Aquarium fish blue dolphins: with whom get along and how to care for

Beautiful aquarium fish blue dolphins belong to the family of cichlids. This is one of the most common aquarium fish, which gained popularity due to its unusual appearance and complaisant character. The homeland of animals is hot Africa, where they can be found in the lakes of Malawi. In Europe, the blue dolphin arrived in 1968, and a little later mastered and Soviet (then still) aquariums.

Appearance

Aquarium fish blue dolphins incredibly resemble real dolphins. The same blue, sometimes blue with dark spots, the color of the body, a high convex forehead with an obligatory build-up and protruding forward the mouth, so the head of the fish visually looks rather large. "Growth" of fish reaches 25 cm. They live very long, sometimes up to 15 years.

The body of the dolphin is elongated. The central part of the trunk and tail are decorated with one large dark spot. On the sides - transverse strips of black. When a fish prepares to attack an opponent, the color of the scales acquires a bright blue hue, and the throat and fins turn black.

Differences between males and females

To distinguish dolphins is quite simple. Boys are always bigger than girls. As you grow up, the color of the male's head changes to a yellowish one, but the difference is distinct - vertical strips on the sides (4-8 pieces). When spawning, the forehead acquires a more intense yellow color, and the bands become much brighter.

In females, lateral labels are most often absent. Instead of them it is possible to see simply black specks, and on the caudal fins red points are clearly visible.

Conditions of maintenance and care

The blue dolphin (photo below) is of a peaceful nature and prefers a schooling existence. For domestic content, there will be enough male and three female.

The aquarium must be roomy. Ideally, not less than 200 liters. Then pets feel great and pleasing to their appearance.

These aquarium fish prefer open spaces, because they swim in all water layers. A comfortable stay for a dolphin in an aquarium will be provided by the following parameters:

• The water temperature is +24 ... + 26 ^о С;
• Acidity - 7-9;
• The rigidity is 10-17.

Fishes also need filtration and aeration of water. Another prerequisite is the weekly replacement of the third part of the liquid. The aquarium should be brightly lit.

Soil and vegetation

As a primer, you can take river sand or small pebbles. If we talk about vegetation, then we should choose plants with stiff leaves and strong roots. Suitable and pottery. Aquarium blue dolphin will feel great among the leaves of vallisneria, anubias and cryptocoryn. Ferns can be placed on stones. Do not forget to put limnofilu in the aquarium, because the fish use its leaves as food.

Dolphins adore hiding, so various artificial grottoes, caves and cracks are simply necessary. You can reproduce the natural habitat of fish by building stepped stone buildings.

Stern

Aquarium fish blue dolphins prefer exclusively live food with a high protein content. It:

• Ordinary worms;
• Shrimp;
• Beef heart and liver;
• Correter;
• Bloodworm.

Do not give up dandelion, nettles, salad and spinach.

Blue dolphins: with whom do fish get along?

These inhabitants of aquariums are distinguished by a peaceful and even shy nature. Fish is completely non-conflict, but the best conditions of maintenance are a species aquarium. Only in this case, she can feel free, showing all the features of behavior.

If this is not possible, then non-aggressive fish from the family of cichlids, for example Aulonokara, should become neighbors. In general, any Malawian fish will do. Particularly interesting is the blue dolphin looks with yellow labiodochromis. Among other species, you can choose barbs, labyrinthine fishes and catfishes.

When selecting neighbors it is worth remembering that fish can mate with Livingston's haplochromis, as well as leopard representatives of this species. The color of the offspring in this case turns out to be gray-brown with characteristic blue stripes.

Breeding blue dolphins

Sexual maturity of fish is reached by a year and a half. Reproduction is carried out in pairs and preferably in a separate aquarium. The behavior of fish during spawning changes: males become aggressive, whereas females become more shy. Marriage games of fish are very funny - showing tenderness, they rub their foreheads.

The female is spawning eggs on the surface of the stone or in a fossa carefully dug by the male. After a few eggs are in the nest, she takes them in her mouth and swims to the male for further fertilization.

Another feature of blue dolphins is the female's carrying of caviar in her mouth. To protect the fish from stressful situations leading to ingestion of eggs, it should be planted in a separate spawning.

The female has three weeks of spawn, during which it does not feed. To fish did not die, experienced aquarists practice growing eggs in the incubator. For him, you can use a small capacity, about 15 liters. It is also necessary to carry out aeration. Water can be taken from a common aquarium or reproduced by its parameters, but the temperature of the water in the incubator should be slightly higher: + 27 ... + 28 ^о С. Additionally it is necessary to add methylene blue.

The mouth of the female is freed from fertilized eggs, placed later in a separate container. After about 7 days the fry already rises to the surface of the water and begins to feed on their own. As a feed at this stage, fine cyclops, nematodes, Naumplia artemia are suitable.

Determine the viability of the eggs will help their color. If the egg ball becomes white, then it is not viable. Remove them with a pipette. Translate the young to the parents can, when the age of the fry reaches 3-4 months. Aquarium fish blue dolphins reproduce up to 7-8 years of age.

Fish behavior

Fish are smart enough, and also great parents. Favorite occupation of the blue dolphins is the game of catch-up. It is equally interesting to observe the behavior of a male attracting the attention of a fiancé.