Overview of the popular large aquarium fish

Aquarium is the best decoration of any home. The glass tank looks much more interesting and attracts more attention if large and beautiful fish live in it. There are many popular species of underwater inhabitants that feel great in home aquariums. Get to know them better.

Not all aquarists agree to be content with exclusively small and harmless fish. Many have a special love for large underwater inhabitants, who have a more expressive appearance, attracting a lot of attention. Consider some of the most spectacular species of aquarium fish.

One of the largest representatives of the species of sucker catfish. Pterigoplicht is a full-fledged aquarium cleaner in which it lives. This fish can perfectly clean glass and any objects in the tank from accumulated deposits. Pterygoplicht is able to absorb atmospheric air due to the circulatory system in its intestines. If there is not enough oxygen in the water, it will rise to the surface.

Pterigoplicht grows slowly. This individual can reach a length of 15-18 cm only by three years. This catfish can reach its maximum size only closer to five years, when this aquarium cleaner can have a length of about 50 cm.

Catfish need an exceptionally large and spacious aquarium. In cramped conditions, this healthy man will be very uncomfortable, and the neighboring fish can cause irritation and conflict situations.

Som Clarias is a large predator belonging to the Clari family. Typically, representatives of this species lead an active lifestyle in the dark. Under natural conditions, it can grow up to 1 meter in length. If we are talking about aquarium content, then here the predator grows to a mark of 25-70 cm.

Clarias is held in the lower layers of the reservoir. This is a lone fish, but sometimes forms a pair. If the catfish pair up, they will spend a lot of time together. Similar behavioral characteristics are inherent in fish extremely rarely.

Clarias can also breathe atmospheric air. For this, there is a special adnexal organ - a modified lung, with the help of which catfish can receive air. In the aquarium, this catfish should not be kept in the vicinity of small fish, because Klarias will simply exterminate them. These African predators are aggressive.

Red-tailed catfish are real river monsters. They have a huge mouth, the width of which is the same as the width of the whole body of the fish. In aquarium conditions, red-tailed catfish can grow up to 130 cm. The maximum recorded size of this fish in nature is 180 cm with a weight of 80 kg.

This interesting fish is usually kept in the bottom layer. When a red-tailed catfish grows older, it can lie for hours at the bottom without any movement. In care these fish are unpretentious. They need only moderate light, a small amount of snags and stones in the tank.

When installing shelters or decorations in the aquarium, it is very important to make sure that they are all secured “in good conscience”, since red-tailed catfish can dump even heavy objects.

This name has a very interesting shark catfish, which is distinguished by an unusual appearance. Fish look like sharks, but in miniature. In the natural habitat (Thailand, Laos), these beauties can grow up to 1 m in length, and in the aquarium - up to 70 cm.

There are several varieties of pangasius. Consider a description of the different subspecies.

• Siamese. This is a high-fin shark catfish. Otherwise, it is called a freshwater shark. This fish has a dark gray body color with a beautiful blue tint. A flattened head is characteristic, and the fins and tail have the same structure as real sharks.
• Sutchi. Very shy fish. It has more modest dimensions than Siamese individuals. In moments of severe fright, the catfish of the day can rush in different directions and beat against the walls of the aquarium. This fish should not be annoyed, nor should it be frightened, as this could result in serious injury to it.

Sutch is less aggressive, trying to stay in the middle layers of water. Such catfish can get used to their master and will react to his appearance in the room.

Insanely popular and beautiful fish, differing in impressive size. Carps are undemanding. They can have a variety of colors - from gold to deep red.

Carps are not only large, but also strong, strong fish. A standard medium-sized aquarium will not be enough for them. By about 6 years old, with proper care, the carp can grow up to 70 cm with a weight of 5-7 kg.

A real decoration of a large aquarium can be handsome discus. They differ in non-standard body structure, flattened on the sides. They have a small head and a tiny mouth.

The nature of the discus is peaceful. They are not particularly mobile. The fish are timid and try to stay in small groups in the middle layers of water. Accustomed to staying in shady places in the aquarium, like diffused lighting.

Not so long ago, fish of this species were considered rare. Today they are well known. The popularity of arovan is due not only to their interesting appearance, but also to the unusual serpentine structure of the body. In the natural habitat, Arovan can reach a length of more than 1 meter.

Grow Arovan very fast. They need to prepare spacious aquariums. There are several subspecies of arovan:

• African
• platinum;
• black
• silver.

If you decide to make such an interesting fish, you should know that it has managed to survive for many millions of years, while maintaining excellent health. That is why arovanu can not be called capricious and demanding fish. They feed it not only with worms, but also with grasshoppers, frogs, live fish, and even mice or beef hearts.

Nowadays, Arovana is considered a symbol of wealth. It can become an adornment of any home. But we must remember that this fish is hardly suitable for a general aquarium.

Another unique look whose representatives have an amazing appearance that never goes unnoticed. Endlicher Polytherus belongs to the multi-pen family. In length, it can reach 75 cm. This fish is distinguished by a decent life expectancy. Under good conditions, the polytherus can live more than 10 years.

This fish has large pectoral fins, as well as an interesting dorsal fin, which has the appearance of a serrated scallop. Outwardly, Endlicher's polytherus resembles a dragon living underwater. These amazing creatures can be kept in the aquarium, but it is important to take care of having a strong and well-fixed lid, because individuals can jump out of the tank. Once outside the aquarium, the polytherus will be able to move around the house for some time, but a long stay in such conditions will end for him death.

Despite its formidable appearance, the Endlicher polytherus can coexist quietly with other neighboring fish. The main thing is that the latter should be of appropriate size - individuals that the polytherus can swallow will one day become its victims. Ideal neighbors for sea dragons are chic arovans, large cichlids, hitala ornata and similar fish.

This is an interesting fish, different violent disposition. She easily deals with small neighbors. Quarrels and conflicts between medium-sized individuals cannot be avoided if aggressive cichlazoma lives in the aquarium. These underwater pets exhibit anger and aggression towards both the fish and the vegetation in the tank.

Representatives of this species can grow up to 20-25 cm. They should be kept in tanks where all plants are well fixed in special pots. It is advisable to give preference to hard-leaved vegetation. In the diet of these underwater inhabitants must be animal feed.

In the aquarium, these fish usually have a length of 20-25 cm. In nature, they are larger - 40 cm. The macrognaths are active at dusk, differ in nocturnal activity. Their favorite food is mosquitoes, earthworms and tubule.

Macrognatus loves to dig in, so without soil in the aquarium where such a fish lives, you can not do. It is important to ensure that there are no stones with sharp edges at the bottom, as the pet can seriously injure them. As with polypterus, for macrognatuses it is important to prepare a spacious aquarium with a well-fixed lid. These fish also like to get out of the tank, especially in the corners, wires and ducts.

A beautiful and very interesting fish that feels great in aquarium conditions. Botsiya-clown is not the largest fish in the world, but in the aquarium it can reach a length of 20-26 cm, so it needs a spacious tank. In nature, these individuals can grow up to 50 cm in length.

The name of this fish is "talking." It has a bright yellow-orange body color with wide black stripes. It is impossible not to notice such beautiful underwater inhabitants in the aquarium.

Representatives of this species are very important shelter in the aquarium. You can buy ready-made "houses", or you can build structures of stones or branches yourself.For a battle, you need to prepare a large aquarium, the volume of which is at least 400 liters.

Despite its considerable size, the bots-clown is a relatively peaceful fish, which does not show unnecessary aggression. However, it should not be kept in the same tank with small underwater inhabitants, since it can perceive neighbors such as food.

About the species of large aquarium fish, see the next video.