Aquarium cleaner or clown. cleaner fish and whales. Sexual differences and reproduction of agamixes

The Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans are a remarkably diverse world, but our understanding of the processes that influence it is still quite limited.

For example, it has been clearly established that cleaning fish have a huge impact on many aspects of life in this habitat. In addition, they are a shining example of mutually beneficial symbiosis. You will find out further what a cleaner fish is and what “professions” it has.

What a cleaner fish does can be understood by observing how its “office” works. In the reefs, you can often find queues of different species of marine life, patiently waiting for the opportunity to get the help they need. Sometimes, of course, as in human clinics, quarrels may arise over the right to be the first to undergo cleaning, but, basically, the fish are decorously waiting in the wings.

It is interesting that at this time something like a truce is even declared. That is, predatory moray eels can calmly stay close to their potential victims without showing the slightest interest in them.

Which fish are cleaners?

The most common cleaner fish is a member of the Wrasse family (the so-called wrasse). Wrasses owe their “profession” to the shape of their mouths, which look like tubes and are armed with teeth of a special design, reminiscent of tweezers, which allows them to most effectively explore every centimeter of the “patient’s” body.

Two species of fish in this family, Thalassoma lunare and Thalassoma amblycephalum, are incredibly social in nature, often working in large flocks similar to a swarm of bees. They surround, for example, a huge stingray lazily hovering above them and rejoice at this meeting no less than he does. After all, there is mutually beneficial cooperation here: the stingray turns into a huge dining table for the fish, receiving, in turn, a clean body and, accordingly, health.

Medical “professions” of cleaner fish

Cleaners are absolutely insatiable. It has been verified that they can “accept” about 300 fish per day, carefully collecting their unwanted tenants. At the same time, they do not forget about the food remains between the teeth of their huge brothers. In addition, they eat algae that grows on the large bodies of warm-water fish, clean wounds, collecting dead skin, bacteria and fungi.

The fish that have come “to the reception” calmly open their mouths, relax their gill slits and patiently, and sometimes even with obvious pleasure, wait for the process to end.

How fish behave when using the services of cleaners

When the “patient” feels that he no longer needs help, he can give a signal to the cleaner by temporarily closing his mouth. But don’t be afraid, he won’t eat his “doctor,” it’s just his way of communicating that he’s in a hurry.

But sometimes the cleaner fish cannot resist the temptation to eat a piece of the nutritious mucus covering the patient’s body (it must be said that this is its favorite delicacy), and then the indignant “client” shakes off the incompetent “doctor” and swims away. But, please note, he does not try to swallow it for the edification of the rest of the “medical” fraternity.

Why a couple of cleaners are better than one fish

Researchers from Stockholm University, finding out what “professions” cleaner fish have, have discovered interesting facts. It turns out that fish that work alone bite off mucus more often. If a pair works, and the best is a male and a female, then such excesses are not observed. Why?

As it turned out, the cleaners are watching each other. And if the male (he is usually larger in size) discovers that the female has broken the rule, he pursues her to punish her. Like this! But thanks to this, females work much better, and “clients” are more willing to go to such mixed pairs of underwater “doctors.”

What other “professions” does a cleaner fish have?

But the most surprising thing is that, according to researchers, he is also a peacemaker. In reefs where cleaners live, the aggressiveness of predators decreases. Even in aquariums where these fish were kept, the predatory individuals behaved much calmer.

As you can see, several answers can be given to the question of what “professions” a cleaner fish has.

Catfish are interesting, beautiful and useful inhabitants of the home aquarium. Callichthid species establish their own order: they dig the ground, move buildings, helping the owner create a unique design. Chainmail - remove young growth of algae from the walls of the aquarium, plants, snags and buildings. The variety of colors and dissimilarity from other inhabitants have made them favorites of aquarists.

The most popular are catfish with two types of suckers: common ancitrus and star ancitrus. These species belong to the chain catfish, widespread in the Rio Negro river system and streams of Brazil. The main difference is the absence of a swim bladder, the presence of a sucker-shaped mouthparts and a larger number of dorsal fin rays (8-10 instead of 7-8 in most other species). The common ancitrus reaches a length of up to 15 cm, and the star-shaped one up to 8 cm. It is better to keep both species in pairs or harems, where there are several females for one male. Recommended volume of a species aquarium (for one pair of fish) for:

• – 80 l;
• – 60 l.

If the aquarium is common for ancitrus and fish of other species, then the volume must be increased by 20 liters for each type of catfish.

Temperature range for:

• ordinary ancitrus – from 22 to 27°C;
• star ancitrus - from 20 to 28°C.

Ancistrus mouthparts.

Catering for Ancitrus

The nutrition of sucker catfish is based on small-celled algae that form on the walls of the aquarium and on the design components of the artificial reservoir. Thanks to their suction cup mouthparts, fish effectively remove green growth from various elements in the aquarium and plants, which is why they are purchased as.

If there is a lack of food, they begin to eat the soft leaves of plants, leaving gnawed holes in them.

The diet for chain catfish must be selected as for herbivores. Tabletized spirulina works well (the most commonly used), and can also be fed with dry, live and frozen food. As a delicacy, boiled cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, apple, banana and many other vegetables and fruits are used. When feeding natural vegetables and fruits, uneaten fish must be removed from the aquarium after 2-6 hours to prevent water spoilage.

Stellate Ancistrus.

Sexual differences and reproduction of ancitruses

The main difference between a male and a female is:

• difference in size (the male is much larger, the common ancitrus can reach 15 cm);
• Males have bristle-like growths on their snout, while females have only the rudiments of such growths.

For successful and long-term maintenance and breeding of ancitrus, soft water with a pH value of 4.5-6 is required. In special shelters made of wood, clay or slate, or coconut shells, the female lays up to 200 eggs and then leaves the nest. The male guards the clutch and the larvae that appear later until they begin to swim on their own. You can feed the fry with nutritional tablets or plant derivatives.

Male common ancistrus and its processes on the upper jaw.

Brochis catfish

By origin, brochis come from South America and belong to the calichta family. Six species have been identified in the Brochis genus. The following have gained the greatest popularity among aquarists:

• brochis Britski (the body is pink, the fins are red or light brown, the back is blue-green with a metallic sheen);
• Nosy (a catfish with a sharp nose, the main color is greenish-gray, the head is yellowish, the belly is pink);
• emerald (brilliant, emerald, green), has a golden-green metallic sheen, the belly is light, beige-yellow, the dorsal, adipose and caudal fins are brown.

Description of catfish

These catfish are peaceful, unpretentious and stay mainly in the bottom layers of water, looking for food at the bottom in the soil or in plant bushes. They are most active and playful in twilight lighting.

Brochis have a voluminous head with three pairs of whiskers, an elongated mouth opening directed downward, which makes it convenient to pick up food from the bottom, and a high body, compressed on the sides by two rows of bone plates. The adipose fin is equipped with a sharp spine. The main difference between this genus of catfish and other species of the family is the larger number of rays on the dorsal fin - the emerald brochis has 10-12, the nosed and britsky have 15 to 18 rays.

Brochis nosy.

Conditions of detention

Brochis catfish are quite large, measuring about 8 cm, and require a spacious aquarium. A species aquarium must be at least 112 liters, and a general aquarium - from 240 liters.

You need to put a lid on the aquarium to prevent catfish from jumping out.

Brochis are a schooling fish, and it is better to keep from 5 to 10 pieces; if the number of fish is less than five, then they will feel insecure and constantly hide in shelters.

Brochis spend all their time searching for food, digging at the bottom, which necessitates good filtration and the choice of fine-grained, rounded soil in the aquarium.

Plants should be chosen with a good root system and floating (they will create some shading in the aquarium).

The water temperature should be maintained at a level of 24 to 26 ° C, with low softness, and up to 30% of the aquarium volume should be replaced weekly.

Good aeration and a slight flow will be useful when setting up an aquarium.

Snags, large stones, grottoes or other shelters will be excellent shelters, without which brochis are uncomfortable in the aquarium.

For feeding, it is better to use: tubifex, bloodworms, etc. Brochis are very gluttonous and require plenty of food, but are not picky about food.

Emerald Brochis.

Sexual differences and reproduction

Female brochis are much larger and rounder than males. Depending on the state of health and age, the female can lay from 300 to 600 eggs with a diameter of 1 mm. Eggs are deposited throughout the aquarium. The ripening period is five days, after which the larvae appear. After four days they begin to feed on small live food.

The fry go through three distinct developmental phases before they acquire their permanent emerald color. Initially they are speckled with a reddish dorsal fin, then other color changes occur until the color fully develops.

They become sexually mature at the age of 1.5 to 2 years. They are not the easiest to breed, and they spawn extremely rarely in amateur aquariums.

Features of the view

Features include:

• very close view;
• cannot tolerate salty water;
• when using intestinal respiration, brochis rise to the surface and take in air, sometimes emerging with their whole body;
• fearful and irritable.

Aquarium catfish

Armored (dorado), armored or side-scaled catfishes are a separate family of catfish, distinguished by the presence of large bony plates that cover the entire body of the catfish, except for the abdominal region. Along the entire body, on the sides, there is a line of bone spines. Some fins also have hard bony rays.

When danger arises, catfish spread their fins and secrete toxic mucus, which, when pricked by a thorn, causes pain and also prevents the wound from regenerating for a long time.

This family is also interesting for its ability to produce various sounds, due to which some species are called singing.

Description of side-scaled catfish

Bronyaki live in the swampy areas of South America in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. This family has about 100 species, and is represented by aquarium and commercial catfish with sizes from 5 to 120 cm. Large species grow very quickly, and aquariums become unsuitable for keeping them. The most common types of aquarium armor are:

• white-spotted agamixis;
• Acanthodoras stellata;
• chocolate acanthadoras;
• Amblydoras Hancock;
• doras Eigenmann;
• Platydoras striped.

Bronyaks are nocturnal and, accordingly, do not like bright light. They try to spend all daytime in shelters. To do this, the aquarium must be equipped with a grotto, driftwood or piles of large stones with abundant vegetation.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that catfish grow, and there should be no impenetrable tubes or hollow stumps as shelters.

The soil should be selected from rounded stones of various fractions, preferably dark in color, and coarse river sand can also be used.

Due to the fact that catfish excrete a large amount of waste products, it is necessary to ensure good filtration of water and replace up to 25% of the water weekly (with tap water separated from chlorine or specially filtered).

When it comes to feeding, they are omnivorous and willingly eat live, frozen and dry food (worms, bloodworms, tubifex, granulated and tablet food with various additives), and also successfully hunt snails. To avoid various incidents with other inhabitants of the aquarium, you need to remember that catfish eat those fish that they can swallow with their mouthparts.

Popular types of armor

Platidoras striped: maintenance and care

Platidoras (platidora, spiny, grunting or singing catfish) is a peaceful fish inhabiting the upper reaches of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. They are called grumbling or singing because they can make sounds in the water, which allow them to find their own kind. Sounds are produced by the pectoral fins and swim bladder.

Grunting catfish can be in the aquarium either alone or in a group. The size of Platidoras reaches 27 cm and can live in an aquarium for up to 20 years. They are predominantly nocturnal, but are also interesting during the day, as they spend a lot of time exploring the bottom. At night they pose a danger to other fish species, especially those smaller than 5 cm.

They willingly eat dry, live and frozen food, but prefer protein food, i.e. live food. In the first year of life, they turn belly up and eat food from the surface or underside of plant leaves.

Sexual differences and reproduction of Platydoras

Differences between males and females appear in body shape. The male is more graceful and slender, and his coloring is also more pronounced. When in danger, the female's dark brown color clearly appears; only a light stripe of bony spines remains in its color. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of one year.

In captivity, platidoras reproduce very difficult, usually due to the artificial administration of hormones. The spawning tank should have a volume of about 100 liters with a temperature of 25 to 29°C. The male builds a nest from plant leaves up to 10 cm in diameter. The female lays up to 1000 colorless eggs.

At a temperature of 25°C, the fry emerge after 40-45 hours and for the next two days they eat the remains of the yolk sac. After 4-6 days, the young successfully swim and move around in the aquarium, feeding on brine shrimp and rotifers. The fry grow rapidly, and at the age of 2 months they reach 4 cm.

Features of Platidoras

• prone to overeating (floats to the top with the belly);
• When catching, it is necessary to use a container made of glass or plastic (due to sharp spikes, injury is possible).

Agamixis white-spotted: description and content

The white-spotted, speckled or star-shaped, singing and grumbling agamix is ​​a member of the agamyx species of the armored family. It lives in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru in slow-flowing waters. Grunting or singing catfish - agamixes - make loud sounds with their pectoral fins and swim bladder, which allows them to more easily find females during the mating season and relatives.

Stealth in behavior and nocturnal lifestyle are the main characteristic features of this order. It has a dark color and white specks on the body (in catfish under the age of 1 year, these specks shine). In aquariums it grows up to 18 cm and is long-lived (lives up to 20 years). A container of 120 liters or more is suitable for specific keeping, and 160 liters for general keeping.

The water should be soft, the temperature should be from 24 to 29°C.

Artificial shelters, snags and dense vegetation with twilight illumination will provide this catfish with the necessary comfort for living. The contents of the fish are simple and not picky.

Sexual differences and reproduction of agamixes

Sexual maturity of this genus is reached at the age of 2-3 years. Females and males are very similar, but the males are smaller and more graceful, and the female has a shapeless large abdomen. Successful breeding of agamixes occurs in a spawning tank with a volume of 100 liters; it is also worth using hormonal stimulation. The female lays up to 1000 light green eggs with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.5 mm. After 40 hours, the larvae emerge. After two days, the fry begin to move independently around the aquarium. The starting food is brine shrimp, rotifers and other food suitable for the mouthparts.

Video story about keeping ancistrus:

Everyone loves clean aquariums with crystal-clear walls, bright, smooth and shiny plant leaves and water that resembles a mountain stream. But this idyllic picture is constantly being disturbed by algae. They cover the glass with a brownish-green film, form a nasty fringe on plants, and give the water the color and smell of a swamp. And the aquarist has to fight them. It’s good that in this fight he has allies - algae-eating fish.

Seaweed

Algae are lower, relatively simply structured unicellular or multicellular plants that live in an aquatic environment. They can float in water or settle on underwater objects and attach to them, forming plaque, films, threads, fluff, and so on on them. They have different colors. Representatives of several divisions of algae can live in the aquarium:

1. Green. They form a green coating on glass, soil, underwater objects or a cloudy green suspension in water.
2. Red - Vietnamese or black beard. Brown or black tassels, tufts or fringe on glass, plant leaves.
3. Diatoms. Single-celled, they form a brownish-brown slimy coating in insufficiently lit parts of the aquarium.
4. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. They form slimy, bubbling, foul, sea-green films on plant leaves and underwater objects. (Let's say right away: an outbreak of these algae is a disaster that must be urgently eliminated by completely turning off the lights, massive cleaning of the aquarium and antibiotics; no biological control methods work here).

Algae is always present in any aquarium, but a sharp increase in their number occurs only when the biological balance is disturbed.

Therefore, to combat them, first of all, you need to normalize the quality of aquarium water: optimize lighting and carbon dioxide supply, reduce the amount of nitrates and dead organic matter, plant more plants. And the algae-eating fish will fight with the remnants of the enemy army.

Types of aquarium cleaners

There are several dozen aquarium fish that can feed on algae with varying degrees of enthusiasm. This includes ancistrus and pterygoplicht catfishes, viviparous platies and mollies, representatives of the carp fish Labeo and many others, and we do not count shrimps and snails. However, only a few species are recognized as professional aquarium cleaners: Otocinclus catfish, Siamese algae eaters and Gyrinocheilus.

Otocinclus

Otocinclus (usually Otocinclus affinis) - a representative of the family of chain-mailed (locarid) catfish, a small - up to 5 cm - catfish with large sad eyes. A favorite of the famous Takashi Amano, who recommends placing it in an aquarium with plants when starting it up.

Otocinclus specializes in the destruction of diatoms, outbreaks of which are often observed in new aquariums.

And later, when the biological balance has already been established, otocinclus will not hurt. It does not harm anyone, does not harm the plants at all, and with the tenacity of a professional gardener, scrupulously cleans their leaves of diatoms and green algae. Cleaning glass, soil, and underwater objects usually interests him less. If there is little algae in the aquarium, otocinclus is fed with plant food, preferably lightly boiled zucchini, which is attached to a snag or stone with an elastic band or clamp and left for two days. The aquarium with otocinclus must have clean water (nitrate level no more than 10 mg/l).

Siamese algae eaters

The Latin name of this species is Crossochelius siamensis(synonym Epalzeorhynchus siamensis), they are often called by the abbreviation SAE (from the English Siamese Algae Eater), sometimes affectionately known as cods or saits. Cute, peaceful schooling fish up to 10-12 cm long. Their mouth is adapted for eating algae that grows in the form of fluff, tassels or fringe.

Siamese algae eaters are the only ones who are able to rid an aquarium of red algae - flip flops and black beard, which are very difficult to remove by other means.

In addition to red ones, they happily eat filamentous green algae. Plants are practically not damaged, with the exception of Java moss; adult fish are often partial to it. SAE have a poorly developed swim bladder, so they cannot swim for a long time in the middle layers of water and often lie on the bottom. At the same time, they are quite jumpy, so the aquarium with these fish must be closed. It has not yet been possible to achieve their reproduction in an aquarium, so all specimens that go on sale are wild, imported. And herein lies the problem.

The fact is that in the same rivers and streams where SAE is caught, several more very similar related species of fish live. They are caught together with Siamese algae eaters and then sold together in pet stores. Therefore, Thai or false algae eaters are found ( Epalzeorhynchus sp.. or Garra taeniata), another name for them is Siamese flying foxes; Indonesian algae eaters or red-finned epalceorhynchus ( Epalzeorhynchus callopterus); Indian algae eaters ( Crossocheilus latius) and other representatives of the genera Epalceorhynchus, Crossocheilus and Garra. All of them are almost indistinguishable in appearance, but differ from each other in character and effectiveness as cleaners - the Siamese flying fox, for example, is a fairly aggressive fish, but is reluctant to destroy algae. Therefore, if the goal is to acquire a peaceful and hardworking SAE, you should pay attention to the following signs:

• fins are transparent, without yellow or orange tints;
• a black stripe on the side of the fish runs from the nose to the tip of the tail;
• the upper edge of this stripe is zigzag;
• there is a mesh pattern on the sides of the fish (the edges of the scales are dark);
• at the tip of the muzzle there is one pair of dark antennae;
• when a fish rests on the bottom, stones or leaves of plants, it rests on its caudal and pelvic fins, not on its pectoral fins.

Gyrinocheilus

Girinocheilus, or Chinese algae eater ( Gyrinocheilus aymonieri or less common species Gyrinocheilus pennocki), like SAE, belongs to carp fish. Its mouthparts are shaped like a suction cup.

Hyrinocheilus is the best specialist in eliminating the green algae that often appears in herbal aquariums with strong lighting.

They reach a length of 15 cm, their color is gray-brownish with a dark stripe or, more often, light golden albino. Adult fish exhibit pronounced territoriality, attacking other fish that they consider their competitors. The disadvantage of Gyrinocheilus is their tendency to damage the soft leaves of higher plants. This is not to say that they eat the plants clean, but they may leave small scratches and abrasions. Therefore, it is important to ensure that they have enough food. To do this, you need to observe the density of their planting - at least 40-50 liters of water for each individual. If there are few algae in the aquarium, it is recommended to feed Gyrinoheilus with plant foods: cucumber, cabbage, lettuce and dandelion.

Why do algae eaters stop eating algae? Quite often there is evidence that SAE, as well as Gyrinocheilus, diligently clean the aquarium only at a young age, and when they grow up, they completely lose interest in algae and switch to dry food. Indeed, this happens, but only when they have plenty to choose from. If there is no excess dry food in the aquarium, then the algae eaters have no choice but to carry out their direct duties. Therefore, the recommendations here are the following: feed the fish only in the evening, if there is little algae, try to feed the fish not with dry food, but only with plant food, or, even better, specially grow algae in other aquariums or simply in jars of water installed in bright places.

It should be noted that there are no such complaints about Otocinclus; it cleans the aquarium of algae, not paying attention to dry food.

An example of the work of gyrinocheilus

Compatibility of aquarium algae eaters

Since the life of algae eaters directly depends on the size of their pasture, the issue of competition for food resources is very acute for them, and the behavioral characteristics of these fish were formed under its influence. Many of them have a pronounced territoriality, the manifestations of which complicate the life of their neighbors and the aquarist.

The only algae eaters compatible with each other are Otocinclus and SAE. Since they have different structures of the oral apparatus and, accordingly, different food preferences, they will not compete. In addition, both species are quite peaceful. No other species of algae eaters can be housed together.

Girinocheilus and SAE will be irreconcilably at enmity with each other, as well as with Ancistrus and Labeo. If the aquarium is small and there are few hiding places, then adult Siamese algae eaters will also sort things out with individuals of their own species, and Gyrinocheilus will fight to the death. Some authors indicate that Girinocheilus are aggressive towards all fish around them. I can say that this is not so, or at least not always so - in my aquarium, Gyrinoheilus does not pay any attention to peaceful neighbors, unless they swim close to the area where it is currently grazing.

It is also not recommended to keep algae eaters with predatory cichlids. The only exception is the aggressive counterparts of SAE - Siamese flying foxes. They are larger and can fend for themselves.

Thus, non-predatory, peaceful fish of small or medium size that are not interested in algae can become good neighbors for the heroes of this article.

Algae-eating fish can become indispensable assistants to humans in the fight to keep the aquarium clean. Having understood their species, food preferences and behavioral characteristics, each aquarist decides for himself which of them will bring the greatest benefit to his glass reservoir, making it healthier and more beautiful.

Video of how otocinclus work in an aquarium:

Aquarium attendants - fish, shrimp, snails fighting algae

A clean and well-kept aquarium is not only beautiful, but also a guarantee of a long and healthy life for its inhabitants. But sometimes, despite the efforts of the owner and even the work of high-tech equipment, the inside of the home pond is covered with brown or dark green coating, tassels, fringe or threads. This is algae. If this problem has overtaken you, then do not rush to immediately grab chemicals. Try to house algae eaters, for whom eating such “garbage” is one of the natural physiological processes. Read our article about which aquarium cleaners are known and against which algae they are most effective.

Fish fighting algae

These “cleanliness workers” are most often found in hobbyist aquariums.

Soma

They are considered especially good “cleaners”

• pterygoplicht (brocade catfish),
• Ancistrus vulgaris,
• and Otocinclus (dwarf catfish), which prefers diatoms.

With their suction cup, they thoroughly clean everything (bacterial film, algae fouling, other polluting organic matter), starting from the walls of the aquarium, soil, stones and ending with snags and large plant leaves. At the same time, they themselves are quite unpretentious, which is a definite plus.

The disadvantages include the large size and poor character of some of the catfish.

• For example, an adult pterygoplicht can grow up to 40-45 cm and begin to behave aggressively towards other inhabitants.
• Sometimes catfish, overly keen on cleaning, damage the young tender tops of plants or make holes in young leaves.
• And some individuals, with age, begin to be lazy and perform their “responsibilities” poorly.

The dwarf catfish is an algae eater from the chain catfish family that does best with brown diatoms. A school of five fish can easily keep a 100 liter aquarium clean. “Dwarf” is unpretentious, peaceful, and can get along even with large predators.

The armored catfish Corydoras is also quite good in terms of cleaning, but it greatly disturbs the water and tends to eat other fish.

But here is a “janitor”, which can be seen less often, but this does not make it any worse: the royal panak, which belongs to the family of chain-mailed catfish. Large fish that will require a 200-liter (at least) aquarium. Young individuals are calm, but with age their character noticeably deteriorates. They get along well with peaceful characins. Panak is best at cleaning snags.

Gyrinocheilaceae

This family unites only three species of fish, the most popular of which are Gyrinocheilus.

Their lips are like a suction cup with folds on the inside. These bends form a kind of “grater”.

Thanks to this design, fish can stay on the rocks even in strong currents, while simultaneously scraping algae from their surface.

This food is not very nutritious, so Gyrinocheilus have to “scrape” a lot.

They cannot eat all filamentous algae, such as thread and blackbeard.

Negative points include

• damage to leaves, on which furrows and holes may remain after “harvesting”;
• a small number of fish is not enough to keep the aquarium clean;
• in large numbers they are aggressive and constantly attack their own kind, as they are territorial.

It is very difficult to achieve peace among them. You also need to select your neighbors carefully; you should absolutely not take slow fish. Girinocheiluses mistake them for inanimate objects and can “clean” and severely damage the scales.

Viviparous

Many of them have a highly developed lower jaw, which resembles a scraper that easily removes plaque from walls, soil and plants.

The most popular cleaner livebearers are guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails. Some breeders claim that these fish can survive even without additional food, eating only green thread.

The disadvantages of this group include the fact that they need to be kept in a large flock (at least 10 pieces), but even in such numbers they will not ensure complete order in the aquarium. They are good only as assistants to other algae eaters.

In addition, these fish are not very showy, and for beautiful ones there may simply not be enough space left in the aquarium. And crowding, as we know, will lead to conflicts.

Carp

The most tireless fighter against algae from this family is the Siamese algae eater (also known as Siamese crossochelius, or Siamese crossochelius, or Siamese epalceorhynchus).

Its strong point is green algae and the so-called “flip-flop” or “black beard” (these are growths in the form of dark tassels on stones, plant leaves and other places).

It also copes well with other algae in the form of fluff, since its mouth is best suited for this. To keep a 100-liter aquarium perfectly clean, it is enough to have only two (even the smallest) Siamese algae eaters.

The advantages of these fish are also activity, mobility, a fairly peaceful disposition, a small volume of vessel for normal existence and modest care.

Not without its shortcomings. After the length of the fish becomes more than 4 centimeters, they can begin to eat Java moss, if it grows in the aquarium, and much more readily than algae.

The way out of this situation is to plant larger mosses, such as fissidens.

Another couple of “cleaners” from this family are bicolor labeo (bicolor) and green (phrenatus). Their mouthparts face downwards. Of course, they eat algae and fouling, but not as well as the previous ones. It's more like their hobby, so to speak. Their big disadvantage is their increased aggressiveness and territoriality towards both other fish and their own kind.

Shrimp fighting algae

These arthropods are rightly called champions of cleanliness. Freshwater shrimp are especially good, their bodies are equipped with special “fans”.

These outgrowths filter the water and extract from it uneaten food, feces, plant particles and what remains of dead inhabitants. The males loosen the soil and filter out the dregs that have risen. Females remove dirt from the bottom surface.

In addition to filtering water, these creatures remove fuzzy algae from plant leaves and all other surfaces, and much more successfully than fish.

The reason is simple - shrimp, especially cherry shrimp, can get into the smallest nooks and corners of the aquarium.

Negative points:

• a small shrimp can only handle a small amount of work;
• To keep the aquarium really clean, you will need a lot of shrimp (one individual per liter);
• they are very defenseless and can be eaten by fish, as a result of which neighbors need to be selected especially carefully, plus create a lot of reliable shelters.

In addition to cherry shrimp, amano shrimp are good at fighting algae. They keep cladorf balls perfectly clean and eat filament.

Important! The efficiency of “work” is affected by their size. The larger the shrimp, the tougher strands of algae it can eat. Four-centimeter arthropods are considered the best.

5 of these pieces are enough for 200 liters. Three-centimeter fish will need 1 individual for every 10 liters of water. You need even more small ones (1-2 for every liter). The last option is the most unproductive and the most expensive. It is also worth noting that these shrimp do not eat xenococus and other green algae in the form of plaque. Black beard is also used reluctantly.

Another species is neocaridins. They are the most common among hobbyists, as they are very easy to breed. They are small, only 1-2 cm long, so you will need a lot of “combat units” (one individual per liter). Preference is given to soft filamentous algae such as Rhizoclinium. Neocaridins are the best choice for planted aquariums. They are also indispensable in a newly started aquarium, as they help establish balance. In adults they maintain balance.

Snails fighting algae

Although mollusks are not so successful in the role of orderlies, their strength is the ability to consume almost all contaminants (leftover food, excrement of living and dead inhabitants, rotten plants, mucus and plaque on all surfaces, film from the surface of the water).

And the well-being and behavioral characteristics of some species serve as a kind of indicator of the purity of soil and water.

The bad news is that the number of snails is almost impossible to control, and they reproduce very quickly.

Then their large army begins to “harm”, eating plants and flooding everything around with their mucus.

Here are the most common cleaner snails found in home aquariums:

Neretina zebra(tiger snail), Neretina hedgehog, Neretina black ear. They remove plaque from glass, stones, driftwood, decor and large leaves without damaging them. It seems that they never get tired. The downside is that they leave unsightly clutches of eggs on the glass of the aquarium.

This crumb (1-1.5 cm) is able to get into the most inaccessible places and clean them to a shine. Works great against diatoms.

Septaria or turtle snail with a flat shell. It is very slow, but despite this it copes well with algae fouling and flip flops. Does not damage plants. A typical drawback is caviar hanging on the decorations.

Corbicula. This is a three-centimeter snail. It is also called the yellow Javan ball or golden bivalve. Helps cope with water turbidity, suspended matter and blooms, as it is a filter. This means that the mollusk passes water through itself (up to 5 liters per hour!), eating the microorganisms contained in it. Interestingly, in aquariums with carbicules, fish do not suffer from ichthyophorosis, since they somehow retain their cysts. For a 100 liter aquarium you need from 1 to 3 such snails. Negative aspects include plowing the soil and digging up plants with weak roots.

Ampularia. Quite a large lungfish. It picks up leftover food, dead fish and other snails, and actively eats fouling from the walls of the aquarium.

Helena, called the killer snail. This miniature predator is considered a scavenger orderly. However, it is capable of eating not only a forgotten piece of food or a dead fish, but also a completely alive small shrimp or snail (for example, a reel or a melania).

Theodoxus. These are small, beautiful freshwater snails. There are several types. They can live in both freshwater and salty domestic ponds. They feed only on fouling, preferring brown and green algae. They even compete with Gerinocheilus for superiority in the effectiveness of the fight against xenococus. But they don’t like the “beard”. Plants do not spoil.

In conclusion, let’s say that an aquarium biosystem can only exist successfully with the help of humans. Proper selection and adjustment of equipment and lighting, proper start-up of the aquarium, and regular monitoring of water parameters and the condition of the inhabitants are very important. Fish, shrimp and snails are assistants in solving the problem of algae control, and not the main characters. Of course, here we have only briefly described only some representatives of aquarium orderlies, since it is impossible to talk about them all in detail in one article. We will be grateful for interesting additions.

Catfish are aquarium cleaners

For those who like to buy and breed aquarium fish, sooner or later the question arises of how to keep the container constantly clean. After all, the fish leave a lot of dirt and waste products, and in addition, the cleanliness of the aquarium is also disturbed by algae, which, with any violation of the thermal regime, begin to actively spread throughout the entire aquarium. Even with periodic cleaning of the aquarium and changing the water, a coating of small plants and dirt appears on the walls of the aquarium.

It is in this case that very useful and unpretentious “helpers” - aquarium catfish - come to the rescue. Their main advantage is that the fish do not require special food. They feed on the leftover food of other sea creatures and also eat small mosses and algae.

This is why it is very convenient to have a cleaner catfish in your aquarium. As a rule, these fish are not aggressive and can be safely kept with other inhabitants of the aquarium. But there are still different types of catfish.

The calmest and most conflict-free are the sticky catfish, which have a spotted color and a flattened body. When they appear in the aquarium, they immediately stick to the walls of the vessel and gradually begin to eat the plaque.

Thus, cleaner catfish are a great help to the aquarist. Thanks to their efforts, it is much easier to keep a vessel with fish clean and tidy.

Like other fish, they need water at a suitable temperature, constant oxygen and light. Some species of catfish prefer dark places and shelters, but the sticky catfish is not one of them.

In addition, for its comfortable maintenance, a sufficient amount of algae is necessary so that the fish has something to eat. But, as a rule, problems with this never arise. After all, even in the cleanest aquarium algae and microorganisms settle, which the cleaner catfish copes with very well.

Otocinclus: maintenance, catfish compatibility, reproduction, photo-video review

OTOZINCLUS
useful catfish for our aquariums

Many aquarists, even those who do not keep live aquarium plants, know such fish as algae eaters. These fish are tireless workers and orderlies of the aquarium - they eat algae around the clock and effectively cope even with such a pressing problem as Blackbeard.

However, few people know that there are other fish that can help us cope with aquarium adversity. One of these irreplaceable helpers is the chain catfish - OTOZINKUS. Let's see what kind of catfish this is and how it is useful!

Latin name: Otocinclus.
Russian name: Otocinclus, Oticus, Oto.

Squad, family: Chain catfish.
Comfortable water temperature: 22-25 degrees Celsius.
"Acidity" Ph: 5-7,5.
Aggressiveness: non-aggressive (peaceful).
Hardness dH: 2-15.
Content complexity: light. Compatibility: compatible with all peaceful fish. Difficulties can arise only when combining otocinclus with cichlids, especially large individuals. But it is worth noting that, as a rule, aquariums with cichlids are not decorated with live aquarium plants and the presence of otocinclus in such aquariums is rare.

At the same time, there is evidence on the RuNet that otocinclus “stick” to Angelfish and Discus, feeding on their integumentary mucus.

How long do they live: These catfish have an average life expectancy, living approximately 4-6 years. You can find out how long other fish live HERE!

Minimum aquarium volume: There are different varieties of otocinclus, the smallest of the genus Otocinclus mariae is 2.5 cm in size, the largest Otocinclus flexilis is 5.5 cm. Therefore, when choosing the number of catfish, of course you need to proceed from the size of a particular type of otocinclus. The general recommendation is up to 7 catfish per 50 liters of aquarium water.

See how many other fish you can keep in X aquarium HERE(at the bottom of the article there are links to aquariums of all sizes).

Requirements for care and maintenance conditions:

Otocinclus are clean people and love clean water. To maintain them, aeration and filtration are necessary, as well as weekly replacement of aquarium water with fresh water, approximately 1/3 - ? parts.

Otocinclus, in addition to gill respiration, also have intestinal respiration. But, unlike corridors, which constantly use both types of breathing, otocinclus breathe through the intestines, only as needed. If they often capture air from the surface of the water, then the aeration you have installed is not enough.

Please note that otocinclus need to be very carefully transplanted into a new aquarium, adhering to all the rules for moving and transporting fish; otocinclus are very thirsty and do not like changes in water parameters.

Feeding and diet:

In otocinclus, the mouthparts have the shape of a suction cup, with the help of which they are held in the current in nature, and also scrape algae and bacterial growth from stones, snags and everything else that is in the river.

This amazing ability of otocinclus is their highlight!!! Just like in their natural habitat, these catfish also in the aquarium clean the walls and decorations of the ill-fated, lower ones - diatoms!

Feeding aquarium fish should be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. Article “How and how much to feed aquarium fish” talks about this in detail, it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime for fish.

In this article, we note the most important thing - feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet food either with the highest protein content or, conversely, with plant ingredients.

Popular and popular food for fish, of course, is dry food. For example, you can find food from the Tetra company, the leader of the Russian market, on aquarium shelves all the time and everywhere; in fact, the range of food from this company is amazing. Tetra’s “gastronomic arsenal” includes individual food for a specific type of fish: goldfish, cichlids, loricariids, guppies, labyrinths, arowanas, discus, etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. You can find out detailed information about all Tetra feeds on the company’s official website - Here.

It should be noted that when purchasing any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.

These catfish are irreplaceable assistants in all Aman and Dutch aquariums, earning 100% respect from aquascapers all over the world. Sensei - Takashi Amano contains them in the amount of 6 individuals / 90 cm aquarium + shrimp.

It is worth noting that, unlike Ancistrus, otocinclus are much more mobile. Like algae eaters, they work tirelessly to “keep the aquarium clean.” They eat brown algae not only from the decor and walls of the aquarium, but also directly from the plants, which ancistrus do not do!

Despite the fact that otocinclus are able to feed themselves, they should still be fed with branded plant foods. You can also offer them scalded lettuce, spinach or fresh cucumber leaves as a delicacy.

photo of otocinclus on a cucumber

In nature they live: rivers and lakes of central and northern South America. Amazon basins in Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.

Types of otocinclus

There are a great many varieties of these catfish! The most popular are Otocinclus. mariae, Otocinclus affinis, Otocinclus macrospilus and Otocinclus vittatus.

Description: All representatives of this genus are similar, differing only in size and variable colors. All otocinclus have a gray or black, continuous or broken stripe on their sides. On the front of the tail there is a large spot of variable shape.

Breeding and propagation of otocinclus very simple. In fact, it happens independently, and sometimes, it is not even noticeable to the aquarist, who only after a month notices a “replenishment in the ranks” of otocinclus.

Good housing conditions and stimulation: feeding protein foods, increased aeration, frequent water changes... that's all that is necessary for the spawning of otocinclus. Sex differences are weakly expressed. Females are larger and thicker than males.

The photo shows otocinclus egg laying

Otocinclus spawn several times during the summer; the spawning substrate, as a rule, is the wide leaves of plants. After mating games, the female lays a clutch of 100 - 150 eggs. The incubation period of eggs is 3-6 days. Afterwards, larvae appear, which turn into fry on the third day. Food for juveniles is live dust, small, ground food.

The cost of otocinclois corresponds to their “usefulness” and is relatively high - 150 rubles.

Interesting video with otocinclus

AQUARIUM CLEANING FOR BEGINNERS.

How to properly clean an aquarium

General cleaning of the aquarium need to be done depending on the type of fish. For some, the best option is a one-time monthly cleaning, for others - weekly. Remember that fish do not like to be disturbed and change their habitat even for a short time. General cleaning is always stressful for any type of fish. That is why, when cleaning, do not frighten your fish with sudden movements. Are you planning to rearrange your aquarium or replace plants? Then it is better to combine this procedure with cleaning and housekeeping. Remember: the use of various types of chemical cleaning products in the aquarium is strictly prohibited! In specialized stores you can buy a special siphon for cleaning an aquarium. You can also use materials available at home. The walls of the aquarium should be cleaned with a scraper, washcloth, or kitchen sponge. After all, microorganisms constantly settle on them, obstructing visibility and creating an untidy, sloppy appearance for the aquarium. After cleaning the glass, you can start cleaning the bottom of your aquarium. The soil must be cleaned of food residues and fish excrement. All this accumulates below. But how do you know when such cleaning is needed? Take a stick and stir the soil, stir it. If bubbles begin to rise from the bottom, then cleaning is necessary. This procedure will be made easier for you by a special soil cleaner. This is a flexible hose with a glass or metal tip, which should be moved along the bottom, pressing it deep. Water containing contaminants will flow through the tip. It is important to control the amount of water drained. The volume of this water should not exceed a fifth of the total water volume of the aquarium. You then need to add this amount of water to the container. You should be careful with the roots of the plants when cleaning, so as not to damage them. After all, the main thing in cleaning is to preserve all living things and support the natural habitat. Water purification helps refresh the aquarium and remove accumulated harmful substances. In order to alleviate stress for the fish due to water changes, it should be partially replaced. This should be done once every 2 weeks. Water for this purpose should be left to settle for several days. Is your aquarium not covered? Then a film may appear on the surface of the water. You can eliminate it with a sheet of paper, the size of which is equal to the size of the aquarium. This sheet must be held by the edges, lowered into water and slowly lifted along with the harmful film. If necessary, the procedure is performed several times. When performing general cleaning of the aquarium, one should not forget about the cleaning filter. Usually its elements are made of foam rubber. Therefore, to thoroughly clean them, you just need to rinse them under a strong stream of water. The filter mechanism is usually cleaned with a simple toothbrush. General cleaning of the aquarium and its proper cleaning will prolong the life of your swimming pets and maintain the normal level of the aquatic habitat. After all, cleanliness and order are necessary for all living beings. Support them, control them, watch for changes. And then your healthy pets will delight the eye with their active movements!

Step-by-step cleaning of an aquarium at home: instructions

1. Clean the aquarium with a siphon.

Cleaning an aquarium correctly with a siphon is not that difficult; you just need to do it once, and then you can do it with your eyes closed. Aquarium siphons come in different designs, but regardless of them, the siphon of the bottom of the aquarium will always be built on the same principles.

It is necessary to begin the cleaning procedure of any aquarium with fish with this procedure. You must siphon both the surface of the soil and a little from the depths. As a rule, the main waste accumulates on the surface. You need to siphon off the volume that you are going to pour back in the form of settled water. Calculating this amount is not difficult, the main thing is not to forget to do it, but if you have plenty of water left standing, then you have nothing to worry about.

2. Clean the glass.

In fact, we want to say from our own experience that the most problems arise with glass, simply because you are too lazy to clean them... This is the hardest work - you have to work with a scraper, go through all the build-up. If you don’t do this when the first growths appear, then in the future it will be very difficult to deal with them, and even more so, not a single cleaner fish can cope with multi-month growths.

3.Cleaning the filter.

Cleaning the filter is third on the list, because for this we will need water from the aquarium so that we can wash the filter parts and rinse the sponges. It is better if this is the water that you siphon last, so that there is as little turbidity and sediment in it as possible. After rinsing the filter in this water, you assemble it and install it back.

4. Pouring settled water into the aquarium.

When all the so-called dirty work of properly cleaning the aquarium with fish is done, all we have to do is fill it with clean water. This should be water that you have stood for a week in a special container. Only after the water has been filled can the filter and lighting be turned on.

5. Add vitamins.

Also, if required, you can add any fish vitamins to the aquarium. These can also be water and algae control products. In general, it is better to pour such products either together with new settled water, so that they immediately spread throughout the entire volume, or to pour them in the area where the water is discharged from the filter.

1. Be sure to schedule a time in advance when you need to clean. Do this the day before so you don't have to wait until the last minute. For this task, we recommend that you at least get a little prepared for a short half-hour of work with the aquarium in advance - this will make it easier to do everything without being lazy.
2. If you suddenly forgot to settle the water (and this happens to busy people who have large aquariums), then it is better to skip cleaning than to siphon and fill in unprepared (not settled) water.
3. If you are really lazy, then in small aquariums you can clean it less often, for example once every 2 weeks (for aquariums up to 30-40 liters in volume). But here everything depends on the contamination of the aquarium, the power of the filter, etc.
4. Try to move the siphon in the aquarium without sudden movements. This must be done in order not to unnecessarily frighten the fish, especially if these fish are large and shy.
5. Do not siphon deep soil that is located close to large plants. This soil contains nutrients for plants (of course, if the dirt comes through the stones, then you need to siphon even there, in the depths). In addition, you should not disturb the root system of plants again, as this is stressful for them - plants do not like transplants and movements around the aquarium.

   Nurse fish

   There are species of fish that not only delight the eye with their bright colors and peaceful disposition, but also bring undoubted benefits - these are aquarium cleaners. These include swordtails, guppies, mollies and platies. They have a special mouth structure - the developed lower jaw resembles a scraper, with which the fish can remove plaque from the walls or bottom of the aquarium, as well as clean the leaves of plants.

   Both ancistrus and armored catfish are very interesting - their mouthparts are very similar to a suction cup, with its help these creatures can move along the walls of the aquarium. In addition, organic plaque removed from glass walls is part of their diet. These types of fish will become real helpers when cleaning the aquarium and will greatly facilitate this procedure.

   Cleaning products.

   Not all detergents and cleaners can be used in cleaning an aquarium. There are even types of chemicals that are categorically not recommended for use. Cleaning devices are the simplest, there are few of them. There are only a few items that are required.

   You definitely need a scraper to properly clean the glass of the aquarium. There are two varieties: magnetic and with a long handle. The first option is specifically designed for aquariums. It is designed in such a way that you simply lower it into the water and control its movements from the other side of the glass. That is, you don’t even have to put your hands in the water.

   The second necessary item is a tube (siphon), with which you can clean the soil at the bottom of the aquarium. It's inexpensive. In addition, you can make it yourself if you have a small piece of hose.

   And the last important device is a water purifying filter. Its advantage is that it works all the time. That is, the water is filtered without stopping. The process of cleaning it is constantly going on. Moreover, the filter absorbs and retains foreign dirty particles. Consequently, both the soil and the walls of the aquarium become contaminated less quickly. The filter also protects plants from unwanted plaque.

What fish are the best aquarium cleaners?

Natalya A.

Siamese Algae Eater

pterygoplichthus

ancistrus

corridoras

ANTISTRUS - CATFISH
Fish are peaceful inhabitants of the soil, they love shelter, their activity increases with the onset of twilight or a drop in atmospheric pressure. They love clean, oxygen-rich water. You can keep in a general aquarium, which should have thickets in places, a sufficient number of caves and, of course, snags, which the fish scrape off to get the cellulose they need. Large stones should lie on the bottom of the aquarium, because if they lie on the ground, then the fish can be crushed when they are undermined. Males defend the territory around their chosen hiding place.

Food: 60% plant-based, the rest live, substitutes are possible. Fish eat growths of some types of short and soft algae.

Spawning both in general and in a spawning aquarium. A ceramic or plastic tube 3-4 cm long and 20 cm long is placed at the bottom (spawning can also occur in a cave).

Water for dilution: 20-26°C, dH up to 10°, KH up to 2°, pH 6-7.3.

A pair or 2 males and 4-6 females are planted; in the latter case, 2 tubes are placed at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other to avoid males fighting over territory. The stimulus for spawning is the change of 1/3 of the volume of water to fresh, aeration and a decrease in temperature. The female lays 50-300 eggs in the tube, which are guarded by the male. In the spawning aquarium, the female is removed, and the tube along with the male is transferred from the general aquarium to a nursery aquarium with the same water parameters. The incubation period is 4-9 days. After 4-12 days, the fry leave the tube and take food: live dust and finely ground plant food. In the nursery aquarium, it is advisable to place a piece of driftwood, which the fry will peel off. Puberty at 7-12 months.

Few would argue with the statement that an aquarium is one of the most striking and memorable decorations in any room. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that more and more people are starting to get involved in aquariums and place beautifully decorated artificial reservoirs in their homes. But when thinking about placing such beauty, almost no one thinks about the difficulties associated with maintaining both the cleanliness of the aquarium and its beautiful appearance.

This truth is confirmed by the familiar proverb that says that without even a little effort, it becomes impossible to achieve any result. The same applies to an aquarium, which requires constant care, water replacement, monitoring its quality and, of course, cleaning.

Why do you need to clean your aquarium?

Anyone involved in aquarium farming is familiar firsthand with the problem of the appearance of algae inside an artificial reservoir, which not only limits access to the sun's rays, but can also cause many diseases that cause irreparable harm to all living inhabitants in the aquarium. As a rule, many methods have been developed to combat unwanted vegetation, including the use of chemicals, changing water parameters and water ozonation.

But the most effective and safest is the biological method, which uses so-called cleaner fish that eat algae and thereby rid the artificial reservoir of their presence. Let's take a closer look at which fish can be considered a kind of aquarium orderlies.

The Siamese algae eater feels comfortable at a water temperature of 24-26 degrees and hardness in the range of 6.5-8.0. It is also worth noting that representatives of this species can show some aggression towards their relatives, while remaining friendly to other species of fish.

This catfish from the chainmail order has already gained high popularity among both experienced and novice aquarists. And the point here is not in the ease of their maintenance and peaceful nature, but more because of their tireless work aimed at cleaning the aquarium from “biological” debris.

They destroy algae not only from the walls of an artificial reservoir and its decorative elements, but also directly from the vegetation itself, which, for example, not every ancistrus catfish does. As for nutrition, although they can feed themselves, it is still recommended to feed them with plant food with the addition of delicacies in the form of:

• spinach;
• scalded lettuce leaves;
• fresh cucumbers.

Ancistrus or catfish sucker

It is probably difficult to find at least one artificial reservoir where there would not be a catfish of this species from the chainmail family. These fish deservedly gained such high popularity due to their “sanitary” activities, unpretentiousness in maintenance and, of course, their unique mouth structure, reminiscent of a suction cup. By the way, precisely because of this distinctive feature, which stands out noticeably from the entire family of catfish, this fish is sometimes called the sucker catfish.

In addition, if we talk about appearance, the Ancistrus catfish is probably one of the strangest aquarium fish. The original oral apparatus, growths on the face somewhat reminiscent of warts and dark color, together with a hidden way of life, really create a certain aura of mystery for ancistrus. This catfish feels most comfortable at water temperatures from 20 to 28 degrees.

Also, as mentioned above, having a peaceful nature, they get along well with almost any type of fish. The only danger to them, especially during spawning, is represented by large territorial cechlids.

An interesting fact is that when optimal conditions are created, this catfish can live more than 7 years.

Pterygoplichts or brocade catfish

Quite beautiful and in high demand among many aquarists, this fish was first discovered back in 1854 in the shallows of the Amazon River in South America. It has a rather impressive dorsal fin, brown body color and prominent nostrils. The maximum size of an adult is 550 mm. The average life expectancy is 15-20 years.

Due to their peaceful nature, these aquarium cleaners get along well with almost any type of fish. But it is worth noting that they can eat the scales of slow-moving fish. For example, scalar.

As for keeping it, this catfish feels great in a spacious artificial reservoir with a volume of at least 400 liters. It is also recommended to place 2 driftwood at the bottom of the vessel. This is necessary so that these fish have the opportunity to scrape off various fouling from them, which is one of the main sources of their nutrition.

Important! It is necessary to feed the brocade catfish at night or a few minutes before turning off the lights.

Panak or king catfish

As a rule, this catfish has a rather bright color and is a member of the loricariid family. This fish, unlike other representatives of catfish, is quite hostile to encroachments on its territory. That is why the only option when placing a panak in a vessel is to first equip the bottom with all kinds of shelters, one of which subsequently becomes its house.

Remember that panakas like to spend most of their time moving around in various shelters, often getting stuck in them, which can lead to their premature death if the fish are not removed from it in time.

As for nutrition, these catfish are omnivores. But scalded lettuce leaves or other greens can be used as delicacies for them. They get along well with peaceful characins.

Mollies Poecilia

These viviparous fish actively cope with green filamentous algae. To feel comfortable in an artificial reservoir, she needs free space and areas with dense vegetation. But we should also not forget that these fish can destroy not only unwanted algae, but in some cases even shoots of young vegetation. But this happens, as a rule, only with insufficient feeding with vegetarian food.

Why whales and cleaner fish are friends

Cleaner fish help. They are excellent healers and specialists preventive medicine: prevent development of diseases.

Cleaners are rarely left without work. To attract a client, they fulfill theirfigurative dance. Before the warm invitation Not a single fish can resist it. She freezes head down, like a mullet, or, standing upvertically, like a parrot fish, straightensfins to make it easier to examine it, opens mouth, raises gillslids, and little cleaners fearlessconfidently rush into the monster’s mouth,confident that they would not be swallowed.

When the client decides it’s time for the procedure to cum, he slams his mouth shut, closingthe gill slits disappear for a few seconds, and then releases the cleaners, shakes himself,and the orderlies working outside finish ut procedure.

From the community of cleaners and fish the benefit is mutual. The orderlies have all their food rai on their bodies, doing colossal work. For a six-hour working day is olda personal orderly manages to serve more than three hundred clients. Tropical fish without chiStylish people can't get by either. Odevery day on the reefs off the BahamasThe cialists caught all the orderlies. And what? Most of the fish left this reef, and those that remained have everything on their bodies and fins re appeared wounds, tumors, skin covered fungal colonies.