pollute the water quality.
Green Giant fish is susceptible to parasitic infections such as ich and white spots due to its scales not being completely wrapped, so powerful filtration and good water quality are key.
If you want to place driftwood, it must be processed and soaked for a long time. New wood will grow fungi and release substances, causing imbalanced pH in the water.
To ensure the oxygen content in the water, use airstones or bubble bars to aerate. If the water has many fish, it needs to be aerated all day long. With higher oxygen levels, even if the fish gets sick, you have time to treat it.
To keep fish well, you need to have some medication on hand. It may be too late if the fish gets sick and you have to go buy them.
Be prepared with malachite green powder, potassium permanganate, and aquarium-specific antibacterial salt to treat both internal and external bacterial infections.
Finally, if you can breed Green Giant fish, you need to have a breeding tank. It is better than having the fry on your filter or heater, and it doesn't cost much.
1. Aquarium Landscape: In order to provide a good growth environment for the Texas Leopard, the aquarium should be filled with substrate and some aquatic plants should be planted to enhance its ornamental value. In addition, some rocks can be placed inside to provide a breeding ground and a place for fish eggs to attach to.
2. Water Temperature and Quality: The Texas Leopard prefers to live in slightly acidic water and does not have high requirements for water quality. As a tropical fish, the water temperature should be maintained between 22-26°C, with a minimum of no less than 20°C, in order for the fish to grow healthily. In addition, regular water changes should be conducted, with about one-third of the water volume changed each time.
3. Regular Feeding: The Texas Leopard is a carnivorous fish. It is usually fed with red worms, water worms, and mealworms. Small fish and shrimps can also be fed, but their size should not be too large for the fish's small mouth, otherwise it will not be able to eat them. If live bait is used for feeding, disinfection should be done properly.
4. Caution in Keeping with Other Fish: The Texas Leopard is a large ornamental fish and has an aggressive temperament. It shows no mercy towards smaller fish, so it is usually not suitable for cohabitation, as the smaller fish will be eaten. If cohabitation is necessary, larger fish such as map fish can be considered.
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