Aquarium catfish is not just an unusual fish, the behavior of which is very interesting to observe, but also a kind of live filter. Some species do not eat the food offered by the owner at all, they prefer to settle on the bottom and walls of the aquarium the waste products of other fish and plaque formed from algae. However, many owners are surprised when suddenly, unexpectedly in the morning, they discover a popped up body of a catfish. Let's try to figure out what are the main causes of the death of catfish and how to avoid them.
Life span
The life of a catfish depends on its variety and on the conditions of detention. The average life span of an individual is about 8 years. In the wild, large species can survive up to 100 years or more. The aquarium can contain about 800 species of catfish. So, chain catfish covered with fused bone plates is a popular species. He has a lower suction cup and loves to feast on algae. This type includes catfish ancistruses, otocycluses, loricaria, sturisomawhose life expectancy under good conditions is limited to 8 years.
Carapace, or callicht, catfish, which differ in two rows of bone plates, are also common in aquariums. A feature of the fish is the ability to breathe atmospheric air. Belong to this variety corridors, dianema and taracatum, which live on average 6-7 years.
The armored family is also popular, which is characterized by covering the body and head with bone plates and three pairs of long whiskers. The most popular representatives of armored are considered agamixis and platidoras, which at home live up to 15 years, and in the natural environment - up to 20 years.
The life expectancy of fringed catfish is 5-15 years, but there is evidence of individuals who survived in nature to 23 years.
Another frequent inhabitant of aquariums is the colorful catfish flat-headed, or pimelodovy. In nature, it is distinguished by a rather long life span, but it is impossible to give exact numbers, but in the aquarium, a representative of the family, for example, oleophilous sorubium, lives from 5 years and longer.
Causes of early death
In addition to death due to age, aquarium catfish can die for other reasons.
Disease
In general, it is a rather disease-resistant fish, but due to improper conditions, the immunity of the catfish may decrease, which provokes infection. For example, catfish can get sick if the level of organic suspensions in the water rises. Sometimes sluggish brocade catfish are malnourished, as the more brisk neighbors manage to eat his food. All these factors can lead to illness and subsequent death.
Improper treatment
An inexperienced aquarist begins to treat the catfish and thereby only exacerbates the situation. First of all, it is worthwhile to figure out whether catfish generally need treatment. For example, some species can sharply change color and become stained, and a frightened owner immediately proceeds with enhanced rehabilitation. In fact, this phenomenon is most often a reaction to stress and is not related to the disease. When the individual calms down, then its former color will return.
Also, some breeders are worried when they see the pet’s passivity. It is worth knowing that most individuals prefer to lead nightlife, and in the light of day, such species become less active.
remember, that these fish do not tolerate salt baths and preparations containing copper, although it is customary to treat other aquarium fish with these. Therefore, avoid this type of treatment.
So, it is not recommended to treat catfish with Ectopur, Oodinopur and Mycopur preparations - the concentration of copper sulfate more than 0.25 mg / liter becomes fatal for catfish. In extreme cases, use the indicated products in a very small dosage.
Illiterate breeding
An inexperienced owner is not familiar with the peculiarities of breeding catfish, so he does not particularly choose suitable individuals, but takes the first pair found for production. However, there are cases when a large male killed a more fragile female during spawning. Therefore, in order to avoid early death of the female for breeding It is recommended to select parents of the same size or a female whose mass is larger than the male.
Injuries
Some species, for example, sturisoma, have an elongated long body that can get into any hole. Often the curiosity of such a catfish leads him to the design of the filter, where he dies. Such death is possible not only for catfish with a certain body shape, but also for young catfish of any species.
Catfish can also be injured if kept in unsuitable water or in an aquarium that is too cramped. So, for some species, for example, a taracatum or synodontis, a peculiarity is noticed under uncomfortable conditions to jump out of the water.
If the owner noticed the little body lying on the floor in time, then it can be saved, but alas, the owner can not always be near the aquarium. Even if you close the container with a glass lid, this will not protect the jumping pet from injury: it can break its nose on the glass, although in most cases this damage is not fatal.
Maintenance and care
The main condition for a long healthy life of aquarium catfish is compliance with all maintenance rules. Aquarists give the following recommendations for caring for catfish:
- maintain the temperature of the water within 22-27 degrees;
- water should be neutral acidity, and its hardness should be 2-12 °;
- a prerequisite for a comfortable catfish life is the presence of driftwood at the bottom of the aquarium;
- buy a filter in which a plastic catfish cannot get through;
- clean the internal filter at least twice a week, the external unit can be cleaned less often;
- the basis of the catfish diet is plant food (70-80%), another 20-30% should be protein food;
- in addition to ready-made food intended specifically for catfish, these fish can be fed scalded slices of fresh cucumber, salad, spinach, green peas and cabbage leaves;
- Do not forget to weekly replace 1/3 of the volume of water in the aquarium.
About the features of the content of catfish, see below.
