Choosing the inhabitants for a small aquarium, it makes sense to turn your attention to the fish apistogram. In addition to numerous attractive colors and small size, this variety is also appreciated for its peaceful character.
Description
Apistogram - aquarium fish from the cichlid family. Its dimensions do not exceed the length of 7 centimeters, and most often make up only 5 centimeters. Such a miniature allows you to populate in a 30-liter capacity, even a small flock. The apistogram demonstrates absolute fickleness regarding the conditions of detention and good nature towards the rest of the inhabitants of the aquarium. True, such a creature does not live long - at best, 4 years. Depending on the type of body, it has either an elongated oval or almost round shape. It should be immediately clarified that the name of the apistogram combines a large number of species, each of which has its own characteristics.
In nature, fish prefer water bodies with a slow course and a large number of fallen leaves, algae and snags.
Water in this case, due to tannins, turns brown; therefore, it is advised to maintain a similar situation in the aquarium. This not only creates an optimal environment for the apistogram, but also helps to preserve the brightness of the color, which in other conditions can become more dull. By the way although the creatures are quite friendly, inside the flock the males can relate to each other quite aggressively, and even offend the females during the spawning period. This explains the need to place a sufficient number of shelters and grottoes in aquariums. If the aquarium is selected small, it is better to create a flock of one male and at least three females.
Kinds
The cockatoo apistogram lives for about 5 years. The dimensions of the males reach 9 centimeters in length, but the females do not go beyond the boundaries of 4-5 centimeters. Fish fit perfectly into any aquarium with a large number of plants and shelters, as well as clean water. It is important that the tank volume starts at 50 liters.
Apistogram Ramirezi is the most famous species, also known as a butterfly. Its bright color and friendly character explain the particular popularity among aquarists. The length of the fish does not exceed 5 centimeters. Its variety is the apistogram of Ramirezi balloon, which has an unusual round body shape. This variety is weaker than the "original", therefore, requires a more accurate content, the absence of temperature fluctuations and stable water performance.
In addition to the tank, there is a veil breed, characterized by descending fins of considerable length.
The Borelli apistogram is a beautiful representative of cyclides, the dimensions of which do not exceed 8 centimeters. Apistogram agassitsa is not a very large and completely non-aggressive fish. It is recommended to purchase it only for skillful aquarists, since the care of the creature has its own specifics. Breeders have deduced several colors of this species: agassitsa fire red, agassitsa double ed and others.
The Macmaster apistogram grows up to 9 centimeters in length and has different colors. It must be kept in a rather large tank without currents and with clean water, therefore only professional aquarists choose a relatively complex look. The Widget apistogram has a large number of colors, the most popular of which are the Gold and Red widgets. The length of the fish does not exceed 8 centimeters.
The apistogram of altispinosis, it is also a Bolivian butterfly, shows its bright color only on condition of a quiet habitat.
It is important to settle it either alone or with peaceful neighbors.
The panduro apistogram is very sensitive to the acidity of water, unlike its relatives. In addition, it requires a fairly large tank - a couple of individuals will need an aquarium of 100 liters. The length of the males does not exceed 8 centimeters, and the females barely grow to a length of 5 centimeters. Outwardly, the panduro, by the way, does not look particularly attractive, since its main shade is gray. In males, however, there is a strip of orange, but only on the tail.
Compatible with other fish
Peaceful apistograms live comfortably with any fish that do not show signs of aggression or increased possessiveness. Therefore, the choice can be made either based on a beautiful combination of colors, or on similar eating habits.
When populated with predators, the pets themselves will be food for larger creatures.
For different varieties of apistograms, different neighbors will do. For example, for balloons and altispinoses they are selected as cohabitants of guppies and males, and ramirezi is populated in one aquarium with catfish or zebrafish. Always a good roommate is considered a cherry barbus.
Growing conditions
The maintenance and care of apistograms cannot be called too complicated. Nevertheless, it is better to take an aquarium of such a volume that approximately 20 liters of water fall on one pair of fish. It is important to remember that if the tank is too deep, the fish will go to the lower or middle level, but a small depth (from 10 to 15 centimeters) allows them to move around the entire tank. Water should have a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the acidity level should not go beyond 5.5-7.5 pH. Optimum stiffness ranges from 10 to 12 dGH. In general, temperature fluctuations and changes in other indicators are not considered critical.
Soil may turn out to be ordinary sand or fine crumb. Lighting is not so important, but the presence of vegetation has a beneficial effect on the condition of the inhabitants of the aquarium.
Aeration and regular water changes are very important. Experts recommend either replacing 10% of the total volume every day, or changing from 25 to 30% of the fluid every week. Since apistograms are highly sensitive to the chlorine present in the water, before pouring a new portion into the aquarium, it is very important to defend it.
Having shelters and grottoes in the aquarium, it is necessary to ensure that their number at least slightly exceeds the number of females. In one aquarium it is not forbidden to contain several varieties of apistograms.
Feeding rules
The apistogram is very fond of eating and eats all the nearby food with pleasure. Therefore, it is important to control the size of their servings, since overeating leads to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, which becomes serious diseases. Feed the fish twice a day in equal portions of a small amount. The apistogram is considered omnivorous, and therefore the best solution would be to offer her a combination of different feeds. Plant ingredients should be present in the pet's diet, for example, healthy algae, minced meat made from seafood, frozen insects and microorganisms, as well as live tubule and bloodworms.
Large pieces should first be crushed, and live food should be processed with a solution of potassium permanganate.
From time to time, it is not forbidden to use ready-made formulations formulated in such a way that they include all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Some of them are designed to brighten the color and increase the activity of the creature. If you compile the diet of the apistogram properly, it is easy to provoke its growth and development - in about 6 months its size will increase several times.
Sexual differences and reproduction
Breeding apistograms at home seems to be a rather interesting process. In some species, full-fledged pairs are formed, which are engaged not only in reproduction, but also in joint care for the offspring. It is considered correct when mating occurs without the intervention of the owners, which means that it is initially worth buying a school of fish. The spawning period occurs from March to October. The female lays about 150 eggs, for which she necessarily needs a flat surface.
The temperature in the aquarium at this time is recommended to increase to around 25-28 degrees Celsius, as well as to ensure that the level of acidity is in the range from 6.5 to 6.8.
The development of fry is not too long - in order for the eggs to transform into full-fledged fish, it will take a maximum of a couple of weeks. First, the fry feed on what is contained in the yolk sacs, and then they will need micro-worms, crushed artemia, or a specially selected food. The male at this time actively cares for posterity. While the fish are developing, favorable conditions in the aquarium should be maintained and any stressful situations should be avoided.
Possible problems
Apystograms themselves have fairly persistent health, so all problems with them are the result of improper care or non-compliance with the conditions of detention. This, however, is about natural varieties, since those living in a natural individual are much weaker and negatively react to the change of any water indicators: temperature, hardness, composition or acid-base balance.
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract occur either due to gluttony of apistograms, or due to uncontaminated live food.
Quite often, apistograms get sick with hexamitosis caused by a certain parasite. It is easy to determine the disease by refusing to eat a pet, a darkened color and a visual change in the state of the abdomen. The sick fish will have to be quarantined. The temperature of the water in it should gradually increase to 34-35 degrees, and the water should be supplemented with furazolidone.
About apistogram see below.
