Star antsstrus. Ancicus stellate - contents

Star antsistrus - this is a very beautiful aquarium fish, which requires careful care. About features of feeding, the maintenance and reproduction of the presented pupils you learn from the given article.

General characteristics of fishes

So, the stellate ancistrus is small in size. This catfish has a slightly flattened long body. It is covered with hard bony plates. The mouth has specific scrapers with which the pet can take food from a hard surface. In addition, it looks like a sucker. Such a body was formed because of the need to stay at the bottom of the reservoir in a strong current.

The fish received its name because of its interesting coloring: on the body of the catfish one can see a unique pattern of white-blue spots on a black background. It should be noted that these "stars" over time can change the shade and become brown. Young fish have a bright white band on the edge of the fins and tail, but it disappears with age.

Star antsstrus is activated in the evening. In the daytime or in bright light, fish try to hide in algae. The peculiarity of these animals is that they are able to pick up and eat food from the bottom and walls of the aquarium, that is, they are the original cleaners of their small ecosystem. These catfish calmly get along with other types of fish. Life expectancy of pets can reach 6 years.

How to determine the sex of fish?

In principle, it is not difficult to distinguish a female from a male. First, male individuals have a larger body. Its length often reaches 8 cm! Secondly, on the head of the male there are quite large processes that have branches. Women do not have them at all or they are very poorly developed.

Star male antsstrus is a fairly militant fish. If the aquarium contains several males, they will arrange fights among themselves, which, however, do not pose any danger. These battles are just a kind of ritual, in which fish do not behave aggressively.

Peculiarities of keeping pets

Ancistrus ( stellate sternum ) is very unpretentious. Contain such a fish is not difficult, so you can safely buy it, even if you have never dealt with aquarium. Optimal for a catfish are the following conditions:

- water temperature within 20-28 degrees;

- acidity of the medium 5.5-7;

- almost any size of the aquarium, although you should not give preference to too large containers;

- mandatory presence of algae and any objects where the fish could hide from excess light (snags, large shells, caves);

- if there are stones in the aquarium, do not put them on the ground;

- for pets, you need to organize enough space, that is, for one pair of fish you need at least 200 liters of water.

If your ancestor lives stellate, its content does not provide for the isolation of catfish from other species of fish. They are peaceful and able to get along with all the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Note that the water must be clean and enriched with oxygen, so intensive aeration is necessary. Naturally, the tank simply needs a filter.

What and how to feed these fish?

In food, pets are unpretentious. They can eat live food, vegetable and various substitutes. Catfish are able to eat that build-up that appears on the bottom and glass of the aquarium. In the water you can throw small pieces of lettuce leaves. Naturally, they need to boil well, so that they are soft. In addition, special tableted fodders are used, which are intended for bottom fish.

With a lack of plant food, catfish can eat algae. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the proportion of plant food is at least 60 percent of the total diet. As for dry tablets, they should be used only in the evening, as it is after dusk that these fishes are activated. In addition, other inmates can eat food, and your catfish will remain hungry. These pets eat well the bloodworms.

Features of fish farming

So, the sufficient ripeness of the anciastric stellate, whose price is about 4 dollars for one individual, reaches at the age of 1 year. In principle, a separate aquarium is not needed for spawning. In order to stimulate the process, it is enough to add a little fresh water to the tank.

The breeding of anisic stellate has one peculiarity: for a good spawning, fish need a special substrate. It is a plastic or ceramic tube, empty inside. Its diameter should be 4 cm, and length - about 20 cm. If you do not have such a substrate, then you can use ordinary shells and caves. It should be noted that the males are guarding the caviar that the female is mewing.

If you want spawning to occur in a separate aquarium, then you have enough capacity with 40 liters of water. It should be noted that larvae from eggs appear about 4-5 days later. A few days later they turn into fry. After this, the male should be removed from the children.

Features of care for fry

Feed the kids need specially designed for them food. It is desirable to use compressed tablets. Also do not forget about boiled cabbage leaves and other plant foods. Every day in the aquarium with the kids should be added to 1/5 of the fresh water. Feed the fry should be at least 4 times a day.

Please note that the portions of the feed should be small. If the babies grow in a separate aquarium, then well-stained wooden driftwood should be placed in it, as the frylings are very actively scraped. Further, as they grow, the fish can be given a larger feed.

In order that the catfish grow healthy, you need to carefully monitor the purity of water, organize a good aeration. Start children in the general aquarium should be at the age of 5 months. In this case, they perfectly adapt in a new place.

That's all the features of the contents of these fish. Good luck!