Aquarists are real aesthetics. They contemplate their underwater worlds, rejoicing in their own creation. At the same time, such people have much more love for work than others who have equally interesting hobbies. A variety of fish and other underwater inhabitants allows you to go beyond the generally accepted standards and create truly attractive corners of nature in small home ponds where it is possible to contain almost any fish. But today we will talk about aquarium catfish, which for a long time have proven themselves to be easy to care for and peculiar behavior. The article will be devoted to issues of their species diversity, as well as compatibility with other fish, because many people simply do not take this into account, forgetting that the inhabitants of the aquarium can do irreparable harm to each other or even eat their neighbor.
Main types
Soma come in a variety of sizes and colors. We list the most interesting representatives of the mustachioed family, and then consider each of them individually:
- Cuckoo catfish, also called a changeling or synodontis.
- Ototsinklus.
- Antsitrus, which combines quite a few classifications: ordinary, star, triradiatus, gold, blue, mustachioed and albino.
- Taracatum.
- Bunocephalus bicolor.
- Red-tailed Orinoc catfish.
- Asterophisus bathraus.
- Corridors.
- Tiger pseudo-plateau fish, which is better known among aquarists in our country as tiger catfish.
- Aquarium catfish, called platidoras.
In fact, there are more than a few dozen catfish that can be kept in domestic ponds, so it is not possible to talk about all in one article. However, even a beginner aquarist will be able to choose the most interesting option for himself.
Cuckoo: if not a bird, then who?
Catfish, called cuckoos, were incredibly popular in the 90s among those whose hobbies are an aquarium. After a few years, the demand for this fish completely faded away, but now they have again become popular and desired specimens in amateur aquariums. This is not accidental, because the cuckoo catfish, or synodontis, is a rather interesting representative of a kind: bright and "charismatic." He will appreciate the fun color and behavior. By the way, the ancestors of such fish lived in water bodies of Africa, preferring warm lakes with stagnant water. It is quite easy to distinguish it from others by spotting: it is as if the fish was painted in small black peas.
Life expectancy can reach 15 years with good care, and body length - 15 cm. The optimal aquarium for keeping a fairly large individual is considered to be 100 liters. It is noteworthy that aquarium cuckoo catfish lead a nocturnal lifestyle, however, like many other representatives of such a population. They go hunting at night, preferring to hide in the grottoes or snags during the day. Small fish should not be kept with them, because the cuckoo will eat them without hesitation, but the cichlid predators will become ideal neighbors for such catfish.
Perhaps the best algae eater
Aquarium catfish-otocinclinus belongs to the class of chain mail. In nature, it can be found in the warm waters of South America, where it feels great only in flocks. In aquariums, the main diet of catfish is considered to be algae. Ototsinklusa can be called an excellent cleaner, eating all that is unnecessary in domestic ponds. But this does not mean at all that he does not need to be fed anything else. There is a specialized feed for such fish on sale, which catfish do not refuse. By the way, many aquarists have adapted to offer their catfish scalded with boiling water leaves of green salad, dandelion and nettle, so that their pet is always fed and pampered with variety.
Without a doubt, otocinclus is of great benefit to the aquarium, so many acquire it. And given the fact that the fish is very small (only 5 cm), it does not need much space. By the way, varieties of otocinclus aquarium catfish are best kept with small fish than with those who significantly exceed their size.
A giant constantly demanding food
Tarakatums are long-livers and are quite large individuals of aquarium catfish, photos of which can be seen in the article. Their sizes can exceed the mark of 15 cm, and in some cases even 18 cm. Under good conditions, they can live up to 10 years. In nature, cockroaches live in the warm waters of the Amazon River. In terms of food, these fish do not cause problems, but because of their impressive size, they are constantly in need. They prefer live food: it is an earthworm, bloodworm. To maintain the giant, spacious aquariums are required, from 100 liters or more, and you can feed such catfish to anyone, because by their nature they are not at all aggressive.
Scavenger or elegant disguiser?
Bunocephalus bicolor - a type of aquarium catfish, which is one of the rarest representatives of this family. It has a wide head and is completely covered with spikes. Sometimes it is called snag-catfish for the ability to perfectly disguise itself as an environment. This species is considered peaceful, and recommendations for the joint maintenance of such fish are reduced to the fact that the aquarist can choose independently and without fear to whom to plant the catfish-bunocephalus. It is very easy to maintain, but it is better to feed it at night. It is also worth saying that spawning in the aquarium does not always work, hormones are required. In general, aquarium fish catfish are very diverse, pleasing with their special aesthetics.
Bunocephalus are two-tone by nature loners, they can perfectly exist all their lives and without a pair. The most important thing for them is a huge number of shelters, grottoes and snags, as well as dim lighting. This is due to the fact that in nature they often live where there is a lot of garbage: branches, fallen silted foliage and other things, in order to hide from the light.
More for a water park than for home maintenance
Red-tailed Orinoc catfish is the name of an aquarium inhabitant who needs at least 6 tons of water for a comfortable life. It is clear that such a dwelling for such a giant can be provided only by some water park, where people come to see the amazing creatures of the seas and oceans. However, many aquarists, chasing after the exotic, give birth to Orokin catfish, as if not understanding what consequences this could lead to.
When the catfish is still small, 300 liters is quite enough for it, but at the age of one year it will outgrow the proposed aquarium, reaching a weight of 80 kg and a body length of about 2 meters. By the way, many inexperienced aquarium lovers hope for the so-called "pulling" in the growth of a giant individual (when due to lack of space the fish simply stop developing and growing). However, as practice shows, this does not happen, and red-tailed catfish are attached somewhere, and failing to arrange appropriate conditions for them. By the way, adults require up to several kilograms of fresh fish fillet with white meat daily.
Predator
Asterophisus batraus - a type of aquarium catfish, a photo of which can be seen in the material, is so rare in aquariums that it would seem that it is not worth writing about it. However, this representative of the kingdom of kingdom is incredibly exotic and unusual. It has an impressive mouth compared to the size of the body, which is able to swallow fish almost to its size. It is desirable to keep one of these pets, so as not to make objects from other inhabitants of the aquarium for its extraction.
Unpretentious pets
Corridors are a special type of catfish, differing from the rest in a pleasant color and a very calm disposition. They are compatible with many medium-sized fish endowed with a peace-loving character. They are not recommended to be kept with labe. Such catfish grow no more than 7 cm, and can live about 10 years. Suitable for beginners, because they are completely unpretentious.
Tiger in aquarium
Tiger pseudoplatistoma, also called tiger catfish, can grow up to a meter. Being a predator by nature, it hunts from shelter. This dangerous and ruthless neighbor is unlikely to please any peace-loving inhabitant of a home reservoir. He is recommended single content or group (with their own kind). It is worth saying that rarely anyone wants to make a pseudo-platformer as a pet, unless enthusiasts are lovers of the unusual.
Antsitrus
The names of aquarium catfish, photos of which are given in the article for better perception, most often came from Latin designations. So, ancytrus is also called a suction cup, and this fully justifies the type of its behavior. It is believed that such catfish cleanse the aquarium of silty deposits, but they are not scavengers at all. Without proper nutrition - specialized food, vegetables scalded with boiling water and other things, such a fish can turn into a predator, although by nature it is not. The maximum size in captivity is up to 15 cm, and life expectancy is from 10 years or more.
Spiky Aquarium Giant
Platidorases are very nice catfish that can be kept in home aquariums. They are quite large - up to 25 cm - and unusual. Their body is completely strewn with thorns. Such catfish are called singers for their ability to make sounds that are heard even through the noise of a working filter. This happens due to the contraction of the swimming bladder. It is recommended to keep large catfish with large fish, because small catfish will become its prey. By the way, such catfish favor cichlids and even sometimes clean them. Due to the fact that the fish is large enough, it needs a lot of space for movement (from 100 liters). And they are long-lived - in comfortable conditions they can live more than 20 years.
To summarize
In general, aquarium catfish are for the most part predators. This fact must be taken into account when purchasing a mustachioed pet in your collection. And also, choosing aquarium fish, you need to pay attention to their compatibility and the conditions in which water inhabitants can live normally. Only someone who possesses information and thinks about the future of tamed creatures will be able to contain catfish, which will become an adornment of any home reservoir.