Cockerel fish can become a real decoration of a home aquarium due to its colorful and spectacular appearance. But before you start it, you need to familiarize yourself with the needs and preferences of this type of aquatic living organism. And it will also be useful to find out how much this fish can live in your aquarium.
Short description
These fighting aquarium fish come from Siam (present-day Thailand). They are still common in the wild in some Asian countries. The cockerel destroys all stereotypes about the peace-loving and complaisant nature of similar creatures. With a catchy, extraordinary appearance, it strikes with its aggressiveness and unpredictability.
When breeders realized that this species was easily modifiable by crossing, aquarium males of all kinds became available to aquarists around the world. The coloring can be several colors, while with smooth transitions, and sharp contrasting colors. Colors can be very different - from white to black, from yellow to purple. A real decoration for them are the fins and tail of a wide variety of configurations and sizes. Males are slightly larger and brighter than females.
Life expectancy in the wild
The natural habitat of males is standing water bodies or rivers with a minimum flow rate. These freshwater fish are found in the waters of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. They feel comfortable in warm water with a muddy bottom even without oxygen. The cockerel has the ability to use atmospheric air for life.
This fish and in the wild is quite aggressive and cocky. If someone encroaches on the territory of the male, especially during the spawning period, then he definitely will not be greeted. The natural color of the cockerel is not as bright as that of decorative specimens. Most often it is greenish or brown in color. It is this coloring that makes it less noticeable to predators and allows you to increase the lifespan.
The life expectancy of these aquatic inhabitants in their native element is about 3 years. This is the maximum figure, but it often happens that the fish does not live up to this period. Blame her pugnacious character. Sometimes a showdown ends sadly for one of the parties. Males often conflict with representatives of their own species, and they are more loyal to other inhabitants of the reservoir in which they live.
How many years live at home?
In the home aquarium, males also live no more than 3 years. Of course, there are exceptions when an individual reaches 4 years, but for them this is already a period of great old age. These fish are unpretentious in maintenance and do not need any complex or special care. Even in a small tank, they feel comfortable.
To bring life expectancy to a maximum, it is enough to maintain a water temperature of about 27 degrees, provide sunlight and high-quality food. If the aquarium contains only males, then you do not have to worry about the presence of an aerator. These fish do well without oxygen, which the device saturates with water. They are able to breathe ordinary air, so it is important for them to have free access to the surface, not cluttered with algae and other vegetation.
Aggression of males is most often manifested in males in relation to their own kind. They relate to individuals of the opposite sex or representatives of other species of fish calmly and get along well together.
The cause of premature death can be either an undetected illness or the consequences of clarifying relations with an opponent.
What factors affect the lifespan?
The life of fighting fish, and in particular its duration, depends on many circumstances. First of all, you should properly equip the aquarium. The minimum volume for one fish is 5 liters of water, and for a couple of cockerels you will have to acquire a capacity of up to 30 liters. You will need high-quality aquarium decorations, which can be artificial, without toxic impurities and sharp corners.
For the fish feel comfortable it is important that the water temperature is in the region of 25–28 degrees. Sunlight is vital for the inhabitants of the aquarium, but this is not a reason to put it on the windowsill under the scorching rays of the sun. They can be fatal to pets.
In the cockerel picky. Having watched him, you can understand what kind of food he likes. It is important to choose fresh and quality.
Positive emotions also have a beneficial effect on the lifespan of fish. Many consider aquarium fish to be completely untrained creatures and serve solely to decorate the interior, but this is not so. The cockerel quickly remembers its habitat and after a couple of weeks it will be able to recognize the person who feeds it. Over time, you can teach him a few simple tricks, encouraging a treat.
How to prolong the life of a cockerel?
Cockerel fish will live the longest and most active life, if you bring the conditions of its maintenance to natural. What is needed for this, we learn below.
- Purchase a large rectangular aquarium. Correctly set up and establish biological balance in it. In a spacious tank, there is a greater chance of creating an entourage of the native element.
- Find a suitable place where sunlight will fall during the day, but the water will not overheat.
- Choose a filter that effectively copes with the amount of water available. Change water once a week.
- Choose the right food. It can be both live, and dry or frozen options. Do not leave food debris in the aquarium.
- Carefully monitor the pet in order to timely identify a possible disease and begin treatment.
- When choosing neighbors in an aquarium for a cockerel, you should study in detail the habits of the fish, otherwise it may turn out to be the injured party.
Most importantly, the male cockerel has lived the time allotted to him. Therefore, you should not leave him alone with a representative of his own gender. These fish are very aggressive and able to fight to death.
About how the cockerel fish can be sick, about prevention and treatment methods, see the next video.
