Varzea tributaries
During the rainy season, the Amazon floods thousands of km² of forest. Fish swim among the roots and fallen leaves of trees that are normally above ground.
Description
The “várzea” or igapó is a seasonally flooded forest. Fish swim among the submerged roots in search of fallen fruit, insects, and seeds. The water is rich in organic matter—full of leaves, debris, and microorganisms.
Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.0 (variable) |
| GH | 1–8 °dGH |
| Temperature | 26 – 30°C |
Decor
- Intertwined roots resembling the buttress roots of tropical trees
- Leaves in abundance covering the substrate
- Dried fruits/pods from tropical trees (alder cones, terminalia)
- Dense floating plants that filter the light
Species
- Metynnis hypsauchen (coinfish — herbivore)
- Mylossoma duriventre (herbivorous—frugivorous piranhas)
- Colossoma macropomum (tambaquí — very large, for large aquariums or ponds)
- Hoplias malabaricus (tararira — carnivorous predator)
- Eigenmannia virescens (green knife)