Ambastaia nigrolineata

Ambastaia nigrolineata, scientific name Ambastaia nigrolineata, belongs to the Cobitidae family. This type of charr is not often found on sale in comparison with its relatives. It has a peaceful and calm disposition. Pretty simple content. Can be used in community aquariums.

Habitat

It comes from southern China from the territory of Yunnan province. It lives in the upper reaches of the Lancang Jiang River (Lankang is the Chinese name for the Mekong River). Wild populations are also found in Laos in the Nan River, a left tributary of the Mekong.

The natural habitat can be described as small streams with a sandy substrate of clear water and a moderate current.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 80 liters.
• Temperature – 20-25°C
• Value pH — 5.5–7.5
• Water hardness – soft to medium hard (5-15 dGH)
• Substrate type – sandy or rocky
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – moderate
• The size of the fish is 7–8 cm.
• Nutrition – any drowning
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content in a group of at least 5 individuals

Description

Adult individuals reach a length of about 7–8 cm. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed. Distinguishing a male from a female is problematic. The body pattern consists of wide black and light horizontal stripes, the abdomen is white. At a young age, the upper light stripe has many vertical bars. On the head near the mouth there are several sensitive antennae, with the help of which the fish searches for food at the bottom of the rivers.

Food

They accept all types of feed – the main condition is that they must be sinking and include herbal supplements. The diet may look like this: dry granules or flakes combined with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or pieces of earthworm, shellfish, as well as pieces of vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cucumber, etc.) fixed at the bottom.

Maintenance and care, decoration of the aquarium

The optimal size of the aquarium for a group of 5 fish starts from 80 liters. The design uses soft soil made of sand and / or small pebbles, driftwood covered with ferns and mosses, as well as large boulders. With the help of heaps of stones, it is possible to form grottoes, crevices, where Ambastaya will hide with pleasure.

Favorable conditions of detention are: subdued lighting, moderate current and high water quality. A productive filtration system and weekly replacement of part of the water (30–50% of the volume) with fresh water will help to avoid excessive accumulation of organic waste.

Behavior and Compatibility

Peaceful and calm appearance, combined with many fish of comparable size and temperament, able to live in similar conditions. However, ornamental fish with long fins should be avoided, as Ambastia nigrolineata can damage them on occasion. The content in the group is not less than 5 individuals. The preferred option is to purchase a flock of 10 or more.

Breeding / breeding

In nature, the breeding season is accompanied by an annual migration, which cannot be reproduced in home aquaria. In commercial fish farms, juveniles are obtained by hormonal injections.

Fish diseases

Health problems arise only in case of injuries or when kept in unsuitable conditions, which depresses the immune system and, as a result, provokes the occurrence of any disease. In the event of the appearance of the first symptoms, first of all, it is necessary to check the water for the excess of certain indicators or the presence of dangerous concentrations of toxic substances (nitrites, nitrates, ammonium, etc.). If deviations are found, bring all values ​​back to normal and only then proceed with treatment. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.