Ancistrus fish: maintenance, reproduction, compatibility, diseases

Ancistrus fish is a catfish that is kept at home most often. It looks quite unusual and attractive, it is unpretentious in its care and even cleans the aquarium! Well, isn’t it a find? Let’s try to learn more about this fish.

Ancistrus fish: what it looks like this aquarium dweller

Ancistrus can reach a length of 14 cm! However, it usually grows to a length that half that number. By shape the body resembles, rather, a droplet, but flattened. The head is wide. Because This fish lives in the wild mountain rivers of South America, which famous for its shallow waters and fast currents, Ancistrus do not have a swim bladder. But there is a powerful oral sucker, which helps to stay in the downers with feet of streams of water. And also there is durable shell that protects the fish from various pebbles and other debris that brings such streams. front the rays of the fins are noticeably thickened and have some sort of spines. Another one an interesting feature of appearance – ancitruses can turn pale depending on from your mood.

А Now let’s take a look at some of the varieties. ancistrus:

• Ordinary – it is also sometimes called “blue ancistrus.” The fact is that these fish in, so to speak, youth have bluish the tone of the scales, and on the fins – edging white. When such a catfish grows up, the color of its scales changes most often, and varies in this case from gray yellowish to dark grey. There are white spots on the body that are scattered in a chaotic order.
• Veil This species got its name from their fins and tail. They are noticeably longer than other individuals, and flutter quite effectively in water. Most elegant look of catfish, which even fins move picturesquely. Also called “dragonfly”. Color in general dark olive, scattered over the body light spots.
• stellate – a very beautiful view, which is really resembles a piece of the starry sky. The color is black or almost black, and small spots scattered all over the body either pearl white or light blue shade. The first rays of the anterior fins marked with spikes. In young individuals fins have a blue border.
• Star – so similar to the previous species, that they are often confused. Actually this the fish has a tone closer to brown. But the main the difference is still a white border on fins, wide enough. Over time, it does not disappear anywhere. At head bases are bony thorns that can be seen that, in moments of danger – then the fish spreads them for defense.
• Diamond – perhaps the rarest variety ancistrus. Similar to previous species but brighter. It is velvety black and the spots on it are bright white. Like color persists throughout life.
• Red This fish is also rare. Moreover, few people know about it! The color of such a fish is brick red or orange. Dimensions perfectly small – no more than 60 mm in length. Differs from relatives and character, preferring to be active rather than live calmly, even during the day.
• Albino golden – this fish has lost pigmentation, which caused her scales to become golden beige. Her eyes are red like the rest albinos. And, like them, this pet short life span, i.e. less 6 years.
• Yellow is a very popular look. Some confuse him with an albino, however, this fish does not have red eyes, and the scales have a more intense yellow color.
• Leopard – also known as “brown-red”, “tortoiseshell”. The fry have a body red-orange, and scattered across it brown spots. Concerning adults, they become yellow-golden, but the spots are remain dark.

Contents of Ancistrus fish and caring for her: all the subtleties

Despite that these catfish are considered light content, it’s worth talking about it question:

• Fish ancistrus needs an aquarium, capacity which will be at least 50 liters. Although there are those who choose more miniature versions. However, better just enough for the aquarium to hold liters 80-100. Of course, this fish is not the biggest, and active for the most part you can’t name it either, but still open spaces for her like more.
• И why is it better to buy an aquarium roomier: for ancistrus there are not many shelters and snags. grottoes, ceramic pots, coconut shells and caves will become magnificent shelters in which catfish can hide and rest. These water Introverts love places like this! BUT also pebbles, to which, as we remember, in natural conditions they are accustomed fasten. Also these fish need natural driftwood, hemp, and the more – the better! Catfish love to scrape off them the top layer – by eating it, they get needed for good digestion food cellulose.
• В nature, this fish is used to living in a soft water that is weakly acidic. However, at home, catfish on surprise easily adapted even to life in hard water. Generally, hardness can be from 4 to 18 GH, but this figure is highly arbitrary. What regarding acidity, the desired indicator – 6-7 PH. Preferred temperature – from 22 to 26 degrees. Although These fish can do quite well. feel and at a temperature of 17 degrees, and at an indicator of 30 degrees. But what is mandatory is an increased purity of water and its saturation with oxygen, so about having good equipment definitely worth taking care of. strong the flow also does not upset at all ancistrus. Change water is recommended once a week, replacing about 20% of the total.
• World you need a muffled one – for the rare described above the exception of ancistrus are twilight inhabitants. And if very I want to watch these fish turn on the blue light. At in bright light, disgruntled catfish will rush take up positions in their hiding places.
• Ground any is allowed. The only thing to do make sure he doesn’t sharp edges, otherwise the fish may damage your sucker or veil tail. Smooth large pebbles – perfect! Catfish will rest with delight on them.
• That As far as nutrition is concerned, ancistrus prefer plant foods. abundance animal is capable of causing disorder digestion in catfish. Give protein food is allowed, but very minimal quantity. Ideal food – special seaweed food. Feed catfish enough times a day, throwing food after turning off the light. Also Ancistrus known for their love of eating organic mucus containing all sorts of microorganisms are a real delicacy for fish. As far as, so to speak, food from the table, then pieces of cucumbers or shredded cabbage will not be superfluous.

Ancistrus fish compatibility with other inhabitants of the aquarium

That same can be said about the neighborhood ancistrus with other inhabitants aquariums?

• These catfish are the most loyal neighbors. Them it makes no sense to compete with anyone no – non-predatory catfish, for protein food extremely indifferent, unhurried. Great neighbors for them – guppies, swordtails, mollies, goldfish, tetras, fights, barbs, labyrinths fish, etc.
• Indicators waters that are oriented aquarists, often serve as limiters to select neighbors. В in this regard, the catfish excelled here – they feel great even next to each other with African cichlids. Usually cichlids try not to anyone plant as they prefer too hard, as well as alkaline water. But catfish will be great neighbors for them and for others fussy.
• А as for the large aggressive types of fish? And with them ancistrus without problems will talk – catfish shell too tough for other fish. Besides ancistrus quickly able to hide in their favorite haunts. Besides crawl out into the light of day they usually at night when other fish prefer sleep.
• С Ancistrus tribesmen can and fight sometimes. Therefore, catfish are better keep harems. Males, as usual, more pugnacious than females. By the way, and how to distinguish them? Females are more rounded and short, while males have branched processes on the head.
• That As for plants, then catfish must be bite or even eat tender appetizing stalks. However, hard they won’t be stopped either. therefore you need to plant something absolutely with them tasteless. For example, the ventu brown ferns, anubias.

Reproduction of ancistrus: let’s talk about the nuances

That same can be said about breeding catfish?

• В in principle, these fish can even be bred in the general aquarium, if purposefully I don’t have the time or desire to do this. However, if you want to control process and protect offspring from, for example, other inhabitants of the aquarium, you can prepare spawning. So, a couple of fish can account for an aquarium in 40 l, and for a female and several males it is worth preparing a container of about 100-150 l. If often change the water, make it warmer than usual and give more protein food, wards want to give birth. The best place for spawning – pipes made of plastic or clay and long stumps.
• В such a shelter you need to plant pets, and then they will do everything themselves. Fertilize male eggs will be in shelters.
• After how things are done, the males of the females usually kicked out. А then the dads take care of everything for offspring on themselves – this is what they different from many other fish. Мы used to what all parents need transplanted, otherwise they will eat the offspring. But it was not there! Male catfish carefully fan the eggs and even remove them themselves unfertilized. The female is quite you can put it back – it is more not needed in spawning.
• Somewhere after a week the fry will appear. When they can swim on their own feed them with ciliates and nauplii artemia. That’s right: growing up generation needs protein food. AT this time, dads can be put away.

Ancistrus fish diseases: what should know

notice symptoms of illness on a night fish happens not easy, but still quite possible, and here what catfish most often encounter:

• Manka – manifests itself in the form of light rashes, which are often large. However, we also remember that some catfish in principle have spotted color. If there are suspicious new stains, you still need to do it first make sure that it is not stress. The point is that a small number food, the density of the aquarium, resettlement and other such moments can cause stress. If it’s not him then it could be an infection brought a new inhabitant of the water world. Therefore, you need to move out immediately. sick individual from others. For perfect for a quarantine aquarium and a container with a capacity of about 20 liters. Use for treatment, you can copper sulfate, drug Antipar, potassium permanganate, malachite green, formalin. Treat the fish stands at a water temperature of 27 degrees is within 10 days. And also for 6 days you need to set the temperature 29 degrees. And then you have to give pet for a while to sit out.
• Oodinose – the disease is insidious, since it can very not show up for a long time. infected the fish just rubs from time to time about the stones, periodically turns pale and shudders. The fry may suffer same fish that are experiencing stress, have poor health initially. The fins are first glued, and then may break down, resulting in break. Sometimes the skin peels off. Best option to cure a pet – use bicillin. Should be set at this time temperature from 26 to 28 degrees. strong aeration, darkening of the aquarium and starvation diet before starting treatment will also help. For 100 liters of water you need to use a bottle funds. After 14-18 hours the fish will be cured, but just in case, repeat treatment will be needed after 2 days, and then and another 7 days later. Every time this it is necessary to change 30% of the total volume water.
• Chilodonellosis – a fish suffering from it becomes less mobile, more dull and not wants to eat. blue and white appear areas on the body, fins can stick together. Often in the water infection gets along with live food, about which says the turbidity of the water. Necessarily you need to raise the temperature to 26-28 degrees and give the fish Levomycetin, 3 or 4 tablespoons table salt. Sometimes doctors recommend and other medicines that are worth mentioning consult.
• Dropsy – is considered the most difficult disease, which may occur in the data fish. Stomach at this time they swell, anal the hole swells, and the fish itself stops defecating. There are many reasons but anyway you can use for the treatment of Bactopur, Levomycitin and salt. The optimum water temperature for this is 27 degrees.

Catfish ancistrus is a real find for neat! This is a kind of water vacuum cleaner to help aquarist in maintaining cleanliness your water world. And, of course, this simply extremely cute pets that will definitely not leave anyone indifferent. That is why ancistrus so many fans around the world.