Among the many marine creatures, there are some rare and beautiful specimens. Among the most striking representatives of the deep sea is the lionfish. It always attracts attention with its beauty and striking appearance. Despite its name, it is flightless. This fish is distinguished not only by its attractive appearance but also by its aggressive behavior and venomous spines. In this article, we will learn more about this popular aquarium fish.
Pseudotropheus zebra: description, photo, and description
This fish, bright in beauty and color, is also called zebra fish and lion fishIts name comes from its large pectoral fins, which adorn the fish's body like a lion's mane. It also gets its name from the stripes that run across its body. This fish belongs to the scorpionfish order of the cichlid family.
In the wild, the fish reaches about 30 cm in length. The zebra finfish can weigh up to 1 kg. Its entire body is decorated with wide, contrasting stripes. It has an elongated shape and is slightly compressed at the sides. The photo clearly shows the fish's large eyes and large head, thick lips, a terminal mouth, and a long dorsal fin. In the wild, there are more than 50 Lionfish Color Variations and the most common are:
- white;
- blue;
- red;
- orange-red;
- yellow-orange with brown spots.
They belong to the Malawian cichlid group "mbuna".
An interesting fact is that the fish's color can change depending on their mood and age. They are predators and can swallow fish up to two-thirds their body length. attack with their sharp needle-feathers, located in the dorsal and pectoral fins. The needle pricks are extremely painful and, after the sharp pain, cause a significant deterioration in the victim's general condition. This is followed by paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles.
In an aquarium, the zebra fish reaches 15 cm and for normal development it requires an aquarium with a volume of at least 150 liters.
Habitat and maintenance in an aquarium
In the wild, the zebra fish lives in Lake Malawi in Africa, as well as in the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Lionfish are found near the coast:
- Japan;
- China;
- Australia.
In recent years, it has become abundant along the Caribbean coast and on the islands of Tahiti. It prefers to inhabit rocky areas and scree.
The fish's flesh is delicate and pleasantly flavored, making it a target for commercial spearfishing. The fish itself poses a threat to many coral reef fish species, as it destroys them, which threatens the Caribbean ecosystem.
For aquarium enthusiasts, the lionfish is considered an excellent choice, as caring for it is not very difficult, provided all the rules for keeping it in an aquarium are followed. stay in the lower and middle layers of waterMales are aggressive and territorial, and there is a hierarchy between them. They are compatible with other cichlid species in the same aquarium, but only if there are at least three females per male. The number of hiding places for the fish is also important; there should be more hiding places than the number of inhabitants.
The aquarium should be equipped with a rocky landscape with large rocks. They should be as tall as the water surface in the tank. The tops of the rocks should be covered with algae and have crevices and caves. Algae with a strong root system and elastic, stiff leaves are good for living vegetation, and ferns can be planted on the rocks.
Optimum water temperature in the containerand should be at level 21-28OWITH, clean and change daily with dh 4-20O, pH 8.0-9.0. It's essential to monitor waste and food remains to prevent ammonia formation during nitrification in alkaline water. With proper care, cichlids can live up to 5-10 years in an aquarium.
Reproduction
In aquariums, these fish reach sexual maturity at one year of age. An adult female lays 40 to 100 eggs at a time, each up to 4 mm in diameter. The female carries the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks, after which she releases them. By this time, the fry are fully formed and can feed independently on small zooplankton.
Until the fry are 6-7 months old they have a grayish-brown colorAfter this, their coloring begins to change depending on gender. Females become striped, while males are spotted. A distinctive feature of the red zebrafish is that from a very young age, the fry are brightly colored—females are orange-red, while males are dark gray—but at sexual maturity, the males turn blue.
Feeding
To keep fish healthy and active, they need a proper, balanced, and varied diet. Zebra fish can eat a wide variety of foods. According to the guidelines, their diet should consist of 30% animal food, with the remainder consisting of 70% - plant foods.
This fish species is easy to care for, as lionfish are omnivorous but prefer a plant-based diet. It's best to feed them a daily diet of dried, frozen, and plant-based foods. It's also recommended to occasionally feed them live food and meaty treats, such as red earthworms.
