Ketopoma leopard: description, content, with whom get along in the aquarium, breeding

Ketopoma leopard is ranked among the Anabasov fish family. The homeland of fish is Africa. The main residence - the reservoirs of the Congo. For the first time "saw" Europe in 1955. Today it is used as an aquarium pet.

External Data

The representative of this family does not differ particularly large dimensions. The size of the leopard ctenopoma in the aquarium can reach 15-20 cm, as in natural conditions. Such parameters are characteristic for adults.

The name of the fish is partly tied to their color. The general background is yellow or brown with dark spots scattered throughout the body. At the base of the tail there is a dark spot in the shape of the eye. Saturation of color is individual. Some representatives have a more pronounced "pattern", others are much darker, which makes their color not so contrast.

The eyes are large, the body is flat and broad, the mouth is oblong.

Differences in gender

For mature males, there are notches along the contour of the scaly covering. Unpaired fins have a deep dark color. In females the fins are covered with small specks, which distinguishes them from males.

Behavioral features

Ketopoma leopard does not belong to a number of particularly brave fish. Most of the time, it hides in the thickets on the river bed, it does not rise above the middle of the water layer. Carnivorous fish it is not often possible to catch, as the specific camouflage color it reliably hides from their attention.

But, despite its natural timidity, kenopoma refers to predators and lives by the principle of "fish eat fish." In addition, she is very vigilant and monitors her territory. The main activity is at night.

With whom will get along

With whom does leopard-like ketopoma live? Unequivocally, she will not be friends with unfamiliar neighbors. Therefore, it is better to choose fish for the aquarium immediately and settle in one day. Also, there is no need to colonize fish of smaller breeds than Ketopoma itself, this is fraught with the very principle that "fish eat fish".

It is best that the neighbors are larger than the Ketopoma itself. For example, ancistrus, gourami, catfish, labeo, scalyaria and so on. The main condition is the size and calm disposition, for Ketopoma itself is not distinguished by violent moods.

Content issues

To keep the leopard ctenopoeia, no frills are required. The basic requirements are a spacious aquarium, a balanced diet and non-conflicting neighbors.

More about the aquarium

As mentioned above, for the leopardic ketopoma, the issue of the territory is tough. She will not like living with anyone in a tight space. Even if it's another ketopoma.

Therefore, those who wish to have 2 or even 3 individuals, must proceed from the calculation of 50 liters per fish. Otherwise, the fish will rebel, despite their balanced nature.

The temperature regime is 23-28 degrees, and the water hardness level is not more than 4-10. As for the hydrogen index, it should be within the range of 6.0-7.2.

It is important to equip the aquarium with filtration and an air exchange device. Weekly replace 20% of the water from the total mass.

In addition to all of the above, the aquarium should be equipped with a lid, since the temperature regime of the air outside the aquarium is very different. And swallowing his leopard cenopole is strictly forbidden. The distance between the lid and the water surface should be about 3 cm.

Additional equipment should serve as special plants for the aquarium, pebbles, drainage, driftwood or stones. You can also buy special houses, ketopoma will only be happy about this. And the number of all attributes is strictly determined by the number of fish. For each individual, it is important to have your own "angle". This is due to the fact that the shelter is a place for sleep and rest.

However, it should be noted that some pairs of fish that formed during the period of cohabitation in one aquarium can get used to each other and not conflict over the territory. This feature is again noted by the owners of the leopard ctenopoeia. But to guarantee the absence of aggression is impossible, so it is better to take care of the individual space for each individual in particular.

What to feed

Ketopoma leopard belongs to the class of omnivorous fish. For its nutrition, both dry and frozen types of food are suitable. However, a special love deserves a living food. Probably, due to the fact that the ketopoma is still a predator. In the role of live food are: bloodworms, worms, tubules, amphibians.

Diseases

For a given type of fish, it can not be predetermined, whether it will become ill or not, since the issue of immune characteristics in this species is individual. The only thing that was noted by the owners, you can not overfeed the Ketopoma. Also, you can not keep an aquarium without a lid (this was mentioned above). And, perhaps, all neighbors of leopard ctenopomes should undergo quarantine in strict order.

As a preventive measure, you can add peat extract to the water, which will provide support for the immune system.

Reproduction

Breeding the leopard ctenopoma is not an easy task. According to some owners, it is absolutely impossible at home. But some owners of these fish are still lucky!

The first thing to understand, fish in their early years will no longer produce offspring. The ideal period is the age from five to six years. Such data are due to the fact that the fish develop for a rather long time and are formed to a full mature state.

Young Ketopomes, perhaps, will make their owners happy. The truth for such a joyful event is to observe a number of conditions, and this in the end will not guarantee the receipt of offspring:

1. It is better to acquire several ctenopomes. In this case, it is much more likely that with a period of growth and development they will find a pair suitable for breeding.
2. The spawner must have a sufficient volume and contain a large amount of vegetation. In this case, plants must also float on top of the water. This is an obligatory condition, so a suitable climate for fry will be created.
3. Lighting should not be bright, these fish do not really like light. The most acceptable is muted lighting.
4. If the fish still managed to lay eggs, the fish will rise to the surface and will be among the plants. Ketopoma leopard has a "habit" of throwing eggs.
5. Adult fish should immediately be transplanted after the debt they have performed, since they have no parent instincts. Moreover, they can eat their offspring, never repenting at the same time.

As a result, you will see a large number of caviar. In one spawning can be 500-1000 eggs. According to the owners, there are many more. But only a few will survive, since in the aquarium conditions there is a more severe "natural selection". One part of the fish will die right away because of conditions that are far from natural. The other part of the fish is in the course of eating each other. Plus, the fry are very susceptible to colds, and the slightest draft can ruin them. So there will remain "in the dry residue" just a few fishes.

The fry themselves fuck after two days, this is how long the incubation period lasts. The first couple of weeks their diet should consist of infusoria, after that you can transfer them to nauplii brine shrimp. Although among the owners there is an opinion that you can feed from the first days of artemia.

Water quality is very important for the young aquarium population, any discomfort in the conditions can lead to an early death.