Shell catfish maintenance and feeding

Catfish are quite popular inhabitants of many aquariums. The variety of catfish is enormous: here you can find very tiny fish and giants, for which even 500 liters will not be enough. Catfish are represented by several families, and armored catfishes (armored fishes, callichthids) are one of the most numerous and most popular.

Who is included in this family and how to keep such catfish - we will tell you below.

Ancistrus

Ancistrus photo

Ancistrus vulgaris

Please note that if you are just planning to purchase these wonderful fish, be sure to watch who you buy and be careful. Often, and this is not an isolated case, newbies in the store are sold young pterygoplichths or plecostomus instead of ancistrus.

What a surprise it is for a beginner when, a year later, instead of a 10 (ten) centimeter catfish, a whole flame grows in his aquarium - 40 forty centimeters long, which, in addition to everything, craps like a Nile crocodile

The saddest thing is that no one will take this log back and you won’t give it back to good hands. In this connection, as a rule, the fate of such foundlings is very sad. They either become pulled down by rickets. Or they are released into nearby bodies of water, where they also quickly die.

But let's not talk about sad things. Let's focus on the content of ancistrus. It is very important that the aquarium with ancistrus has natural woody driftwood. These fish are phytophages and cellulose is extremely necessary for them. They are ready to gnaw on good fresh driftwood around the clock, like dogs on sugar bones.

Ancistrus voile

Ancistrus on cucumbers

Ancistrus crushes a zucchini

In general, we can say that ancistrus and other loricariids do not need personal feeding. They will always find something to eat in the aquarium. With their reckless destruction they will scrape the walls of the aquarium and stones, thereby collecting them for food. But at the same time, if you have a lot of lorics or they are elite or just your favorite ones, then it is worth feeding them with food such as, for example, Tetra Pleco Tablets or Tetra Wafer Mix, due to This is primarily due to the fact that ancistrus, unlike most fish, do not have a swim bladder. That is, they cannot hang in the water, they are terrible swimmers, all they can do is vigorously move their flippers and jerk from point A to point B. Therefore, it is very important that the food falls to the bottom and preferably under their nose)) )

Feeding any aquarium fish should be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. The article “How and how much to feed aquarium fish” talks about this in detail; it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime of the fish.

In this article, we note the most important thing - feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet food either with the highest protein content or, conversely, with plant ingredients.

Popular and popular food for fish, of course, is dry food. For example, you can constantly and everywhere find food from Tetra, the leader of the Russian market, on aquarium shelves. In fact, the range of food from this Tetra is included as individual food for a specific type of fish: for goldfish, for cichlids, for loricariids, guppies, labyrinths, arowanas, and discus fish. etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. You can find out detailed information about all Tetra foods on the company's official website - here .

It should be noted that when purchasing any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.

Breeding and propagation of acistrus

Ancistrus breeding
40l, or if the spawning tank is large 100-150l. You can plant one male and two females. The incentive for spawning is frequent water changes, abundant feeding, increasing the amount of protein and live food, and raising the water temperature. It’s easy to distinguish a male from a female! Males have branched, developed leathery processes on the head and along the edges - tentacles, popularly called “antennae”. In females, the antennae are located only at the edges of the head, poorly developed, or absent altogether. Ancistrus reaches sexual maturity by the age of one year.

As for the spawning itself, the male and female dive into a coconut or tubes and slurp something there, probably dumplings))) After spawning, the young father kicks out the female and takes all the care of the offspring upon himself. During the entire incubation period, Dad sits on the clutch with the eggs, fanning them with his fins and chasing everyone who dares to approach.

People often ask on forums whether it is possible to transfer the father and eggs from a common aquarium to a separate spawning tank. It is possible, but this must be done extremely carefully. To do this, the tube where the dad sits on the calf is carefully transferred to the spawning area. In all other cases, we do not recommend disturbing the young father, as there is a possibility that he will become stressed and stop caring for the offspring. If this happens, then all care for the offspring falls solely on the aquarist.

photo of ancistrus egg laying

Papa ancistrus on a laying of eggs

Ancistrus fry

– It is not known for certain why males need such a mustache on their muzzle. Ichthyologists have suggested that the mustache is an imitation of larvae. Thus, the male, as it were, shows the female, they say, look what a good dad I am, dad to everyone. This version is supported by the observations of aquarists; many note that females prefer males with large mustaches, that is, the mustaches of ancistrus act as a dominant feature. Thus, we can say that Ancistrus are also lovers of barbershops, vapes and pants with suspenders)))

– There are an insane number of species of Ancistrus, their classification is quite confusing and complicated by the presence of bred selection forms. The most popular types of ancistrus are: golden, veil (veil leopard and other subspecies), red, dark, brown, pink, albino. But look no further than the numbered L-soms , their number is simply amazing.

Selection and arrangement of an aquarium

Aquarium catfish is an unpretentious fish. To keep it at home you will need a spacious aquarium with a wide bottom. The only important condition is that the water in the container must be replaced on time and there must be a good filtration system.

Volume

You should choose a home pond depending on the size of the aquarium fish that will live in it. If for small species of catfish a container with a volume of 50–200 liters is sufficient, then for larger representatives the minimum tank volume is 300 liters.

Decor

The aquarium should have houses for fish, since without shelter they will be uncomfortable. Usually, to do this, there should be enough driftwood and stones in the aquarium so that the catfish can hide under them during the day and have a good rest before dusk. Since most catfish lead a solitary lifestyle, without good shelter they can suffer greatly.

Aquarium catfish should be kept in clean, filtered, unsalted water, as in nature they prefer fresh water bodies. The liquid temperature should be 22–28 °C. Thanks to cutaneous respiration and the ability to breathe ordinary air, catfish rise to the surface, filling their lungs. This quality makes the fish unpretentious to the oxygen regime.

Lighting

Most catfish living at home choose the dark time of day to stay awake. Therefore, there is no need to additionally supply the aquarium with lighting devices. They are comfortable with dim light, and if it is possible to provide them with constant partial shade, then the fish will be able to swim out during the daytime.

Plants

It is recommended to choose vegetation depending on the type of catfish that will live in the aquarium. For vegetarian fish that eat exclusively plant foods, it is better to organize plantings of artificial algae. Natural ones will be eaten very quickly. Of living plants, only representatives with a good root system, such as cryptocorynes and echinodorus, are suitable.

Priming

Aquarium catfish are not picky when it comes to choosing soil. Some species that like to “comb” the bottom of the container raise clouds of turbidity if it is covered with sand. For them it is better to choose coarse-grained soil. The only exception is gravel, which can damage the fish's abdomen and antennae.

Diseases

Catfish have strong immunity, but some diseases are also found in them.

Mycobacteriosis. This disease manifests itself in refusal to eat, clouding of the iris, and detachment of scales. The sick individual is treated with Kanamycin. The soil and decorations are disinfected from microbes.
Furunculosis. With furunculosis, the fin turns black and dies, unhealthy spots and abscesses appear on the scales, and the abdomen turns red. Cured with Furazolidone.
Infection of the gills. Symptoms – plaque, red stripes, gray spots appear on the gills; the pet is passive and has no appetite. The drug Aktimet helps.

The catfish's whiskers may also fall off. This happens when the soil is chosen incorrectly. The animal gets injured on the sharp corners of the stones and the wounds become infected. Because of this, the tissue in the mustache dies and it falls off.

Content

Caring for catfish in an aquarium will not cause much trouble for the owner. An important condition for the survival of these fish is timely feeding. If the reservoir is equipped with shelters, algae grows, and a comfortable temperature and water hardness are ensured, then caring for them is a pleasure.

What to feed catfish

Feeding catfish will also not cause much trouble for the owner. If there are other fish in the aquarium, there is no need to feed the catfish specially. They perfectly feed on the remains of food lying on the bottom, while simultaneously cleaning it, so you don’t have to specially feed them. Pieces of fish, shrimp and flakes sold in pet stores are ideal food for aquarium catfish. In addition, small neighbors in the aquarium can become food for predatory representatives. When choosing such species, you need to remember that catfish can eat small fish.

How long do catfish live?

The largest representatives living in nature can live up to 100 years, but domestic fish are not so long-lived. Depending on the type of catfish and the conditions of its keeping, the average lifespan of catfish is 8 years, provided that aquarium catfish live in suitable conditions.

Compatibility with other fish

When buying fish, you need to know exactly who the catfish get along with in the aquarium, because each species has its own preferences.

In life, these catfish are very peaceful, they do not start fights with other inhabitants of the reservoir, but they can conflict with each other. The only threat to them comes from large fish, for example, large astronotus, which are capable of swallowing their prey whole.

Some species of speckled catfish will not get along with tail-biting fish.

Catfish are not compatible with small fish such as guppies or neons - they can become food for predators. It is better to add herbivorous species of catfish to such neighbors.

Compatibility

Catfish get along with almost all species due to their calm and peaceful nature. If the fish do not bother him too much, the catfish will not pay any attention to other inhabitants. But active and aggressive fish will cause stress in the catfish.

Excellent neighbors will be:

Rainbows.
Danio.
Angelfish.
Goldfish.
Tetras.
Rasbory.

Tips for choosing neighbors for catfish:

Fish with a body length greater than 6–7 cm. Otherwise, the catfish will start chasing them and will later eat them.
Fish should live at medium depths or near the surface.
Do not introduce bottom-dwelling fish. The abundance of fish living near the bottom will cause stress and lack of territory for the catfish.
Do not keep with territorial fish, for example, cichlids, loaches.

Reproduction

You can stimulate the reproduction of catfish by lowering the water temperature in the aquarium. The spawning period lasts up to 5 days, and during this time the female and several males must be transplanted into a spawning tank - a special container with a volume of 30 to 70 liters. You can also breed fish in a plastic basin if there is no other free container. It is advisable to additionally equip it with driftwood and plants so that the fish feel comfortable. The suitable water temperature for breeding catfish is 18–20 °C.

The main thing is to correctly determine the sex of the fish. It is usually not difficult to distinguish a female from a male; the male has a brighter color and a slender body. Changes in water temperature accelerate the onset of spawning. Courtship lasts about 1 week, while the male tries to show himself in all his glory. He circles around the lady, trying to arouse her interest. When the female pays attention to him, the male touches her with his antennae, indicating his readiness to reproduce.

Reproduction of catfish

During the breeding season, the male makes a large nest out of foam, under the leaves of plants floating on the surface of the water. If fish are bred in an aquarium, then instead of leaves, plastic plates attached to the surface are used.

Hoplosternum thoracatum or Megalechis thoracata.

During spawning, the female lays up to 1000 eggs. Upon completion of the process, the bowl to which the eggs are attached is removed to another aquarium with a hardness dKH of up to 2°, a pH reaction of 6.5-7.0 and a water temperature of 24° Celsius. A little methylene blue is added to the water.

The larvae hatch after 35 days. Their size reaches 6 millimeters, they have well-formed fins and antennae. 48 hours after the larvae hatch, they can be given Artemia. The larvae do not like light, so they hide in shelters, which can be used as flower pots with holes in the walls.

Armored catfish in an aquarium

Who is included in this family and how to keep such catfish - we will tell you below.

Who should be placed in the aquarium?

Corydoras and their relatives

All armored catfish kept in aquariums can be divided into two groups. The first group will include corydoras and fish similar to them - relatively small catfish with a characteristic appearance. Under natural conditions, they live in the reservoirs of South America, but they appeared in aquariums more than 100 years ago.

This includes several very popular types.

Speckled Corridor. The most popular fish from this vast group. The body is small, triangular, with a convex back and a lower mouth. The shell, from which armored catfish get their name, consists of diagonal plates on the sides. The fins are large, in females the dorsal fin is rounded, in males it has a more elongated shape. Today, veil forms with elongated fins have been developed.

The color is gray-olive with a pearlescent sheen. Dark spots of irregular shape are scattered throughout the body. When kept in optimal conditions, the fish live up to 10 years and grow up to 6–7 cm.

Golden corridor (bronze, changeable). Outwardly, it is very similar to the speckled variety - in any case, the shape, size and configuration of the shell plates are almost the same. The main difference is the color: the body of representatives of this species is colored more evenly, without spots, in a golden or bronze hue.

Corydoras Panda. Pandas are smaller in size than speckled and golden catfish - with good maintenance, they grow to a maximum of 5.5 cm. Otherwise, the panda is a typical corridor: the body is triangular with characteristic fins, the head is large with a lower mouth and mustache, and there is plate armor on the sides. The appearance of these catfish is noteworthy: the body itself is painted in light shades (white, beige, cream), and at the base of the fins there are clear dark spots. Another spot runs through the eyes of the fish on each side of the head, which makes the catfish very similar to a panda.

Sparrow catfish (dwarf corydoras). One of the smallest representatives of the group, it grows to a maximum of 3 cm. The body of the sparrow catfish is more elongated, colored either gray-olive or golden. Outwardly, the fish is not very attractive, so it is better to keep such catfish in schools of up to 10 individuals - so at least they can be seen in the aquarium!

Popular types

Now there are 3 known species of cockroaches, not counting the albino, which is memorable for its unusual colors. The main difference between them is the size and color of the body.

Albino

The albino tarakatum is in demand among aquarists and is not considered a separate subspecies. Due to the lack of coloring pigment, the body of the fish is colored transparent or almost white with a slight pinkish tint. In nature, albino catfish is extremely rare. But some aquarists specifically breed it.

Hoplosternum magdalena

Hoplosternum magdalena is found in the Magdalena River in Colombia, as well as in the Caribbean lowlands in Lake Maracaibo and the Cauca River. It grows no more than 15-16 cm and has a spotted faded brown color. The translucent fins of the fish have yellow rays.

Long-whiskered dianema

This type of cockroach inhabits the rivers of central South America and grows up to 10 cm. The catfish are pale pink or light brown and covered with multiple small black spots, creating a grainy effect. The tails of long-whiskered dianamas are decorated with thin black stripes, and elongated antennae grow near the mouth, with which the catfish probe the bottom.

Sacbranchial

This species of catfish does not differ from the others either in length or body color. But anatomical features allow sacbranch cockroaches to make sounds reminiscent of a frog croaking.

Dianemas and thoracatums

The second group of armored catfish includes larger fish - dianemas and thoracatums. They also have a bony shell, but in body shape, size, and behavior they are very different from corydoras.

The most common types:

Bronze dianema. The body of the fish is elongated, the line of the back forms an obtuse angle with the apex opposite the dorsal fin. The head is elongated, with a clearly defined snout, on which there are two pairs of long tails, extended forward. The color is gray-brown, with numerous small dark spots. In the middle part of the body, the spots form an almost continuous line. Dianemas in nature grow up to 12 cm, but specimens longer than 8 cm are rarely found in aquariums.

Torakatum. A large armored catfish with an elongated body, almost round in diameter. The head is wide with a short snout and a powerful forehead: with it the thoracatum can lift even large snags and stones. On the front of the muzzle there are two pairs of hard whiskers. The color is gray (from light to almost black) with numerous dark spots. Males differ from females in being smaller in size and having a more rigid first ray in the pectoral fins. The maximum size when kept in an aquarium is up to 15-16 cm.

Aquarium for armored catfish: maintenance and feeding

The vast majority of armored catfish are peaceful fish, which is why representatives of this group are excellent for keeping in community aquariums. The presence of intestinal respiration in shellfish (catfish capture atmospheric air from the surface and obtain oxygen with the help of special intestinal outgrowths) allows them to be kept even in aquariums with not the best conditions. This makes corydoras and thoracatums popular among beginners.

It is not difficult to select and equip an aquarium for keeping armored catfish:

Capacity - from 50 liters for small species, and from 80 - for large fish.
Temperature - from 22 to 28 degrees.
Hardness – up to 20°.
pH - 5.8–7.5.

Aeration, taking into account the fish’s ability to intestinal respiration, can be abandoned.

Filtration, and intensive filtration, is necessary. Catfish themselves do not produce much waste. But they are constantly digging in the ground, so turbidity rises into the water, which it is advisable to remove with a filter.

Feeding catfish is not burdensome for the aquarist. Fish eat everything:

Bloodworm.
Tubifex.
Artemia.
Vegetable flakes.
Sinking granular feed.
Chopped meat.
Lettuce leaves, nettles, cabbage, etc.

Despite the fact that many catfish are nocturnal, during the day they feed very actively, and during feeding they literally push other fish aside, making their way to the feeder. We get offspring

Catfish reach sexual maturity at 8–10 months. Representatives of different groups spawn in different ways, but the general scheme of preparation for reproduction remains unchanged. Let us describe the process using thoracatums as an example:

For reproduction, we prepare a separate tank with a capacity of up to 40-50 liters. We plant a large-leaf plant inside or make an imitation of a “floating leaf” by securing a small piece of foam with a suction cup.
We place the fish in the aquarium in advance, in pairs. Several pairs can be spawned simultaneously in one tank.
We make the water in the aquarium 2-3 degrees warmer than the one in which the fish were previously kept. Now we carefully monitor the barometer indicators: as soon as the pressure drops, it is fashionable to begin stimulating spawning.
In nature, armored catfish spawn during the rainy season, so our task is to simulate a tropical downpour. This is done simply: at night, when the pressure drops, we pour several liters of cool, settled water into the spawning tank quite noisily. If the action does not bring results, repeat the manipulations the next night.
After a successful spawning, the male builds a foam nest, either under a plant leaf or under foam on the surface. The female glues the eggs to the base of the leaf.
After spawning, you can transfer the leaf to the incubator, but it is advisable to leave it with the male - this way the clutch will be provided with proper care.

The larvae hatch approximately on the 4th day, after 48 hours turning into actively swimming fry. After this, the male is removed, and the fry are raised either on “live dust” or on chopped tubifex.

Corydoras of most species reproduce according to a similar pattern - but it is advisable to add 2-3 males to one female.

Armored catfish - corydoras, dianemas, thoracatums and others - are very interesting to keep. Yes, most of them cannot boast of bright colors, but watching them will give you no less pleasure than contemplating much more “richly dressed” fish.

FAMILY CALLICHTHYIDAE

It is divided into 2 subfamilies, which include 8 genera and about 150 species. Known from the Upper Tertiary period (about 30 million years ago). These are mostly small fish, the size of which varies from 2.5 to 23 cm. Widely distributed from Panama and Trinidad to Argentina. They live in swampy reservoirs, flooded areas and on the shallows of slow-flowing rivers and standing waters with a soft sandy or muddy bottom.

Their sides are tightly covered with two parallel rows of bone plates, forming a kind of shell. The tall, spiny dorsal fin is pointed in males, and round in females. The anterior part of the adipose fin has a well-defined spiny spine. The mouth is small, lower, less often terminal, armed with 1–3 pairs of short antennae that help in searching for food. The presence of additional intestinal respiration (air swallowed from the surface of the water passes through the digestive tract to the hindgut, where oxygen enters the blood vessels) helps ensure gas exchange in unfavorable conditions - in reservoirs abounding in rotting debris, or during the period of shallowing.

Bottom fish. In nature, catfish feed on insect larvae, worms, which are found in abundance in the silt layer, as well as small fish; The basis of nutrition for many species is algae. In the aquarium they eat any live food, as well as various dry foods. The prevailing idea that they eat poor-quality food and rotting food remains should be considered completely unfounded.

It is better to equip a special aquarium for catfish. It can be a relatively small vessel with a low water level. A cover glass is desirable to prevent colds in fish that swallow air. Large plants with a strong root system are preferred. Since catfish, rummaging in the ground, greatly muddy the water, powerful filtration is required. Hardness up to 30°, pH 6–8, temperature 18–28°C. Aeration and water changes are required. Salinity no more than 1%.

They mature at 8–18 months. In natural reservoirs, reproduction is often confined to the rainy season, when the water is saturated with oxygen. In an aquarium, spawning is stimulated by fresh, soft water, often cooled by 3–5°, and the presence of plant substrate. Productivity is from 40 to 2000 eggs with a diameter of up to 2 mm. The usual sex ratio for breeding Corydoradinae is 2–3 males and 1 female. Spawning is preceded by skirmishes between males and active pursuit of females. The female, ready to spawn, approaches the male, takes milk into her mouth, releases several large eggs into a “pocket” formed from the folded pelvic fins and attaches them to the surface that has been cleaned and at the same time watered with milk. This method provides very high fertilization efficiency. These catfish do not care for eggs, so the spawners should be removed from the spawning area immediately after spawning.

Reproduction occurs differently in representatives of Callichthyinae. On the surface of the water under a wide leaf or in thickets of riccia, the male builds a nest from plant particles and air bubbles. After each act of spawning, the female, turning her belly up, places in the nest the eggs that were previously in her scoop, made up of ventral fins. Subsequently, the male takes care of the eggs and larvae until they begin feeding on their own.

The incubation period is 5–8 days (23–27°C). Starter food – rotifer, microworm, egg powder, etc.

They live in an aquarium from 5 to 15 years.

Subfamily Armored catfish (Corydoradinae)

Genus Corydoras

The fish are common in the waters of South America. There are over 20 species in aquariums, 10 of which are bred in captivity under the conditions described for the speckled catfish. In the USSR there are currently several species of the genus Corydoras. Elegant catfish (Corydoras elegans Steind) . The elegant catfish is widespread in the middle reaches of the Amazon basin (see color table VIII). It was first brought to Europe in 1938, delivered to us in 1962, and in 1965. divorced by V.I. Bubnov and B.S. Noskov. The body shape of this catfish is typical for the entire Corydoras genus. The fish is painted very beautifully. The head is decorated with a pattern of yellowish and brown dots and crimped stripes. The gill covers have a green sheen; a small streak of the same color is located behind the eye. The latter's iris is yellow. The back of the fish is light, yellowish-olive. Below it, starting from the level of the anterior edge of the dorsal fin and to the base of the caudal fin, there is a wide dark stripe, under it there is a narrow yellowish-golden stripe, the lower part of the body is light, yellowish. The pectoral, ventral, anal and caudal fins are almost colorless; the transparent dorsal fin has four more or less pronounced uneven dark stripes. The color of elegans is almost beyond description. The male is very bright and beautiful during the mating season. The conditions of detention are the same as for other catfish. Fish reproduce more readily when kept in schools, even if some of the fish belong to other species of the same genus. The first breeding of elegant catfish in Moscow took place in a 100-liter aquarium, quite densely overgrown with plants, in the presence of other representatives of the genus (over 20). The water was relatively hard (10°) with a neutral reaction, the temperature ranged from 22 to 25° C. Spawning, according to the observations of V.I. Bubnov, was preceded (and accompanied) by mating fights of males. Spawning lasted from morning to evening. In total, the female glued 100 eggs to the glass. The young began to hatch on the fourth day. Spawning repeated after 4 days, and then the fish gradually spawned every day for a week. Speckled catfish (Corydoras paleatus Jenyns) . The adopted name “kalikht” is completely incorrect, since there is another catfish with this species name (see color plate VIII). Speckled catfish are common in southeastern Brazil and the La Plata basin. They were first brought to Europe in 1876. called Callichthys fasciatus and were soon bred in Paris. By 1904 they were already widespread in Moscow. The females of these fish reach 8 cm in length, the males 4–5 cm. The body of the speckled catfish is relatively short, valval, the dorsal line is convex, and the abdominal line is straight. The dorsal fin of the female is rounded, the male's is pointed, and his body is somewhat more elongated in length than that of the female. The main color of the fish is olive, darker on the back, lighter on the sides with a metallic sheen, and the belly is orange-yellow. Quite large, irregularly shaped spots are located throughout the body and on the fins. Speckled catfish can be kept under the conditions described for the entire family. Pisces are exceptionally unpretentious. The water temperature in the aquarium can be 16–20°, but they can withstand a decrease to 2–3° and an increase over 30°. Representatives of the Corydoras genus are very sensitive to increased concentrations of table salt. It should not be used to treat any disease. Breeding them is not difficult. The impetus for reproduction is an increase in oxygen content in the water. For this purpose, you can install air blowing the water or change the water several times. The composition and temperature of the water are not significant, but the water should not be acidic. The best results occur at a temperature of 18–20°. The spawning aquarium may be small, but it is better to use a vessel with a volume of 30–50 liters. It is advisable to install natural lighting in the spawning area. For spawning, one female and 2-3 males are usually placed. If several females take part in spawning, then there may be the same number or slightly more males. Spawning usually occurs in the morning. The males chase the female for several hours, then she takes milk from one of them into her mouth, at the same time the female’s ventral fins move closer together, forming a scoop, into which the female lays 1 to 5 eggs. The female with the eggs in the scoop approaches the most illuminated wall of the aquarium or plant, cleans a small area with her mouth, apparently simultaneously lubricating this area with milk, and sticks the eggs. During one spawning, the female lays 100–200 eggs. After a week, she is ready to spawn again. Eggs at a temperature of 18–20° develop within 8–12 days. The eggs are transparent, large, and the gradual development of the embryo is noticeable in them. If desired, you can shade the entire aquarium during spawning, leaving only narrow gaps where you can place strips of glass. The eggs will be glued here to the lighter areas; later you can remove these glasses and monitor the development of the embryo using a magnifying glass or microscope. From the first days, young fish can be fed with “dust” and even finely chopped bloodworms. In 1962 Albino catfish, Corydoras paleatus albino, were brought to the USSR and soon bred (see color table VIII). Their body shape is the same as the main form. The color is whitish-pink, in reflected light with a golden-green sheen. The iris of the eye is yellow, the pupil is red. The conditions of keeping and breeding are the same. Females lay slightly fewer eggs than speckled catfish. Juveniles grow more slowly. Leopard catfish (Corydoras leopardus Myers) . Leopard catfish inhabit small channels in the lower reaches of the Amazon (see color table VIII). They were first brought to Europe in 1933, to the USSR in 1960. Females reach 6 cm in length, males are somewhat smaller and slimmer. The body shape is the same as that of other representatives of the genus. The main color is yellowish-gray with a silvery sheen. There are black sinuous stripes all over the body, forming a beautiful pattern. A black stripe stretches along the body from the middle to the base of the caudal fin. Below it, each scale at the back is bordered by a black stripe. The upper half of the dorsal fin is intensely black, its base is almost transparent. The caudal fin has several rows of black specks; the remaining fins are transparent. The iris eye is golden yellow. The conditions of keeping and breeding are the same as for the speckled catfish, but the leopard catfish is more heat-loving. Catfish Agassizi (Corydoras agassizi Steindachner) . Agasitsa catfish are widespread in the reservoirs of Western Brazil (see color table. Plate IX). They were first brought to Europe in 1936, to the USSR in 1960. Females reach 6.5 cm in length, males are somewhat smaller and slimmer. The body structure of these catfish is the same as that of other representatives of the genus. The main body color is yellowish-olive with numerous black spots. A wide dark stripe runs across the head through the eye. There is a black spot on the lower part of the dorsal fin and on the back. All other fins are yellowish with small dark spots. The iris of the eyes is yellowish. Keeping and breeding are carried out under conditions described for the genus Corydoras , but these fish are more thermophilic. Golden catfish (Corydoras schultzei Holly) . Golden catfish are common in small channels and oxbow lakes of the lower reaches of the Amazon (see color table IX). They were first brought to Europe in 1938, to the USSR in 1960. Catfish reach 6.5 cm in length, males are somewhat smaller and slimmer. The body shape of the golden catfish is the same as that of other representatives of the genus. A wide shiny dark green stripe stretches along the body of the fish from the gill cover to the base of the caudal fin; above it, in the anterior third of the body, there is a narrow golden, seemingly luminous stripe. The head and back are dark brown. The abdomen is yellowish. The fins are transparent, slightly yellowish. Iris eye is yellow. The conditions of keeping and breeding are the same as for the speckled catfish, but the golden catfish is more heat-loving. The water temperature during dilution is 25–28°. Arcuatus catfish (Corydoras arcuatus Elwin) These catfish are found in the Amazon basin in the Taffe region. They were first brought to Europe in 1938, to the USSR in 1962. The body shape is similar to other Corydoras. The coloring of this fish is original. The whole body is grayish-olive in color. Along the body, from the end of the snout through the eye to the base of the lower lobe of the caudal fin, there is a dark stripe, wider and more intensely colored in front than in the back. The conditions of keeping and breeding are the same as for other representatives of the genus. Dwarf catfish (Corydoras hastatus Eigenmann) . Dwarf catfish are common in the Amazon basin. First brought to Europe in 1912, here in 1961, bred in 1965. V. S. Komarov. Light gray, translucent fish with a dark stripe stretching from the end of the head to the base of the caudal fin. They stay in the middle layers of water. They are especially interesting when kept in flocks of at least 10–30 specimens. The conditions of keeping and breeding are the same as for other representatives.

Genus Aspidoras von Ihering, 1907 (Aspidoras)

14 species of catfish of this genus are distributed from the upper reaches of the river. Xingu in the west to the headwaters of the river. Itapikuri in the east and from the river basin. Akarau in the north to the headwaters of the river. Paranas in the south.

– A. albater Nijssen et Isbrucker, 1976

Brazil (R. Tocantins); 4 cm. Beige-silver with 5 broken coffee stripes consisting of dots and spots. There are 4 dark vertical strokes along the tail, the whiskers and ventral fins are light. Females are paler and plumper than males.

Aquarium from 20 l. Hardness up to 20°, pH 6–7.5, temperature 22–27°C. Reproduction as in Corydoras; productivity is about 80 eggs.

Related species:

- A. menezesi - Menezes aspidoras and A. fuscoguttatus - dark aspidoras. Brazil; 4–4.5 cm.

– A. pauciradiatus (Weitzmann et Nijssen, 1970)

Brazil, r. Araguaia near Aruan (in the east, Goiás state) and Rio Negro near Tapurucuara (Amazonas state); 3–4 cm.

Olive yellow with brown-black speckling and a large dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. Tail with 6–7 dark transverse strokes. The female is plumper and larger than the male. Maintenance and reproduction are similar to the maintenance and reproduction of Corydoras hastatus and C. pygmaeus.

Related species: A. poecilus Nijessen et Isbrucker, 1976. Brazil (upper reaches of the Xingu and Araguaia rivers near Aruan); 3–4 cm. Synonym: Corydoras rochai. Spawning tank 50x25x25 cm. Productivity is about 40 eggs. Temperature about 28°

Genus Brochis Cope, 1872 (Brochis)

There are 3 species of catfish, close to the Corydoras.

– B. multiradiatus (Orces-Villagomes, 1960) Nosed brochis

Ecuador (upper reaches of the Napo River, Lagarto Cocha), Peru (forest lakes Yarina Cocha and Kashibo Cocha to Pucallpa); 8–12 cm.

Gray-green, sometimes with a blue tint, the head and abdomen are yellowish. The body is tall. The tail is deep cut, the dorsal fin is long, and the snout is elongated. Marbled fry.

Maintenance and reproduction are similar to the maintenance and reproduction of Corydoras. They love water changes. Productivity up to 300 eggs.

Related species: B. britskii Nijseen et Isbrucker, 1983 – Britski’s catfish. Southwestern part of Brazil (Mato Grosso); 8–10 cm.

– V. splendes (de Castelnau, 1855) Green catfish

Synonym: B. coeruleus Cope, 1872

Peru (Ucayali, Maranon and Amazon river basins), Northern Brazil; males up to 7.5, females up to 9 cm.

Beige-golden with a greenish tint on the sides. The fins are olive-brown. The male is smaller and slimmer than the female.

Aquarium from 20 l. Hardness 8–20°, pH 6.8–7.8, temperature 22–25°C.

Spawning tank 20–.40 l. Reproduction as in Corydoras. Hardness 10–18°, pH about 7, temperature 24–27°C. Productivity is 600–1100 eggs. Incubation period 4 days.

Subfamily Callichtyinae

Genus Callichthys Scopoli, 1777 (Callichthys)

Monotypic genus.

– S. callichthys (Linne, 1758 )

Guyana, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, eastern regions of Brazil to La Plata; up to 18 cm.

Greenish-yellow with dark specks on the body and fins. The first rays of the pectoral fins have the shape of a spike in males; in females they are somewhat less developed.

Spawning tank 50–100 l. Hardness up to 25°, pH 7–7.5, water temperature 26°C. The male builds a foam nest at the surface of the water, among floating plants, and guards the clutch. Productivity is about 200 eggs.

Genus Dianema Cope, 1872 (Dianema)

– D. longibarbis Cope, 1872 Bronze dianema

Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil (Mato Grosso); up to 9 cm.

The color is variable, from light brown to bronze tones with a large number of black spots on the body.

They can be kept in aquariums with a small number of plants and various small species of fish. Omnivores. Digging in the ground, they can greatly disturb the water. Hardness up to 20°, pH 6.8–7.8, water temperature 23–27°C.

They mature at 12–15 months. Spawning is stimulated by a decrease in water level, a large amount of fresh water, and a decrease in atmospheric pressure. The male builds a small nest under a floating sheet or piece of plastic (foam), into which the female glues 150–300 yellowish eggs. As the eggs develop, they turn dark gray.

– D. urostriata A. de Miranda-Ribeiro, 1912 Banded-tailed dianema

Rio Negro, Amazon (Brazil, Mato Grosso); 8–15 cm.

Brown with dark spots, white throat and belly, as well as a white tail with black longitudinal stripes. The male is brighter, slimmer.

Peace-loving. They dig in the ground and can disturb the water greatly. Hardness up to 20°, pH 6–7.5, temperature 20–28°C.

They mature at 1.5 years. Spawning tank 50–100 l. Spawning is stimulated by fresh water with a temperature 2–4°C lower than that at which the spawners were kept. The substrate is a nymph leaf, a piece of polystyrene foam or a plastic plate fixed on the surface of the water. Productivity is about 500 eggs.

Genus Hoplosternum Gill, 1858 (Hoplosternum)

– N. littorale (Hancock, 1828) Beige choplosternum

Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guiana, Trinidad, Brazil up to the river. Parana, Argentina; up to 23 cm, usually 15–18 cm.

Light brown, sometimes with a greenish tint. The female is plumper and paler. In adult males, the hard rays of the pectoral fins thicken significantly, become brownish, and clearly visible hooks grow at the end of the rays.

Peaceful. Omnivores. Digging in the ground, they greatly muddy the water.

They mature at 1.5 years. During the spawning period, the male becomes aggressive and constantly pursues the female. Spawning tank 40–100 l. Hardness 4–6°, pH 6–7, temperature 1–4°С lower than when kept (22–24°). The incentive for spawning is the constant replacement of water with fresh water. The male builds a foam nest at the surface of the water. Productivity up to 1500 eggs. The male guards the nest. The incubation period is 4–5 days. The spawning area should provide shelter for the female (flower pot, drainage pipes, etc.).

Close view: N. magdalenae Eigenmann, 1913 – Hoplosternum Magdalena .

The Magdalena, Cauca in Colombia and Maracaibo rivers in Venezuela; up to 12 cm. Synonym: N. armatus Gunther, 1868.

– N. thoracatum (Cuvier et Valenciennes, 1840) Common or spotted hoplosternum

Distributed from Panama to Paraguay; 12–20 cm.

Brownish with dark spots. Males are smaller and slimmer. At the age of 6–7 months. they begin to develop pectoral fins, the first spiny ray of which is colored reddish-brown.

Animal-eating species. Hardness up to 30°, pH 6.8–8.0, temperature 18–28°C. Filtration and water changes are required.

They mature at 8–14 months. Spawning tank 60–100 l. Spawning is stimulated by fresh, soft water cooled by 1–5°C. The substrate is plant leaves floating on the surface of the water, a piece of foam plastic, etc. The male builds a nest out of foam. Productivity is 500–1000 eggs. The male guards the eggs. The incubation period is 4–5 days. Starter food – rotifer, etc.

Rybakov O.E. Exotic aquarium fish

Description

The Corydoras catfish has a miniature size, approximately 3–7 cm; specimens with a length of 10 cm have been recorded. The body resembles a spindle, flattened to the tail. The back has a convex shape. The mouth is at the bottom. Near it there are 3 pairs of antennae that help the fish dig up the bottom of its habitat. At home, catfish live up to 15 years.

Corydoras are excellent orderlies: most of the time they dig in the ground, clearing the reservoir of contaminants.

A distinctive feature of the catfish is its shell, consisting of bony plates. They are located on the back in 2 rows. Most often you can find an olive-grayish color or pale pink; sometimes there are white corydoras with red eyes - albinos. Males have brighter colors.

The female catfish is much larger than the male. Its dorsal fin has a rounded shape, while that of the male is sharp. The end of the pectoral fin of the catfish is also sharp, so it can tear the net for catching.

Corydoras in water breathe through gills. To capture air at the surface of the water, they use intestinal respiration.

Reviews

Aquarists who have cockroaches in their aquarium speak positively about them. They note calmness and lack of aggression towards other members of the aquarium. Catfish should be the first fish to get, because they are tenacious and unpretentious. They themselves clean the tank of waste and debris. But some are upset that you rarely see them during the day. Most often, these creatures hide in poorly lit places, shelters, and plants.

Types of Corydoras

Experts count more than 150 species of these individuals.

Golden (bronze)

Color – golden with a bronze tint. There is a shiny line on the back. This species is native to Venezuela and Trinidad. An individual can reach a length of 7 cm. The bronze corridor needs a water temperature of 21 to 26°C.

Mottled

This species is most often found among corydoras catfish. The length of the male is on average 5 cm, and the female is 7 cm. The color of the corydoras is olive-gray. Each individual has its own form of black spots located on the body. The fish are unpretentious. Able to withstand temperature fluctuations from 4 to 30 ° C (I hope you won’t check). Speckled catfish reproduce in any conditions.

Panda

The size of this catfish is 3 - 5 cm. The color of the fish is light, sometimes with a pink tint. The catfish has black spots on the dorsal fin and tail, as well as a black mask on the eyes. The coloring gives the species its name. Found in the Peruvian Ucayali River. They love water above 17 °C. They can tolerate temperatures up to 12 °C for no more than 4 hours. They prefer dim light. To live in an aquarium and successfully breed, pandas need clean, slightly acidified warm water (22 ° C), as well as constant aeration.

Shterba

Range: river basin of Bolivia and Brazil. A 5 cm fish with a dotted pattern on its body. On the tail the pattern turns into stripes. The color of this species of corydoras is dark brown. The pelvic fins are bright orange. Adult catfish have red rays on their pectoral fins.

Shterba catfish can change color to match the color of the soil.

Adolfi

A small fish, 5 cm long. It has a light gray color. There is a mask over the eyes, like that of panda catfish. The back of the head is decorated with an orange speck. A longitudinal black stripe runs along the back. Habitat: Rio Negro River. This species requires more careful care and maintenance. It does not reproduce in captivity and lives no more than 6 years. The individual is very shy.

Leopard

Beautiful catfish. The color is brilliant yellow with black spots, similar to a leopard skin. The length of the individual is 6 cm. Another name for the catfish is trilinear, because of the three lines that run across the entire back (in males), from the middle of the back to the tail (in females). Looks interesting against the background of dark gravel.

Description and features

The Tarakatum catfish is a freshwater representative of the genus Megalechis, which translated from ancient Greek means “giant snake fish.” The species name throcata translates as “shell”.

History of discovery

The catfish Tarakatum was first described in 1840 by the French scientist Achille Valensinnes, who assigned it to the genus Hoplosternum. In 1997, Roberto Reis became interested in the fish and, having carefully studied this group, divided it into several species. It was then that the catfish Hoplosternum throcatum was renamed Megalechis throcata.

Habitat

The homeland of the cockroach fish is South America. Catfish are found in abundance in the Amazon basin, as well as in rivers near the island of Trinidad and in Florida, where they were introduced artificially. Such a vast habitat of the tarakatum is explained by its high adaptability and undemanding quality of water. Catfish feels comfortable not only in fresh, but also in slightly brackish water.

On a note. Tarakatum inhabits water bodies with a low concentration of oxygen in the water. Because of this, during evolution, the catfish acquired the ability to breathe through the intestines.

Appearance

The elongated, flattened body of the tarakatum is covered on the sides by a shell of two rows of bone plates converging towards the middle of the body. The usual length of catfish is 10-14 cm. But especially large fish can grow up to 18 cm.

On the powerful flattened head of the cockroach there are 2 pairs of sensitive whiskers. The lower one is used to study the river bottom. The upper one is directed to the sides and upwards, so that it is convenient to monitor the flow of the reservoir and swim around obstacles along the way.

The cockroach has a small rounded fin on its slightly hunched back. The pectoral fins are triangular in the adult male. In females and young animals they are oval. The tail is triangular in shape and dark in color.

The main color of the tarakatum is brown. In young animals it is light and becomes richer with age. Small dark irregular marks are randomly located on the body of the fish, which is why it is often called the spotted catfish. The abdomen of the cockroach is very light. Its shade varies from beige to white with a creamy tint.

Behavior

Tarakatum catfish are non-conflicting fish whose peak activity occurs in the dark. During the day they are practically inactive and are not at all interested in other inhabitants of the water depths. The only thing that can bring cockroaches out of this state is an encroachment on their bottom possessions, which they will defend even from larger rivals.

Catfish are schooling fish and try to stay together. At twilight hours, cockroaches set up rookeries, sitting close to each other on the wide leaves of aquatic plants or directly on the ground. At night, rested catfish begin to play and frolic, splashing in the water.

Lifespan

In the wild, cockroaches live on average 4-6 years. Catfish can live in an aquarium for more than 10 years.

Character and relationships with neighbors

The aquarium fish Corydoras has a calm disposition. Feels good in a flock of 5–8 individuals. Most of the day the fish is at the bottom of the tank.

Corydoras in the waters of a community aquarium are compatible with fish of the same size, these are:

guppy;
platies;
gourami;
discus;
zebrafish;
angelfish;
swordtails;
mollies;
cockerels (in a large aquarium), etc.

Mastacembelus, eels, shrimp, astronotus are not the best companions for corydoras. Catfish should not be housed with cichlids or Koi carp. Corydoras is not compatible with any aggressive aquarium predators.

Conditions of detention

Corydoras are bottom fish. When arranging the tank, it is necessary to take this nuance into account.

Arrangement of the aquarium

The owner of the corydoras should create a special soil structure where the catfish will swarm. Cover the upper part of the bottom with sand. Fine and smooth gravel will also work.

Along with the aquarium, you must purchase a filter and an aerator.

Water and lighting

Parameters of water in the tank:

temperature – 22–26 °C;
optimal acidity 5.8–7.6 pH;
hardness 6–17 dH.

It is necessary to change 1/4 of the water in the aquarium weekly. Clean the bottom twice a month using a siphon. The soil should not contain sharp pebbles or broken parts from decorative decorations. All these objects can injure the fish’s body.

It is recommended to use not too bright lamps for lighting. Create shading in the tank that does not irritate the fish and also promotes their reproduction. This can be done with the help of floating plants.

Plants and decorations

Plants must have a strong root so that the catfish does not undermine it.

Vegetation should not be planted too densely. The fish will need free space to easily pick up food from the bottom. Also, catfish should have free access to the surface of the water.

The tank will be decorated with decorative elements. For example, driftwood and caves. When installing them, you should leave enough space on the bottom for the aquarium fish to poke around.

Aquarium decor items should not release toxic substances into the water!

Aquarium Basics

Corydoras are very unpretentious fish that even a novice aquarist can keep.

For their full life in a home artificial pond, the following conditions must be created:

Provide a flock of Corydoras of 6-8 individuals with sufficient area. Catfish need a bottom existence, so the tank should be long and wide; its height is not so important. A volume of 60-100 liters is suitable.
Choose the right bottom filler, because these fish spend most of their lives digging through the soil. It is important that they do not damage their sensitive antennae. River sand or small gravel without sharp edges will do.
It is necessary to plant the tank with aquatic plants - mosses, ferns, bush forms with a strong root system, so that the Carapaceans cannot dig it up.
Install decorations that imitate grottoes and caves, put stones and driftwood, which can also serve as shelters.
Never use saline solutions to treat other inhabitants of your home pond; Corydoras react very poorly to table and sea salt and may even die.
Set dim lighting - armored catfish do not like bright light. Shading can be created using floating plants such as riccia.
Equip the tank with a powerful cleaning system. Filtration is doubly necessary, since a flock of Corydoras constantly raises turbidity from the bottom of an artificial reservoir.
It is advisable to equip the aquarium with an aeration system and, if it is closed with a lid, leave an air space between it and the surface of the water so that the catfish can rise to the top and carry out intestinal respiration.
Maintain the following parameters of the aquatic environment in an artificial reservoir: temperature +20...+28 °C, hardness within 4-17 dH, acidity 5.4-7.8 pH.
At least a quarter of the water volume must be replaced weekly with clean, settled water.
Every two weeks, clean the soil using a siphon.

What to feed Corydoras

Corydoras are unpretentious in food. They use what they find at the bottom.

As food the fish are given:

daphnia;
bloodworm;
catfish tablets with herbal ingredients;
tubifex (live or frozen);
worms (whole or cut).

Fish also love dry and granular food.

Breeding

Corydoras catfish reproduce at the age of 1–2 years. The process of reproduction involves two females and several males, or one female and two males. During spawning, transplant the corydoras into a tank with a volume of at least 60 liters. In a new aquarium (spawning) it is necessary to create conditions that are as similar as possible to the old reservoir.

To provoke Corydoras to reproduce, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

slightly lower the water temperature;
change a quarter of it every day;
set aeration to the most powerful mode;
after 2.5 days, siphon the soil.

Usually catfish get used to their new home within a week.

Mating and Spawning

During the spawning process, several males chase the female. When she chooses one of them, the chosen one releases a seed, which the female collects with her mouth. To lay eggs, the female forms a nest from her pectoral fins. There can be from 5 to 30 eggs.

Afterwards, the female glues the eggs to the leaves of plants or to the wall of the aquarium. She then contacts another male. During one mating, the female is capable of laying up to 800 eggs.

Catfish eat their offspring, so at the end of spawning, adult corydoras should be removed from the spawning area. If the fry appear in a community aquarium, they must be isolated from adult fish.