Eliot's cichlazoma is a bright exotic fish with a memorable rainbow color and curious behavior. This cichlid has a small body size and a character that is quite accommodating for a predator. Thanks to three advantages - beauty, small size and calm temperament - this inhabitant of aquariums has gained wide popularity among fish lovers.
In nature
The natural habitats of cichlazomas are found in Central America, in the slow waters of the Mexican Rio Papaloapan. Fish live in flocks near the sandy shores, prefer shallows with a large number of fallen leaves. The water in the river is muddy, with a sand suspension. There are few plants.
Appearance
Eliot cichlazoma is a medium-sized fish. She is often confused with another representative of the cichlid family , meek cichlazoma . Indeed, they resemble a body shape and have a similar color. However, eliot cichlomas are brighter and more elegant. They look equally chic both against the background of light and against the background of dark natural soil. Eliot cichlazoma, the photo of which you will see in this article, can decorate any aquarium.
The body color of the fish is gray-brown. On the sides are darker stripes. Black spots are located on the sides and gills, the abdomen is bright scarlet, and the tail is blue. The whole body, from head to tail, is strewn with iridescent blue dots.
The fins are large, anal and dorsal strongly pointed. Against the background of other representatives of the cichlid family, the size of the cichlazoma is small, not more than 12 cm. The fish lives long enough, 10-15 years.
Content Benefits
Compared with its other relatives, cichlazoma elliott is considered quite unpretentious species, which is suitable for beginner aquarists. These fish quickly adapt to new conditions and are undemanding in maintenance. Also, lovers of cichlids note that they are almost omnivorous and picky about food. Another obvious plus of cichlomas of this species is its calm nature. This is one of the most peaceful cichlids that can live in a common aquarium. True, the good-naturedness of the fish instantly disappears when they begin to prepare for spawning.
Food
Cichlazomas have a good appetite. They are happy to eat artificial feed: various granules, cereals, pills. They love live and frozen food: bloodworms, coronet, tubule, daphnia, artemia, cyclops, gammarus. However, one should be careful with live food, since cichlomas are prone to gluttony and suffer from various diseases of the digestive system. Without limitation, you can offer vegetables, fruits and herbs: green salad, dandelion, cucumber, zucchini, carrot, apple.
Gender differences
Mature cichlomas do not have obvious differences between a female and a male. However, in the group it is not difficult to distinguish them. The males have a brighter color, they are larger than the females and have longer fins.
Maintenance and care
Eliot cichlazoma is undemanding to the conditions of detention, however, an aquarium will need a large one - from 100 liters per couple. Water temperature - 24-28 degrees, acidity - 7.5-8 pH, hardness - 8-25 dH.
As a soil, sand or other fine, fine soil is ideal, as fish like to rummage through it in search of food. At the same time, fish soil particles are released through the gills, so there should be no pieces with sharp edges.
As a decor stones, grottoes, driftwood are applied. The aquarium should have a lot of shelters, but at the same time there is enough space for swimming. If the natural habitat is simulated, then fallen oak leaves should be put at the bottom .
Plants are acceptable in the aquarium, but the fish do well without them. Since cichlazomas like to rummage through the soil, plants need to be well strengthened or planted in pots.
Of great importance is the purity of water. Filtration and aeration, a weekly siphon of soil and water change are required.
Compatibility
Eliot cichlazomas become aggressive during spawning. The rest of the time, small hassles are possible in order to show superiority. May contain Meek, Severum and Nicaraguan, and bluish-spotted acaras with similar cichlomas. Get along well with swordsmen, ancistruses and cockroaches.
Breeding
How does eliot cichlazoma multiply? Spawning can occur both in a separate and in a common aquarium. You should know that cichlazomas independently choose their mate. You can not plant any female and any male together and expect that they will breed. As a rule, they buy a small flock of 6-10 teenagers and keep them together until a pair is formed.
Breeding is not particularly difficult. The fish become sexually mature when they reach a body length of 6-7 cm. The formed pair occupies the territory (in the general aquarium, a separate area for each pair should be separated using stones and plants). The spawning area should have a smooth, flat stone or shard of a clay pot.
The female lays from 100 to 500 eggs on a pebble, and the male fertilizes them. After three days, larvae appear. Newly made parents transfer them to the nest where they will be until they consume the contents of their yolk sacs.
At the age of 6-8 days, the larvae begin to swim. How to care for the offspring of eliot cichlazoma? The fry are guarded by their parents, who violently drive away any other fish. Cichlazomas take care of the offspring until the cubs grow to a size of 1-2 cm.
You need to feed the fry with live dust, nauplia of brine shrimp, with growth - daphnia and cyclops. You can use forage for fry or grated flakes, but in this case the young growth will be slower. If you are afraid that the fry will be eaten, you can transfer them to another aquarium.
Disease
Is eliot cichlazoma often sick? Diseases are most often associated with overeating and malnutrition. Fish can not be fed with only one type of food, variety is necessary. Be sure to arrange fasting days every week and prevent obesity.
Another threat to the health of fish is dirty water. Because of it, skin diseases, for example, dermatomycosis, can occur. In addition, an excess of nitrates and ammonia in aquarium water poisons fish. If for adults it threatens with diseases and deterioration of well-being, then the fry die very quickly.
The walls and bottom of the aquarium must be cleaned of decaying organics every week, otherwise the water will increase the content of hydrogen sulfide, which is also harmful to health. In general, the eliot cichlazoma has good health and, with proper care, is extremely ill.
Eliot cichlazomas are unpretentious, look favorable in the aquarium and are distinguished by interesting behavior. Due to the loving nature and unpretentiousness, these fish are perfect for beginners.