Blue fish. Aquarium fish red, black, blue, white, yellow: photos with names. Aquarium fish are predatory and peaceful, peace-loving: names, photos Care in the aquarium

This is the fish I came across on the Internet. A very popular photo. I started looking for what kind of miracle of nature this was. I heard mentions of bluefish somewhere, but I couldn’t find any evidence. I was already beginning to doubt the authenticity of the photo, but here is this video:

Quite similar to the fish as in the photo, only smaller. How do you think? So what is it called anyway? I kept digging and found this blue fish:

This eastern blue groper (lat. Achoerodus viridis) from the wrasse family can hardly be called photogenic, but the fact that he loves to be photographed is a fact.

Just look at the close-up pictures, where he seems to be posing for a photo album about the life of Australian fish. Moreover, he is no stranger to popularity: in 1998, residents of New South Wales chose the eastern blue groper as the emblem of their state.

Found in the coastal waters of southern Australia, eastern blue gropers are known for their rich, dark blue coloration, sometimes with a metallic sheen. True, only adult males are blue, while juveniles and females are brown or greenish-brown, often with a red tint. The main features of eastern blue gropers are a clumsy body, crooked sparse teeth, large scales and thick lips.

Every Blue Groper is born female, and Eastern Gropers are no exception. Growing up, they go through several stages of development, eventually acquiring permanent characteristics of one gender or another. They typically grow up to 1.2 meters in length and can weigh around twenty-two kilograms, although fish weighing over fifteen kilograms are rare.

The native environment of eastern blue gropers is calm waters close to the shore at a depth of up to forty meters. Here they settle among the corals and hunt the ocean creatures that live there: sea urchins, crabs and mussels.

The Eastern Blue Groper has a larger cousin, the Western Blue Groper, which weighs about forty kilograms and grows up to one and a half meters in length.

Variety of aquarium fish by color. Aquarium fish and their behavior according to the variety. The most unusual and exotic aquarium fish.

• Aquarium fish can attract the attention of even the most indifferent people. It is simply impossible to pass by a beautiful aquarium with clear water and fish smoothly moving through it
• It is believed that contemplating an aquarium and its inhabitants calms the nerves and puts one in a balanced mood.
• In this article we will try to figure out what types and colors of aquarium fish there are, what behavior patterns these fish have, and how best to organize their living together in the same aquarium

Black aquarium fish, photos with names

Most aquarium fish with black colors are artificially bred. Breeders tried to create more frightening and fascinating black individuals from the standard colors of various types of fish.

Black Goldfish

• Over the many years of existence of this type of fish, such as goldfish, many varieties have been bred through selective breeding. One of these varieties is a goldfish with a black color.
• When setting up an aquarium with black goldfish, it is better not to use any algae, as they will definitely eat it. White ground will look very stylish with such colors of fish, because black and white compositions are always in trend
• It is better not to combine goldfish living in the same aquarium with exotic representatives of the fish family. This is explained by the latter’s non-acceptance of too low temperatures, which are shown to goldfish, and a large number of products of their vital activity
• The most unusual black goldfish is considered to be the black telescope

Miniature black fish

• This category includes fish of the Picilian family. In this family there are several varieties of fish with black colors: guppies, swordtails, mollies and platies
• Swordtails and mollies, as a rule, have a completely black, velor surface. But guppies and platies have a black pearlescent color with a green tint
• All small fish of the Picilian family live in schools, and quite amicably. The best company for them in the aquarium will be the black Ornathus phantom

Black barbs

• Of course, it’s difficult to call this fish completely black, because its head is bright red.
• Barbs live in flocks of six
• Such fish are quite active, so in an aquarium it is better to combine them with equally active fish, otherwise they can frighten off calmer representatives of the fish family with their agility.

• In addition to the black ornatus phantom, black angelfish can easily get along with poeciliid fish. She has a calm and rather peaceful character
• Angelfish have a very unusual, flat, crescent-shaped fin shape
• When setting up an aquarium for angelfish, it is necessary to provide a large amount of algae. Fishes love them very much

Apteronot

• Apteronot (also known as black knife or black knifefly) is a bottom-dwelling fish with an elongated body shape and an unusual fin along the entire belly. This fin allows the apterone to swim in all directions.
• It is better to keep a black knife in quantity of one piece, as it shows quite strong aggression towards representatives of its breed of fish. At the same time, it is quite friendly towards angelfish and mollies. The black knifefly may mistake fish that are too small for food
• Adult Apteronots can reach a length of up to twenty centimeters

Black cichlids

• Black cichlids are a favorite of many fish breeders. They are believed to be endowed with a certain intelligence. Some aquarium lovers claim that cichlidia can be tamed and even stroked with your hand right in the aquarium
• Black cichlids are long-lived. In good conditions, such fish can live up to twenty years.
• It is better to keep black cichlids in a species aquarium. However, thanks to their unusual appearance, even a couple of fish such as Astronotus “Black Star” and Pseudotropheus Chameleon will look impressive alone in the entire aquarium

Black Shark

• The Labeo fish owes its name to its sharp fin on its back. Thanks to him and the shape of the body itself, the labeo has some similarity with an ordinary shark
• But not only the appearance of the labeo resembles a shark - it is a very aggressive fish. Therefore it is better to keep it separately
• In addition, labeo, with rather large dimensions of the aquarium, can reach a length of up to thirty centimeters
• The younger brother of the black labeo, the bicolor labeo, differs from her in the red color of her tail. This fish is more friendly, so it can easily get along in the same aquarium with angelfish and poeciliids.

Red aquarium fish

Red is perhaps the most common color for aquarium fish.

Glossolepis

• Glossolepis or red smelt is one of the most striking representatives of the fish of the iris family.
• It is advisable to select a large aquarium for silverside (from one hundred liters). This way the fish will be able to reach their maximum size.
• An aquarium with glossolepsis must have lush vegetation. These fish have no habit of spoiling it
• It is best to breed red silversides in flocks of up to ten individuals.
• Glossolepsis lives up to five years

• The red parrot is a rather cute hybrid fish that was bred in Thailand and Singapore. Upon closer examination, you can see that she seems to be pronouncing the letter “O” or smiling modestly
• The red parrot is considered quite peaceful and can get along in an aquarium with almost any fish
• In a large aquarium, such a fish can reach twenty centimeters in length. But, as an option, fish sellers can also offer dwarf red parrots for smaller aquariums

sword bearer

• Swordtails are prominent representatives of the poeciliaceae family. They owe their name to the appendage of the tail, which appears in males during puberty and is shaped like a sword.
• Swordtails live in flocks. They can be bred both in small aquariums and in reservoirs with large capacity. In this case, their size can reach its maximum: for males it is ten centimeters (without a sword), for females it is twelve
• In the aquarium, swordtails get along with all peace-loving fish. The exception is fish with veil fins. Such fins cannot go unnoticed by swordtails.
• The lifespan of these fish is up to five years

• Minor (aka red tetra, also known as bloody tetra) is a small aquarium fish, reaching a maximum size of five centimeters
• The body of the tetra is colored red (in males the color is brighter and more saturated) with black spots located immediately behind the gills. In addition, its fins are colored in black and white and black and red stripes.
• Minors are quite friendly fish, so they can be placed in an aquarium with other non-predatory fish
• Tetras love algae very much and do not harm them. Therefore, it is advisable to plant the aquarium with plants as much as possible.

Goldfish in their collection also have representatives with red-orange, red-white-black colors.

• The handsome Chromis is red in color with white pearlescent spots.
• These fish love a lot of space (the aquarium should be at least two hundred liters). Only in such conditions will they be less aggressive and will not pose a danger to their peace-loving neighbors
• Chromis love plants, but they need to be well rooted and secured in the ground, since fish sometimes dig in the ground (especially during the spawning period)

Flower Horn

Flower Horn

• This type of fish is considered an exotic representative from Southeast Asia. The secret of their selection has not yet been revealed - breeders prefer to keep it secret
• The flower has a bright red color with white and black patterns, shaped like hieroglyphs. On the head of this fish there is a kind of bag with adipose tissue. The larger the bag, the fish is considered more expensive and more elite. In females such bags are barely noticeable
• The length of the flowers is up to thirty centimeters. However, in some large aquariums there are individuals up to forty centimeters
• Flowers prefer to live in large aquariums (from two hundred liters)
• Flower horns more or less get along with chainmail and armored catfish, diamond cichlasomas, astronotus, managua, labiatum and arowana

• White aquarium fish are considered quite rare and expensive. This is explained by the fact that the albinism gene is not dominant, and therefore is very quickly lost in subsequent generations. Based on this, breeding white fish is not an easy task.
• The difficulty of keeping albino fish is that almost all fish diseases, as a rule, manifest themselves through a light coating on the surface of the scales. It is very difficult to notice such manifestations of the disease on fish with a white or transparent color.
• In addition, in order to have a beautiful aquarium with white fish, it is advisable to select a dark background that matches them. This way the fish will be more clearly visible and will not blend in with other elements of the aquarium.

Among goldfish you can also find albino fish: these are representatives of such breeds as Shubunkin, Comet, Telescopes, Eyes and Orandas.

Small fish

Silver mollies

Fish of the poeciliaceae family can also be albino. Their names always include a color: silver molly, White Prince guppy, Pearl scarlet guppy and Bulgarian white swordtail.

Catfish

Speckled white corydoras catfish are very friendly and calm inhabitants of the bottom of the aquarium.

Such fish are found in white and golden tint.

Cockerels

An incredibly beautiful fish is the white cockerel. His chic tail and fins will not leave anyone indifferent.

These charming fish are also called “angel fish”.

White cichlids

Cichlid White Prince

White cichlids, like black ones, are quite aggressive fish, so it is best to keep them in a species aquarium.

Albino cyclids include pseudotropheus and astronotus.

Blue aquarium fish

Fish with blue colors will look great in any aquarium and will become its true decoration.

Afiosemion

• Afiosemion belongs to the carp-toothed family
• These fish have an oblong body up to ten centimeters in length.
• Afysemions are quite friendly and can easily share the same aquarium with other small, non-predatory fish
• An aquarium of fifty liters or more is suitable for aphisemions.

Belkeya

• Belkeya (blue tetra or bluish boelka) belongs to the characite family
• This is a small fish with an oblong body up to five centimeters in length.
• The blue tetra is a peace-loving fish and can get along with equally calm fish
• The recommended aquarium volume for the bluish boiler is from fifty liters

• The blue guppy belongs to the poeciliaceae family.
• This is a small fish up to five centimeters in length with a gorgeous tail.
• Guppies live in flocks in aquariums of 50 liters or more

Lamprichthys

• Another poeciliid fish is lamprichthys. However, unlike its relatives, this fish can reach a length of up to twenty centimeters
• Lamprichthys likes to live in aquariums of over one hundred liters with other large friendly fish

• This fish belongs to the labyrinth family
• Gourami has an oval-shaped body up to ten centimeters
• It can live in an aquarium from 100 liters with any peace-loving fish

• This fish belongs to the cichlid family.
• The blue dolphin can reach up to twenty centimeters in length
• This species of cichlid is quite friendly, but it should only be placed in an aquarium with a species size of 200 liters or more.

• Another blue-colored member of the cichlid family is the blue discus.
• It is recommended only for professionals to breed such fish, as they require quite careful care.

• A friendly variety of cichlids is Mylandia callainos cobalt.
• This large fish (up to twenty centimeters) can live in one aquarium (from two hundred liters) with any calm fish

Cockerel blue

• This small fish of the labyrinth family has an elongated body up to five centimeters
• The blue cockerel lives in an aquarium of fifty liters with all the small peace-loving fish

Pomacentrus

Pomacentrus

• Pomacentrus is a fish of the Pomacentidae family.
• This fish reaches a length of up to ten centimeters
• The aggressive nature of Pomacentrus determines their residence in a species aquarium of one hundred liters.

• This fish of the goby family has an oblong body up to ten centimeters in length.
• Active gobies live in peace with other small, calm inhabitants of the aquarium (from two hundred liters)

• This beauty belongs to the Pomacentra family
• Chrysiptera sapphire has an elongated bright blue body up to five centimeters long with bright yellow spots on the head, belly, fins and tail.
• Such bright fish live in aquariums of over fifty liters, where they calmly coexist with other peaceful fish

• A small fish, Cyprinodon, of the carp-toothed family, has a body up to five centimeters long.
• This small but rather aggressive fish can only get along with large peace-loving fish in a small aquarium (from 50 l)

• This unusual fish belongs to the blenny family.
• The patterned black-backed dog has an oblong body up to ten centimeters long with a yellow tail and a black line along the entire back
• This fish is quite calm, so it easily lives together with other small friendly fish.

Pseudotropheus Socolofa

Pseudotropheus Socolofa

Pseudotropheus Sokolof belongs to the cichlid family and fully meets their general characteristics.

Yellow aquarium fish

Colorful yellow aquarium fish usually belong to exotic fish breeds. However, some of them, having this color, are quite well known even to inexperienced fish breeders.

• This fish belongs to the family Pomacentridae
• Amblyglifidodon lemon has an oval body shape and reaches a length of up to ten centimeters
• Amblyglifidodon lemon is a fish with an aggressive behavior, but gets along in a common aquarium (from one hundred liters) with other large fish with peaceful habits

• This fish is called the blue-lipped angel because of the blue color of its lips. Apolemikhtus was also dubbed the three-pointed angel for the presence of two black dots on the head and a blue spot on the lips
• The blue-lipped angel is a fairly large fish (up to twenty centimeters), requiring huge apartments (from five hundred liters)
• The three-pointed angel has a calm character and can live together with large, peace-loving fish

• Assessor belongs to the gram family
• This small fish has an elongated yellow body with a rainbow head.

• The masked butterfly belongs to the family of bristletoothed or butterfly fish
• This large fish (up to thirty centimeters) has an aggressive character, but gets along in a large aquarium (from five hundred liters) with large friendly fish

This fish is similar in all its characteristics to the previous representative of the butterfly fish family. The only difference is the nose, which is shaped like tweezers. Hence the unusual name of the fish.

Butterfly Raffla

Butterfly Raffla

• This fish belongs to the mullet family
• The golden mullet can grow up to a huge fifty centimeters in length, which means that it can be placed in an aquarium of at least a ton.
• The golden mullet is quite calm and peaceful, so it can share the same aquarium with other large peaceful fish

Despite the name, this fish is yellow in color with red-orange spots on top.

Zebrasoma brown and sailed

• These two varieties of surgeonfish grow up to twenty centimeters in length.
• Zebrafish need an aquarium of at least five hundred liters and the company of any other friendly fish

Skates

• Some members of the seahorse or needlefish family are also yellow in color: the leaf-tailed, striped-tailed and spotted or yellow seadragon
• Such unusual fish need to be placed in a species aquarium.
• Caring for seahorses requires special knowledge and effort

This small (up to ten centimeters) fish of the goby family can safely exist in small (from one hundred liters) aquariums with other peaceful fish.

Body

• The following fish of the boxfish family have a yellow color: humpback boxfish, yellow long-horned boxfish and cube
• All of them require careful care and living in a large species aquarium of five hundred liters

• Labidochromis yellow belongs to the cichlid family
• This unpretentious fish with a body length of up to 8-10 centimeters can get along with large calm fish in an aquarium of two hundred liters

This fish meets all the characteristics of the previous cichlid representative.

• An interesting fish in shape and color, whose head resembles a fox's muzzle
• This fish belongs to the family of sea foxes
• Its body can reach twenty centimeters in length
• The yellow fox lives in an aquarium of two hundred liters with other peaceful fish

• Falsechromis diadema belongs to the family Falsechromis
• This small fish reaches a length of up to five centimeters
• Falsechromis-diadem has a rather complex character, so it only manages to get along with large, non-predatory fish
• An aquarium of at least one hundred liters is suitable for such a fish.

Sharp-snouted and sailing mollies

• These two species of fish belong to the Poeciliidae family and reach a length of up to twenty centimeters
• Mollies are quite friendly, and can share one aquarium (from one hundred liters) with the same peaceful fish

• This type of fish belongs to the eel family
• Moray eels are very aggressive and require a species aquarium of at least five hundred liters.
• Such fish can reach a length of more than fifty centimeters

• This fish has an oval yellow body up to twenty centimeters in length with blue patterns on the back
• Neoglyphidodons are quite aggressive, so they should be bred in a species aquarium of at least five hundred liters

The list of yellow aquarium fish does not end there. In addition to the yellow fish listed above, there are several dozen more. Some of them will be mentioned in
other sections of the article

Exotic aquarium fish, photos with names

Among those fish that were mentioned above, there were a lot of exotic fish. But these are not all the strange fish that you can keep right at home today. Here are the names and photos of the most beautiful and unusual exotic aquarium fish:

Skat Motoro

Red-bellied Piranha







Fish knife Khitala

















Queen Nyasa



Falsechromis Friedman



Heufrich's Nemateleotris

Bleeker's Parrotfish

Calm aquarium fish. Peaceful aquarium fish

Representatives of the following families are distinguished by their calm behavior and peaceful disposition:

1. Catfish. Almost all catfish are very friendly. They swim along the bottom and have nothing to share with other inhabitants of the aquarium, who spend most of their time in the water column. Among the most popular peaceful catfish are speckled catfish, corydoras, glass catfish and ancistrus
2. Characinaceae. The characin family includes small, friendly fish that live in schools. As a rule, they have quite attractive bright colors and do not require special care. The most common aquarium characins in our country include thornets, neons, tetras and pristellas
3. Cyprinids. Peaceful representatives of the carp family include aquarium fish such as zebrafish, barb, cardinal and rasbora
4. Labyrinthine. This subgroup of fish differs from the rest in the specific structure of their body. This explains the unusual shape of the fish. The most popular aquarium fish of this family are gourami, bettas, macropods and lapius.
5. Cichlids. In general, cichlids are considered quite capricious and aggressive fish. However, even among them there are a number of fish that can get along with other types of fish. To properly place cichlids in the same aquarium with other fish, it is worth taking into account their habits and equipping special burrows and shelters in it. The following representatives of the cichlid family can be called quite friendly: blue dolphin, cichlasoma and aulonocara

First of all, it is worth saying that there are simply no purebred predators among aquarium fish. Since only an animal that feeds exclusively on meat can be called predatory. Those fish that prefer to feast on other fish are always not against plant food.

Polypterus Monodactyl dark

• Guppy
• Swordtails
• Pecilia
• Mollies
• Catfish corridors
• Characin tetras
• Ternetia
• Danio rerio
• Torakatum
• Gourami
• Barbs
• Cardinals
• Cockerels
• Macropods
• Neons

Video: The most popular and unpretentious aquarium fish

One of the most common aquarium fish, a representative of the cichlid family, the blue dolphin (Cyrtocara moorii) has become popular among aquarists due to its unique appearance and quite easy-going character. Like most cichlids, the aquarium dolphin comes from African Malawian waters.

This representative of cichlids was first described in 1902, and became widespread in Europe only in 1968. A little later, the blue beauty appeared in Soviet domestic reservoirs. Why this fish got its name, how to properly maintain a Malawian pet and provide it with competent care, we will find out further.

Why is the blue dolphin fish called that?

As noted above, the blue dolphin comes from hot Africa, more precisely from Lake Malawi, where it reaches a size of 20-25 cm.

In a home pond, the parameters of the fish largely depend on the size of the tank, varying between 8-20 cm.

This cichlid is called a dolphin because of its external resemblance to a marine mammal.

At the beginning of life, the pet does not particularly resemble a dolphin, but with age, Cyrtocara moorii develops a kind of fat pad on the forehead of its rather large head, which makes the fish look like a famous sea animal. Large eyes under a bulging forehead are mobile, large lips protrude forward.

In general, the aquarium dolphin is a very attractive fish in appearance: on the gray-blue body with a silver tint, young individuals have transverse stripes and two spots of a dark shade on the sides.

An adult fish becomes light blue, but the spots sometimes remain. During mating games, the dominant male of the group, in a state of strong excitement, becomes a rich dark blue hue. In addition, during this period, the male’s forehead becomes yellow, and several transverse stripes appear on the body.

Like other pets from the cichlid family, the blue dolphin feels best in a spacious tank (from 200 liters) with coarse sand, planted with bushy aquatic plants with a powerful root system.

Pets feel comfortable when:

• sufficiently bright lighting;
• varying the water temperature within 22-30°C;
• weekly water change by 1/3 (it is better if it is passed through a biological filter);
• aqueous pH parameter within the alkaline range;
• active aeration of water.

The blue aquarium dolphin needs space for swimming, where there are many different shelters for it, such as:

• grottos;
• caves,
• fancy-looking driftwood;
• stones.

In a home tank, fish often live in its middle or bottom part. It is better if the blue beauties are placed in a species aquarium, as they are quite shy. The optimal number of individuals of this species in one container is 8-12; in such a group they look attractive and have enough living space.

The group is dominated quantitatively by females, but one of the males dominates in it. During puberty, in the process of struggling for supremacy in the pack, a leader emerges from among them, who becomes the dominant male of the group.

Reproduction

Successful breeding of dolphins in a home aquarium is 90% due to the good health of the producers themselves.

In addition, a lot depends on proper feeding of the fish. Pets should alternate different foods in their diet and use high-quality oligochaetes (Tueifex).

Males ready for spawning become excited, and aggression towards other males appears in their behavior. They change the color of the fat pad to a yellow tint, and dark blue transverse stripes appear on their body. It is noteworthy that with each subsequent spawning the cushion over the male’s forehead becomes larger.

In the female, readiness for spawning is manifested by a general lightening of the body color and noticeable swelling of the anal area.

On the eve of spawning, both future parents of the family, showing noticeable excitement, jointly search for a suitable spawning site. The area chosen by them is cleared by joint efforts, and love games begin here, and then eggs are laid in the amount of 3-8 pieces in one effort.

The eggs are watered with the male's sperm, after which the female puts them in her mouth. The whole process is repeated several times with an interval of first 25 seconds, and by the end of spawning - 4-5 minutes. The total spawning time is approximately one hour.

During this time period, a couple can lay from 70 to 120 fertilized eggs, from which, under a happy combination of circumstances, 40-60 blue dolphin fry will appear.

Care of offspring

Incubation of fry, lasting 16-25 days, in Cyrtocara moorii occurs in the female's mouth. And the main concerns of the aquarist begin at the hatching stage of the fry:

1. First of all, it is necessary to take care of sufficient conditioning of the artificial reservoir water through filters to ensure its chemical and hydrological balance.
2. A separate concern is feeding the fry: regular, balanced, varied. At first, brine shrimp, crustaceans with ground feed additives such as Tetra Phyll, washed tubifex with vitamin supplements A, D, E, K will do.

Errors in feeding dolphin fry and juveniles are often fatal and lead to their death. Also, the rapid death of the offspring of this fish may be due to a decrease in t°C in the tank to 20°C or lower.

Blue beauties grow at a rate of 8-10 mm per month, while simultaneously increasing body weight. With ideal maintenance of dolphin fry, their early puberty occurs and, as a result, forced spawning at the age of 8-10 months.

Of course, this phenomenon should be considered as anomalous, leading to the appearance of weak offspring, most of which die. A stable result of reproduction with the production of strong, viable offspring is possible in individuals of Cyrtocara moorii one to one and a half years old. This cichlid retains the ability to reproduce until the age of 7-8 years.

Behavior and compatibility with other inhabitants

These extraordinarily beautiful cichlids can be described as very smart pets and also wonderful parents. In ordinary life, they are sedate and unfussy, but when the hour of fun and games comes, they know how to move simultaneously swiftly and gracefully.

In front of the females, dolphins show themselves in all their glory: spreading their fins, they show off their swimming prowess.

These pets feel affection for their owner and are able to recognize him, perking up every time he approaches an artificial pond.

The dolphin cichlid is by nature peaceful and calm, so it feels best in a specific body of water. If it is necessary to combine with other species, the most suitable neighborhood will be with non-aggressive cichlids, such as aulonocara, or other Malawian fish.

To ensure the external beauty of the reservoir, you can place a contrasting labidochromis with a dolphin. It is also acceptable for Cyrtocara moorii to be adjacent to:

• barbs;
• catfish;
• labyrinth pets.

We draw a conclusion: breeding and caring for the blue beauty from Malawi is a labor-intensive task that requires effort and skill, but isn’t the result worth it? Make the effort to acquire the necessary skills and experience, and the result - blue dolphins in your aquarium - will delight you for many years.

Akara (“stream” in Latin) are large and incredibly beautiful fish, which got their name due to the mother-of-pearl and turquoise color of the stigma and gills. They attract many aquarists. However, caring for them is not so easy, because in nature these cichlids are micropredators and have a very variable character. How to choose neighbors for these fish in a pond, how to properly care for and breed them? This is what our article will be about.

Akara in nature

The historical homeland of cancer is considered to be reservoirs located in the northwestern part of Peru and the Rio Esmeraldas River basin. They are also found in South America, Central Colombia, Brazil and some other countries, preferring bodies of water without strong currents with rich vegetation and multiple shelters.

Cancers have been kept in aquariums since the seventies of the last century, and today they are one of the most sought-after cichlids among fish lovers.

Description

The body of the acara is large, elongated and laterally flattened. The size of the fish can reach 25-30 centimeters in length. A distinctive feature is a large head with a convex forehead, expressive eyes and thick lips. The caudal and dorsal fins are large and elongated. The color may vary depending on the type of acara.

Males and females are different. Male fish are larger, brighter in color, and have a long dorsal fin that smoothly turns into an anal fin. Both have pointed ends.

Females, on the contrary, are dull, with rounded fins and more modest in size. Males at the age of five may develop a wen on their forehead. This is normal and not a disease.

Character

These fish are not shy towards humans, they get used to them quickly and are even able to recognize their owner. There are cases when Akaras even allowed themselves to be stroked.

In relation to their brothers, their behavior is very individual. Some (particularly aggressive and territorial) need the entire aquarium, while others need just a part of it, where they will exist peacefully. Carnivorous akaras live in pairs from 6-8 months of age. The most aggressive are Aequidens rivulatus and Aequidens tetramerus.

Kinds

For a long time, all cancers were classified in the genus Aequidens, but due to too many differences in species, after the 1986 revision they were divided into 5 genera: bujurquina, cleytracara, guianacara, crobia, letacara.

As for the species, there are more than thirty of them: Peruvian, spotted, turquoise, red-breasted, blue, silver, black-striped and others, there is no point in listing them all. Let's look at a few of the most popular ones:

1. The bluish-spotted acara naturally lives in water bodies of Panama and Colombia, preferring those where the current is slow or absent. It appeared in Russia in 1910. Its body size in captivity does not exceed 6-8 cm. The fish is colored in grayish-brown tones. There are many spots: oblong dark ones across the body, black in the tail area, shiny bluish-green throughout the body. The fin on the back is dark blue with a red border. This species is peaceful and can be kept with other fish.
2. Acara Meri is common in South America and lives in the reservoirs of its northern part. In an aquarium it does not grow more than 12 cm in length. The body color is olive-silver with a dark back and a light belly. All fins are red, except for the dorsal one (it is sea green). The iris of the eyes is golden yellow. There is a dark stripe running from the eye to the tail. The entire body is decorated with shiny blue spots and strokes.
3. Acara Paraguayan lives in the very center of South America. This yellowish-brown fish can grow up to 12 cm. The entire body, including the fins, is covered with shiny green spots, and there are dark stripes on the sides. In small aquariums, Paraguayan acara become aggressive even towards their fellows.

General features of cancer content

Caring for all varieties of these fish is approximately the same. The aquarium should be such that there is at least 150 liters of water per pair of individuals. As for the quality of the latter, the indicators should be as follows: dH - 8-15°; pH - 6-8; t - 22-25°C. It is imperative to provide aeration, filtration and carry out weekly changes of thirty percent of the water volume.

It is advisable to take medium-sized stones and pebbles as soil. You can use driftwood for decoration. It is better to plant all plants in pots, which are fixed in the ground with stones placed on top. Acaras love to dig holes, especially during the spawning period, so anything that is not secured will be dug up.

These fish are very intemperate in their diet and are prone to obesity. Therefore, it is advisable to feed them no more than twice a day in small portions. The diet can include both live food and a variety of food substitutes.

Breeding

Acaras spawn in the same way as all cichlids. This can happen both in the spawning area and in the general reservoir. The breeding season is characterized by aggressive behavior of fish. It is not necessary to create any additional conditions. Sexual maturity in fish occurs at about one year.

Pairs are created easily. Caviar laying can be done on a stone, driftwood, or even just on a section of the bottom. This territory is pre-cleared by the fish. The female lays about 300-400 eggs and after they are fertilized by the male, she carries the eggs in her mouth until the fry appear (from 4 to 10 days).

The fry are fed with Cyclops, rotifers, ciliates and Artemia nauplii.

Turquoise Akara

This is perhaps the most common variety of all the others. It is often confused with the blue-spotted one, but this one is larger (in an aquarium it can grow up to 30 cm in length), more aggressive and the male has a larger wen on the head.

Its color is bright, greenish with a turquoise tint. The fins have a yellow, orange or red edge, with the dorsal and anal fins pointed, and the caudal fins rounded. It lives a long time, with good care it can last up to 10 years.

Despite the fact that this acara is quite unpretentious, it is better for experienced aquarists to keep it. For beginners, it will be difficult to provide the necessary water parameters, quality feeding, select suitable neighbors and maintain a large aquarium.

Features of caring for turquoise cancer

A pair of such fish will require a reservoir with a volume of at least 300 liters. The water should be clean, soft (5-13 dGH), neutral (pH 6.5-8.0) with a temperature of 28°C. The presence of a powerful filter is not even discussed. The soil, decor and vegetation are selected the same as for other species of this family. We discussed this at the beginning of the article and will not repeat it.

Turquoise cancers are fed twice a day, the portion size is small, and any leftover food is removed immediately. The menu may include live or frozen tubifex, bloodworms, brine shrimp, gammarus, worms, fish fillets, shrimp and mussels, and others. The diet can be supplemented with vitamins and plant foods such as spirulina.

Compatibility of turquoise cancers

Under good conditions they are quite peaceful and calm. The main reason for the aggression of these fish is an insufficiently spacious aquarium. When in close quarters, these cichlids tend to become bullying and provoke other fish into conflict. Surprisingly, females are much more pugnacious than males, and this is especially evident during the spawning period, when they literally rush at everyone. To avoid fights, it is better to keep only one pair in the aquarium.

Chromis, severum, synodontis catfish, pterygoplicht catfish, and shark barb are quite suitable as neighbors for these fish. Not a very good combination with astronotus and Managuan cichlasoma. They can kill Akara in a fight.

It is also better not to add small African cichlids (angelfish) to them, which risk dying or living in constant stress next to these companions. Small fish, such as neons, guppies and others, are completely perceived as live food.

Breeding Turquoise Cancers

Gender differences are minor. The male is larger, has a fatty bump on the forehead and a red edge on the caudal fin. Females are more aggressive than males. During mating games, the fish become brighter, the females darken, the body becomes turquoise with bright blue reflections.

For breeding, it is better to select individuals from different litters, lines, etc. Pairs, as a rule, form by themselves. If there is no harmony between the male and female, then the latter is replaced. Water with the following parameters is considered ideal for reproduction: temperature - 25-26 °C, pH - 6.5-7, hardness - 4-12 ° dGH. Spawning can be stimulated by replacing half the water and slightly increasing its temperature.

The couple cleans the stone, driftwood or glass at the bottom, where up to 600 eggs will subsequently be deposited. At the same time, they dig holes in the ground to shelter future offspring. Both parents care for the eggs. If the fish begin to eat the eggs, they will need to be transferred to a separate container.

After 3-4 days the larvae hatch. Their fish are transferred to prepared pits. Ten days later, the fry appear and can swim and feed on their own. They are given Artemia nauplii, crushed adult food and egg yolk.

Those who decide to keep these bright fish in their home will have to try to provide them with comfortable living conditions. But all the efforts will pay off, and the happy owner will be able to observe the behavior of cancer for years and admire the exotic beauty of their pets.

Variety of cancers for your aquarium

Pair of bluish spotted cancers

Acaras are fish with an unusual pearlescent coloration of the gills and stigma. They are not only amazingly beautiful, but also have a pronounced character. These cichlid species are curious and love to watch life behind glass. Many of them recognize their owner. The most popular among aquarists are: blue-spotted acara, red-breasted acara, turquoise, electric blue, zebra, maroni acara and neon. In total, today there are more than 30 types of cancer.

Acaras live in river water in South America. The homeland is considered to be the central part of Peru and western Ecuador. These cichlids prefer rivers with slow flows, plenty of shelter and rich vegetation. Acaras are micropredators and feed on insects, larvae, invertebrates and small fish.

Description

The body of the fish is high, slightly flattened on the sides and elongated in length. The head is large with a convex forehead, the eyes are larger than average, and the lips are thick. The dorsal and anal fins are pointed, the caudal fin is rounded. The color can be of various shades: from bluish-blue to reddish-burgundy.

Sizes vary depending on the species. Zebra, one of the smallest cancers, reaches 4-5 cm in length. Blue spotted and turquoise acara can grow up to 25 cm in aquarium conditions.

Males are more brightly and attractively colored. Usually in females there are only inclusions of various shades. The fins of males are longer and the body is larger. A characteristic feature of males is a noticeable fatty bump on the head, which appears already in adulthood.

Kinds

bluish spotted

The color of the fish corresponds to its name. Blueish shiny spots are distributed throughout the body. The body itself is gray-blue with vertical dark stripes.

The bluish-spotted acara has an easy-going nature and peaceful disposition. Compatibility with other types of cancer is optimal. But since this fish belongs to the cichlid family, it cannot be combined with small fish. This cancer is the least demanding in maintenance and nutrition. Therefore, these species are recommended for beginner aquarium hobbyists.

The optimal water temperature for blue-spotted acara is 20-30°C, the acidity of the water should be 6.5-8 pH, and the hardness should be from 5 to 25°.

Turquoise

It is a larger and brightly colored fish than the bluish-spotted acara. The color of this fish is bright turquoise with silver or pearlescent shades. Turquoise cancer is often confused with diamond cichlosoma. This is not true, since the fish are different, but they have good compatibility.

In addition to the turquoise acara, all types of large cichlids coexist with the diamond cichlosoma. Turquoise acara also has good compatibility with chain catfish and severum. You can add other types of predatory cichlids to it.

The turquoise acara is considered aggressive, although with proper care and a sufficiently large aquarium it can become a completely peaceful fish.

The water temperature for this type of cancer should be in the range of 22-28°C, acidity – 6.5-8 pH, and hardness 5-13°.

Zebra

Zebra is a small nana fish of the cichlid family with a yellow, reddish or olive color. The entire body is crossed by vertical black stripes.

The zebra is a peaceful and accommodating individual, showing little aggression even during the spawning period. It is better to combine with similar inactive fish.

Zebra, like other cichlid species, needs a large amount of water and a varied diet. Fluctuations in water temperature for these fish should be within 22-28°C; the optimal acidity value is 4.5-6 pH, hardness - 5-10°.

Red-breasted

The red-breasted acara got its name due to the red color of the lower part of the head and chest. The main color ranges from golden to greenish; on the back the color range is darker. Before spawning, the color of the fish intensifies. The chest becomes a rich scarlet color, the front arrows on the pelvic fins become black.

The red-breasted acara defends its territory, but it is very small in size, without causing inconvenience to its neighbors. An interesting feature of this fish is the ability to change its color depending on its mood.

The water temperature in the aquarium for the red-breasted acara should be from 23 to 30°C, the acidity should be 6.5-7.5 pH, and the hardness should be 5-20°.

Maroni

The body is yellow, reddish or olive in color. A black stripe runs through the eyes, and near the dorsal fin there is a dark spot with a stripe running down the body. On each scale you can see a brownish spot. Acara maroni, like the red-breasted acara, changes its color depending on its emotions.

Akara maroni is a very peaceful fish. He has a timid character and hides at the sight of danger. It is best to keep Acara Maroni in a school of 6-8 fish.

The water temperature for these fish should be from 16 to 24°C, acidity from 6.5 to 7 pH, and hardness from 3 to 10°.

Electric Blue

The color of this small fish is bright blue and sparkling. The front part of the body is orange. During the spawning period, the color becomes even brighter. This type of cancer is non-aggressive and lives peacefully with other Nana cichlids. During the spawning period, it can be active, protecting its clutch, but to a lesser extent than other acara.

Akara Electric Blue is very demanding in maintenance, but all the efforts to properly care for it are worth it to see its beauty. Optimal maintenance conditions: water temperature 20-28°C, acidity 6-8 pH, hardness 6-20°.

Neon

This is a small fish with bright pearl-blue scales. The head and upper back are golden in color. Neon acara has a quiet disposition, but not during spawning. Protecting her offspring, she will zealously attack fish passing by and even her partner.

The optimal temperature for this type of cichlid is 18-28°C, acidity 6.5-8 pH, hardness 6-15°.

Pair of turquoise cancers

Acaras need large amounts of water. Dwarf cichlids (such as the zebra) need to purchase an aquarium with a volume of at least 100 liters per couple, and large cichlids (such as the turquoise cichlid) will need a minimum of 200 liters for two. Then they will grow up to be healthy fish with bright colors. An insufficient aquarium size will lead to aggression even in peaceful cichlids.

Proper maintenance includes a clean living environment. You need to change the water in the aquarium at least once a week. Filtration and aeration are also necessary. Water should be changed at the rate of 20% of the volume of the entire aquarium. It is necessary to pour in fresh water very gradually, literally drop by drop. Otherwise, the cichlids may get sick.

But caring for cancer is not limited to this. The acidity and hardness of water is of great importance for them. Too low or high values ​​lead to the death of fish. At the pet store you can buy special devices for measuring water parameters in an aquarium. Acidity and hardness must be checked daily. And be sure to measure the level of all parameters in fresh water when adding it to the aquarium.

There are various chemicals that help achieve the required values. But it is better to take care of your fish using natural methods. For example, some aquarium plants reduce water hardness (elodea, hornwort). It is also recommended to use filtered rainwater or melt water for the aquarium (after freezing it and then heating it to the desired temperature).

Cichlids are quite fastidious in caring for them. But they are also very picky about their tankmates. If you nevertheless decide to add fish compatible with them to the acara, this should be done only at the very early age of the cichlids.

Novice cachlid lovers may not know that these fish cannot be kept in the same aquarium with snails, as the cichlids will simply eat them.

Fish of this species love to dig in the ground, so stones with sharp corners cannot be used. Akara might get hurt. Be sure to create all kinds of shelters in the aquarium in the form of driftwood, broad-leaved plants, and mounds of stones. Cichlids need secluded places in their habitat.

Aquarium plants are best placed in the corners and along the back wall to give the fish more space to swim freely. Please note that large cichlids, digging in the ground, uproot plants, so it is necessary to secure them in separate containers.

Feeding

A pair of red-breasted cancers

This type of fish should not be fed excessively, as they overeat and begin to get sick. It is best to give them small amounts of food once or twice a day. It is recommended to follow a feeding regime for cancer.

Food should be ground beforehand, especially when feeding dwarf cichlids and all types of cichlids at an early age. Being micropredators, these fish grab food and swallow it whole. When feeding a whole tubifex or bloodworm, pieces of this food even stick out from the fish’s gills. After such a dinner, the fish gets sick and dies.

Large species of cichlids with age can already eat food entirely without harm to their health.

It is recommended to alternate different feeds. The optimal food for these cichlids is: hake, cod, navaga, pollock, pink salmon, squid, crab, octopus, live or frozen cyclops, bloodworms, brine shrimp, washed and chopped tubifex, daphnia, beef heart, beef liver, bell pepper, scalded lettuce, carrots, specialized dry food.

When feeding fish, do not overuse meat of animal origin. Heavy fat can negatively affect the condition of cancer.

When purchasing food for cancer, you should be careful. For example, you should not buy frozen bloodworms, since most often this product may be contaminated. It is better to purchase a fresh analogue, making sure that there are no contaminants on the worms.

Breeding

Acara is not difficult to reproduce. An established pair finds a suitable place to lay eggs. To do this, you need to place a large flat stone in the aquarium in advance. Pisces carefully clean the stone. Then they dig small holes in the ground to shelter future offspring. The female lays 300 to 1000 eggs, and the male fertilizes them. Both parents take care of the nest. The male scares away other fish, and the female transfers the fertilized eggs to secluded places.

Sometimes young parents eat their first clutch. However, this must stop later.

Stimulation for the creation of offspring can be frequent changes of water and higher temperatures. If there are other fish in the aquarium, a couple of cancers can be moved to a more comfortable place for comfortable reproduction.

Aquarists' fascination with this cichlid is explained by its bright coloring, large size and capricious character. This fish is considered one of the smartest and most understanding. Having gotten used to her owner, she even allows herself to be petted. In addition, the owners say that the aquarium acara has a certain magnetism. Once you place such a fish in your aquarium, you will become attached to it with all your soul forever.

Aquarium blue dolphin: secrets of keeping the fish

In 1902, an endemic of unusual color and shape was spotted in Boulanger. It turned out that this fish is widespread in local lake waters. Most of them live at a depth of 3 to 15. It turned out that the beautiful inhabitants of the lakes are predators, but this did not stop exotic lovers from starting to breed them in an aquarium.

Cyrtocara moorii, also known as the blue dolphin, belongs to the family of African cichlids that live in the waters of Malawi. This fish is very popular among aquarists, as it has an unusual neon hue and a noticeable fatty lump. The aquarium dolphin cannot be called a small fish; the smallest individuals reach 25 centimeters in length. They are quite nice neighbors; one male gets along well with three to four females. During spawning, they can show aggression towards other representatives, but at other times they cannot be accused of being cocky.

Aquarium dolphins have an elongated body with a head similar to a regular dolphin. It is because of this structure of the skull and the presence of a fatty lump that they received such a name. If you look at a photo of one and the other, you will notice striking similarities. The size of fish in captivity is from 25 centimeters. Lifespan is about 10 years.

The biggest difficulty in maintenance is the purity of the water. Blue dolphins are very picky about the cleanliness of the aquarium, its size and neighbors. To maintain microflora, it is necessary to constantly update the water.

Both in nature and in the aquarium, these fish are omnivores. Therefore, the choice of food depends on the capabilities of the owner. The blue dolphin enjoys eating frozen, live, plant-based and artificial food. However, it is better to give preference to foods with a high protein content (brine shrimp or tubifex). These fish will not refuse other small fish. But this method of feeding is risky, since it is not always possible to check the health of the young animals. Many novice aquarists try to feed aquarium predators with minced meat or finely chopped meat. This is absolutely impossible to do, because the fish’s body does not provide enzymes for digesting such heavy food, and, therefore, can lead to obesity and atrophy.

• Aquarium volume from 300 liters;
• Purity and stability of water;
• Hardness from 7.3 – 8.9pH;
• Alkalinity 10 – 18dGH;
• The temperature is about 26 degrees.

As you can see, these fish prefer very hard water. To harden the water, use coral chips. There is an opinion that aquarium fish living in soft water lose their vision. But confirmation of this has not yet been found.

It is best to use sand to decorate the dolphins' place of residence. So, you can watch funny hazel grouse digging in it. They don't need plants. You can plant a small bush, but the blue dolphin will either eat the algae or dig it up. You can still create a unique design using different driftwood and shelters that dolphins will really like. Thanks to the large size and original color of the fish, you can create real masterpieces, photos of which are so common on the Internet.

Compatibility and Breeding

Despite its peaceful nature, the blue dolphin is not able to get along with all fish. They will appreciate proximity only to those equal in size and character. Those that are inferior to them in size will definitely be eaten, regardless of their agility and the number of shelters. Active and pugnacious neighbors still need to be avoided, as mbunas are not suitable for them at all.

Ideal neighbors:

• Frontoses;
• African catfish;
• Other cyclides of equal size;
• Large inhabitants of Malawian lakes.

It is almost impossible to distinguish a male from a female. There is an opinion that the male is a little larger and brighter, but these signs are not subjective. They cannot be “tried on” to all fish, so looking at a photo of a fish it is not possible to determine its gender.

Blue dolphins are ideal for breeding. They form a polygamous family, with one male and 3-6 females. Since it is impossible to determine the sex, 10 fry are purchased for breeding and raised together. By the time the fish reaches 12-14 centimeters, they are separated into families.

The male selects the ideal place for laying. It can be a smooth stone at the bottom, or a small depression in the ground. The female lays eggs there, and the male fertilizes them. After this, the female takes her and carries her for a couple of weeks. If the temperature is below 26 degrees, the incubation period can last up to three weeks. To protect the fry, the female takes them into her mouth, “walking” them at night while all the aquarium inhabitants are sleeping. Artemia naupilium is considered an ideal food for young animals.

Handsome man of heavenly color

The blue dolphin is a beautiful aquarium fish from the cichlid family, common in Africa. The dolphin was first discovered in lakes Malawi and Malombe, and brought to Europe in 1968. The blue dolphin is the most popular species of all freshwater Malawian cichlids due to its amazing colorfulness and ease of breeding. This fish can also be found under the names “Cirtocara Muri” or “Haplochromis Muri”.

External description

The blue dolphin has external features similar to the mammalian dolphin: blue or blue body color with black spots, a convex forehead with a fatty growth, a protruding mouth and large lips. The fish has a large head and movable eyes. The dorsal fin is very long, starting at the head and ending at the base of the tail. The tail fin is two-lobed, the pectoral and ventral fins are short and thin. The dolphin reaches up to 25 cm in size.

The dolphin has an elongated and compressed body, in the center and on the tail there is a large dark spot, and on the sides there are black transverse stripes. During conflicts, the color of the fish intensifies, becoming bright blue, and the throat and fins are almost black.

Male dolphins are larger in size and brighter, the tail fins are blue, and with age the forehead becomes yellowish. A clear distinguishing feature of the male is the characteristic vertical stripes in the amount of 4-8 pieces. During the spawning period, the male's forehead turns significantly yellow and the stripes on the body intensify their tone. Females have several spots instead of stripes, and the caudal fins are covered with red dots.

Dolphins usually live up to 15 years.

Aquarium care

Blue dolphins are quite peaceful creatures; they prefer to stay in a school of 3-4 fish. For the optimal number of them in the aquarium, a combination of one male and at least three females is suitable. Keeping dolphins in an aquarium is not particularly difficult, especially for experienced aquarists; with a container of at least 200 liters, even a beginner can cope with it.

The fish are territorial and love large open spaces for swimming and stay in all layers of water. Basic aquarium water parameters: temperature 24-26°C, acidity 7-9, hardness 10-17°. Filtration, intensive aeration, and changing a third of the water weekly are required. Lighting can be bright.

The soil is preferably sandy or small pebbles; plants need to be hard-leaved with a strong root system or in pots. The following aquarium plants are well suited: Vallisneria, Cryptocoryne, Anubias. Ferns can be fixed on stones, and limnophila leaves will serve as additional feeding for fish.

Numerous shelters for fish are needed in the form of grottoes, snags, caves, and crevices. To recreate the most similar habitat, you can decorate the aquarium with rock relief and buildings made of stones stacked on top of each other.

Blue dolphins feed on any type of high-quality live food. Foods with a high protein content are best suited: earthworms, live or thawed shrimp, pieces of beef heart or liver, bloodworms, and coretra. Plant foods include dandelion, spinach, lettuce and nettle.

Breeding

At the age of 1.5-3 years, the fish reach sexual maturity and reproduce, as a rule, in pairs and separately from other fish. During the spawning period, the male becomes aggressive, and the female becomes more timid. Games during spawning between the female and the male occur in a funny way; they gently rub their foreheads against each other.

Aquarium dolphins have the individual characteristic of carrying eggs in their mouths. First, the female spawns eggs in small portions onto a flat surface or into a hole dug by the male. She then picks up the eggs in her mouth and the male fertilizes them. The female should be protected from stress as much as possible, otherwise there is a risk of her swallowing her offspring.

The total period of gestation and hatching of the fry is 3 weeks, during which the female does not feed. With age, females increase productivity up to 90 eggs. The fry feed on Artemia nauplii, Cyclops, nematodes and other microorganisms.

Bearing fry in a common aquarium risks swallowing them by the female, so it is better to keep them in a separate artificial incubator. For this purpose, a 10-15 liter aquarium with aeration and water from a general aquarium is suitable. The temperature is raised to 27-28°C and methylene blue is added to the water. If the eggs turn white, this means that they have lost their viability and need to be removed from the aquarium with a pipette. Transplantation to parents can be done at the age of 3-4 months.

Blue dolphins are capable of breeding until the age of 7-8 years. It should be taken into account that the dolphin can interbreed with Livingston's haplochromis and leopard. Hybrids are gray-brown in color with bluish stripes.

Compatibility

The blue dolphin cichlid is calm and peaceful by nature, even shy. The best option would be to keep it in a species aquarium, where the dolphin will fully demonstrate its special habits and feel free.

In a general aquarium, good compatibility will be with non-aggressive representatives of cichlids, such as aulonocara or other Malawian fish, and the color contrasts beautifully with the yellow labidochromis.

Of other species, dolphins have good compatibility with barbs, catfish, and labyrinths.

Behavior

Blue dolphins are very smart aquarium fish, and also caring parents. Their behavior is distinguished by sedateness and gracefulness of movements or games in the form of catch-up. It is also interesting to observe the actions of males who want to attract the attention of a female: they straighten their fins and demonstrate their swimming capabilities. Dolphins are able to recognize their owner, their eyes radiate trust and seem to smile.

When certain conditions are created, the blue dolphin is prone to hermaphroditism.

Blue dolphins are not fussy in nature and are measured in their movements. They represent a rare case of a combination of visual attractiveness, intellectual development, longevity and easy keeping in an aquarium.

Aquarium fish blue dolphins: who do they get along with and how to care for them

Beautiful aquarium fish blue dolphins belong to the cichlid family. This is one of the most common aquarium fish, gaining popularity due to its unusual appearance and docile nature. The animals' homeland is hot Africa, where they can be found in the lakes of Malawi. The blue dolphin arrived in Europe in 1968, and a little later it entered Soviet (then) aquariums.

Appearance

Aquarium fish blue dolphins incredibly resemble real dolphins. The body color is the same blue, sometimes blue with dark spots, a high convex forehead with the obligatory growth and a protruding mouth, so the fish’s head visually looks quite large. The “growth” of the fish reaches 25 cm. They live for a very long time, sometimes up to 15 years.

The dolphin's body is elongated. The central part of the body and the tail are decorated with one large dark spot. There are black transverse stripes on the sides. When the fish is preparing to attack an opponent, the color of its scales acquires a bright blue tint, and its throat and fins become black.

Differences between males and females

It is quite easy to distinguish dolphins. Boys are always bigger than girls. As the male grows older, the color of the male’s head changes to yellowish, but the obvious difference is the vertical stripes on the sides (4–8 pieces). During spawning, the forehead becomes a deeper yellow color and the stripes become much brighter.

In females, lateral marks are most often absent. Instead, you can see just black spots, and red dots are clearly visible on the caudal fins.

The blue dolphin (photo below) has a peaceful disposition and prefers a gregarious existence. For home keeping, a male and three females will be quite enough.

The aquarium must be spacious. Ideally, at least 200 liters. Then the pets feel great and delight the eye with their appearance.

These aquarium fish prefer open spaces because they swim in all layers of water. A comfortable stay for a dolphin in an aquarium will be ensured by the following parameters:

• water temperature - +24…+26 °C;
• acidity – 7-9;
• hardness – 10-17.

Fish also need water filtration and aeration. Another indispensable condition is the weekly replacement of a third of the fluid. The aquarium should be brightly lit.

Soil and vegetation

You can use river sand or small pebbles as soil. If we talk about vegetation, then you should choose plants with hard leaves and powerful roots. Potted specimens are also suitable. The aquarium blue dolphin will feel great among the leaves of Vallisneria, Anubias and Cryptocoryne. Ferns can be placed on rocks. Do not forget to place Limnophila in the aquarium, as the fish use its leaves as food.

Dolphins love to hide, so various artificial grottoes, caves and crevices are a must. You can reproduce the natural habitat of fish by building stepped stone structures.

Stern

Aquarium fish blue dolphins prefer exclusively live food with a high protein content. This:

• common worms;
• shrimps;
• beef heart and liver;
• coretra;
• bloodworm.

They will not refuse dandelion, nettle, lettuce and spinach.

Blue dolphins: who do the fish get along with?

These aquarium inhabitants are distinguished by their peaceful and even shy nature. The fish is completely non-conflicting, but still the best conditions are a species aquarium. Only in this case will she be able to feel free, showing all the peculiarities of behavior.

If this is not possible, then non-aggressive fish from the cichlid family, such as aulonocara, should become neighbors. In general, any Malawian fish will do. The blue dolphin looks especially interesting with yellow labidochromis. Other species to choose from include barbs, labyrinth fish and catfish.

When selecting neighbors, it is worth remembering that fish can mate with Haplochromis Livingston, as well as leopard representatives of this species. The color of the offspring in this case is gray-brown with characteristic blue stripes.

Breeding blue dolphins

The fish reach sexual maturity by one and a half years. Reproduction is carried out in pairs and preferably in a separate aquarium. The behavior of fish changes during spawning: males become aggressive, while females become more timid. The mating games of fish are very funny - showing tenderness, they rub their foreheads.

The female lays eggs on the surface of a stone or in a hole carefully dug by the male. After several eggs are in the nest, she takes them into her mouth and swims to the male for further fertilization.

Another feature of blue dolphins is that the female carries eggs in her mouth. To protect the fish from stressful situations that lead to swallowing eggs, it should be placed in a separate spawning tank.

The female carries the eggs for three weeks, during which she does not eat anything. To prevent the fish from dying, experienced aquarists practice raising eggs in an incubator. You can use a small container for it, about 15 liters. Aeration is also required here. Water can be taken from a common aquarium or its parameters can be reproduced, but the temperature of the water in the incubator should be slightly higher: +27…+28 °C. Additionally, methylene blue must be added.

The female's mouth is cleared of fertilized eggs, which are then placed in a separate container. After about 7 days, the fry already rise to the surface of the water and begin to feed on their own. Small cyclops, nematodes, and Artemia naumplia are suitable as food at this stage.

Their color will help determine the viability of the eggs. If the egg ball turns white, it means it is not viable. Remove them using a pipette. The young can be transferred to their parents when the fry reaches 3–4 months of age. Aquarium fish blue dolphins reproduce until they are 7–8 years old.

Fish behavior

Fish are quite smart, and also excellent parents. Blue dolphins' favorite pastime is playing catch. It is no less interesting to observe the behavior of a male attracting the attention of a female he likes.

Red and blue zebras in an aquarium

One of the most popular fish among aquarists who prefer endemics to Lake Malawi is the zebra cichlid pseudotropheus. In its natural environment, this fish has about 50 different color variations. The following color forms are especially common: blue and cyan, gray, yellow-orange (yellow-orange female and blue male), double red zebra (red female and red male). These cichlids belong to the group of Malawian cichlids “mbuna”.

Among aquarium inhabitants, red zebra fish and mbunas with other color options are considered relatively large. At the same time, it is the red ones who are the least cocky. The length of their body when kept in captivity can reach 15 cm. In nature, the fish is somewhat smaller - about 8 cm. The body of an aquarium fish is slightly compressed from the sides and elongated in length. The dorsal fin is long. The anal fin is decorated with yellow spots with black edging. There can be from 7 to 9 stripes on the body. The color of the fish is significantly influenced by the conditions of detention and age. This fish has fairly large eyes and thick lips, and adult males have a fat pad on their forehead.

It must be said that the zebra pseudotropheus has a very aggressive character. Even the calmest red zebra cichlids require a very thoughtful and serious selection of neighbors when kept in a common aquarium. The main recommendation for owners is to keep red zebra pseudotrophaeus only with other Malawian cichlids. The most advantageous design of an aquarium for keeping fish is to imitate their natural habitat conditions. A rocky bottom, replicating the underwater rocks of Malawi, is the best option. It is in an aquarium designed in this way that cichlids will look most advantageous.

Watch Pseudotrophaeus "zebra" spawn.

To keep these fish, which are distinguished by their interesting behavior and bright colors, you need a fairly large aquarium - from 150 liters or more. This is the minimum volume required for the normal life of several aquarium fish pseudotropheus zebra. For these fish, clean and oxygen-rich water is important, which means installing an internal filter with good performance and a compressor is absolutely necessary. Temperature range comfortable for mbun 24 - 26°C. For this cichlid, water with a pH level of 7.2 - 8.5 and a hardness of 8 - 20° is suitable. Weekly water changes are very important. In this case, about 25% of the total volume of the aquarium should be replaced. If you manage to achieve optimal housing conditions, this aquarium fish can easily live in an aquarium for up to 6 years.

Cichlids living in groups of 1 male and 1 female will feel most comfortable. At the same time, it is worth organizing enough secluded corners in the aquarium. This is necessary so that the females can hide from the pursuit of the male. It is important to remember the territoriality of the aquarium fish of the red zebra and mbun of other colors. The jaws are equipped with very sharp teeth, which are used not only for obtaining food. Red or blue zebras are aquarium fish that can easily attack and put to flight larger opponents.

Diet

Pseudotropheus zebra feeds on a wide variety of foods. But it is important to know that only 30% of it should be of animal origin. Your pets will completely approve of daphnia, cyclops, coretra, finely chopped beef liver and seafood. The remaining 70% of the diet is food of plant origin. It is also very diverse. Not only dry plant foods from well-known manufacturers of products for aquarists are suitable, but also chopped lettuce, dandelion, plantain, nettle, and rolled oats. The key to proper cichlid nutrition is variety and moderation. Excess food, especially of animal origin, will inevitably lead to obesity, which will not have the best effect on the health of the fish.

Watch how Pseudotropheus zebra fish play with each other.

Breeding

The fish reaches maturity by the end of the first year of life. In zebra aquarium fish of red, blue and other colors, the males are somewhat larger, their dorsal fin is noticeably pointed. The best producers are cichlids that are 1.5 years old.

Since these aquarium fish care for their eggs, they do not necessarily need to be placed in a spawning tank to reproduce. The red zebra, like other color variations of this fish, retains its eggs in its mouth for three weeks. If you are planning to breed bluefish, then it is important to know that artificial incubation is also possible. Females of pseudotropheus zebra blue and other colors lay up to 100 eggs. Their number is influenced by age and conditions of detention.

After this, fully formed fry emerge from the eggs. All fry of blue zebra, gray, yellow-orange and other cichlids have a rather nondescript gray-brown color. Only after six months of life will they acquire the characteristic color of their scales and fins. The red zebra has certain differences in this regard. The fry are female red zebra fish, yellow-orange. The blue coloration of young males appears only in adulthood. For the first 6 months they are gray in color. The main food for fry is zooplankton.

See also: Pseudotropheus - aquarium species