Somikov can be seen in almost every amateur aquarium. Fish are actually very popular. And one of the most prominent representatives of the family is, of course, the common ancistrus (Ancistrus Dolichopterus). The catfish of this species are unpretentious, quite attractive in appearance and, among other things, can bring considerable benefits to the aquarium.
Origin
Antcistrus belongs to the family of chain mail (loricaria) catfish. In the wild, this interesting fish lives mainly in the fast-flowing mountain rivers of South America. In another way, Ancistrus Dolichopterus is called a non-stick catfish, a suction cup or just an ancitrus (without a "c").
In natural reservoirs, these fish live mainly at the bottom and feed mainly on algae. Most often, antiscistruses can be seen in the tributaries of the Amazon and the rivers of the Andes. Also, such fish live in the upper Orinoco in Venezuela.
Antsistruses were imported to Russia relatively recently. For the first time, domestic aquarists began to breed these cute catfishes in the 70s of the last century.
general description
A rather remarkable and noticeable coloring is what, among other things, differs ordinary catfish. Photos of fish presented on the page, this, of course, confirm. The body of these catfish is usually painted in dark brown or black. At the same time, contrasting white or simply light spots merging into stripes along the edges of the fins are clearly visible on a dark background. The entire body of the antiscistrus is covered with polygonal rigid horn plates. Such "armor" is necessary for them to protect themselves from enemies.
The body shape of ancistrus is flattened elongated. The head of these fish is wide and flat. The mouth of these catfish is located below. Antsistrus' lips are slightly convex. On them, among other things, there are special horn suckers. Thanks to them, Antsistruses are held on snags and stones in a fast flow.
These catfish have sharp growths on the horn suckers, called by the aquarists “grater”. With their help, fish in the wild scrape off algae from stones and snags. In the aquarium, with their “grater”, ordinary ancistruses clean green glasses. This feature of them attracts many aquarium enthusiasts. In artificial containers, ancistruses, among other things, play the role of orderlies.
The sizes of ordinary antiscistruses are usually not too large. This many aquarists, of course, considers the absolute advantage of these catfish. In the wild, the body length of Ancistrus Dolichopterus can reach 15 cm. But in the aquarium, this figure in most cases does not exceed 12-13 cm.
Habits
Ancistrus Dolichopterus belongs to the group of twilight fish. The greatest activity of these underwater inhabitants in nature is at sunset. In the aquarium, it is desirable for them to create the same conditions, using a low-power lamp, for example, 25 watts, for 40-50 minutes in the evening when the main light is off.
In addition to algae, both in the wild and in an artificially equipped container, ancistruses can also feed on the remains of organic matter. In aquariums, they often pick up pieces of food not eaten by other fish.
Both at home and in the wild, calm water, catfish ordinary ancistruses prefer the course. In aquariums, they often stick to the outlet of the filter and can hang there for hours. In the afternoon, these catfishes love to hide in various kinds of shelters. In the daytime, they can rest, for example, in the bushes, under the stones and behind the snags.
Male Antsistruses usually very zealously guard their territory. Therefore, in small aquariums, two such fish are not recommended. Ancistrus Dolichopterus females are usually quite calm. But sometimes, both females and males Ancistrus Dolichopterus may show some aggression towards neighbors in the aquarium.
Catfish Antcistrus vulgaris: maintenance and care
Often, amateurs, guided by the fact that the size of ancistrus, unlike many other catfish, are small, put them in small aquariums - 20-30 liters. But this is absolutely wrong. Unfortunately, these fish do not live long in small aquariums. It is believed that the minimum allowable volume of artificial capacity for these fish is 50 liters. In such an aquarium, if desired, you can put one male and one female. In a capacity of 150-200 liters, it is allowed to keep already more of these fish. In this case, the optimal number of catfish will be one male and 2-3 females.
The content of Antcyristus vulgaris is a simple matter. Ancistrus Dolichopterus are considered unpretentious in terms of water parameters. A heater, for example, when keeping such fish, does not need to equip an aquarium. These catfish feel good at a temperature of +16 ... + 32 ° C. But nevertheless, it is believed that the most suitable water t ° for them are 20-25 ° C.
Too hard water Ancistrus Dolichopterus do not like. In such conditions, they usually begin to get sick often. The optimal water hardness for these fish is 20 dGH. A suitable acidity for keeping Ancistrus dolichopterus is considered to be 6.5-7 pH.
The aquarium for Antcistrus should not be too high . A feature of this fish, among other things, is the absence of a swimming bladder. These catfish, like other fish, cannot stay in the water column. In order to reach the surface, they need to work hard with fins. It is believed that not too deep wide aquariums are best suited for ancistruses. In such a capacity, these catfish will feel just fine.
How to equip an aquarium
As already mentioned, in the wild, ancistruses live on stream. Therefore, the aquarium for them should definitely be equipped with a sufficiently powerful pump. Water in mountain rivers is usually well saturated with oxygen. Therefore, equipment such as an aerator is also a must for an aquarium with these catfish.
Of course, a large number of snags should also be provided for ancistruses. Also in the aquarium is to put several large stones. With plants, the container with ancistrus should be planted quite densely.
Feeding
Ancistrus Dolichopterus belongs to the group of herbivorous fish. But in some cases, they can also eat food of animal origin. These catfishes can be fed with artificial cereals and pills, as well as natural food. Experienced aquarists advise these two varieties of food for catfish to simply alternate.
Green diet pills intended for catfish, Antcistruses are very fond of and eat with pleasure. Also, Ancistrus Dolichopterus can be given boiled carrots, scalded salad and other similar products. Like other aquarium fish, Antsistruses are fed 1-2 times a day. At the same time, once a week, catfish arrange a fasting day.
Compatibility
The content of ordinary ancistruses in the same container with almost any other fish will not cause any problems to the aquarist. This catfish is compatible with almost all representatives of the underwater fauna artificially bred at home. Do not put them in one aquarium unless with cichlids only.
To slow fish, these catfish in some cases can be aggressive. Therefore, only large representatives of the aquatic fauna with a phlegmatic character can be planted with them in one aquarium.
The content of common ancistruses with other fish of almost any species is, therefore, quite acceptable. But often Ancistrus Dolichopterus, unfortunately, show aggression not only to slow neighbors, but also to direct competitors, bottom fish, that reappeared on their territory. It is impossible, for example, to contain ancistrus along with devoid catfish. To such representatives of the underwater fauna, they can inflict quite serious injuries.
How to distinguish a male from a female
Maturity in these fish occurs at the age of about 8-10 months. However, clearly sexual characteristics in them appear only by about 12 months. It is quite simple to distinguish a female ancistrus from a male. Homosexual catfish of this species have primarily a different body shape.
Females of Ancistrus Dolichopterus are usually larger than males. At the same time, their body is longer, and the fins are pointed. The easiest way to distinguish heterosexual catfish is by looking at the head. The male Antcistrus vulgaris has a large number of tentacles, called by many aquarists simply “antennae”. In females there are no such processes.
Breeding
Offspring from Antsistrus when kept at home is pretty easy to get. Sometimes these catfish spawn even in a common aquarium. True, in this case their offspring usually does not survive.
For targeted breeding of ancistruses at home, spawning plants without soil and plants with a volume of 40 liters or more are used. Water is poured into such containers directly from the aquarium. For greater reliability, it can be pre-cooled a little.
Antcistruses usually lay eggs in special plastic tubes or on long snags. They rarely spawn on stones quite rarely. Therefore, in an aquarium with a couple of catfish, you must definitely put at least 2-3 tubes.
Antsistrus spawning usually occurs at night immediately after transplantation. However, sometimes the male can first examine the aquarium for several days and choose the most attractive tube, from his point of view.
The female ancistrus lays up to 200-300 eggs at a time. This, of course, is quite a lot. However, only adult females usually lay such eggs. Too many fry cannot be obtained from young ones.
Breeding Antcycrus vulgaris: Care for Fry
Males take care of the offspring of Antsistrus. The female is immediately expelled from the tube after spawning. It is advisable to immediately put her out of spawning. In a small aquarium, the male can even kill her.
Ordinary Antcistruses take care of the offspring very well. After spawning, the male constantly sits in the tube and fins its eggs with fins. Antsistrus fry hatch approximately on the 8th day after spawning. At first, they hang on the walls of the nest and feed on the bubble they have on their abdomen. After the fry swim, the male should be removed from the spawning ground. Otherwise, he may eat the young.
Floating fry of Antcistrus vulgaris can be given both dry and natural food. The main thing is that the “crumbs” of food should be small enough so that the young can swallow them. Some aquarists just throw small food cat sinking regular pills. The young growth immediately clings to them from all sides and gnaws intensely. In any case, for the fry of these catfish, of course, it is best to use only the highest quality prepared food.
If ancistruses laid eggs in a common aquarium, they can be placed in a separate container if desired, cut off with a sharp razor. In this case, the male is not transplanted into spawning. Due to the stress of caviar loss, ancistruses usually lose their paternal feelings and can easily eat their own caviar.
Varieties
Most often, aquariums keep ordinary dark anticistruses with white dots. However, breeders have bred several varieties of this fish and other colors. If desired, today you can get such catfish albino, red, pink, brown, star. Of course, veil ancistruses with long fins also look very impressive.
The most common diseases
Antcistrus fish are unpretentious. When properly maintained, they are relatively infrequent. But sometimes health problems, of course, arise in these catfish. The most common diseases of ancistrus are:
- ichthythyroidism (semolina);
- oodiniosis;
- dropsy.
With ichthyophthyroidism on the catfish's body, a large number of small white spots are noticeable. In most cases, amateur aquarists treat semolina using malachite green. Oodiniosis is manifested by a decrease in mobility, gluing and subsequent destruction of the fins. This disease is usually treated with bicillin-5. With dropsy, catfish have a bloated stomach. The fish ceases to defecate. They treat dropsy in ancistruses, usually with the use of Bactopur.