Labeo bicolor
Labeo bicolor or Laboe bicolor, scientific name Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, belongs to the Cyprinidae family. An original and unpretentious fish, it attracts attention with an unusual body color – a contrasting combination of dark, almost black and red colors. Not intended for the general aquarium due to its aggressive behavior towards other species. It belongs to decorative species, it is quite rare for sale due to the difficulties of breeding in captivity.
In its natural habitat, it is on the verge of extinction, it was officially declared extinct in 1996, but in 2014 small local populations were found in the Chao Phraya River basin (Thailand).
Habitat
They come from shallow (less than a meter deep) overgrown flowing reservoirs in Thailand and Southeast Asia. During the rainy season, they migrate to flooded forest floors and floodplains, where spawning presumably takes place. Due to human activities, migration routes are disrupted, which has led to a reduction in the population.
Description
Slender fish, with an elongated body shape. The lower lip has a suction cup with horny plates that allows you to cut algae and organic growths from decorations in the aquarium. The color is black, the caudal fin is bright red. In females, the intensity of flowers is weak. There are artificially derived color forms.
Food
They prefer live varied food with herbal supplements. You can serve daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp in combination with high-quality dry food (flakes, granules) and plant foods (cucumber slice, peas, peeled zucchini, spinach, chopped fruit). Herbal supplements are immersed to the bottom of the aquarium, fixed with a tourniquet / elastic band. They are updated every 2-3 days to prevent decay.
Maintenance and care
Labeo bicolor is not demanding on the hydrochemical composition of water, but its quality and purity must be at a high level. Water should be renewed at least a quarter every week, this procedure can be combined with cleaning the soil from organic waste (uneaten food debris, excrement). The set of equipment consists of a productive filter, a heater, an aerator and a lighting system.
Decoration: a substrate of pebbles and gravel with several large boulders, shelters in the form of snags, roots and branches of trees, algae will grow on them in bright light – an additional source of food. Plants any rooted.
Social behavior
Leads a solitary life. With age, it becomes territorial, which manifests itself in aggression towards other species. It is more tolerant of relatives, but skirmishes will be difficult to avoid in a small tank. If you plan to keep several Labeos, then each should account for at least 200 liters.
Breeding / breeding
Breeding is carried out for commercial purposes with the use of hormonal injections, it is almost impossible to get offspring at home.
Fish diseases
In favorable conditions, health problems do not arise. Diseases are manifested by deterioration of conditions, poor nutrition or contact with infectious fish. Some hereditary diseases are possible in artificially bred color forms, such as Labeo bicolor albino. Read more in the section “Diseases of aquarium fish”
