Large aquarium catfish. Category: Catfish

Keeping and caring for catfish is not a complicated process. They are contained in ordinary aquarium conditions at temperature 22-28 °C. Water hardness 6-12 . Acidity is neutral. If your acidity deviates a little in one direction or another, there is nothing to worry about. But it is very important that the water is not salty. Most species are not fussy about the oxygen regime since the catfish has skin respiration or the ability to breathe atmospheric air.

The breathing process consists of the catfish rising to the surface, taking in air and sinking to the bottom until the air is completely used up. Priming special significance does not have. To make your catfish comfortable, you need to set up an aquarium for him. Since the catfish is a bottom inhabitant of the aquarium, it is necessary to make some kind of shelter for it.

It can be made from stone, different types of driftwood, it can be artificial houses, castles and plants. As for living plants, you need to look at the specific variety of catfish, since many of them are herbivores and the plant may not live with you for long. But still, if you want to plant plants in an aquarium, and your catfish is a herbivore, then you need to choose large plants with a well-developed root system. It is very important to create a territory for the catfish and place driftwood. Without such shelter, the catfish will not be comfortable and its life will be significantly shortened, and thanks to the snag, the catfish will receive important cellulose for life.

Preparing to buy an aquarium catfish

When deciding to purchase a pet, you should necessary preparation. By qualitatively researching the features of your pet’s lifestyle and hobbies, you can guarantee the acquisition of the necessary things.

Additionally, catfish are called “household orderlies” for their love of eating soil. The fish destroy scales and food waste from the bottom of the aquarium, thus maintaining the cleanliness of the reservoir.

High-quality cleaning of the aquarium is carried out by catfish pets, which is why the owner of the reservoir can forget about cleaning the aquarium. However, it doesn’t hurt to purchase a high-quality filter, since the fish get their food in an original way. They lift settled remains from the surface of the bottom, moving their bodies; after the food begins to float, the catfish eat it.

When organizing repopulation in an aquarium, it is important to pay attention to the already established inhabitants of the reservoir. Not all fish get along with new neighbors and can eat them. Guppy and neon fish are a favorite treat for catfish, so to avoid lethal consequences, the fish should be separated.

To create optimal conditions For catfish, you need to fill the aquarium with rocks or dense vegetation. These fish prefer to stay in shelter until it gets dark. During the daytime, they like to clean the bottom of the aquarium. However, catfish are not easy to see, as they have a special protective coloring and practically blend in with the stones.

Compatibility of catfish

Basically, catfish are peaceful, do not get into fights with other aquarium fish, and sometimes there are conflicts among themselves.

It happens that even a stronger catfish begins to chase the weaker one, and, alas, kills him.

But this is extremely rare. The compatibility of catfish with other fish depends on the type of catfish.

Peace-loving, herbivorous animals need to be matched with non-aggressive neighbors. And for predators - larger fish that can fend for themselves.

Reproduction and breeding

The breeding process for catfish is quite simple, and if you only have fish of this species in your aquarium, you don’t even have to put them in a separate aquarium. Otherwise, for catfish spawning, it is better to allocate a container with clean water with a capacity of 30 to 50 liters. Usually there are 3-4 males per female. It is very desirable that in the place where the spawning takes place there is a lot of algae and soft soil.

If you want to encourage your pets to reproduce, you need to change the water temperature within a few days within 17-25 ° C and aerate the aquarium. Spawning usually occurs early in the morning. When the eggs have already been laid, you can leave natural light or darken it a little. A week after spawning, the female will be ready for a new spawning. The fry develop quite quickly and almost immediately they can be fed with finely chopped bloodworms or “dust”.

Feeding

Feeding catfish is very easy. They eat up the fish food that lies on the bottom, thereby cleaning the bottom of the aquarium. They eat almost everything: pieces of fish, shrimp, tablets, frozen food, flakes Well, since most catfish are predators, they can eat small fish in an aquarium, perceiving them as food.

Drawing a conclusion, we can say that catfish in an aquarium are the right fish. Unpretentious and does not require additional care, resistant to various diseases, and, well, very original and beautiful. Having a catfish, your aquarium will always look unique, and you will always be able to rejoice and enjoy the beauty of your pet.

In subsequent articles you will be able to find the most necessary information about the maintenance of aquarium catfish, the species that interest you, the variety of aquarium catfish, feeding, care, as well as tables of compatibility of catfish with other inhabitants of the aquarium.

"Orphans" of the aquarium

You can often hear from pet store sellers that small and large catfish clean the water in the aquarium and the owner does not have to do this. Catfish, combing the soil at the bottom, actually pick up everything edible, partially cleaning the pollution. By the way, this does not mean that your pet’s nutrition should be left to chance.

It is also important to note that natural environment The habitat of these fish is silted water. But this also does not mean that you can not clean the aquarium at all and only change the water occasionally. Increased aeration of water is really not necessary, but clean water and an aquarium is the key to the health of your fish. If you also have other fish, they simply need cleanliness, and the catfish will quickly get used to it and will not experience any inconvenience.

General information about catfish

All types of aquarium catfish, of which there are a huge number in nature, are surprisingly similar in appearance. More than 1,200 thousand different waterfowl variations of this species live in aquariums alone. Otherwise, these fish are called cleaners, because they eat the remains of half-eaten, rotting food lying on the bottom.

And many amateurs purchase such “orderlies” precisely because of their accuracy. You can buy such interesting specimens at any pet store. These aquarium fish, instead of scales, have a lamellar covering consisting of bone tissue. This feature distinguishes them from other waterfowl. Catfish mainly live at the bottom of glass reservoirs and are active only at night. They feed on plant foods, but sometimes they do not hesitate to feast on the leftovers “from the master’s bottom table.”

Catfish are very popular among aquarists, so the demand for them is very high. They buy carapaces because they are: quite peaceful; feel excellent in water at temperatures from 18° +25°C; adapted to hard water; They feel confident with its average acidity with plus/minus deviations in different directions.

Nature has endowed catfish with intestinal respiration. Looking out of the aquarium, they swallow air with their mouths, which is then processed into pure oxygen. If a catfish often lingers near the surface of the water, it means that it is difficult for him to breathe. Aquarium orderlies

About two thousand species of catfish inhabit fresh waters peace. These are one of the oldest fish on the planet, their fossil remains were found in the sediments of the end Cretaceous period(70 million years ago).

One of the main signs is the absence of scales, often replaced by bone plates. Catfish are bottom-dwelling nocturnal or twilight image life. There are also predators among them, but most species prefer detritus, plant food and benthic invertebrates. Aquarists keep up to 800 species of catfish, not counting hybrid forms. Normal aquarium conditions are suitable for keeping: hardness 6-12°, temperature 22-26 °C. acidity is neutral, with slight deviations in one direction or another. Thanks to cutaneous respiration, or the ability to breathe atmospheric air, most catfish are not demanding of oxygen. Haplosternums, for example, swallow air, it enters the intestine and is absorbed into the blood through a dense network of capillaries.

They are represented by almost one and a half hundred species, common in the waters of South America. These are typically omnivorous bottom-dwelling fish. Their body is quite tall, triangular in cross section, covered with bone plates arranged in two parallel rows, reminiscent of parquet. The small lower mouth is surrounded by three pairs of antennae, which help in searching for food. Males are slimmer than females and have more developed dorsal and pectoral fins. Callichthids get along well with any fish, simply ignoring them completely. They themselves are unattractive prey even for large predators. In aquariums with armored catfish that constantly dig at the bottom, it is necessary to arrange efficient water filtration, cover the bottom with pebbles, and plant plants with a strong root system.

The impetus for the spawning of callicht catfish is a drop in atmospheric pressure, the addition of soft, cooled water by five degrees and the presence of a substrate for laying eggs. Incubation period 5-8 days at a temperature of 25 °C. The starting norms are rotifers, microworms, brine shrimp and mixed feed.

Of the armored catfishes, the most common among aquarists are genera Corydoras and Hoplosternum. The genus Corydoras includes the golden catfish (C. aeneus) and the speckled catfish (C. paleatus). The body of the Corydoras is short and ridged. The abdomen is flat, the back is convex. The male's dorsal fin is pointed. The main color of the speckled catfish is olive with a metallic sheen, the back is darker, and the belly is yellow-orange. Irregular ones are scattered throughout the body dark spots. The golden catfish has a wide shiny dark green stripe running along its entire body. In the anterior third above it there is a narrow golden one. The head and back are dark brown. Both species have albino forms. The speckled catfish is an old-timer in aquariums. Its first breeding dates back to 1878.

Hybrids of golden and speckled catfish are widespread in aquariums, as well as their hybrids with Corydoras Rabo, Schwartz and black-striped Bond. The fish grow up to 7 centimeters in length, females are larger than males. Vessels with a volume of at least 80 liters are suitable for spawning. The fish are placed in a spawning tank in a group, with a predominance of males. The water temperature is slightly above 20 °C. The composition does not play a role. The female lays her eggs in her pelvic fins folded together, where they are fertilized by the males and adheres them to a hard substrate. This could be a leaf of a plant or glass of an aquarium. If spawning occurred in community aquarium, the eggs can be carefully removed with a razor and transferred to a separate vessel for incubation. The best starter food is brine shrimp.

In addition to those mentioned, at least three dozen more Corydoras can be found in aquariums.

The genus Hoplosternum is much less rich in species. But one of them is perhaps the most famous aquarium catfish.

Torakatum ( Hoplosternumthoracatum) from Eastern Brazil has been bred in Russia since 1910. This is a fish with a long round body, reaching 18 centimeters in length. The body is covered with two rows of plates, like the Corydoras. At the highest point of the back there is a rather large dorsal fin. The color of the catfish is brownish-brown, with irregular dark spots. There is a black color option. In males, the anterior ray of the pectoral fin is greatly thickened and turned into a powerful bony spine of orange-bloody color.

Torakatums build foam nests under floating objects and plant leaves, releasing air bubbles not with their mouths, like labyrinths, but from under the gill covers. In the spawning area, the easiest way is to use a foam raft the size of a school notebook. During spawning, a female can spawn up to 1000 eggs. The male is left to guard the nest, but the raft with the eggs stuck to it can be transferred to a separate vessel. It is advisable to carry out prophylaxis against fungi and add methylene blue or trypaflavin to the water. Two days after hatching, the juveniles begin to take artemia.

Beige hoplosternum ( Hoplosternumlitorale) the size is not inferior to the previous type. The color is beige-olive, sometimes gray with a greenish tint. The body is torpedo-shaped. These catfish build nests in the form of a large and high cap of foam mixed with scraps of plants.

Both species of Hoplosternum are unpretentious, peaceful fish that love darkness. In aquariums, shelters made of driftwood and stones and shaded areas of the bottom are desirable. During maintenance, water parameters do not play a role. In spawning grounds, it is necessary to add soft water and raise the temperature to 24 °C.

Neither experienced aquarists nor beginners are deprived of attention. Distinctive feature these bottom fish- a strongly elongated or flattened body, completely covered with multifaceted bony plates, and a well-developed oral sucker with tubercles and outgrowths for scraping off algal formations. Males are larger, brighter and slimmer than females. IN mature age Numerous outgrowths resembling plant roots appear on their heads - tentacles. In females they are much less pronounced. The main food of loricariid catfish is plant-based, but they do not refuse bloodworms, tubifex, fillets of sea fish and sinking feed.

The eggs are deposited in ceramic or glass tubes. During the entire incubation period of the eggs, 6-10 days, the male sits in the tube, covering the eggs with his body. If spawning occurred in a common aquarium, the tube, along with the male and the eggs, is transferred to a separate container, simply closing the ends with your hands. When the fry swims, the male is removed, and the fry is fed with brine shrimp, mixed feed or algae paste.

- from Brazilian waters. The flat body is painted in dark colors with light spots. The abdomen is light. The large dorsal fin resembles a flag. The fish grow into good conditions up to 14 cm. They swim ineptly and reluctantly. They spend most of their time clinging to the glass of the aquarium or plant leaves and scraping off algae. Activated in the dark and when atmospheric pressure drops. Ancistrus are quite suitable for the conditions of a general aquarium, to the other inhabitants of which they do not pay the slightest attention.

The female lays 50-100 sticky, oblong, bright orange eggs that resemble small barberries. The water in the spawning tank and nursery aquarium needs to be slightly acidic, pH=6.0-6.5, temperature 26 °C. The fry begins to take food 6-8 days after hatching.

- one of a large family of fish that received greatest distribution called "red loricaria". The body is elongated, highly elongated, thin. The length of an adult fish reaches 12 cm. The color is red, of various shades. The male is slimmer pectoral fins it has a bristled brush. Loricaria - absolutely peaceful fish. They lead a modest lifestyle, often hiding so that it is impossible to find them in the aquarium. They take any food from the bottom. Spawning is seasonal - in winter. It flows like ancistrus. Suitable tube diameter is about 30 mm. Swimming fry look like scraps of threads 7 mm long. They are very sensitive to water contamination with organic matter. In a nursery aquarium, a filter with activated carbon and a daily complete replacement of water with fresh water of the same composition and temperature are required. Settled tap water, passed through a filter, is suitable. The fry grows quickly and soon ceases to react painfully to pollution.

When installing filters in aquariums with chain-linked catfish, and especially with their juveniles, it is necessary to prevent fish from getting into the structure. They tend to look for cracks and holes and crawl into them. Once caught in the filter, catfish usually die.

- a catfish with a very thin and long body. The snout is sharp, the pectoral and dorsal fins are large, in the shape of a sharp triangle. It grows up to 30 cm, while being almost a complete vegetarian. He is picky about food - he needs algae tablets, lettuce, even cucumbers. Does not tolerate pollution. The eggs are laid in a tube.

Luxurious catfish from the river. Orinoco. Black or dark brown spots - brocade - are evenly scattered over the light body. The dorsal fin is large and high, sail-shaped. The mouth is a large, strong sucker. Swims poorly and reluctantly. It eats fouling and scrapes wood snags that need to be provided to it. But he doesn’t refuse bloodworms either. Water hardness varies widely, temperature from 23 to 30 °C.

The "brocade catfish" has become very fashionable in recent years, but often becomes a problem for beginners. On sale there are usually juveniles measuring 5-7 cm. When purchasing a catfish, they often do not know that it can grow up to 30-35 cm. In a small aquarium, Pterygoplicht becomes a “bull in a china shop”, and in a large aquarium, with slow large fish, for example discus fish, trying to attach to them. Catfish are probably attracted to the mucus that covers their body. As a result, the scales are damaged and ulcers may occur. Pterygoplichts does not pay attention to small fish. We can recommend catfish from the genus Hystomus, similar to Pterygoplichthas, which lack this disadvantage and do not grow so quickly.

The body shape is strongly reminiscent of Pterygoplichthas. The dorsal fin is smaller, the color is brown, reddish or reddish. Imported under the names Hypostomus sp., Hypostomus spotted, Hypostomus red, Hypostomus albino and Hypostomus watawata. The last name seems closest to the truth. The conditions of detention are no different from the brocade catfish.

Watawata from Peru is the most useful inhabitant aquarium A convinced vegetarian, not paying attention to bloodworms, is constantly busy cleaning the aquarium of algae. To perform ideal continuous cleaning in a two-hundred-liter container, one catfish is enough. In my pet store, there is always one Watawata catfish in each aquarium. If the catfish does not have enough pasture, it is necessary to feed it with plant foods.

Covered with a durable bone shell, absent on the flat belly. Crepuscular, solitary fish looking for food at the bottom. The dorsal and pectoral fins are equipped with strong, jagged spines. Be careful: catfish easily get entangled in the net, and a pricked finger hurts for a long time. If you pick up a catfish in your hands, it makes a loud squeaking sound. Omnivores, but need at least a third of plant food. Withstands a wide range of water hardness, acidity and temperature. They are indifferent to the oxygen content in water and can swallow atmospheric air. Aquariums most often contain agamix (Agamyxis flavopictus) - black in color, with light spots, and platidor (Platydoras costatus), which has yellow stripes on its dark brown body - two on the sides and one on the ridge. Both fish have a short massive body and a large head with not very long whiskers. They grow up to 12-15 cm. They do not pay attention to their neighbors, busy with their own affairs. They require not too coarse gravel at the bottom and shelters made of ceramics or driftwood. The content is not complicated. Breeding is only available to experienced aquarists.

Killer whales are fast, sociable, diurnal catfish that stay in the water column. They are not very predatory and can be kept in a species aquarium with other fish. The skin is bare, without bony plates, the first ray of the dorsal fin is transformed into a hard spine. Water parameters can vary widely. Omnivorous, but live food is preferred. Males are smaller and slimmer.

The most popular killer whale is . It would be more correct to call the catfish “tengara”, since several other mistuses are common, but the name has taken root in the aquarium hobby. The body is elongated, silver-gray, with a bluish tint and light longitudinal stripes. The eyes are large, with contrasting “earrings” behind the gill covers. The snout has four pairs of rather long antennae. Length up to 12 cm. Mistus is a “shock” fish. If there is a sudden change in conditions, for example during a transplant, he “faints” and may die. It doesn’t matter whether the new conditions are worse or better, the mystus reacts only to their change. Before planting newly acquired fish in the aquarium, you need to smoothly equalize the water parameters. The easiest way is to add water from the aquarium intended for it to the water in which the catfish arrived, using a thin tube.

Reddish killer whale ( Mystusmiracanthus), similar in shape to Mystus, but colored in pink-red tones, with large dark spots behind the gill covers and a dark band on the caudal peduncle, and Siamese killer whale(Leiocassis siamensis), dark brown, with wide yellow transverse stripes, like a bumblebee, is kept less frequently. Caring for them is not difficult, breeding is not mastered.

- a genus of African catfish from the rivers Zaire, Nile, Niger, Zambezi and others. About 10-15 years ago they suddenly entered Russian aquarium fashion. Many of them are peaceful and calm fish, quite large in size. The body is torpedo-shaped, triangular in cross-section, with a large, wide head. Three pairs of long branched mustaches. The color is very variable - from ash-gray to almost black with dark and light spots. All types of synodonts are able to swim belly up, combing the surface of the water with fluffy mustaches and collecting insects that have fallen into the water. For the skinwalker (S. nigriventris), this method of swimming has become the main one. Keeping synodonts is not a problem. The water reaction is neutral, the temperature is 22-26 ° C, but it is advisable to increase the hardness to 18 °. Catfish become active at night, eating bloodworms and other food prepared in advance for them at the bottom. Reproduction of synodonts is very difficult. Only from one species (Synodontis spec.) is it possible to obtain offspring in the traditional way, and even then not always.

The most common are: Angelic synodont, (S.angelicus)- black, with white polka dots. Contrary to its name, it attacks small fish and is only suitable for keeping with cichlids or other fish that can fend for themselves. Size up to 20 cm, usually no more than 15. Changeling (S. nigriventris)- a peaceful catfish up to 6 cm long. Suitable for any aquarium. The color is gray, with streaks, but recently a pure black color option has appeared. Cuckoo (S. multipunctatus)- not a bad companion in a community aquarium. The color is gray-yellow, with dark round spots. Drops its eggs on spawning African cichlids.

- the only species in the family. The body of this catfish is cylindrical, elongated, and the color is black-blue or brown. Sometimes with two golden longitudinal lines. There are also albinos. On the jaws there are 4 pairs of long, dark whiskers directed forward. Size up to 30 cm. Males are brighter and slimmer than females.

During spawning, the coloration of the spawners intensifies and spots appear on the body. The catfish is attractive not because of its color, but unusual shape. These catfish breathe atmospheric air. From the gill cavity to the tail itself, two air sacs extend, acting as lungs. In nature, this adaptation allows catfish to wait out drought, remaining almost without water in semi-dried mud. They can be kept in normal aquarium conditions. During the day, catfish prefer to hide in shelters under stones, snags or plant roots. They treat other inhabitants with indifference, but they can thoroughly scare away other fish trying to take their favorite place on the bottom. In order to avoid conflicts, it is better not to keep other bottom-dwelling species in an aquarium with them. The spawning ground requires sandy soil, onto which up to 5,000 eggs are laid after vigorous mating games. The fry swims on the seventh day, it is easily fed with compound feed and grows quickly.

When young, it is very similar to the sacbranch catfish. The main difference is dorsal fin, stretching almost along the entire body. The natural color is brown, with small specks. The marble form often goes on sale. The body is light yellow with dark brown large “marbled” spots. This is a voracious predator for a large species aquarium. It can grow as thick and as long as a teenager's arm. The content is very simple - almost any water parameters. Omnivorous and very voracious.

Catfish from Thailand are very popular in aquariums around the world. It has been imported to Russia not very long ago and is still little known among newcomers. The body is shark-shaped, bluish-silver, with a dark longitudinal stripe. The back is dark. A flock of pangasius rushes feverishly around the aquarium, adhering to the middle layers of water, greatly enlivening the underwater landscape. Quite a peaceful species, suitable for keeping with not too small species. He may panic and “faint,” but quickly comes to his senses. Gluttonous, grows quickly reaching 20 cm. Any food, temperature 23-27 "C, neutral water with slight deviations.

Active during the day, completely peaceful catfish with a transparent body. Internal organs and skeleton are visible through transparent muscles and skin. Lives in average aquarium conditions, but only in a flock. Single individuals die quickly. Keep only with peaceful neighbors such as small characins or livebearers. Easily picks up infection from sick fish. At the same time, the transparent body of the catfish becomes cloudy. Thickets of plants are needed as shelters. Small regular water changes are needed. Does not tolerate dirt well. It stays in the middle layers of water, swims slowly, “carefully”. Live and dry food is suitable. It grows no larger than 10 cm.

Catfish fish - description, characteristics and photographs.

The catfish fish has a long, flattened and rather powerful body, which is devoid of scales and covered with a layer of mucus, which ensures the gliding and maneuverability of the fish in the water space. The wide head of a catfish usually has a flattened shape. There are small, slightly blind eyes of the catfish on it. The wide mouth of the fish is “armed” with small, but abundant teeth. Almost all catfish have one feature: on the jaws of this predatory fish there are long mustaches. The catfish's whiskers are the most important tactile organ with which fish find food. Depending on the variety, of which scientists number about 500, appearance catfish, its color and size can vary significantly.

How long does a catfish live?

The lifespan of a catfish that lives in natural and environmentally acceptable conditions reaches 30, 50, or even 60 years. There is data from ichthyologists who have recorded individuals who have reached the age of 75 years.

What does catfish eat?

Catfish in nature prefers to lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, lying in pits with a large accumulation of silty sediments. It is unpretentious in its diet: the catfish happily eats plant remains, small fish, larvae, shells, crayfish, or birds that accidentally fall into a pond, and other living creatures. Catfish also feed on carrion. Often he “hunts” for prey near old and forgotten fishing nets. A large hungry catfish can even eat fish that accidentally entered the water.

Where does catfish live?

The catfish fish is quite widespread in the waters of Europe and Asia, while living in rivers flowing into the seas, it often swims into their salty waters. Unfortunately, in such conditions, only one species of catfish can exist for a long time - the channel catfish; other individuals from this family are not adapted to such a “salty” living.

Types of catfish - photos and names.

There are many interesting and unusual representatives in the catfish family.

Common catfish (European)(lat. Silurus glanis) can reach a length of up to 5 meters and weigh up to 400 kg. Lives in rivers and lakes of Europe and Russia. Cases of attacks on people have been described.

American catfish (dwarf catfish)(lat. Ameiurus nebulosus) lives in the waters of South America. The length of the American catfish does not exceed a meter, weight – 7-10 kg. The mouth of this species is surprisingly designed: the teeth are arranged in several rows, and each row differs in size - from smallest to largest. This feature allows the American catfish to capture prey as if in a steel vice.

(lat. Malapterurus electricus) lives in African reservoirs and rivers Arab countries. Its ability to generate powerful charges of electricity helps it successfully hunt even large prey. There is information according to which an electric catfish killed animals that accidentally wandered into a pond to drink with a discharge of current.

Among catfish, numerous aquarium varieties:, cockroach, platidoras, glass catfish, cuckoo catfish, changeling catfish and others. And their variety of colors is simply amazing:

Glass Indian catfish

What kind of fish?

The aquarium catfish is a very large and ancient species of fish. Today, more than 2 thousand species of aquarium catfish are known, which can only live in fresh water bodies and are common in South America and Africa.

A characteristic feature of these fish is the absence of scales, however, many of them can be protected by bone plates instead.

In the natural environment, aquarium catfish live at the bottom of muddy reservoirs, where they lead a nocturnal or twilight lifestyle. Most of them are harmless and spend their time searching for invertebrates in the upper layers of bottom sediments. However, there are also predators. The catfish reproduces by spawning and is quite active.

Without taking into account various hybrid forms, the aquarium fauna is represented by about 800 species of catfish. Traditionally, they are placed in home flasks as cleaners who clean the bottom of food residues and scrape plaque and microorganisms from the walls.

What species live in aquariums

Despite the fact that these fish are very popular, only some types of aquarium catfish are found in home aquariums, and the rest can only be seen by professionals with many years of experience. Let's consider the varieties of aquarium catfish that are found among enthusiastic amateur aquarists:

Antennae or pimelod catfish. It got its name thanks to its 6 antennae (4 of them on the chin). In nature, they live in fast rivers, so in captivity they are demanding about filtering water and saturating it with oxygen. Without suckers, they lead an active lifestyle. Moreover, among them there are both small ones (up to 5 cm long) and respectable individuals (up to 60 cm), which are kept in the aquarium only up to a certain age. Particularly interesting among them is the rough flathead, which loves to swim upside down, so don’t be scared, this is the normal behavior of this pet.
Agamixis. Very peaceful creatures no more than 10 cm long. During the day they hide in shelters, and at night they come out to delve into the bottom contents, so to prevent the fish from reminding itself of itself with clouds of turbidity, it is better to place it in a flask with coarse-grained soil. Most often in home aquariums you can find Agamixis whitespotted.
Pterygoplichts. Popular cleaner catfish are mostly large. They live only in large containers and only a few individuals at a time, otherwise they get bored. They feed mainly on plant food, but when there is a shortage of it, they show aggression towards smaller neighbors or eat plants. They lead a twilight lifestyle and are in dire need of shelter and thickets. Among all the others, the most common species in the aquarium is Pterygoplichtas brocade.
Ancistrus. A very common genus of the chain catfish family, which has up to 30 species. Among amateurs, these fish are often called sucker catfish or sticky ones. Being no more than 10 cm long, these herbivorous inhabitants willingly feast on scalded leaves of spinach, cabbage, lettuce, pieces of cucumber or pumpkin, and can gnaw on driftwood used for decorative purposes.
Corridors. They belong to the chainmail (armored) catfish and have 3 pairs of antennae. The most famous is the corydoras panda, a yellowish or pinkish-orange catfish with dark spots on its dorsal fin. A distinctive feature of the fish is its black mask, making it look like a bear, from which its name comes.
Loricaria. They also belong to the chain catfish and grow up to 12 cm long. Their males are much slimmer than females and have a characteristic fleecy brush on their chest. Frequent inhabitants of aquariums are red loricaria and Peruvian loricaria, which have a chocolate color.

How to keep catfish in an aquarium

Catfish in an aquarium are quite unpretentious, not picky in their diet, and can forgive the owner for not being too attentive to the hardness and acidity of the water. Even a drop in temperature of a couple of degrees will not cause them any discomfort. Due to their lifestyle, these fish can live in dirty water, therefore they tolerate insufficient aeration. At the same time, they can periodically rise to the surface to swallow a bubble of air, which is absorbed in the intestines.

When talking about caring for catfish, aquarists recommend them as orderlies who clean their habitat. However, you should not rely too much on the fact that the fish will do all the work of the aquarist. They will pick up the remaining food, but in return they will raise turbidity from the bottom, which will require water filtration, and not with the weakest filter. Cleaning glass by purchasing ancistrus is as effective as breeding snails. The owner will have to clean them anyway. At the same time, increasing the number of “workers” will not have any effect, and hungry fish will quickly deal with underwater plants.

It should be remembered that, like any other aquarium fish, catfish require their own living space. You should not be deceived by the bottom behavior of catfish.

When choosing fish based on the curves of their backs and the beauty of their faces, do not forget about their secretive lifestyle. It is possible that you may not see your newly acquired pets during the day. Considering that the fish live secretly, they need thickets of plants and shelter, and the number of the latter must coincide with the number of catfish to avoid bloodshed. It is worth remembering that such shelters must be end-to-end, since the fish will not be able to turn around and get out on their own.

Summarizing the above, it is worth saying that general conditions with other inhabitants of a home aquarium are suitable for maintenance:

water hardness 6–12%;
water temperature 22–25 °C;
neutral acidity up to 8.2 and complete absence of salt in it;
coarse fraction of bottom soil;
the presence of powerful filters and aerators.

Diseases of aquarium catfish are identical to those of other fish. Most often they arise from incorrect content. In this case, you should take better care of them and change the water more often. Infectious diseases that penetrate into the aquarium with live food, plants, and new inhabitants are much more difficult to diagnose and treat.

Before infusing medications, their composition should be clarified, since catfish cannot tolerate salt and copper compounds.

So the owner will have less hassle if he quarantines newly arrived pets before placing them in a container. Considering that catfish constantly loosen the soil, it is better not to use coarse gravel in decoration. Some small species easily damage the antennae and abdomen, which causes infection.

The question of how long catfish live in an aquarium is very complex. There is an old joke among fishing fans that this problem has aged more than one fisherman. A similar situation is observed among aquarists, who are also actively finding out how many years catfish live. Some of them claim that since the end of 1997, experienced individuals are still living in their containers.

Others suggest not to get carried away by science fiction, pointing out that their pets lived no more than 3-4 years.

Leaving these debates aside, let us state the obvious truth. Compliance with the rules of care will have a positive effect on the life expectancy of the catfish. In a clean, aerated aquarium, full of plants and proper nutrition live food, fish live on average 8 years. And only if you follow the rules for caring for catfish, does the reproduction of these fish in captivity become possible at all. At the same time, we should not forget that different types catfish live and different lives. For example, pterygoplichts are quite capable of pleasing the owner for more than 10 years, and white-spotted agamixis, with careful care, will become a friend for many 15–17 years. In general, it’s better to ask them themselves about how long catfish live, after getting at least a couple.

Neighbor's question

The ability to get along with other species of fish is the determining criterion when purchasing new pets. As a completely peaceful fish, the aquarium catfish in this regard compares favorably with other species. Almost every catfish is indifferent to its neighbors, gets along calmly with them, and does not notice some, especially those living in the upper water layers, at all.

However, we should not forget that among the representatives of the species there are also predators who do not mind inviting their neighbor to dinner. Thus, the rough flathead can easily get along with large, non-aggressive stingrays or angelfish, but smaller fish, to the surprise of the owner, may disappear.

But the catfish themselves can become victims of intra-aquarium struggle. Small ancistrus should not be housed with their natural enemies, such as aggressive cichlids that will eat their fins.

Served to eat: aquarium catfish menu

The question of what to feed catfish should not puzzle the aquarium owner too much, since these unpretentious fish You can feed almost anything. Most of them are omnivores and in nature feed on the meager food that settles to the bottom of the reservoir. In captivity, almost any food is suitable for catfish. You can use live, frozen (bloodworm, tubifex, enchytraeus), industrial for bottom fish, including in the form of tablets.

The approach to organizing the process is also important, since the problem of how to feed, in this case, has a more significant impact on the health of the fish than the question of what to feed the catfish.

You should not offer fish food that floats or actively moves in the water.

These fish are not used to feeding from the surface, and active hunting is not suitable for most. However, there are cases when catfish, after a hunger strike, eat floating dried daphnia, while making funny air flapping noises.

When organizing regular feeding, you should also take into account the number of inhabitants in the aquarium. If there are not so few of them, then the food may never reach the bottom, where it will become easily accessible to catfish. In this case, it is better to use special heavy granules, which will sink immediately and will be available to the fish longer. Considering that many catfish lead nightlife, it is better to give them food in the evening, immediately after turning off the lights, then the inhabitants upper layers they will not overeat, and bottom dwellers will not be left with food. This way the question of what to feed aquarium catfish will be resolved simply and without worries.

Breeding in captivity: what and how

All catfish are egg-laying fish; breeding them is not difficult. Despite the fact that not every aquarium catfish reproduces in captivity, the most popular species are quite good at participating in this process while locked up.

Most of these fish will reproduce only with stable atmospheric pressure, which should be taken into account when planting for spawning in a separate aquarium.

In order for the fish to reproduce quickly, one female and 2-3 males are taken. N

the arrest must occur within 24 hours. After laying eggs, when the parents have already reproduced, they are placed in a common container, and fry emerge from the eggs after 8–14 days. Since even at such a tender age they are quite large, they are fed with regular fry food or chopped tubifex. Frequent changes of water and adequate food will help them quickly gain weight and size. After 8–11 months, the fish will become sexually mature.

In conclusion, let us remind you that in aquariums there is so little interesting fish, like catfish. They either crawl along the glass, or swarm in the mud, or hide in their shelters. When choosing them in a pet store, you need to take at least 5-6 individuals, then at the bottom of a medium-sized container a whole community of charming creatures will appear, which will bring many pleasant moments to the attentive and caring owner. Aquarium catfish IR has quite a variety of types, you can always find something suitable.

Aquarists are attracted not only by small ones and guppies, there are also connoisseurs of larger pets. These favorites include a variety of aquarium catfish. Even these mustaches won’t scare off true connoisseurs night look life. Next you will get acquainted with the types of catfish, their conditions of detention, as well as interesting photos these fish.

[Hide]

Description

Aquarium catfish belong to the order Catfish. There are several families in the order, for example, armored, chain-mailed, catfish and others.

Catfish are considered one of the most ancient fish. This is evidenced by the presence of bone plates in a number of species, instead of scales, which are completely absent. Most people's bodies are simply covered with skin. One more characteristic feature- this is the presence of a mustache; there can be one or several pairs of them.

Animals live mainly at the bottom of the reservoir and lead a predominantly twilight or nocturnal lifestyle. Catfish can be carnivorous or omnivorous, eating both animal and plant origin. This point should be taken into account when keeping them with representatives of other species. Therefore, do not be surprised if you are suddenly missing a few small fish, such as guppies.

The color of catfish can be very diverse, ranging from dark gray to speckled brown; there are even albinos. Mostly the color is a protective, camouflage color. A catfish can easily blend into the ground or deck without you even noticing it. They lead a secretive lifestyle. Buying catfish for an aquarium is not a problem; they are sold both in many pet stores and by aquarists themselves.

Subspecies of catfish

The catfish order has a huge number of varieties, many of which are successfully kept in aquariums. It is simply unrealistic to list all types of aquarium catfish in one article. And we will look at the most popular among aquarists, both experienced and beginners, and look at photos with names.

Clarius

Clarius spotted or Angolan catfish, which cannot be kept with small fish. This is a predator, so it will eat its small neighbors. Clarius grows up to 60 cm in length, so when purchasing it, stock up on an aquarium of at least 400 liters.

The body of the fish is long, the dorsal and anal fins stretch almost throughout the body. They end before the tail one, without going into the last one. The color can be brown, olive, spotted and albino. There are 4 pairs of whiskers on the face.

This type of catfish can move on land and breathe atmospheric air; without this, it actually could not travel. You can stay out of the pond for up to 31 hours, but must remain wet. This important information for the aquarist, since the aquarium must have a tightly closing lid, otherwise it may escape.

Glass

The characteristic features of glass catfish are its transparency and fragility. For this quality it received another name - ghost fish. The spine is clearly visible. Only the head and the silvery pouch next to the head, which contains the fish’s organs, are opaque.

Suitable for experienced aquarists. Fish are very demanding on water quality and are susceptible to various diseases. You need to launch it into an aquarium with an established ecosystem. You need to keep it in a flock of 10 or more individuals.

Flathead

The flathead, most often called the red-tailed catfish, is one of the largest representatives of its order. Night dweller, loves dim light. Can be kept with other aquarium fish.

The body is oblong with a large flat head. A distinctive feature is the color of the caudal fin - from orange to red. Body color is black and white.

IN wildlife reach 120 cm, slightly less when kept in an aquarium. In addition, young individuals are usually kept in captivity. The size for an aquarium is at least 300 liters.

Brocade

Brocade pterygoplichthys (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) is a representative of the chain-mail catfish family. The body is covered with multifaceted bony plates, which is characteristic of the family. The head is a large sucker.

Color: light-colored body covered with brown or black spots, reminiscent of brocade. Catfish got their name from their color. Dorsal fin - large size, tall and resembles a sail.

Synodontis

Tarakatum

Tarakatum (Hoplosternum thoracatum) is a representative of the armored catfish of the genus Hoplosternum. Like other armored species, it has two parallel rows of bony plates covering the body.

Their body is round in shape. Can reach 18 cm in length. The dorsal fin is large and located at the highest point of the back. On the pectoral fins, the first ray is thickened, turned into a bone spike, orange in color. Their color is brown-brown, with fuzzy, uneven black spots. Black individuals may be found.

During spawning, nests are built from foam. But it is formed not with the help of the mouth, as in labyrinths, but with the help of gills. Nests are placed under floating objects such as leaves.

Ancistrus

Ancistrus (Ancistrus dolichopterus) from the chain-mail catfish family is especially popular among aquarists. Ancistrus's body is long and flat. Covered with bone plates, multifaceted, this is distinguishing feature chainmail family. Another feature is the presence of an oral sucker, with the help of which catfish scrape off built-up algae.

The color is dark shades with small white spots. The belly is light. The dorsal fin is large and shaped like a flag.

Ancistrus are inactive, swim clumsily and reluctantly. Most of the time is spent scraping algae by sticking to the wall of the aquarium.

Care and maintenance of fish

Let's start, perhaps, from the very beginning - with the aquarium. When purchasing a mustachioed miracle, keep this in mind. That if you buy a baby, you can soon become the owner of a solid giant. Therefore, immediately take care of purchasing a large aquarium so that you do not have to change it when your catfish grows up. It is desirable that the capacity be from 200 liters. You determine a more accurate volume depending on the type purchased.

The next thing to take care of is the soil and the “interior”. Aquarium fish catfish, like catfish living in nature, eat food from the top layer of soil. To prevent constant turbidity in your aquarium, the filling of the bottom should not be fine-grained. But coarse gravel will not work either; your pet could get hurt on the sharp edges. Opt for soil with medium-sized fractions and light color.

Place it in an aquarium large number plants. They should have hard foliage; the catfish will eat soft plants. Some aquarists use artificial vegetation. In addition, place other elements inside, for example, driftwood, various decorations, grottoes. This way, the aquarium catfish can always find shelter.

Catfish are quite unpretentious regarding water quality, but this does not mean that working with them is easy. There are a number of points to consider. Water temperature is from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. Acidity is neutral, minor deviations in any direction are allowed. Water hardness is from 6 to 12.

The aquarium will need to be equipped with a compressor, since oxygen saturation of the aqua is important. But at the same time, some catfish can breathe atmospheric air. Therefore, they should always have access to it, make sure that the plants do not cover the entire surface.

As for feeding, it has already been said that catfish eat food of animal and plant origin. In addition, they prefer benthic invertebrates. They eat young algae growths. There are also industrial foods specifically for this family, so you won’t have any problems feeding them.

Catfish diseases

If you find an illness in your mustaches, you first need to determine the cause. The first thing that can affect health is the conditions of detention. Perhaps they are not entirely suitable for the animal. In this case, dealing with the problem is quite simple; it is enough to improve the conditions for the fish. Change ⅓ of the water in the aquarium weekly and clean it. Maintain temperature and so on.

If your catfish was previously healthy and kept appropriately, then the disease came from outside. It could be brought in with new fish, plants and food. Then drug treatment will be necessary.

But be extremely careful. Catfish in an aquarium do not tolerate treatment with salt if it is included in the preparation - you will not cure the fish, but you can kill it. They also do not tolerate copper-containing medications well. If you do use these, then do not give the full dose, since a dose of 0.25 mg/l is critical for the mustache.

The diseases of aquarium catfish themselves are the same as those of other fish. And if you take good care of the aquarium, quarantine newly arrived fish and plants, and feed your pets properly, then the catfish will be healthy.