Melanochromis auratus - care and maintenance in an aquarium

Melanochromis auratusy belong to the family of cichlids, fish love to fight and get roommates. Therefore, their content is approached responsibly, carefully choosing the neighborhood. It is interesting that it is quite simple to distinguish a female from a male. In males, dark stripes, in women - light. Thanks to this color aquarium pets easier task for fish lovers who have decided to try themselves in this field.

Description

1. This species of fish became known in 1896 and was found in Africa in Lake Malawi. Aquatic inhabitants prefer to settle in rocky terrain, so they need to equip the aquarium, taking into account the natural biotope. According to their peculiarities, fish live polygamous, that is, a male fish accounts for 2-3 fish belonging to a female.
2. Professionals know that these fish are able to change the coloring to the opposite.For example, females often become males and show their dominance. Males, on the contrary, turn into females, wanting to be obedient servants.
3. If males do not have their own territory, they will be placed in a group of 10 fish, or they will remain lonely for a long time. As for food, they eat vegetation, tearing it off from the rocks. They also feed on plankton, snails, fry.
4. If you need to understand what sex an individual is in front of your eyes, you will have to wait until you reach puberty. Males are famous for their dark color, against which golden or bluish stripes flaunt. The females, on the contrary, are yellowish, dark-striped.
5. Otherwise, the fish of the represented family is called golden parrots. They belong to the cichlid group, are considered the most dangerous and aggressive. Fish prey on smaller individuals, biting off their fins or simply slaughtering. Again, it is important to pay attention to the choice of neighbors.
6. In order for all representatives of the subspecies to exist in harmony, it is advisable to settle only females into the aquarium environment. Professionals argue that females get along much better without male representatives, without showing strong aggression. If you do not have a task to breed these fish, then buy only ladies.
7. Pisces are differently called mbunami. The family is so unique that every 13th individual is born aggressive. That is, the 12 previous ones can be quite peaceful, but the 13th will surely be born with a terrible temper. Partly for this reason, beginners are not recommended to begin their careers in this field with the content of mbunov.
8. If, due to inexperience, to release fish into a common reservoir, you will lose all inhabitants. This is especially true of males who do not tolerate other fish.
9. If we consider the size, then the fish can not be called huge. They grow to a maximum of 12 cm. With a lifetime of 5 years. Fish have expressive eyes, a medium-sized head, and a long fin on the back.

Content

1. If there is a desire to plant a cichlid in a hostel, then from the neighbors give preference to fish swimming above average.
2. To keep these fish, you need to take care of a spacious tank in advance. 200 liters rely on one individual. water. If there are a lot of different fish in the tank, then arrange the space so that the free swimming areas alternate with shelters.
3. To decorate the home, use huge stones, snags, clay pots, other attributes of this kind. Shelters should not be located on the lowland, and the entire height as a whole. That is, expose them in such a way that a variety of snags, stones and houses lay out from the ground to the water mirror at the top.
4. The soil should be made of fine gravel or fairly coarse sand. Large flat stones must also be present. Fish will be used as platforms for spawning. For an aquarium it is worth making a diffused, but at the same time bright light.
5. Water should be medium hard and weakly alkaline. Try to maintain the temperature of the environment in the range of 26-28 degrees. Thus, you can create favorable conditions for these individuals to live.
6. In addition, for the aquarium will require a powerful canister filter, which should work smoothly. Such conditions are necessary for comfortable maintenance of the optimal environment that the fish in question need.
7. As you already understood, the water in the aquarium should be replaced at least 2 times a week. To do this, use about a quarter of the liquid of the total volume.Water change should be done by mixing hot and cold tap water.
8. In addition, a special conditioner should be mixed into it without fail, which neutralizes the chlorine content. The composition can be created independently from baking soda and salt. Experts say that frequent water changes deaden the aggressive temperament of individuals.

Nutrition

1. In the wild, these individuals feed mainly on algae that grow on underwater rocks. In addition, the fish complement your diet and protein food. Most often they prefer to consume small aquatic organisms that live in such algae.
2. In aquarium conditions, wild algae can be easily replaced with lettuce leaves. The fish also eat excellent dandelion leaves, spinach, parsley, steamed peas and oats. Sometimes individuals are allowed to indulge in white and black bread. From time to time give the fish Daphnia, koretra, bloodworms and enkhitrei.
3. Protein feed should be only a minor supplement to the basic diet.Also, fish are sometimes allowed to give balanced dry feed, which is designed for herbivorous cichlids.
4. If we teach the considered individuals to such food, in a short time they will no longer feed on algae that grow in the aquarium. Do not forget that the basis of the diet of such fish should still be vegetable food. If individuals consume a lot of protein foods, they can die due to poisoning.

Compatibility

1. Breeders strongly recommend keeping these individuals in a separate aquarium. Alternatively, they can be shared separately with cichlids. Auratuses can also get along with no less aggressive mbuni. In this case, there are also subtleties. Fish should not be similar in color and body shape.
2. If the fish are similar in appearance, constant clashes and aggression cannot be avoided. If you provide a large number of shelters in a spacious aquarium, then the individuals will not die. But living in such conditions will not be very comfortable. You can forget about spawning.
3. The male of this species is strongly recommended to keep it in the harem,where he will have enough females. If you lead a pair of males, only one will survive. The individuals are very pugnacious.

Discussed individuals are recommended for content to advanced aquarists. People who have no experience in such matters should not start their own mbunov. They are famous for their anger towards other guests, especially these characteristics are inherent in males.

Video: aquarium fish melanochromis auratus