The best aquarium cleaners. Aquarium attendants - fish, shrimp, snails fighting algae

Algae growth in an aquarium can be a serious problem, especially if the growth takes on a neglected appearance. Aquarium cleaner fish can cope with many types of algae, but even they are not able to cope with particularly advanced cases.

Honestly, not even the most hardworking cleaner fish can replace a scraper. Fish can significantly make your work easier, of course, with a certain number of them and hard work.

It is also very important to understand that fish clean algae only when they are either young or hungry. Young fish are growing, and for optimal growth they need to actively feed, in this case this is very good for us, since aquarium cleaners feed on algae and growths.

An adult hungry fish can also actively clean the aquarium, but this does not happen so often. Most likely, some large and lazy pterygoplicht will wait for its next feeding. Not feeding the fish is also not an option - you can starve them to death, which happens especially often with ancistrus.

Popular aquarium cleaner fish

Pterygoplichthus

- one of the most popular large aquarium fish, not only among those who are trying to actively fight algae in the aquarium. The main limitation on its content is the volume of the aquarium, preferably from 150 liters. While the fish is not yet large, it is quite hardworking and is very good at scraping not only the glass in the aquarium, but also decorations and stones. As the pteryg grows and matures, it becomes increasingly lazier, and at some point cleaning the aquarium will become a fairly infrequent process.

Ancistrus

Also very popular is the cleaner fish. Ancistrus are loved by aquarists due to the fact that they can live in almost any aquarium, starting from 20 liters. Of course, 20 liters is a limit, but still a very realistic option. Since the fish is not big, they can take in quantity. But on the other hand, we do not recommend keeping many individuals, especially males, in a limited volume, because conflicts are possible. In our opinion, this fish is more hardworking than Pterygoplichthus, but due to the characteristics of its sucker, it may not be as effective.

Crossocheilus

This fish is less popular in the world of aquarists, but no less valuable. It is believed that Crossocheilus is the best at cleaning the aquarium from flip flops and black beards. We even indicated this method as one of the options for how to get rid of black beard in an aquarium. Many people recommend planting several fish to achieve better results, but we do not recommend this, as in a confined space the fish can be very aggressive towards each other. Also, you need to understand that if the Vietnamese has already grown in the aquarium, then it will be almost impossible for the fish to destroy it all.

Cleaner fish are, of course, not a panacea. If you haven’t looked after your aquarium for a long time, haven’t cleaned the glass, and, having bought fish, decided that they will do everything for you dirty work, then we can assure you that this will not happen. Fish can only be auxiliary tools in terms of combating algae and growths at an early stage of their appearance, but you should not put everything on their shoulders.

An aquarium is a wonderful decoration for our home and an interesting hobby for its owner. When we think about having this wonderful underwater world Our concerns, first of all, concern the fact that it will be very difficult to maintain it so that it always remains clean and beautiful...

As the proverb says, “you can’t even pull a fish out of a pond without difficulty...”, the aquarium needs your care (feeding the fish, changing water and monitoring its quality, cleaning glass and decorations, caring for plants, etc.), but in a properly maintained and balanced manner. in an aquarium with adjusted lighting, it will not take much of your time. If you are willing to spend about forty minutes a week on the aquarium (not counting time feeding the fish), this will be quite enough.

Everyone knows the problem that over time algae develop in the aquarium, which significantly spoils its appearance. They usually appear as a brown or dark green coating covering the walls of the aquarium, soil, stones and aquarium plants. Algae can also be in the form of dark or light green threads, tassels, and fringes formed in the same places. If you are a beginner aquarist, then when such “decorations” appear in your aquarium, you should seek advice from specialists, because Some types of algae are destroyed only with the help of chemicals. But in most cases, cleaner fish or algae eaters are a good help in the fight against overgrowing of an aquarium.

Let's look at them in more detail:

There are several dozen species of various algae-eating fish, including a large number of catfish, certain species from the cyprinid family, and other herbivorous species.

Blackmollies Poecilia sphenops , which belongs to the family of viviparous fish, perfectly destroys green filamentous algae (filamentous algae). This fish does well in aquariums with dense vegetation and plenty of free space. It should be remembered that it can not only destroy algae, but if there is a shortage of vegetarian food, it can eat the shoots of young plants.

For beginner aquarists it is often recommended Corydoras catfish (genus Corydoras) . This variety of armored catfish is compatible with any peaceful tropical fish, but in a poorly balanced aquarium it can stir up the water and eat other fish. These fish are more suitable for adding to an aquarium designed in the style of a tropical forest pond.

Girinocheil siamese Gyrinocheilus aymonieri - a cute, very active fish that has won lately great popularity as an indomitable algae fighter. Fits perfectly into the ichthyological community of any warm-water aquarium with a civilian population. Cleans stones and snags well. Young individuals are peaceful, diligently cleaning algae, old ones are more aggressive and, when there is a shortage of space, periodically organize intraspecific skirmishes. They can stick to and damage the skin of other fish. It is advisable to keep them in aquariums with well-aerated water and low lighting.

Ancistrus vulgaris Ancistrus cirrhosus - one of the most popular catfishes in decorative aquariums. A typical inhabitant of bottom layers of water, unpretentious, becomes active at dusk, compatible with almost any tropical fish. It cleans well the walls of the aquarium, stones, driftwood in aquariums with a lot of vegetation, in rare cases it can change its food preferences and spoil the leaves of aquarium plants, as, indeed, Girinocheil and Pterygoplicht.

Pterygoplichthys They perfectly polish stones and snags, feeding not only on aquatic vegetation, but also on wood. They need to be given special food for chain catfish so that if there is not enough algae, they will not destroy the leaves of your aquarium plants. Compatible with large tropical fish that live in medium and upper layers water. They are territorial and do not like competitors who claim the bottom territory. Pterygoplichts grow to large sizes, so it makes sense to place them in large aquariums. It is worth considering that their excrement, which usually serves as a good food for plants, in large quantities can be harmful to the fish living in the aquarium. Large pterygoplichts and panakas should not be kept together, because they will start fights.

Panak (genus ) , especially the royal Panaque nigrolineatus grows to large sizes, so it will feel comfortable in a large aquarium (one individual per aquarium from 200 liters) This is an arboreal and herbivorous species, it cleans snags well. In their youth they have a calm disposition, but with age they become more territorial. You should choose your neighbors carefully - active and aggressive fish can eat their long fins. The best neighbors are peaceful characins.

Crossochail (Epalceorhynchus) siamese - a moderately large carp fish that has gained popularity as a tireless fighter against algae. It destroys well the so-called “flip flops” (dark tassels on plant leaves, stones, etc.) and green algae. Peaceful in relation to its neighbors, mobile, active during daylight hours. It does not require large amounts of maintenance and is content with modest care. It perfectly removes algae from not only plants, but also any other aquarium interior items. When there is a shortage of space and food supply, it conflicts with relatives such as labeo.

Labeo Labeo bicolor And- large, dynamic, bright fish. A good candidate for adding to a spacious aquarium with inhabitants of similar sizes and habits. Cocky towards individuals of his own species, territorial.

Otocinclus Otocinclus vittatus, Otocinclus sp."negros"- dwarf algae-eating catfish, belongs to the chain-mail catfish family. Able to get along in an aquarium with large predatory fish. It perfectly destroys brown-brown diatoms, so 4-6 fish can keep a 100 liter aquarium clean. It is popular due to its unpretentiousness, peacefulness, and contrasting color. A typical inhabitant of bottom water layers. Activates at dusk and is compatible with any peaceful tropical fish. Works great in an aquarium together with Epalceorhynchus.

Japanese pond shrimp or Amano shrimp can also act as algae fighters, but for efficient work you need a large number of shrimp (about 1 piece for every 1-2 liters of volume). Cladophora aegagrophila balls or velvet balls of Cladophora aegagrophila are excellent for cleaning; they become dirty very quickly, collecting all the smallest dirt in the aquarium on their fine hairs. Amano shrimp get along well with otocinclus, but they should not be kept in an aquarium with big fish.

In aquariums where predators can attack shrimp and otocinclus, it is better to use epalceorhynchus, gyrinocheil, ancistrus and pterygoplicht.

Here are only some representatives of aquarium orderlies, because... It is very difficult to describe in detail these wonderful aquarist assistants in one article. It is important to remember that purchasing such fish will not completely solve the problem of combating algae, because... the successful existence of an aquarium biosystem largely depends on humans. It is very important to correctly select and adjust equipment and lighting, properly start the aquarium and regularly monitor water parameters and the condition of its inhabitants. If the plants in your aquarium feel comfortable, and the fish are fed on time and do not overeat, orderly fish can easily cope with minor algal growths.

Privezentseva Alexandra

Everyone loves clean aquariums with crystal-clear walls, bright, smooth and shiny plant leaves and water that resembles a mountain stream. But this idyllic picture is constantly being disturbed by algae. They cover the glass with a brownish-green film, form a nasty fringe on plants, and give the water the color and smell of a swamp. And the aquarist has to fight them. It’s good that in this fight he has allies - algae-eating fish.

Algae are lower, relatively simply structured unicellular or multicellular plants that live in an aquatic environment. They can float in water or settle on underwater objects and attach to them, forming plaque, films, threads, fluff, and so on on them. They have different colors. Representatives of several divisions of algae can live in the aquarium:

Green. They form a green coating on glass, soil, underwater objects or a cloudy green suspension in water.
Red - Vietnamese or black beard. Brown or black tassels, tufts or fringe on glass, plant leaves.
Diatoms. Single-celled, they form a brownish-brown slimy coating in insufficiently lit parts of the aquarium.
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. Form slimy, bubbling, foul-smelling films of color sea wave on plant leaves and underwater objects. (Let's say right away: an outbreak of these algae is a disaster that must be urgently eliminated by completely turning off the lights, massive cleaning of the aquarium and antibiotics, no biological methods fights don't work here).

Algae is always present in any aquarium, but a sharp increase in their number occurs only when the biological balance is disturbed.

Therefore, to combat them, first of all, you need to normalize the quality aquarium water: optimize lighting and carbon dioxide supply, reduce the amount of nitrates and dead organic matter, plant more plants. And the algae-eating fish will fight with the remnants of the enemy army.

Types of aquarium cleaners

Aquarium fish that to varying degrees enthusiasts can feed on algae, there are several dozen. This includes ancistrus and pterygoplicht catfishes, viviparous platies and mollies, representatives of the carp fish Labeo and many others, and we do not count shrimps and snails. However, only a few species are recognized as professional aquarium cleaners: Otocinclus catfish, Siamese algae eaters and Gyrinocheilus.

Otocinclus

Otocinclus (usually Otocinclus affinis) - a representative of the family of chain-mailed (locarid) catfish, a small - up to 5 cm - catfish with large sad eyes. A favorite of the famous Takashi Amano, who recommends placing it in an aquarium with plants when starting it up.

Otocinclus specializes in the destruction of diatoms, outbreaks of which are often observed in new aquariums.

And later, when the biological balance has already been established, otocinclus will not hurt. It does not harm anyone, does not harm the plants at all, and with the tenacity of a professional gardener, scrupulously cleans their leaves of diatoms and green algae. Cleaning glass, soil, and underwater objects usually interests him less. If there is little algae in the aquarium, otocinclus is fed with plant food, preferably lightly boiled zucchini, which is attached to a piece of driftwood or stone with an elastic band or clamp and left for two days. In an aquarium with otocinclus there should be clean water(nitrate level no more than 10 mg/l).

Siamese algae eaters

The Latin name of this species is Crossochelius siamensis(synonym Epalzeorhynchus siamensis), they are often called by the abbreviation SAE (from the English Siamese Algae Eater), sometimes affectionately known as cods or saechkas. Cute, peaceful schooling fish up to 10-12 cm long. Their mouth is adapted for eating algae that grows in the form of fluff, tassels or fringe.

Siamese algae eaters are the only ones who are able to rid an aquarium of red algae - flip flops and black beard, which are very difficult to remove by other means.

In addition to red ones, they happily eat filamentous green algae. Plants are practically not damaged, with the exception of Java moss; adult fish are often partial to it. SAE have a poorly developed swim bladder, so they cannot swim for a long time in the middle layers of water and often lie on the bottom. At the same time, they are quite jumpy, so the aquarium with these fish must be closed. It has not yet been possible to achieve their reproduction in an aquarium, so all specimens that go on sale are wild, imported. And herein lies the problem.

When resting, the Siamese algae eater rests on its caudal and pelvic fins rather than on its pectoral fins.

The fact is that in the same rivers and streams where SAE is caught, there are several more very similar related species fish They are caught together with Siamese algae eaters and then sold together in pet stores. Therefore, Thai or false algae eaters are found ( Epalzeorhynchus sp.. or Garra taeniata), another name for them is Siamese flying foxes; Indonesian algae eaters or red-finned epalceorhynchus ( Epalzeorhynchus callopterus); Indian algae eaters ( Crossocheilus latius) and other representatives of the genera Epalceorhynchus, Crossocheilus and Garra. All of them are almost indistinguishable in appearance, but differ from each other in character and effectiveness as cleaners - the Siamese flying fox, for example, is a fairly aggressive fish, but is reluctant to destroy algae. Therefore, if the goal is to acquire a peaceful and hardworking SAE, you should pay attention to the following signs:

fins are transparent, without yellow or orange tints;
a black stripe on the side of the fish runs from the nose to the tip of the tail;
the upper edge of this stripe is zigzag;
there is a mesh pattern on the sides of the fish (the edges of the scales are dark);
at the tip of the muzzle there is one pair of dark antennae;
when a fish rests on the bottom, stones or leaves of plants, it rests on its caudal and pelvic fins, not on its pectoral fins.

Flying fox.

Gyrinocheilus

Girinocheilus, or Chinese algae eater ( Gyrinocheilus aymonieri or less common species Gyrinocheilus pennocki), like SAE, refers to carp-like fish. Its mouthparts are shaped like a suction cup.

Hyrinocheilus is the best specialist in eliminating the green algae deposits that often appear in herbal aquariums with strong lighting.

They reach a length of 15 cm, their color is gray-brownish with a dark stripe or, more often, light golden albino. Adult fish exhibit pronounced territoriality, attacking other fish that they consider their competitors. The disadvantage of girinocheilus is their tendency to damage soft leaves. higher plants. This is not to say that they eat the plants clean, but they may leave small scratches and abrasions. Therefore, it is important to ensure that they have enough food. To do this, you need to observe the density of their planting - at least 40-50 liters of water for each individual. If there are few algae in the aquarium, it is recommended to feed Gyrinocheilus with plant foods: cucumber, cabbage, lettuce and dandelion.

Feeding algae eaters

Why do algae eaters stop eating algae? Quite often there is evidence that SAE, as well as Gyrinocheilus, are engaged in diligent cleaning of the aquarium only in at a young age, and when they grow up, they completely lose interest in algae and switch to dry food. Indeed, this happens, but only when they have plenty to choose from. If there is no excess dry food in the aquarium, then the algae eaters have no choice but to carry out their direct duties. Therefore, the recommendations here are as follows: feed the fish only in the evening, if there is little algae, try to feed the fish not with dry food, but only with plant food, or, even better, specially grow algae in other aquariums or simply in jars of water placed in bright places.

It should be noted that there are no such complaints about Otocinclus; it cleans the aquarium of algae, not paying attention to dry food.

An example of the work of gyrinocheilus

Compatibility of aquarium algae eaters

Since the life of algae eaters directly depends on the size of their pasture, the issue of competition for food resources is very acute for them, and the behavioral characteristics of these fish were formed under its influence. Many of them have a pronounced territoriality, the manifestations of which complicate the life of their neighbors and the aquarist.

The only algae eaters compatible with each other are Otocinclus and SAE. Because they different structure oral apparatus and, accordingly, different food preferences, they will not compete. In addition, both species are quite peaceful. No other species of algae eaters can be housed together.

Girinocheilus and SAE will be irreconcilably hostile to each other, as well as to Ancistrus and Labeo. If the aquarium is small and there are few hiding places, then adult Siamese algae eaters will also sort things out with individuals of their own species, and Gyrinocheilus will fight to the death. Some authors indicate that Girinocheilus are aggressive towards all fish around them.

It is also not recommended to keep algae eaters with predatory cichlids. The only exception is the aggressive counterparts of SAE - Siamese flying foxes. They are larger and can fend for themselves.

Thus, non-predatory, peaceful fish of small or medium size that are not interested in algae can become good neighbors for the heroes of this article.

Algae-eating fish can become indispensable assistants to humans in the fight to keep the aquarium clean. Having understood their species, food preferences and behavioral characteristics, each aquarist decides for himself which of them will bring him to the glass reservoir greatest benefit, making it healthier and more beautiful.

Among aquarium inhabitants there are many species that help the aquarist maintain cleanliness in the aquarium. They constantly move along the walls, soil and decorations, cleaning them from algae fouling and food residues. By choosing the right inhabitants in the aquarium, you can make cleaning it much easier.

Goldfish.
Oddly enough, they can also be classified, to some extent, as aquarium cleaners. Since they constantly think that they are hungry, they are always in search of food, digging in the soil all day, loosening it and raising the suspension. The view, of course, is not very good, but this makes it possible for sediments not to accumulate in the ground, but to be sucked in by the filter.

Corridors.
Most species are benthic and constantly dig in the ground. The lower mouth of Corydoras is adapted for capturing and digging out food from the bottom, which Corydoras enjoy doing most of the time.

Viviparous.
These include guppies, swordtails, platies and mollies, which are widespread among aquarists. All these fish, thanks special structure their oral apparatus - a developed lower jaw that works like a scraper, successfully removes plaque from plants, soil and walls of the aquarium. Of all viviparous fish, the most herbivorous are mollies. Swordtails older than a year and a half become less active and are less able to remove aquarium fouling.

Ancistrus.
A peculiar oral apparatus, which has turned into a suction cup, helps the fish stay on the walls of the aquarium and plants, tightly sucking onto them. Moving through plants with the help of horny jaws, the fish remove organic plaque from them and collect algae. IN natural conditions Ancistrus feed mainly on fouling of the rocky bottom of fast mountain rivers. A pair of adult fish can keep a 200-300 liter aquarium completely clean. In an aquarium with a large number of plants, fish should only be fed occasionally, as if they overfeed, they will stop cleaning the aquarium. If adult ancistrus are starved, they can damage the delicate leaves of some plants.

Pterygoplicht (brocade catfish).
It will ensure perfect order and cleanliness. This orderly cleans the bottom and snags well, and actively destroys various fouling from any surfaces. Does not like competitors - for an aquarium of 100-500 liters, one individual is enough. If she doesn’t have enough food, she will begin to eat not only algae, but even driftwood.
Ancistrus and brocade catfish usually do not touch plants. However, if ancistrus or pterohoplychths are starving, you may find that holes appear on the leaves of aquarium plants, which the fish wipe with their sucker mouth. The damage they leave on the leaves can be confused with the death of leaf tissue, which appears due to a lack of certain microelements. However, in such cases, not only holes are visible on the leaves, but also brown spots of dying, but not yet rotted leaf tissue.

Labeo.
In nature, they feed on fouling covering underwater rocks and snags. The labeo's mouthparts are perfectly adapted for cutting organic growths and algae. These fish are very suitable for aquariums that contain a lot of plants. They are active throughout the day. They are enemies of Siamese algae eaters and, in particular, Siamese flying foxes. Labeos themselves are more like aquarium orderlies than algae fighters. Despite their enormous popularity, these fish are not distinguished by their good disposition. Most often they are the instigators of conflicts.

Kissing gourami.
Thanks to the unique structure of the mouthparts, which are capable of removing even very dense fouling, they perfectly clean algae from plants and the walls of the aquarium.

Moon gourami.
They are good at removing filamentous algae from plant leaves, but they do it less successfully than the fish mentioned above.

Otocinclus.
The fish are very small in size and even the largest specimens barely reach 5 centimeters, usually they are no more than 4. In nature, they feed almost exclusively on bottom fouling. Compared to ancistrus, they are more mobile and more actively remove fouling from plant leaves. Otocinclus feed on filamentous algae and fouling, scraping them from the walls of the aquarium, stones and plants. At the same time, they move along the surface of objects using a suction cup mouth. They do an excellent job of controlling diatoms. These latter form unsightly brown deposits in shaded areas of the aquarium. Diatoms are lovers of diffused light. Finding themselves in suitable conditions, they can cause a lot of grief to the aquarist. If diatoms are not dealt with, they will quickly cover everything in the aquarium with a brownish-brown slimy mass. Otocinclus are ready to eat diatoms day and night. Even at night these hard workers do not stop their very useful work. Otocinclus love to eat algae so much that they are almost not distracted by falling fish food. They work selflessly: 4 – 6 fish are able to keep a hundred-liter aquarium clean. With equal zeal they clean both the wide leaves of Echinodorus and the small glossostigma covering the bottom. This last lesson requires a scrupulous approach to the matter, but otocinclus copes. Unfortunately, otocinclus do not eat black beard at all.

Girinocheilus.
In an aquarium with live plants, you don’t need to feed 1-2 Gyrinocheilus at all; pasture food will be enough for them. Its oral apparatus has turned into a suction cup, with the help of which it is tightly attached to the stones. Very hard jaws allow it to remove the most durable fouling. In addition, Gyrinocheilus have the ability to filter water through their mouthparts. Their gills push water up to 240 times per minute. Girinocheilus are almost ideal cleaners of the reservoir, and for large decorative aquariums they are very helpful. Large Gyrinocheylus damage leaves - the damage looks like numerous short translucent lines, some of the leaf tissue is missing in these lines. Fish leave such marks on fairly wide leaves with soft tissue. In nature, Girinocheilus very strictly protect their territory from encroachment by neighbors. Therefore, it is not worth keeping several adult fish in one aquarium: fights inevitably arise, which can end in the death of the fish. If there is a lack of natural food, the fish must be fed, otherwise they can turn into predators and attack even large fish. The hard, sharp jaws of Gyrinocheilus can cause serious wounds.

Siamese algae eater.
Known as a tireless fighter against unwanted algae in aquariums. He enthusiastically scrapes unwanted algae growths from rocks, driftwood, aquarium walls and leaves of aquarium plants. The most effective algae eaters are young specimens of the Siamese algae eater, which have a body length of 5 - 7 cm. While other aquarium fish that feed on algae, for example, Epalceorhynchus redfin, disdain tough types of algae, the Siamese algae eater eats them with pleasure. In addition, the Siamese algae eater does not disdain such undesirable algae for the aquarium as blackbeard. But it should be remembered that with age, living in a common aquarium with other types of fish, the Siamese algae eater may lose interest in algae and switch to traditional dry or live food common to aquarium fish. Siamese algae eaters are schooling fish by nature. But already three fish together feel quite comfortable, and they will be enough to fight algae in an aquarium with a volume of up to 150 liters.

Siamese flying foxes, silvery flying foxes (Crossocheilus).
These fish, especially when young, also destroy Vietnamese and other types of algae. With age, they become less mobile and enjoy eating ready-made fish food. If the food contains few plant components, and there is almost no algal fouling in the aquarium, then sometimes they are mistaken for the leaves of higher plants. If you look closely at the damaged leaves, you can see marks from fish bites. The holes correspond to the size and shape of the mouth of the Siamese foxes living in the aquarium. These fish eat leaves not from hunger, but due to a lack of plant substances they need. The owners generously feed the fish with dry universal food with a low content of plant substances, but for normal digestion, these specialized algae eaters also need a sufficient amount of plant food. They grow stronger than Siamese algae eaters and, therefore, can feel great in aquariums with large fish, for example, cichlids, where someone also has to fight the algae. They are very unpretentious and even a beginner can cope with their maintenance. These fish usually do not show aggression towards other species, with the exception of representatives of the Labeo genus. They wage an irreconcilable struggle with them and enter into it much more decisively than the Siamese algae eaters. There is no need to keep these fish together.

Indian algae eater.
The well-known German company Aquarium Glaser GmbH announces this species as “the best algae eater in the world.” The Indian algae eater copes well with algae, especially when it is hungry. It does not offend other fish and does not make holes in leaves. These may be the best algae killers in the world.

Chaetostomus milesi.
The length of an adult reaches 13 cm. It hangs on the glass like a doll. It is almost impossible to remove it from a smooth surface - it has a death grip. Moving independently over all surfaces of the reservoir, it productively eats all growths and deposits, leaving behind sparkling cleanliness. One pair of fish is enough in a 100 liter aquarium.

Gastromizon, beafortia, sevellia.
The fish feed on single-celled algae that cover glass and decorations, as well as the wide leaves of plants, with a mucous coating. This feature makes them not only beautiful, but also useful in the aquarium. They do not eat or damage plants. If there is not enough light in the aquarium or the aquarist has carefully cleaned the glass, the fish will begin to starve.

Parotocinclus.
They mainly feed on algae, scraping them from the surface of plants and glass. Spends most of its time on the substrate, rolling gravel with its lips and cleaning it organic matter and green algae.

Snails.
Horned snail; Neritina snail; Maryse the snail; Snail Pagoda; Ampularia; Thylomelania; Septaria. Snails feed mainly on various algae and bacterial fouling that form in the aquarium. Majority aquarium snails prefers to feed on dead or dying plants, which ensures stable water quality in the aquarium. Physes crawl near the surface of the water, destroying various films formed on its surface, others (melania) live mainly in sandy soil and loosen it, giving access to oxygen, thereby protecting the soil from rotting and the formation of hydrogen sulfide in it.

Amano shrimp.
They are excellent cleaners and orderlies of the aquarium. Of course, they are much inferior to the Siamese and Indian algae eaters, and to Otocinclus too. Their diligence directly depends on how much and often they are fed. But even hungry shrimp need quite a lot in order to suppress an outbreak of algae in the aquarium. They eat diatoms and green filamentous algae well. These shrimp are very hard working. They collect algae even in very hard-to-reach places. The most important thing to determine is the required number of shrimp. If there is a lack of algae, they can eat up young leaves and roots of plants. For a 60 liter aquarium, you can have 5-10 such inhabitants and look at their behavior.

Cherry shrimp.
They eat everything they can find - thread algae, organic waste, corpses of dead fish and snails. There is an opinion that people eat algae reluctantly and that algae disappear not because they are eaten by shrimp. For algae to grow normally, they need several conditions, including relative peace, that is, “they don’t like to be disturbed.” And the shrimp constantly trample on them. But, in any case, there is less fouling, and from what - what difference does it make?

All cleaners need plant nutrition: whether it be dandelions or lettuce, or spirulina-based tablets - do not forget about their additional nutrition, although the main food for them will still be various waste and deposits.
All of the above can greatly help in the fight against algae. Since it is not easy to win this fight, their services should under no circumstances be neglected. Otocinclus and Siamese algae eaters get along well together, as well as Amano shrimp and otocinclus. Together they will be more effective at killing algae. In an aquarium with large fish that can offend the above-mentioned algae fighters, Indian algae eaters, silver foxes, Siamese flying foxes, Gyrinoheylus, Ancistrus and Pterygoplichths can be used as such.

Catfish are interesting, beautiful and useful inhabitants home aquarium. Callichthid species establish their own order: they dig the ground, move buildings, helping the owner create a unique design. Chainmail - remove young growth of algae from the walls of the aquarium, plants, snags and buildings. The variety of colors and dissimilarity from other inhabitants have made them favorites of aquarists.

The most popular are catfish with two types of suckers – common ancitrus and star ancitrus. These species belong to the chain catfish, widespread in river system Rio Negro and streams of Brazil. The main difference is the absence of a swim bladder, the presence of a sucker-shaped mouthparts and a larger number of dorsal fin rays (8-10 instead of 7-8 in most other species). Common ancitrus reaches a length of up to 15 cm, and star-shaped up to 8 cm. Contain both species better in pairs or harems, where there are several females for one male. Recommended volume of a species aquarium (for one pair of fish) for:

– 80 l;
– 60 l.

If the aquarium is common for ancitrus and fish of other species, then the volume must be increased by 20 liters for each type of catfish.

Temperature range for:

ordinary ancitrus – from 22 to 27°C;
star ancitrus - from 20 to 28°C.

Ancistrus mouthparts.

Catering for Ancitrus

The nutrition of sucker catfish is based on small-celled algae that form on the walls of the aquarium and on the design components of the artificial reservoir. Thanks to their suction cup mouthparts, fish effectively remove green growth from various elements in the aquarium and plants, which is why they are purchased as.

If there is a lack of food, they begin to eat the soft leaves of plants, leaving gnawed holes in them.

The diet for chain catfish must be selected as for herbivores. Tabletized spirulina works well (the most commonly used), and can also be fed with dry, live and frozen food. Cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, apple, banana and many other vegetables and fruits doused in boiling water are used as delicacies. When feeding natural vegetables and fruits, uneaten fish should be removed from the aquarium after 2-6 hours to prevent water spoilage.

Stellate Ancistrus.

Sexual differences and reproduction of ancitruses

The main difference between a male and a female is:

difference in size (the male is much larger, the common ancitrus can reach 15 cm);
Males have bristle-like growths on their snout, while females have only the rudiments of such growths.

For successful and long-term maintenance and breeding of ancitrus, soft water with a pH value of 4.5-6 is required. In special shelters made of wood, clay or slate, or coconut shells, the female lays up to 200 eggs and then leaves the nest. The male guards the clutch and the larvae that appear later until they begin to swim on their own. You can feed the fry with nutritional tablets or plant derivatives.

Male common ancistrus and its processes on the upper jaw.

Brochis catfish

By origin, the Brochis come from South America and represent the calichthaceae family. Six species have been identified in the Brochis genus. The following have gained the greatest popularity among aquarists:

brochis Britski (the body is pink, the fins are red or light brown, the back is blue-green with a metallic sheen);
big-nosed (a catfish with a sharp nose, the main color is greenish-gray, the head is yellowish, the belly is pink);
emerald (brilliant, emerald, green), has a golden-green metallic sheen, the belly is light, beige-yellow, the dorsal, adipose and caudal fins are brown.

Description of catfish

These catfish are peaceful, unpretentious and stay mainly in the bottom layers of water, looking for food at the bottom in the soil or in plant bushes. They are most active and playful in twilight lighting.

Brochis have a voluminous head with three pairs of whiskers, an elongated mouth opening directed downward, which makes it convenient to pick up food from the bottom, and a high body, compressed on the sides by two rows of bone plates. The adipose fin is equipped with a sharp spine. The main difference between this genus of catfish and other species of the family is the larger number of rays on the dorsal fin - the emerald brochis has 10-12, the nosed and britsky have 15 to 18 rays.

Brochis nosy.

Conditions of detention

Brochis catfish are quite large, measuring about 8 cm, and require a spacious aquarium. A species aquarium must be at least 112 liters, and a general aquarium - from 240 liters.

You need to put a lid on the aquarium to prevent catfish from jumping out.

Brochis are a schooling fish, and it is better to keep from 5 to 10 pieces; if the number of fish is less than five, then they will feel insecure and constantly hide in shelters.

Brochis spend all their time searching for food, digging at the bottom, which necessitates good filtration and the choice of fine-grained, rounded soil in the aquarium.

Plants should be chosen with a good root system and floating (they will create some shading in the aquarium).

The water temperature should be maintained at a level of 24 to 26 ° C, with low softness, and up to 30% of the aquarium volume should be replaced weekly.

Good aeration and a slight flow will be useful when arranging an aquarium.

Snags, large stones, grottoes or other shelters will be excellent shelters, without which brochis are uncomfortable in the aquarium.

For feeding, it is better to use: tubifex, bloodworms, etc. Brochis are very gluttonous and require plenty of nutrition, but are not picky about food.

Emerald Brochis.

Sexual differences and reproduction

Female brochis are much larger and rounder than males. Depending on the state of health and age, the female can lay from 300 to 600 eggs with a diameter of 1 mm. Eggs are deposited throughout the aquarium. The ripening period is five days, after which the larvae appear. After four days they begin to feed on small live food.

The fry go through three distinct developmental phases before they acquire their permanent emerald color. Initially they are speckled with a reddish dorsal fin, then other color changes occur until the color is fully formed.

They become sexually mature at the age of 1.5 to 2 years. They are not the easiest to breed, and they spawn extremely rarely in amateur aquariums.

Features of the view

Features include:

very close view;
cannot tolerate salty water;
when using intestinal respiration, brochis rise to the surface and take in air, sometimes emerging with their whole body;
fearful and irritable.

Aquarium catfish

Armored (dorado), armored or side-scaled catfishes are a separate family of catfish, distinguished by the presence of large bony plates that cover the entire body of the catfish, except for the abdominal region. Along the entire body, on the sides, there is a line of bone spines. Some fins also have hard bony rays.

When danger arises, catfish spread their fins and secrete toxic mucus, which, when pricked by a thorn, causes pain and also prevents the wound from regenerating for a long time.

This family is also interesting for its ability to produce various sounds, due to which some species are called singing.

Description of side-scaled catfish

Bronyaki live in the swampy areas of South America in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. This family has about 100 species, and is represented by aquarium and commercial catfish with sizes from 5 to 120 cm. Large species grow very quickly, and aquariums become unsuitable for keeping them. Most widespread received the following types of aquarium armor:

white-spotted agamixis;
Acanthodoras stellata;
chocolate acanthadoras;
Amblydoras Hancock;
doras Eigenmann;
Platydoras striped.

Bronyaks are nocturnal and, accordingly, do not like bright light. They try to spend all daytime in shelters. To do this, the aquarium must be equipped with a grotto, driftwood or piles of large stones with abundant vegetation.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that catfish grow, and there should be no impenetrable tubes or hollow stumps as shelters.

The soil should be selected from rounded stones of various fractions, preferably dark in color, and coarse river sand can also be used.

Due to the fact that catfish excrete a large amount of waste products, it is necessary to ensure good filtration of water and replace up to 25% of the water weekly (with tap water separated from chlorine or specially filtered).

When it comes to feeding, they are omnivorous and willingly eat live, frozen and dry food (worms, bloodworms, tubifex, granulated and tablet food with various additives), and also successfully hunt snails. To avoid various incidents with other inhabitants of the aquarium, you need to remember that catfish eat those fish that they can swallow with their mouthparts.

Popular types of armor

Platidoras striped: maintenance and care

Platidoras (platidora, spiny, grunting or singing catfish) is a peaceful fish inhabiting the upper reaches of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. They are called grumbling or singing because they can make sounds in the water, which allow them to find their own kind. Sounds are produced by the pectoral fins and swim bladder.

Grunting catfish can be in the aquarium either alone or in a group. The size of Platidoras reaches 27 cm and can live in an aquarium for up to 20 years. They are predominantly nocturnal, but are also interesting during the day, as they spend a lot of time exploring the bottom. At night they pose a danger to other fish species, especially those smaller than 5 cm.

They willingly eat dry, live and frozen food, but prefer protein food, i.e. live food. In the first year of life, they turn belly up and eat food from the surface or underside of plant leaves.

Sexual differences and reproduction of Platydoras

Differences between males and females appear in body shape. The male is more graceful and slender, and his coloring is also more pronounced. When in danger, the female's dark brown color clearly appears; only a light stripe of bony spines remains in its color. Puberty achieved at the age of one year.

In captivity, platidoras reproduce very difficult, usually due to the artificial administration of hormones. The spawning tank should have a volume of about 100 liters with a temperature of 25 to 29°C. The male builds a nest from plant leaves up to 10 cm in diameter. The female lays up to 1000 colorless eggs.

At a temperature of 25°C, the fry emerge after 40-45 hours and eat the leftovers for the next two days. yolk sac. After 4-6 days, the young successfully swim and move around in the aquarium, feeding on brine shrimp and rotifers. The fry grow rapidly, and at the age of 2 months they reach 4 cm.

Features of Platidoras

prone to overeating (floats to the top with the belly);
When catching, it is necessary to use a container made of glass or plastic (due to sharp spikes, injury is possible).

Agamixis white-spotted: description and content

The white-spotted, speckled or star-shaped, singing and grumbling agamix is a member of the agamyx species of the armored family. Lives in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru in water bodies with slow flow. Grunting or singing catfish - agamixes - make loud sounds with their pectoral fins and swim bladder, which allows them to more easily find females during mating season and relatives.

Stealth in behavior and nocturnal lifestyle are the main characteristic features of this squad. It has a dark color and white specks on the body (in catfish under the age of 1 year, these specks shine). In aquariums it grows up to 18 cm and is long-lived (lives up to 20 years). A container of 120 liters or more is suitable for specific keeping, and 160 liters for general keeping.

The water should be soft, the temperature should be from 24 to 29°C.

Artificial shelters, snags and dense vegetation with twilight illumination will provide this catfish with the necessary comfort for living. The contents of the fish are simple and not picky.

Sexual differences and reproduction of agamixes

Sexual maturity of this genus is reached at the age of 2-3 years. Females and males are very similar, but the males are smaller and more graceful, and the female has a shapeless large abdomen. Successful breeding of agamixes occurs in a spawning tank with a volume of 100 liters; it is also worth using hormonal stimulation. The female lays up to 1000 light green eggs with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.5 mm. After 40 hours, the larvae emerge. After two days, the fry begin to move independently around the aquarium. The starting food is brine shrimp, rotifers and other food suitable for the mouthparts.

Video story about keeping ancistrus: