Corridor Stuba: content in the aquarium

Nowadays, many aquarists have a pet called the Sturba corridor - a small armored catfish from the Callicht family. This unusual fish, whose birthplace is Brazil, is found in nature in many fresh water bodies of South America.

Appearance

The first thing that catches your eye is the color and bizarre form of the catfish. Many species of aquarium fish are able to impress with their amazing beauty and original coloring. But the corridor among them is particularly prominent. Unlike other fish of this species, it is the smallest - its length does not exceed 8 cm. The body has a round shape and gradually narrows to the caudal fin. The abdomen remains flat.

Quite unusual is the color of the catfish - on the dark brown background white and cream-colored spots of roughly the same size are scattered, but completely different in shape. The figure is located linearly on the sides and chaotic on the back and head. The most expressive fins (bright orange) are on the abdomen and breast. Look transparent, but they also traced a bitmap.

The tail is divided into two blades. Near the mouth, there are a number of whiskers that play the role of receptors. They help catfish very much in search of food.

It is not difficult to distinguish fish by sex. Males are smaller and more elegant. The females have a pronounced round tummy.

Content at home

Corridoras Sterba refers to herd fishes. To get these inhabitants in an aquarium, it is recommended to purchase at once from 5 to 10 individuals. They cooperate perfectly and harmoniously coexist with each other.

Another feature of the catfish is that they are bottom fish. It is important to take care that the aquarium has a large bottom area, wide enough, can be elongated (about 70 cm). This contributes to the normal livelihoods of pets. Height does not really matter, but it's much better to feel a catfish in an aquarium lower. Volume - not less than 50 liters. As the young grow up, it is better to increase it, since this type of fish is very active, they need enough space to clear up.

For the inhabitants of warm waters, the relevant temperature is of great importance. Optimum - 28 ⁰С. Acidity is 6-7pH, although small variations are permissible. Avoid getting into the water salt, any chemistry or drugs - the corridor of Sterba is very sensitive to such substances.

Since these are bottomfishes, they spend most of their life digging in the ground and searching for food. Therefore, the bottom is best to pour fine gravel, pebbles or sand.

For comfort, aquarium catfishes need vegetation with broad leaves (echinodorus, anubias), well fortified in advance, otherwise it can be dug by vigorous inhabitants. All sorts of scenery will serve as a shelter from fish that live in the neighborhood. Free areas of the bottom will allow you to make a fool of this merry, amusing inhabitants of the aquarium.

For the breath, the catfish uses not only the gills, but also the intestines, so it swims to the surface of the water, breathing atmospheric oxygen. This common phenomenon should not cause emotions. Nevertheless, aeration is still necessary.

Requirements for water

Quite sharply reacts to various changes in the composition of the habitat of the corridors of St? Rba. The content of these fish in the aquarium requires constant monitoring of the water state. If it becomes unsuitable, the fish swim on the vegetation, reaching the surface, and begin to capture air. In this way they tell the owner that the percentage of oxygen has dropped and it's time to change the water, siphonize the bottom and rinse the filter.

When it is necessary to move fish to another aquarium, it is necessary to transfer them very carefully, having previously created acceptable conditions for a new habitat.

Feeding

Like many species of aquarium fish, catfishes are very unpretentious in eating. They are happy to eat small crustaceans, worms, dry food and plants. We need to make sure that there is always something to eat at the bottom. If there are cohabitants nearby, they can get ahead. In this case, sinking granules will come to the rescue.

Compatibility

In the wild, shellfish live in packs. They are distinguished by a calm, peace-loving disposition. The same behavior persists in the home. Good neighbors will be pecilia, hospitable, rasskory. Corridors can do a little harm by eating fry and eggs of other fish. Therefore, for the spawning time they are planted in a separate reservoir. The main thing is to avoid overlapping with bottom predatory fish (cichlids, swordsmen), which can attack the catfish. But, if necessary, he is able to stand up for himself (thanks to the sharp spikes that the corridor of Sterba possesses).

Breeding

For the offspring, a separate reservoir will be required. Stimulate spawning by replacing water (50%) every day with a drop in its temperature by several degrees and abundant feeding live food. Several males are attached to a single female, which is rounded from the calf. About a day later, spawning begins.

The result depends on the age of the female and the habitat. At one time, it can delay from 30 to 200 eggs. At the end of the process, participants return home. Eggs are incubated up to 7 days. The acceptable temperature is 25-26 ° C. Fry will swim for about two days. Initially, they feed on microcourses, infusoria. Later, Artemia larvae will do this. Mature fry become only a year later.

In good conditions, the catfish Shturba can live about eight years, delivering a sea of positive emotions to its owner!