Care and maintenance of scalars

One of the most beautiful and largest aquarium fish, scalars are the dream of almost every enthusiastic breeder. At first glance they attract attention, look spectacular and exotic. But far from every aquarist can grow such beauties. Care and maintenance of scalar requires, indeed, a serious investment of time and effort.

Named by foreign fans "angels" these predatory fish do not differ in exemplary behavior. It is better not to place them with the fry, and in general it is better to relocate them from other inhabitants of the aquatic world. Taking care of scalars for beginners can be overwhelming. But by creating optimal conditions for aquarium fish and their eggs, you can get excellent results, significantly increasing the existing population. Let us further consider what rules should be followed when populating these large cichlids in a new habitat.

In order for scalars to feel great in a new place, care should be taken to create optimal living conditions for them. These spectacular aquarium fish need a lot of free space. For beginner aquarists, it will be useful to know that it is better to keep a scalar in pairs - single individuals are rejected by a school of fish and receive a more meager diet. In a monobreed aquarium, the main pair will always be identified, leaders who demonstrate their status in communicating with relatives.

The content of exotic scalars at home began relatively recently - about a century ago. For a long time, aquarists acted by trial and error. It was not possible to get offspring, there were problems with the development of diseases in fish. But gradually the right solutions were found, and today it is no more difficult to keep a scalar in the aquarium than guppies. The main thing is to create optimal conditions for these beautiful creatures.

Preparation for the settlement of scalars provides for the correct selection of the reservoir. The aquarium is selected based on the size and needs of the fish. In the wild, these cichlids easily reach 26 cm in length, in captivity their dimensions are more modest, but also impressive - about 15 cm. Accordingly, an aquarium for such large inhabitants needs a roomy one - at least 60 liters, but the option for 250 liters is considered optimal for maintenance. It can contain 4-5 pairs of fish, equipping them with a spacious place for free swimming, and a green backwater, and natural or artificial shelters.

The recommended height of the walls of the aquarium for scalars is about 60 cm. The classic box is considered to be the optimal shape, which makes it easier to plant fish and plants, care, and clean the container. Install the aquarium in a quiet place with good artificial lighting (MB lamps). Direct sun rays are an undesirable factor, their contact with scalars is best avoided. The absence of unnecessary stress, extraneous noise will allow you to save a bright color of fish in its most attractive form.

On average, a capacity of 60 liters per 1 pair of adults is enough. With powerful filters, you can further seal the population. But in this case, there will be a struggle between the fishes for a place that will inevitably lead to the loss of their decorativeness.

Water temperature indicators affect many factors in the development of scalar, since fish in natural conditions lives in the Amazon, in a tropical climate zone. Aquarium content is also possible at a water temperature in the range from +16 to +23 degrees Celsius. But the appearance and decorativeness of pets will be unsatisfactory.

To make the content of scalars at home close to their natural habitat, it is necessary to maintain a fairly high softness of the water, keeping its temperature within +23.36 degrees. During the spawning period (and to start the breeding process), it is further increased. Optimum performance will be in the range of + 30-32 degrees Celsius.

Soft water of low acidity is an important component of success in growing aquarium scalars. Optimum hardness indicators are 18, pH is from 6.5 to 7.4. But in addition to these figures, it is very important to maintain a constant microbiological composition of the environment. If it changes frequently or dramatically, problems will be inevitable. On average, updating 1/4 of the total fluid volume is required weekly.

In nature, angelfish live in lagoons and backwaters, where the current is very slow or absent altogether. In the aquarium, they also do not need a rapid flow. It will be enough just to provide good filtration.

When forming an environment comfortable for scalars, experienced aquarists often create biotope aquariums with black water. The following indicators are characteristic of it:

• brownish yellow tint;
• high transparency;
• humic acid content;
• characteristic tannins.

Such a liquid medium receives its natural color in the Amazon due to contact with humus-rich soil.In artificial conditions, it is recreated with the help of special concentrates or with the help of simple home remedies. The crushed bark and willow roots (young, spring harvest), alder cones, oak bark or chestnut shells are steamed in a water bath for two hours, then an infusion is prepared on the basis of the obtained raw materials. Its addition to water provides an increase in the bactericidal properties of the medium and prevents the growth of pathogenic microflora.

For an aquarium with scalars, certain plants and decorations must be purchased. First of all, it is creeping along the walls and surface. In such thickets in nature, they hide from enemies. For the time of spawning, large plants with dense leaves will have to be planted or put into the ground - kamomba, ludwigia, ambulia. Among the grassy "neighbors", cryptocoryne is better to give preference - its scalars are especially fond of.

Suitable is also freshwater vallisneria, unpretentious in cultivation. You can decorate an aquarium with scalars with a swamp anubias - its creeping rhizome will accelerate the gardening of the aquarium.

Feeding a scalar is a relatively simple process. These fish may be content with dry food, but they are also ready to eat living organisms. Given the volume of the stomach, it is better to give food more often - up to 3 times a day, but in small portions, arranging weekly unloading periods for pets for 24 hours to prevent obesity. Adult fish is fed twice a day. Fry eat 3 times a day, until about 3 months of age.

The most proper nutrition for any cichlids should be high in protein. Fresh or frozen corettes, daphnia, bloodworms, shrimps are suitable - they are given in one feeding during the day. Among dry feeds, it is better to choose those that slowly sink to the bottom. Special flakes will be the best solution, it is difficult to eat food from the bottom of the scalar due to the peculiarities of the body structure.

Among plant foods, algae are best suited for scalars. It can be used as a nutrient for richchia, duckweed, and wolfia. As an additional top dressing, you can use crushed seafood from shrimp to octopus, as well as beef heart.

This subspecies of cichlids is characterized by peace in relation to other fish. But they should not be kept together with fry, with a high degree of probability they will be eaten. Scalariums get along well with:

• barbs;
• tetra;
• catfish plekstomusami, corridors;
• swordsmen;
• mollies;
• bots;
• zebrafish

They are conditionally compatible with eels, crab, shrimp. Catfish in the aquarium are extremely desirable, since the scalars themselves are usually not in a hurry to clean the bottom of contaminants. These fish are categorically incompatible with guppies, koi carps, discourses, African and South American cichlids.

Its features and some subtleties in caring for different types of scalars still exist. The most unpretentious is considered an ordinary scalar. Altum scalars, living exclusively in the upper Orinoco, are considered the most difficult to maintain and remove - they are very sensitive to changes in living conditions. It is better to engage in their selection for aquarists with extensive experience. A compromise can be Leopold's scalar, a beautiful and relatively rare species that does not require complex care.

As soon as caviar is laid in a special spawning ground or general aquarium, you should try not to disturb the couple. The less stress she experiences, the higher the likelihood of healthy offspring. To prevent caviar from suffering from other fish, it is better to send the scalar to parenting in advance to spawning aquarium. Male and female exhibit instincts, providing an influx of oxygen to the masonry due to its fins being fins, damaged (whitened) eggs can be eaten. With the release of young animals from the shell, parents help babies break through the dense barrier.

To create good conditions, the environment in the new aquarium is created in a 1 to 1 ratio with distilled or boiled raw materials, supplemented with antifungal additives. The second half is taken from a conventional reservoir where the population lives. The optimum temperature for fry should be at the level of +30 degrees Celsius. Hatching of juveniles occurs on the 3rd day, for another 4 days they are attached to the site with flagella, then they are ready for independent movement.

Scalar fry need a balanced diet. In the early days they are given ciliates, egg yolk or special starter feeds. Scalar a few days old can be given live food - Artemia. From 1.5 months they give a cut bloodworm and a tubule. Young growth should be planted as it grows; fish are transferred to an adult aquarium for 3 months of life.

For information on how to maintain, care for and propagate a sklyar, see the next video.