Catfish: content and breeding

Catfish is a small aquarium fish, very popular among breeders. Often it is purchased as a "natural cleaner". This catfish eats algae growing on stones, scraping them off the glass of the aquarium.

The motherland of this fish is Central and South America. Catfish catfish (Abbreviated as "plesco") are perfectly adapted for living in fresh as well as slightly salty water. Fast mountain rivers and underground water bodies are the best habitat for these representatives of fauna. The fish is very calm, so it will not bring much trouble to its owner.

Features and appearance of catfish catfish

The main feature of this fish is the size. The length of the body of a small plectostomy does not exceed 8-10 centimeters, but the fish grows quickly. Catfish can reach 50-60 cm (in the wild). With regard to captive content, the length of the body of such fish does not exceed 30-40 cm. It is necessary to take into account the rapid growth of representatives of this species when selecting an aquarium. The average life expectancy with proper care is about 15 years, but in nature they can live much longer.

Somiki are by nature unique. This quality and attracts the attention of most aquarists:

• The appearance of these fish confirms their ancient origin.
• Some of them have a bright and unique jaguar color.
• Soma plexis are very clean, like to maintain order in their home. With their mouth suckers, they clean the aquarium glass of various buildups and dirt.

There is an opinion that this catfish can survive without water during a drought for 30 hours.

Soma plectostomy, whose photos are in the article, have an unusual structure and body shape. Dorsal fin rather high, and caudal very similar in shape to crescent. The mouth of the catfish serves as a sucker - it helps the fish to stay in one place, despite the strong current.

On both sides of the mouth are thin antennae, which serve as a communication organ. Eyes are strongly convex and covered with a membrane. It protects them from excessively bright sunlight. Fish like little light, so their eyes are half-closed during the day. At first glance, it is almost impossible to distinguish a female from a male, since they are too similar. These fish are light brown with small spots.

Types of catfish catfish

There are a large number of species of this fish (more than 120). They differ in size and color. Many have large sizes (up to 60 cm), but there are also small representatives. Fish are very diverse:

• Adult plectostomus bristelos reaches no more than 15 cm in length.
• The plectostomus albino, which was brought out artificially, is pale yellow or white in color, and its body is covered with a dark pattern grid.
• Plectostomus catfish is distinguished by a bright yellow color. The male of this species is larger and has a brighter color.

Species, derived by aquarists, a lot. The color of such fish can be spotty, striped, bright (due to crossing).

Catfish: contents in the aquarium

Of course, when buying it is necessary to take into account the needs of fish. Pchelstomus is an aquarium. Care for him is very simple, but beginners are sometimes difficult to cope with. All difficulties are related to the size of the new inhabitants of the aquarium.

For a comfortable content of catfish, the plexostomies require a lot of space. Therefore, the aquarium needs to be chosen in a large size. For young fish - not less than 300 liters per one individual. For the maintenance of adults, an aquarium of a much larger size will be required - its volume should be more than 800 liters.

Scourge love pure water. The breeder needs to change it once a week and constantly filter. Oxygen is required for this type of fish very much. Catfishes are rather quick, therefore the aquarium should be covered with a lid, otherwise the fish will jump out of it. The bottom must be sprinkled with sand and smooth gravel added so that the fish can not get injured.

What do you need for comfortable keeping of fish?

The parameters of the habitat are not as important as the purity of water, but it is desirable that they are within the following limits:

• The temperature regime is from 19 to 26 degrees.
• Acidity should range from 6.5 to 8.0 pH.
• Water hardness is up to 25 dGH.

In the aquarium it is necessary to place snags, to establish grottoes and caves for day sheltering of fish. Koryagi are of great importance because they grow algae, necessary to feed the catfish. In addition, the plekostomus will grind the snag with its mouth-sucker, while receiving the cellulose necessary for digestion. Catfish-like catfish like to live in dense thickets. Excellent for landing in an aquarium such algae as Thai fern, Javanese moss and echinodorus.

With whom can I keep a pseudostomus?

Pchelstomus are very calm and can get along with most fish of different species. But with their relatives, they often organize serious fights. Catfish is a territorial fish. They will perceive other males as competitors. Do not settle them together with discus and scalar. When choosing neighbors, their size must be taken into account. Small fish catfish will be eaten quickly.

Soma prefers natural layers of water, so they can easily coexist with tropical fish. Excellent neighbors for soms will be:

• Gurami;
• Barbs;
• Cichlids;
• Tetras.

With these species of fish, the plekostomus will perfectly get along and peacefully coexist.

How and what to feed the pseudostomus?

Pleko eats vegetative food. Algae for them is the best food. In an aquarium, these fish should have many different plants with outgrowths on the surface. Fish should be fed with special food. In addition to algae, pleko like to eat earthworm, various crustaceans, and also bloodworm.

Catfish is a pokostomus - nocturnal fish, so feed should be done in the evening. You can do this in the daytime, but first you need to turn off the light in the aquarium, so that the rest of the fish living with them can not take food from him.

Features of breeding

At home, it is impossible to breed this type of fish. For their reproduction, special conditions are necessary, the creation of which is possible only on the profile fish farms. The largest farms for fish farming are in the USA (Florida), Singapore and Hong Kong. One female, throwing eggs in a mink, can lay down up to 300 eggs.