The microparsing galaxy and Celestichthys margaritatus are the names of one and the same small fish, which went on sale in 2006 and caused a real boom among aquarists. The tenacious, very bright and peaceful beauty, which caused such great interest, soon began to disappear from natural places. It is good that soon it began to breed in captivity. In the article, we will consider in detail how to contain it, how to feed it, and with whom it can coexist in the aquarium.
Microparsing galaxy
Very small in size, not more than three centimeters, the fish was first detected in shallow lakes, the depth of which is only about a meter, in northern Burma. After the discovery of the first fish of this species in 2006, a predatory catch began a month later. The most beautiful fish brought huge profits to the companies that were engaged in their sale. Soon after the barbaric catch, the species became very small in nature. But the fans of aquarium fish took up the contents of the galaxy’s microassay, and it appeared in large numbers in captivity. For a long time there were disputes about her generic affiliation. She has a lot in common with microparsing - body shape, eye size, so she was given the name microparsing galaxy.
But, on the other hand, its fins have great similarities and the same color with representatives of Danio choprae. Therefore, its second name is Celestial pearl danio, which means “heavenly pearl danio”. And in 2007, the fish began to be called Celestichthys margaritatus, the literal translation of "heavenly, decorated with pearls." In 2008, an article was published in one of the scientific journals, which cited data on the fish belonging to the Danio genus. And the last name assigned to her was Danio margaritatus. And in Russia, it’s just a microparsing galaxy.
Description of appearance
A microparsing galaxy is a small aquarium fish that is best seen from a short distance. Its dimensions do not exceed the length of three centimeters and from a distance it looks inconspicuous. But with a sufficient approximation, a flock of small and bright fish catches your eye against a background of saturated green plants. Micropathy galaxies have an elongated body, have a rounded dorsal and anal fins, as well as a caudal, but already bifurcated shape. Males on top are painted in gray-steel and dark blue tones, against which there are many pinkish, golden and pearl-oval spots.
Bright red abdomen and black and red striped fins with transparent edges effectively distinguish males. Females look more modest: they have a gray-black color on top, on which the yellow belly stands out with spots. The fins are pale orange in color, most of which are occupied by transparent edges. It is noted that the color of the fish becomes bright during spawning or aggression.
Microparsing galaxy: maintenance and care
Small calm fish do not require special conditions. They feel good in small aquariums where there is a lot of vegetation. Moreover, it is better to populate them with flocks, at least 20 pieces, otherwise they hide at the bottom and become invisible. Experienced aquarists advise keeping them along with other peace-loving fish in order to appreciate the beauty of the galaxy micromassages. In this case, they lead a more mobile way of life and maneuver throughout the reservoir, occupying its upper and middle parts. And even in the mating season, males behave differently. They do not arrange brawls among themselves, but rather play catch-up. The most important condition for their comfortable living is the need for plenty of vegetation.
Illumination and water in the aquarium
In natural conditions, mountain fish live in a warm climate, so they feel comfortable in an aquarium at a temperature of 22–26 degrees with soft water of normal acidity. In addition, it is constantly necessary to carry out filtration and saturate water with oxygen. With sufficiently good care and the content of microparsing, the galaxy in captivity lives up to three years.
Fish love the bright light that breaks through the green thickets. Artificial stones, river sand or fine granite chips are suitable for the soil. It looks original if you install driftwood and light grottoes-fortresses at the bottom, against which dark fish with marble dots will swim.
Feeding Features
Proper nutrition of rainbow fish makes them healthy and mobile. They give their preference to live food. To do this, use:
- frozen cyclops and artemia;
- cut bloodworm;
- nematodes;
- daphnia.
Feeding live food encourages adults to spawn. For the maintenance of aquarium fish, microprobe galaxy can also use dry food. You need to buy only high-quality mixtures that are designed for small-sized carp species, and rub them thoroughly. It should be noted that the fish observe moderation in food and do not suffer from gluttony. They prefer to take food when it floats in the water column, rarely capture from the ground and from the surface.
Breeding
Aquariums with 30 or more liters are used to maintain the galactic microspot, while breeding is carried out in small spawning tanks with a volume of five to ten liters, which are densely planted with plants with fine foliage. There will be no spawning of fish if the aquarium is not adequately planted with vegetation. For breeding, the three most active males and the same number of large females are selected. One individual is able to lay 15 to 20 eggs.
Males, when clarifying relations between themselves, sharply change their color to bright. They become dark with distinct points and bright red fins. In females, the abdomen noticeably increases, and the color remains the same. In the mating season, males actively chase females and sometimes contact to clarify relations between themselves, performing a special dance. Fights take place bloodlessly and the individual does not receive any damage. The winning male drives the female into the thick of the plants for spawning.
The appearance of fry
With a good content, microprobe galaxy reproduction is carried out all year round; for this, different females and males are chosen. After spawning, adults are transplanted for recovery into the main aquarium. With separate keeping of male and female fish before spawning, the number of laid eggs increases to 50 pieces. Three days later, dark-colored larvae appear, of which 0.8 mm in size. Two days later, she turns into a full-fledged silver-colored fry, which immediately begins to eat live food. It is noted that the galaxies do not eat their own eggs and larvae. But the floating fry is perceived as food and can be eaten. But if there is a lot of live food in the aquarium, then adults do not attack fry.
Fry microparsing: care and description
The young of the sky fish does not have a bright appearance, which adults possess. They are silver in color and very mobile. The fry are quite viable and immune to pathogenic bacteria that are introduced with live food. Their food is carried out by living dust - the smallest microorganisms: rotifers, crustacean nauplii and infusoria. In the daytime, they live in the upper and middle layers of water, and at night they settle on the leaves of plants and the walls of the aquarium.
The size in centimeter, they become only by the month of existence. By eight weeks, color begins to appear, and at three months they become adults. By this time, specific spots appear on the body, and the length of the fish reaches 2 cm. Spawning in young individuals begins when they reach the age of three months.
Compatibility with other types of fish
Small pearl fish are peaceful and harmless. The content of the galaxy microassay is not provided in conjunction with aggressive and large neighbors. For their collective living, neighbors of the same insignificant size are ideal:
- cuneiform spotting;
- neons
- guppies;
- cardinals;
- cherry barbs.
It is noticed that when these species are introduced into the aquarium, zebrafish stop hiding and begin to swim throughout the entire water body, forming a flock with other fish. In addition, you should not settle shrimp and galaxies in one aquarium. The fact is that pearl beauties eat small shrimps, adults of which feed on caviar microassortments.
Disease
Although pearl fish are resistant to many bacterial diseases, it is advisable to follow certain rules when keeping the galactic in captivity in captivity, so that it does not undergo the following diseases:
- Infectious - their introduction is possible with live food and green vegetation, therefore, it is necessary to monitor the purity of water.
- To exhaustion - stronger individuals always drive away the weak, which eventually wither away without receiving nutrition. Sometimes micro-analyzes stop eating unfamiliar food and are also depleted. In these cases, weakened fish are kept separately.
- Glaucoma - occurs due to poor water quality. There is a protrusion of the eyes, and subsequently they fall out. A blind fish is not able to eat and dies from exhaustion. For prevention, it is recommended to partially replace the water in two days.
- Fungal diseases - the cause of the disease is non-compliance with the temperature regime. For treatment, fish are left in the same water and the temperature is raised to 28–30 degrees, or several baths with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate are carried out.
- Oodiniosis - the appearance of parasites on the outer surface of the body and fins. For preventive purposes, add a tablespoon of salt to 10 liters of water in the aquarium.
In addition, it is worth monitoring the chemical composition of water, a sharp change of which leads to the death of the inhabitants.
Reviews aquarists
On the content and care of microsamples Galaxy reviews read as follows:
- Many note that the fish are active and nimble. Not at all timid, still small, but fear comes with age. Even some arrogance or stupidity was noticed in the behavior of individuals that had not yet matured.
- Often the question arises of feeding microsorting. Some argue that the fish eat poorly and it is very difficult to pick them food. Others say they enjoy ice cream artemia and cyclops, small bloodworms and some types of dry food. The only thing to consider is long-term addiction to a new feed.
- The beauty and unpretentiousness of the inhabitants of the aquarium is noted. Owners get them in different shades: pink, green, yellow with all sorts of stripes and dots, large and not very fins.
- Aquarists notice that the fish are very hardy. Even when a sick individual enters a body of water, all zebrafish, fast and nimble, remain unscathed.
Most fans are sure that a small fish is suitable for any aquarium, provided that it is equipped with a filter and planted with dense vegetation.
Conclusion
The micromassage fish galaxy, the maintenance, breeding and care of which is not a laborious process, are designed for those who like to spend time at the aquarium after a working day. Their motley inhabitants of unusual beauty are good only upon close examination. While observing the rainbow overflows of the underwater universe, a person calms down, and all the difficulties recede into the background.