Care and maintenance of barbs

If the aquarium is called a “Barbarian”, it means that it was completely occupied by barbs - cute and very cute fish. Of course, we are talking about the slang name. Barbuses are fish of the cyprinid family, cyprinaceous order, and class of ray-finned. Often you can hear how they are called barbel or even puntius fish. There are several types of barbs, so everyone who wants to settle these motley pets in a small home pond should get acquainted with the conditions of their maintenance and the basic rules of care.

If you purchase small species of barbs, then they are content with an aquarium of 40-50 liters. And it is desirable that the tank does not assume the presence of neighbors, since these fish are not the friendliest. And it’s unlikely that neighbors are needed in such a small aquarium: the barbs themselves are beautiful, bright, nimble, it’s even interesting to watch them alone. If you get a flock of barbel in 5-7 individuals, they need a capacity of 70 liters for a comfortable existence. If you also plan decoration in the aquarium, the volume of the tank can be increased.

Temperature requirements are very clear - not higher than +24 degrees, not lower than +20 degrees. All this favorable interval allows the barbs to feel great.

The barbs do not really find fault with the composition of water: these handsome men love the flow, so it would be nice to have an aerator or pump in the aquarium that creates movement of the water layer.

The acidity of the water should not exceed 7.5 pH, hardness - 4-15. But the parameters tend to vary in accordance with the sight of barbel living in the aquarium. It is convenient to keep the fish in small flocks. If you think that it is a good idea to buy two barbel, which can be shared with other inhabitants, you are mistaken. If you properly care for barbs, they can live in captivity for up to 4 years.

It is worth paying attention to the following information about caring for barbel:

• picking up soil, try to find coarse-grained river sand, gravel without sharp corners or small pebbles; it’s easy to take care of them, it’s enough just to regularly clean from organic matter; it is good if the soil is dark, as this creates the necessary contrast with the color of the barbs and draws attention to the fish even more;
• special filters in the “bubbler” are not needed, but there should be no doubt about the quality of aeration;
• a lot of plants in the aquarium with barbel is a mistake, the fish are too active and energetic, they need space for “running around”; but also dark places in the aquarium are needed so that pets can hide if necessary;
• When choosing plants, pay attention to hard-leaved samples, to plants with a strong root system; if the flora is too soft, the fish will start to try it on the tooth, since they also need fiber in the body;
• it is possible to precisely form places densely populated by algae, and they will be a shelter for fish; water surface can be closed with floating flora;
• Lighting for barbel should be bright, these are not those inhabitants of the underwater kingdom who prefer to be in the shade.

Usually, barbel is not so critical of the lack of oxygen in the water, but if you notice that the pets are swimming close to the surface of the water, as if lifting the head up, urgently change the water.

Aquarium fish of the same family are divided into several species. And each species has its own "character." Let us consider in more detail how to maintain and care for different species.

He prefers to live in an aquarium of 200 liters, got its name for its external resemblance to a shark (mainly due to fins).

But in home aquariums this type of barbel is practically not found, so it makes no sense to describe the conditions of their maintenance. However, they do not go against the standard requirements for the content of barbs.

And this is a frequent resident of home mini-reservoirs. And all thanks to the very bright color and unpretentiousness of the fish. The main requirement is clean and fresh water in the tank, timely "cleaning" and the absence of thickets of plants.

In the aquarium for such beauties there should be a powerful aerator and filter, you need to feed cherry fish 2-3 times a day. Industrial or dry food is given in small portions. This is a non-aggressive underwater resident who gets along well with ordinary neons.

Such a relative needs cooler water than the bulk of the barbs. Even + 17– + 20 degrees for “complete happiness” is enough for him.

He prefers to live in slightly acidic and soft water, is content with dim lighting.

He eats any quality food. The fish is agile, so it does not get along with slow neighbors.

This species prefers sandy substrate, weak water flow and dim lighting. In brackish water, it does not take root. This is a peaceful active fish. They live in flocks of 8-10 individuals. In nutrition, he is unpretentious, The main requirement is to include plant components in the daily diet.

Such barbel need large tanks, soft water, sandy soil, weak current.

A fun and active fish that is suitable for beginner aquarists. Barbel need powerful filtration of water and regular fluid changes. It is not recommended to keep together with fish with long or veil fins.

This species prefers to live in a spacious tank, with fine gravel and dense lateral thickets. These are omnivorous fish that are happy to take for large fodder, need plant components for food.

For beginner aquarists, everything is new, and the rules of feeding, too. Fortunately, barbs are very unpretentious fish in food. Almost all types of barbel are happy to eat frozen food, both dry and live. Of the living options, the following are preferred:

• bloodworm;
• daphnia;
• Cyclops;
• pipe maker;
• frozen daphnia and bloodworms.

Barbs actively eat dry fodder based on dried daphnia, as well as industrial feed in granules. Adult fish need herbal supplements, if they are not enough in food, they will follow the flora of the aquarium.

Most aquarists prefer to buy dry feed of well-known brands. But even if there is no doubt about the manufacturer’s reputation, read the instructions, make sure that everything is in order with the expiration date of the product. The barbel is fed for about 3 minutes, then the rest of the feed will fall to the bottom. The bottom must be cleaned of excess food, as the processes of decay at the bottom can very much harm the barbs.

The first and most common problem is the wrong neighborhood. If you made a mistake in settling the barbel, they will behave aggressively. Conflicts can be internal and related to other fish. If you put the barbarum live on slow fish, almost 100% expect an open conflict. Yes, and “did not agree on the characters” - a term that applies not only to people. This also happens with underwater inhabitants.

Finally, due to their mobility, very active and fast, they can cause discomfort to other fish species. Barbel will live with botsiya clown, gourami, large tetra, labeo, zebrafish, pecilia. However, it is still worth looking back at the specific type of barbs. Barbel must not get along with the following fish:

• Minors
• cichlids;
• thorns;
• parsing;
• shrimp
• scalaria;
• molliesia;
• telescopes.

Finally, like all living things, barbel is sick. And some diseases of quicksand can cause their death. One of the most common diagnoses is gill rot. This ailment has a fungal nature. First, the vessels in the gills of the fish are clogged, then the gills themselves are destroyed.

Treatment only helps in the early stages of the disease, to prevent the disease, “Rivanol” is added to the water every 3 months.

If the aquarist does not differ in care and a serious attitude to the matter, his pets can get dropsy. If the fish swollen belly, this may be the first sign of dropsy. More often the disease provokes sharp temperature jumps or a low percentage of oxygen in the aquarium. Hydropod patients with edema are very lethargic, their scales are bulging and their protrusion is noticeable in the anus. Alas, but it is impossible to cure the fish, they are subject to destruction. After that, it is worth completely replacing the water in the tank, and all the plants should be kept in a weak manganese solution.

Rarely, but this method helps.

As barbs are fish that do not suffer from poor appetite; they can be obese. And this ailment is very dangerous for pets. If you are sure of the quality of the water in the aquarium, if there are no signs of infection, and the barbs are dying, it is likely that it is precisely in obesity. This often happens when there are children in the house or the owners often, in order to please guests, offer them to feed barbel. If you notice that the circumference of the body of the fish has increased, that they have ceased to be as mobile as before, that they are apathetic, urgently adjust the feeding regimen.

They are beautiful, funny, nimble, it is a pleasure to watch such zinger. If the family has small children, you need to teach them not to try to feed the fish themselves (only with an adult), never open the lid of the aquarium, and not scare the inhabitants. With respect for living creatures, kids will grow up caring and attentive, you will teach them to love and protect nature. And small and active barbs will help all households to leave problems and affairs behind the door of the house, since the contemplation of the aquarium is a real relaxation and reboot.

For care and maintenance of barbs, see below.