Antcistrus stellate: description and contents

Antsistrus is stellate - a good-natured catfish with an interesting color. Also known under a different name - mint stuck. This is an excellent cleaner: he eats up food not eaten by fish and cleans the vegetable coating on decor items. Star Antsistrus will not only decorate the aquarium in an original way, but will also benefit all its inhabitants.

The first thing that catches your eye is an unusual color: a scattering of white specks on a black velvet abdomen. Such an extravagant coloring is associated with the starry sky, which is why Antsistrus got its name. The mouth is in the form of a sucker, with the help of which the fish feeds on vegetable plaque formed on stones and decorative elements. There is a white strip on the tail and fins, which fades with age.

In length, the catfish grows up to 8 cm. The body is covered with strong plates and spikes that protect the fish from attacks by enemies. By their nature, stellar antistruses are peaceful, but skirmishes can occur among males. On aquarium fish of other species do not pay attention. They prefer a nocturnal lifestyle, and during the day they often hide in the thickets. They are well versed in camouflage techniques, can stand still and be in the same position for hours.

In Anticistrus stellate sexual differences appear rather late. Sex can be determined only when the individual reaches 1.5-2 years.

The main difference between the male and the female is the tentacles that are located on the head of the fish. Tentacles are elongated leathery processes in the form of peculiar spines.In males they are long and dense, cover the entire surface of the head, and in females they are rare and shortened, located mainly along the edges of the jaw. In addition, the body shape of the male is more elongated, and the female has a rounder belly.

Antsistruses have a calm, good-natured character, they get along well with all types of non-aggressive fish:

• swordsmen;
• Pecilia
• gourami;
• laliuses;
• scalaria;
• zebrafish
• neons;
• barbs;
• iris coasters.

Another important point to pay attention to: male antiscistruses can fight for territory or quarrel with each other. This occurs with poor feeding and cramped conditions. Therefore, in order to avoid conflicts, soms should provide good care.

Among antiscistruses, this is the smallest in size - star catfish will be comfortable in an aquarium of 50 liters or more. Although if you plan to contain several males, then it is better to choose a larger tank, and also take care of a sufficient number of shelters.

From plants, algae with well-developed roots and dense leaves are selected. They are planted deep in the ground and crushed with pebbles. The following aquatic plants are suitable:

• Anubias
• cryptocorin;
• sagittaria;
• Wallisneria

The bottom can be partially decorated with Javanese moss. It is not worth planting an aquarium completely, you must leave free space - areas with soil in which catfish will dig. As the soil, sand and smooth pebbles are chosen.

Antsistruses, unlike other fish, are not so demanding on water indicators. But its parameters should be within the following limits:

• temperature - + 20 ... 28 ° С;
• acidity - 6-7.5 pH;
• hardness - 5-20 ° dH.

Catfish are sensitive to environmental pollution, so the aquarium is equipped with an internal or external filter, and also partially change the water weekly. To do this, drain 25% of the liquid and fill in clean, settled water. If the aquarium is new, then they wait 1 month until an ecosystem that is comfortable for the fish is formed, and only then they are replaced.

For a catfish, aeration of water is desirable, especially in densely populated aquariums. But they do not need lighting, so the installation of lamps is not needed. If their neighbors are light-loving fish, because of which the aquarium is brightly lit, take care of reliable darkened places for ancistruses, it can be bushes of plants, decorative houses and piles of stones.

Some aquarists are not serious about feeding a catfish, mistakenly believing that it has enough food leftovers from other fish that it finds in the ground. But this is not so, often fish swimming at the surface have time to eat all the food they offer before it falls to the bottom, and the catfish remains hungry.

Feed the catfish should be individually, do it in the evening in a dim light. Anticistruses are stellate omnivores, but their diet should be composed of plant foods by 70-80%. You can give:

• cucumber;
• carrot;
• zucchini;
• spinach;
• lettuce leaves.

Greens and vegetables are washed well, scalded with boiling water and lowered to the bottom near the shelter of ancistrus with the help of a tied weight.

At the pet shop you can purchase food for bottom fish. It is available in granules or tablets that drown well and quickly sink to the bottom. Such feeds are perfectly balanced, they contain vitamins, minerals and a plant complex.

Do not mind the Antsistruses to feast on and live feed. About once a week they are given bloodworms, brine shrimp or a tubule.

Catfish breed well both in the general aquarium and in a separate tank. In order to stimulate spawning, environmental conditions are changed:

• lower the water temperature to +20 degrees Celsius;
• replace 70% of water with fresh.

Such actions recreate the environment that forms in natural reservoirs during the rainy season. And the Antcistruses living in the wild spawn precisely at this time. It is also necessary to improve the general conditions of detention: often turn on the oxygen supply, feed well, and if the aquarium is too populated, put the male and the female in a separate spawning ground.

Take care of enough shelter. Equip the bottom with various grottoes, deep shells and inverted shards. This is where the anti-cristuses will spawn. In stores you can buy special ceramic tubes, they are convenient to use if catfish breed in a common aquarium. At the end of spawning in such a device, it will be possible to easily transfer eggs to the spider. Do not forget to take the male, he will take care of the future offspring.

The caviar of the Antsistrus is large, orange in color. The male takes care of her for days and nights: cleans, fins with fins and protects from other people's attacks. On day 4, larvae hatch, which are fed by the yolk sac. And after 6 days, fry appear, at this time the male can be sent to a common aquarium. Toddlers are fed live dust or specialized dry flakes. When the young grow up and get stronger, teenagers are transplanted into a common aquarium.

Star Antsistrus has fairly good health, but some problems sometimes arise. Denote the 4 most common ailments.

1. Manka (ichthyophthyroidism) Is the most common infection. The main symptom is a white coating on the body. Som refuses food and does not leave his shelter. It is treated with preparations based on copper sulfate.
2. Oodiniumosis. The fish itches on stones, and its abdomen is covered with a yellowish coating. Treated with copper sulfate. In addition, it is recommended to raise the temperature of the water by a couple of degrees, and not turn off the aeration.
3. Hypoxia If the catfish often floats on the surface of the water in order to trap air in its mouth, then it does not have enough oxygen. Usually this occurs when the aquarium is crowded and the water temperature is too high.
4. Poisoning. In order to avoid it, it is recommended to periodically check the water for nitrates and nitrogen content. For this, you can purchase special tests at the pet store. In case of exceeding the standards, it is necessary to use air conditioners that neutralize harmful substances.

Diseases occur most often in the presence of toxic substances in the water, as well as in case of non-compliance with feeding rules. Another reason is contaminated feed. If there are doubts about its quality, then pre-feed worms and larvae should be frozen. With good care, ancistruses live for a long time - up to 10 years. Healthy fish delight owners with beautiful color and interesting behavior.

You can learn more about stellar ancistruses by watching the following video.