Clown loaches                                (Botia macracantha, Chromobotia macracanthus)

The family of loaches (Cobitidae).


In nature botsiya clown inhabits waters rich in aquatic vegetation in Southeast Asia, Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo). Aquarists its supply since 1936, and are marketed, as a rule, fish caught in the wild.



Botsiya clown has an elongated, round body and a beautiful color. The main body color ranges from yellow to orange-red, with three transverse wedge-shaped black stripes. The dorsal fin is black and only at the base yellow, tail and abdominal painted in black and red colors. Aside clown large eyes without protective skin, under which there are sharp spikes (their fish can stretch and relax). Around the mouth there are four pairs of mustache. At the slightest danger botsiya clown make sounds resembling clicks. The length can be up to 30 cm. External sex differences in individuals lacking. Keep botsiyu clown needed in the aquarium of no less than 200 liters with subdued lighting, and many shelters at the bottom. Soil - a soft, sandy. Plants planted in the tank krupnolistaya that are well rooted in the soil. Botsiya clown can live only in a pack of 5-7 individuals, they die alone, so it's best to keep the species in the aquarium. It grows very slowly and not always hardy. Water parameters: hardness of 5 - 10 °, pH 5.8 - 8.0, temperature 24 - 30 ° C to be filtered, aeration and weekly substitution of up to 30% of water. Clowns are omnivorous side. They use food as a live and dry food. It is advisable to give them a plant fertilizer and vitamins. Dilute botsiyu clown aquarium is extremely difficult. However, it is known that some aquarists to breed away clown still managed.

Botsiya zebra or striped  botsiya (Botia superciliaris, Botia striata Rao)

The family of loaches (Cobitidae).


Homeland of the zebra is South India, p. Tung, Shivamagga. Under natural conditions the fish are few and rare. Aquarists botsiya zebra is known since 1920.



Botsiya zebra has elongate body: the back line is curved, abdomen almost direct. Different from other types of intense and clear coloring. The main background of the body silvery yellow, it placed a thin transverse bands of dark color, which expand downwards. Abdomen yellowish gold. Painting of fish depends on the location of catches and sometimes it is very similar to botsiyu Dario. The fins on the side, with a little zebra transparent yellowish tinge and a pattern of black dots. The chairman has blunted shape and three pairs of barbels. In nature, fish can reach a length of 12 cm in captivity does not exceed 5-7 cm. Botsiya zebra is very peaceful, innocent, schooling fish. In the aquarium, it is desirable to keep the 4-6 individuals. Leads demersal lifestyle and active throughout the day. Keep botsiyu zebra needed in the aquarium of no less than 100 liters with subdued light and numerous shelters at the bottom. The soil needs a soft and sandy. Plants planted in the tank krupnolistaya that are well rooted in the soil. Water parameters: hardness 15 °, pH 6.0 - 7.0 Temperature 22 - 26 ° C to be filtered, aeration and weekly substitution of up to 30% of water. Botsiya zebra unpretentious food, uses both live and dry food. Breeding of the zebra is not fully mastered.

Botsiya chess (Botia kubotai)

Family: loaches (Cobitidae)


Homeland chess Burma side. This beautiful fish is one of the new representatives of a sort was described only in 2004, so is very rare in pet stores.



In the chess of the elongated body: arched back line, abdomen almost direct. The chairman has blunted shape with four pairs of barbels. The eyes are large. The caudal fin is a twin. The main body of the ink pattern with rows of large and small spots, which alternate with each other. All fins are bright blue with black stripes. Sex differences: not identified. The length of the chess botsiya grows up to 10 cm. Chess botsiya very active, peaceful and somewhat shy fish. Keep it should be a group of 6-8 individuals with movable, but non-aggressive species of fish, do not bother her too much attention fishes. The activity shows the day. Often you can see how fun side of the aquarium flock scurry in search of food, chasing each other or as a pair of young fish to sort things out (thus, their coloring becomes much paler). Chess on the side of a territorial fish: one hollow snags can coexist peacefully to 5-6 fish. Rest of the love in the wide leaves of plants. For the maintenance of the necessary chess tank of 80 liters (steamed fish) with different shelter (driftwood, caves of stones, flower pots) and thickets of plants planted in the side walls or in the background. Lighting should be subdued scattered. As the soil is suitable sand or fine gravel (side like to dig into the ground in search of food residues). Water parameters are optimal for the content of the chess: stiffness to 15 °, to a pH of 6.8 - 7.5, the temperature is 24-28 ° C. The continuous filtration, aeration and weekly substitution of up to 30% of water. Chess botsiya susceptible to parasites of the skin. Chess botsiya uses live food (bloodworm, koretra loves snails) with vegetable (lettuce, spinach, etc.) and substitutes. Periodically arrange fasting days because fish tend to overeat. Breeding chess side completely mastered.

Botsiya Morlet (Botia morleti)

The family of loaches (Cobitidae).


Homeland of the Morlet is Southeast Asia, Thailand. This fish is known to aquarists since 1855.



Botsiya Morlet is elongate body curved back line, abdomen almost direct. A distinctive feature of this fish is a narrow black stripe that extends from the tip of the mouth around the ridge of the back and ends wide black ring covers the caudal peduncle. The main body color is light brown, it allows you to perfectly disguise fish on the sandy bottom. On the fins on closer examination can detect small specks and strokes brown, sometimes with a yellow-orange hue. Unlike other species of Botia, painting away Morlet remains unchanged throughout life. The chairman has blunted shape with big eyes without protective skin, under which there are sharp spikes (their fish can stretch and relax). Around the mouth there are four pairs of mustache. The length can be up to 10 cm. Botsiya Morlet is near the bottom of life, he likes to hide in various shelters. This schooling fish. There are very cocky and aggressive individuals (especially pantodony), so it is advisable to keep them in an aquarium species. Botsiya Morlet become most active at dusk. Keep botsiyu Morlet need in an aquarium of 200 liters with a subdued light, numerous shelters at the bottom and an abundance of vegetation. The soil should be soft and sandy. The water temperature should be 26 - 30 ° C the necessary filtering, aeration and weekly substitution of up to 30% of water. Botsiya Morlet omnivore. Consumes live, frozen, dried, plant food, loves to regale snails. Breeding of the Morlet fully mastered.

Botsiya lohakata, Botsiya Almora             (Botia lohachata Chaudhuri, Botia almorhae)

The family of loaches (Cobitidae).


Botsiya lohakata in nature lives in water bodies of different types in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Aquarists this fish is known since 1912.



His appearance botsiya lohakata very similar to the catfish, but are carps. It has a elongate body: arched back line, abdomen almost direct. The body, as well as fins, painted in silver color with dark stripes, which seem to create a grid (hence the name botsiya net). Chairman of the lohakata blunt shape and has three pairs of barbels. In nature, fish can reach a length of 10 cm in captivity does not exceed 5-7 cm. Botsiya lohakata peace-loving, gregarious and shy fish. Leads demersal lifestyle, he likes to hide in various shelters. Botsiya lohakata most active during the day. Keep botsiyu lohakata needed in the aquarium of no less than 100 liters with subdued lighting, numerous shelters at the bottom and an abundance of vegetation. Soil - a soft and sandy. Water parameters: hardness 12 °, a pH of 6.0 - 7.0, temperature 24 - 28 ° C to be filtered, aeration and weekly substitution of up to 30% of water. Botsiya lohakata omnivore. Consumes live, frozen, dry and plant food. The aquarium botsiya lohakata very beneficial, because feeds from the bottom, picking up what was left of the other fish. It is very voracious, especially in youth, with overeating she gets fat belly. Breeding side lohakata disbursed recently. For breeding needed 150l tank volume. The parameters of water: water hardness 11 °, pH 7.0, temperature 28 ° C. At the bottom of spawning stack separator grid. Producers initially kept separate from each other and feed them mainly vegetable food. Breeding takes place with the use of gonadotropin injections. During spawning, males picked up the female pectoral fin under the abdomen and swim up to the surface, where the eggs vimetuvannya (this happens as long as all the eggs will not vimetana). Immediately after that, the manufacturer must be otsadit of spawning (parents no care for the offspring do not show). Fertility lohakata side is 3 to 5000 small eggs are grayish-green color. They swell up to 2-2.5 mm and 16-18 hours of them appear fry. Caring for fry lightly, even they eat dry fodder corresponding size. At the age of 1 month botsiya lohakata reached 1-1.5 cm in length. Their color is different from an adult, first fry striped, and as they mature they have a net coloring.

Akantoftalmus semi-straddles      (Acanthophthalmus semicinctus, Pangio semicincta)

Akantoftalmus semi-straddles lives in slowly-flowing ruchyah and ditches with soft soil of Eastern South-Asia: Zondskye Islands, n-s Malacca.



In akantoftalmusa napyvopoyasanoho Body cherveobraznoy forms, nemnoho uploschennoe on the sides in the area of ​​the tail, bokovaya Linia absent. Everything Body, except holovы, coatings melkoy cheshuey. G with tonkoy, prozrachnoy kozhystoy film and kazhdыm eye pod thorn, razdvoennaya to end. Roth Nizhniy s tremya pairs Usov, oblehchayuschyh Search in ylystom GRUN feed. Small fins. Spynnoy nahodytsya fin on the rear half of the body. Okrashennыy tulovysche a golden-red Color in bryuha pink. On TV 12-16 poperechnыh broad bands klynovydnoy forms (often co svetloy intra tracts) dark brown Almost the Black Colors, kotorыe, Generally, not peresekayut mid-PE (on the Exclusive holovы 3 bands in a bar only concentrated on the tail stalk). Polovыe otlychyya: males utolschennыy second ray of the pectoral fins; a female fins less, a little plotnee bryuho in Kotor mogut bыt vydnы prozrachnыe, zelenovatыe ykrynky. In dlynu akantoftalmus napyvopoyasanyy dostyhaet 8 cm. Duration life 5 years. Akantoftalmus napyvopoyasanyy donnaya and myrolyubyvaya rыba. Proyavlyaet activity with offensive sumerek. Prefers chystoy and prozrachnoy Voda Shelter from Myahkyy of light and soil in kotorыy with udovolstvyem zarыvaetsya. Uzhyvaetsya with crayons lyubыmy myrolyubyvыmy rыbamy, obytayuschymy the average and top sloyah akvaryuma. When the atmospheric pressure drops sharply akantoftalmusы stanovyatsya Very bespokoynыmy. akantoftalmusы napyvopoyasanoho possible to keep a general akvaryume Volume from 70 liter with soil IZ obkatannыh with short peska (place co sloem peat). As Shelter yspolzuyut overgrown plants (including those plavayuschyh) koryahy, stones and so on. Rasseyannoe lighting. Options for water akantoftalmusa CONTENT: zhestkost 5-20 °, ph 6.5-7.2, temperature 22-30 ° C. Permanent Neobhodymы filtering, and aэratsyya ezhenedelnaya submenu to 25% Volume of water. Akantoftalmus napyvopoyasanyy potreblyaet Living (crayons Motyl, Tubifex) rastytelnыy Artificial and Dry food (80% and 20% living rastitelno zamenitelya) Special loves tablets donnыh fish. Akantoftalmus napyvopoyasanyy podbyraet Only food co bottom and javljaetsja prekrasnыm chystylschykom. For razvedenyya akantoftalmusa napyvopoyasanoho neobhodimo akvaryum Volume 30 liter here, oborudovannыy separatornoy setkoy. Ustanavlyvayut nerestovyk so Avto Nothing of fish not bespokoylo. Options for water razvedenyya akantoftalmusa: zhestkost 5-15 °, ph 6.5-7.0, temperature 27-28 ° C and water urovnem 20 cm. During the spawning of fish IZ sazhayut group of 3-6 persons (females dolzhna bыt uvelycheno abdomen) in age from Manuscript 1, where one female two males pryhodyatsya. For stymulyatsyy spawn producer of delayut ynъektsyyu gonadotropin horionicheskogo calculation 50-70 IZ ME 1 rыbku. Since akantoftalmusы Very podvyzhnыe Pisces, uderzhat s hands Virtually impossible. To do this, before ynъektsyey rыbok pomeschayut in nebolshoy otsadnyk the water kotorogo dobavyly Several drops novokayna. After 5-10 minutes. rыbky tsepeneyut, and im Set ynъektsyyu easily. After эtoho producer of perenosyat in akvaryum. Through Several hours samtsы nachynayut presledovat females pryzhymayutsya holovoy head for females, with How this bы podderzhyvaya ee svoym hrudnыm fin. In this Situation pair quickly plavaet at the bottom akvaryuma, zatem for podnymaetsya surface. At this time the female Mechet portsyyu light-zelenыh, sticky eggs, kotorыe descend to the bottom or prykleyvayutsya for plants. Proyzvodytelnost 500-700 eggs. Immediately producer of the same otsazhyvayut. After a day IZ ykrы poyavlyayuts kroshechnыe Green larvae else and fry in 4 day nachynayut afloat and pytatsya. Startovыy feed ynfuzoryy, crayons narezannыy tubifex, kolovratky or nauplyy artemyy. Also can be vыkarmlyvat s dry food, specially for prednaznachennыm Malkov ykrometayuchyh fish. Sexual maturity akantoftalmus napyvopoyasanyy dostyhaet at age 8-12 months.

 

Akantoftalmus Myers                         (Pangio myersi, Acanthophthalmus myersi)

In nature akantoftalmusy live in slow-flowing streams with soft ground in South-East Asia and India. The length is 10-12 cm.



Akantoftalmus is serpentine, laterally flattened body covered with very small scales. Painted Fish in a bright orange color. Across the body 15-20 disposed transverse strips of dark brown, almost black. In akantoftalmusa small fins without hard rays. On the head there are no scales. On the corners of the mouth are three pairs of barbels that facilitate akantoftalmusy search of food in the muddy ground. Under the eyes are sharp spikes. Males differ from females smaller size. In sexually mature females in the abdomen can be seen green eggs. Akantoftalmus is near the bottom, preferring shadowed areas and dimly lit bottom. These fish aquarium bright color enliven the body and rapid movement. Akantoftalmusy can coexist with any small peaceful fish that live in the middle and upper layers of the water. This evening fish and first of them can be seen only in the evening when the light is already off, the day they hide in thickets of plants, or in different shelters. However akantoftalmusy quickly become accustomed to feeding in the daytime, and begin to be active during the day. In sharp differences of atmospheric pressure become very restless. Keep akantoftalmusa need in a medium-sized aquariums. It should have diffused lighting and a large area of ​​the bottom, thickly planted with small-leaved plants have as many different hiding places and driftwood. Grunt - dark and small, like akantoftalmusy dig into it in search of worms. The temperature of the water content akantoftalmusa 22-24 ° c. Water parameters - stiffness 5- 15 °, pH 6.5-7.0. For akantoftalmusa necessary to select the size of the food so that the fish can swallow it (akantoftalmusa small mouth). Picks it up only from the bottom, so the number should be calculated so that other fish do not eat food until he falls to the bottom. Akantoftalmusy prefer small bloodworms, tubifex, vegetable, dry artificial feed, like special tablets for bottom fish. For spawning akantoftalmusa need aquarium capacity of 30 liters and the water level of 20-25 cm. It must be equipped with a spawning grid and spray. Install the aquarium so that the fish do not care. The light should be dim and diffused, and plants do not need shelter. The aquarium is filled with a soft, acidic water. To do this, add the broth specially prepared peat or special preparation (for example "Amazon extract"). The temperature was raised to 28 ° C. The plant spawning group of fish from 3-6 birds (the female should be increased abdomen) at the age of 1 year, which account for one a female two males. Manufacturers chorionic gonadotropin injected at the rate of 50-150 IU for instance. Since akantoftalmusy movable fish keep their hands virtually impossible. To do this shortly before the injection of fish placed in a small volume of otsadnik 3-5 liters in the water which added a few drops of novocaine. After 5-10 minutes the fish numb, and they can easily be injected without damaging them. After that manufacturers carry the aquarium. After 6-8 g males actively pursue females, pressed his head to the head of the female, while maintaining it with his pectoral fin. In this position, a pair of lightning akantoftalmusy floats at the bottom, then the center of the tank rises to the surface. At this point, the female lays a very small portion of green eggs. Manufacturers immediately begin to eat the eggs, which was in sight. After a certain period of time spawning repeated. The female lays up to 500-700 eggs, but most of the fish spawn not completely discarded, so immediately after spawning is necessary to express the residual force spawn. To get damaged eggs in water is added antifungal medication (such as Sera mycopur), and set the aeration of water to saturate it with oxygen. After a day of eggs appear tiny green larva, and after 4 days they begin to eat the smallest food (infusoria, Tubifex, rotifers or brine shrimp). You can also bring up their dry food intended specifically for the fish fry ikrometayuchih. The fry grow quickly, by the end of the first month reach a length of 1 cm and a gain of striped color. At this time, they gradually begin to translate into more brackish water, gradually accustomed to the "adult" life, to then later with no problems to translate them into a common tank. Depending on the conditions of puberty akantoftalmusa occurs between the ages of 8 to 12 months. Life expectancy is 4-5 years.