How many years does a river catfish live? How long does a catfish live?
There are many varieties of aquarium catfish. These include the tiny Corydoras, the large but peace-loving Pterygoplicht catfish, and the unusual sacbranch catfish, which can breathe atmospheric air. In one short article it is impossible to list all their varieties, tell in detail what they prefer to eat and how long the aquarium catfish lives. Here is a description of the most common types of catfish.
Armored catfish
This is practically the most popular type of aquarium catfish. These include such frequent residents of home aquariums as corydoras. Good-natured, medium-sized fish rarely grow more than 5-6 cm in length. They like to hide in quiet, shady places and rarely come out of hiding during the day. But at night the fish are very active.
Another interesting representative of armored catfish is the thoracatum. It's pretty large inhabitants aquarium, they grow to 18-20 cm. Despite their size, these are peace-loving, calm fish. Thorakatums have quite strong armor (it’s not for nothing that these catfish species were called armored catfish), so they can be kept even with fairly aggressive fish.
How long an aquarium catfish lives depends greatly on the character and aggressiveness of its neighbors. This is especially true for small catfish, but even large fish can be greatly disturbed by inappropriate proximity.
Chain catfish (sticky fish)
Catfish of this species are certainly loved by both experienced aquarists and beginners. Any catfish aquarium varieties chainmail fish will become an indispensable assistant, because they are the best soil cleaners from food debris of other fish. Also, thanks to the structural features of the oral system, they clean the walls of the aquarium from plaque and small algae.
The mouth of the aquarium catfish has an unusual structure. Most of all, it resembles a suction cup, equipped with a special “grater” instead of teeth. In the evening, you can often observe how sticky catfish literally hang vertically on the aquarium glass, sucking with their mouths.
Of the chain-mailed catfishes, the most commonly found catfish in home aquariums are Ancistrus. These are funny fish; with calm neighbors they are active even during the day. As fish of this species grow, unusual growths in the form of tentacles appear on their faces. In fact, these are peculiar antennae that help catfish find food at the bottom of the aquarium.
Aquarium decoration - brocade pteriogoplicht
Another type of aquarium catfish looks very impressive - the brocade pteriogoplicht. This fish has an unusual, interesting coloring; it resembles a pattern made up of individual spots. The color of the spots varies from light brown to completely black, and each spot is surrounded by a border light color. The high dorsal fin of the brocade pterygoplicht is also colored in the same way. It's hard to see one like this beautiful fish and not buy it.
Typically, pet stores sell juveniles of these fish no larger than 4-6 cm in size, and they do not always warn novice aquarium enthusiasts about the real size of this fish. At good conditions content of the aquarium catfish-pteriohplicht, it grows to 30-35 cm, and in small aquarium can be a real problem.
The answer to the question of how long an aquarium catfish lives often depends on the conditions under which the fish is kept. Pteriogoplichts are considered one of the aquarium long-livers, they can live up to 18 years. Smaller ancistrus will also delight their owners for quite a long time - 8-10 years.
The sacbranch catfish can become a very unusual decoration for an aquarium. This variety of aquarium catfish has an elongated, flexible body; its build and habits resemble a well-fed snake. On its head there are thin long antennae, with the help of which the catfish searches for food.
These fish have a unique structure: air sacs are located along the lower part of the body, thanks to which the fish can breathe atmospheric air, swallowing it from the surface. It is better to ensure that the aquarium lid is always closed. This allows you to maintain constant temperature air for breathing and prevents the catfish from jumping out of the aquarium.
Another feature of this type of catfish is the poisonous endings of the dorsal and pectoral fins. When caring for an aquarium where the sacbranch catfish lives, you need to be careful; the sting of the poisonous fins is quite painful.
These fish can be quite active during the daytime, rising to the surface for air or picking up leftover food on the bottom.
It must be taken into account that the sacbranch catfish is predatory fish Therefore, keeping an aquarium catfish is only possible with sufficiently large, mobile fish. It may mistake small fish for a type of food, and territorial disputes are possible with other large bottom inhabitants.
How to properly keep an aquarium catfish
For such an aquarium resident as the catfish, there is absolutely no need to improve existing conditions. All types of these fish are absolutely unpretentious to the chemical parameters of water, the acid regime and the presence of aeration. Therefore, keeping an aquarium catfish will not be a problem even for an inexperienced beginner.
An important condition for keeping catfish: most species lead a twilight lifestyle, resting during the day in thickets of vegetation or in shelters made of snags or stones. If the catfish has nowhere to hide, the behavior of these fish becomes chaotic, their movements become nervous, and in the future this can affect the health and life expectancy of the fish.
If the choice stops at large catfish, it is better to take care in advance of a sufficient volume of the aquarium in which it will grow.
In addition, there is no need to think at all about what to feed the aquarium catfish: most of their species are absolutely unpretentious in food. Small catfish often have enough leftover food, which they pick up from the ground, while large ones can be additionally fed with special tableted food for bottom fish. Catfish also love to eat a leaf of lettuce or a piece of fresh cucumber, but you should not get carried away with such food, their remains greatly affect the water parameters and can harm other fish.
Life expectancy of aquarium catfish
Almost no fish will live in an apartment as long as an aquarium catfish lives. What is their life expectancy? Small varieties of aquarium catfish (like ancistrus or corydoras) will live 6-8 years, and large sacbranch catfish, for example, live up to 20 years.
Catfish are unpretentious and beautiful fish, which even aquarists with little experience can breed without problems.
Catfish are schooling beautiful fish that get along well with many non-aggressive species of the inhabitants of your aquarium!
The habitat of catfish is South America. IN natural environment these fish live in stagnant muddy ponds, where they can easily get their own food, digging out of the silt:
- larvae;
- worms;
- other living creatures.
In home aquariums, catfish play the role of cleaners, eating leftover food from other fish from the bottom and cleaning the walls of the container from plaque and microorganisms.
Unlike the fish living next to them, aquarium catfish are completely unpretentious to living conditions: they can eat almost any live fish food, the acidity and hardness of the aquarium water is for them important criterion is not.
A sharp decrease in the water temperature in the aquarium by a couple of degrees will not cause any harm to the catfish. Thanks to unique structure respiratory system these fish can live in very muddy and muddy environments aquarium water
where there is no air aeration.
Almost all types of catfish live at the bottom of the aquarium, where they carefully examine searching for food in shallow ground. From time to time they rise to the surface of the water to swallow air bubbles, which are subsequently absorbed in their intestines. The behavior of catfish is not affected in any way by the purity, quality and aeration of water in the aquarium.
How long do catfish live?
To the question “How long do catfish live in an aquarium?” no answer. It all depends on many factors, such as:
- water temperature;
- type of catfish;
- water quality;
- food quality;
- water aeration;
- water salinity;
- fish living next door.
If a clean aerated aquarium with thickets of dense plants, with an acidity of up to 8.2 and a water temperature of up to twenty-five degrees Celsius, then catfish can exist in the aquarium for about eight years.
The food that catfish eat also affects their lifespan. Live food is optimal for feeding these ground dwellers in your aquarium. Know that It is prohibited to keep catfish in salted or salt water– this will lead to the extinction of fish.
Reviews from aquarists
My seasoned platidora crawled out of his hiding place, I looked at this miracle and wondered how old he was? They gave it to me along with a hundred-liter aquarium, the owner was selling the aquarium and gave me this miracle as a bonus, with the words “take it, he’s left alone and won’t live long, he’s about six years old already, and he lived in a rotten jar.” recent months, which there was no one to deal with.”
The aquarium really looked like it was in a deplorable state, it was all overgrown... Well, that’s how I took this beast... This was around 2003. After a while, the owner of the aquarium, having learned that the animal was alive, was very surprised... The ending of the story is this: it’s 2015, the catfish is still alive and what’s most surprising is that it is in excellent moving condition(I made a special inspection from all sides), does this mean he is 18 years old?
In addition to this catfish, I also have a girik, I bought it in February-March 2002, it is also vigorous, alive, chasing and building everyone in the aquarium.
An ordinary Ancistrus has been living in my aquarium for seven years now... Daddy is wonderful.
I have had an acanthus in my aquarium since about 2003, there were three of them, just recently I saw two, on this moment one left.
My friend has had a pter since 1999, in a healthy 700 liter jar, about forty centimeters in size. In general, catfish live much longer than other aquatic animals purchased on the market. Why this is so, it’s better to find out from professionals, just as far as I know, the lifespan of fish in an aquarium is calculated at a couple of years, then they either die or get bored and pass into the hands of the next aquarist.
Catfish are one of the most popular fish to keep in an aquarium. The most common types of these fish can be easily purchased at almost any pet store. In total, science knows more than 2,000 species of catfish, but hardly anyone can say exactly how many there are. They are one of the most ancient fish on our planet. These fish have been around for an estimated 70 million years.
Among the catfishes you can really find fish huge size– more than 300 kg and several meters in length. And there are catfish, whose body size does not exceed 3 cm. It is the relatively small species of catfish, whose homeland is both warm tropical reservoirs and cold waters of mountain streams, that are able to live in captivity as aquarium fish. Catfish are mainly inhabitants of freshwater bodies of water. But there are also those that prefer brackish or salt water.
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Appearance of catfish
For almost all types characteristic feature is the specific shape of the head - slightly flattened on top, with a fairly wide mouth. Catfish food is very varied. Selected species They specialize in hunting from shelters, others - in eating the remains of meals of large fish and searching for bottom animals, there are also those who feed exclusively on algae.
Catfish do not have scales as such. Their body is either completely devoid of scales, or during the course of evolution their scales have acquired the form of hard plates that protect them from predators. Corydoras aquarium fish have exactly these scales. Most species of catfish have mustaches. It is an important tool for finding food and navigating. Many species are able to breathe atmospheric air and have the ability for cutaneous respiration.
Conditions of detention
Catfish, as a rule, are representatives of relatively small species. For the most part, they are quite unpretentious in maintenance and easily reproduce in captivity. These fish are the kind that any experienced breeder would recommend to a novice aquarist. But when purchasing such a pet, it is worth remembering that catfish are fish that prefer twilight or dark time days.
It is not difficult to create conditions suitable for keeping these fish in an aquarium. A temperature of 22 to 27 degrees is quite suitable for them. But most species tolerate short-term temperature fluctuations quite well. Acidity is neutral, and water hardness is 2 - 12°.
Watch as a pair of white-spotted Agamixis looks for leftover food at the bottom of the aquarium.
Life expectancy of various catfish
Many novice aquarists are interested in how long their pets will live. Depending on the type of fish and whether the conditions are optimal, these aquarium fish can live up to 8 years. However, it should be noted that large catfish in the wild often live up to 100 years or more. Aquarium catfish are very diverse. If you do not take into account the hybrid forms bred by amateurs, then about 800 species of these fish can be kept in captivity today.
Chain catfish, known as loricariids, are one of the most unusual representatives catfish. Their second name comes from the ancient Roman name for the legionnaires’ armor, “lori ka”. The bodies of fish of this family are covered with bony plates fused together. Their favorite food is algae. The mouth is lower, often with a sucker. The most popular aquarium fish are Loricaria: Ancistrus, Otocinclus, Loricaria, Sturisoma. Representatives of this family live quite a long time. For example, ancistrus can easily live in suitable conditions for up to 8 years.
Representatives of armored or callichthaceae are very popular among aquarists. Their body is covered with two rows of bone plates. Hence the name, because this “shell” is good protection from predators. Catfish of this family are able to breathe atmospheric air. Males are usually slightly smaller than females. How long can these fish live? For example, Corydoras, popular among aquarists, live on average 6–7 years. This is quite a lot for an aquarium fish. Common members of the family are dianema and tarakatum.
Representatives of the armor family are also frequent inhabitants of aquariums. Their body and head are covered with bone plates, which gives the appearance of a cut. These fish have three pairs of rather long antennae. Popular fish: white-spotted agamixis, striped platidoras. Enough big fish Platydoras, for example, lives in captivity for up to 15 years. In nature, it can live for more than 20 years.
Representatives of the fringed family - synodontis catfish - are also of great interest to aquarists. How long can they live in an aquarium? From 5 to 15 years. According to some data, in nature, some individuals live more than 23 years.
Watch how star-shaped synodontis play.
Flathead or pimelod catfish are also valued for their bright colors. The appearance of these fish is to a certain extent reminiscent of African killer whales. These are quite large fish. Often, aquariums contain only young individuals that have not yet reached their full sizes, for example Sorubium copenosus. The question of how long these fish can live in an aquarium is difficult to answer unequivocally. From 5 years or more. In nature, their life expectancy is quite high.
These are not representatives of all catfish families that can be kept in an aquarium. To determine how long a particular fish will live, it is important to know the life expectancy in wildlife and what conditions she prefers. By creating them, you can be sure that your pet will be as comfortable as possible, and his life will be healthy and long.
Reproduction
Catfish reproduce easily even in an aquarium. All of them are spawning. For successful spawning, it is worth choosing a spawning tank that is suitable in size and equipping it according to your preferences. specific type fish. The only rule common to all catfish is increased Atmosphere pressure may negatively affect this process. Caring for fry, as a rule, is not difficult, and specially created food for young fish is quite suitable for the first months of the fish’s life.
Since ancient times it has been surrounded by myths and mysteries. And all this thanks to longevity (which is unusual for most river inhabitants) And hidden image life. Catfish is credited with incredible weight and body size. Many people believe that fish can live 100 years or more. This article will help you figure it all out.
How long do catfish live: truth and fiction
The ordinary catfish does not shine with beauty, and in old age it becomes even worse. Water worms in large quantities stick to his body and head, making our centenarian completely ugly.
River catfish, by the way, live longer than lake individuals. There is also a slow-growing species called reed. Favorite place its habitats are cluttered river holes, backwaters with a large layer of silt.
How long do catfish live in the river? Everything, of course, depends on the environment and food supply. If the fish habitat is not polluted, and there are a lot of frogs and small fish, then the catfish lives up to 40 years. Although there are individuals that live 60 years. But this is rather an exception.
Lake catfish live 10-20 years less than their river relatives. Mostly their age reaches 15-25 years. The fact is that there is not as much food in the lake as in the river, and it must be shared with other residents of the closed reservoir.
How long do catfish live: spawning age
At the age of 4-5 years, the named fish begins puberty. Catfish leave their holes and backwaters for about a month. During this period, males find their female - 3-4 contenders swim after one female. She chooses a mate for herself, and then the two of them drive away the rest of the gentlemen.
After this, the couple builds a nest for future offspring. Usually it is made in a primitive form in coastal vegetation. Here the female lays large eggs - the egg diameter is 2-3 mm. Their number varies. It all depends on the age of the female - a young female lays 10-15 thousand, and an older female lays 350-450 thousand eggs.
Until the young hatch, the catfish protects the nest from uninvited guests. It slaps the water with its huge tail, terrifying all the fish living nearby. At first, the baby is in the nest, feeding on silt and vegetation. And then the offspring scatter in all directions and begin to lead a predatory lifestyle.
Hunting and feeding catfish
The question of how long catfish live is directly related to the food supply. The abundance of food allows the inhabitant of bottom pits to hunt nearby. He cannot spend much energy searching for food, because his body is not adapted to fast swimming and long pursuit of his prey.
Usually the catfish bursts into the flock suddenly and unexpectedly. Or he grabs the first fish he comes across that accidentally approaches him. Often during hunting, catfish use their wide tail, which stuns several fish at once.
However, it is always difficult for him to get fish. Therefore, the inhabitant of pits and backwaters prefers to hunt frogs. For him, this is a delicacy and easy prey. The catfish does not disdain mice that fall into the water; it catches the chicks of domestic and wild bird, eats various mollusks and crayfish. Old and fat catfish easily attack adults waterfowl, they are capable of dragging even a dog to the bottom of a reservoir.
There is an opinion that seasoned catfish even hunt calves and pigs. But reliable facts have not yet been recorded, so these are more fiction than reality.
Most often, people do not allow soma to live to a ripe old age. For a fisherman, catching a big and old catfish is the ultimate dream. Fish fillet doesn't play either last role in her catch - it is juicy, fatty and not tough.
Based on all of the above, it becomes clear how long catfish live. On average 10-15 years, or even less. Rare specimen lives to a ripe old age.
Aquarium catfish
River catfish are not the only representatives of this species. It is in great demand among aquarists, as it is unpretentious in food and maintenance and adapts perfectly to any living conditions.
Eating aquarium catfish almost any food - both live and dry. For them, the hardness and acidity of the water in the aquarium are not significant. Even an unexpected drop in water temperature is not scary for them.
Aquarium catfish can easily live in muddy and heavily polluted water. And all this thanks to its unique respiratory system. However, the better the living conditions for catfish, the longer they live.
Beginning aquarists are interested in the question: how long do aquarium catfish live? Everything just depends on the conditions in which they live. On average they live 7-10 years.
However, this indicator is not for all catfish. Some species live 13-15 years. And some varieties of aquarium catfish live short life, only 3-5 years. But despite how many years the catfish lives in captivity, it is a decoration for any aquarium.
Catfish can be classified as one of the oldest fish that inhabit fresh waters planets. These scaleless creatures are the undoubted champions in size and weight among their freshwater counterparts. You can often hear legends about cannibal catfish, which have already more than a century live at the bottom of rivers.
River catfish
Catfish are freshwater predators that live primarily in rivers. This fish chooses a hole at the bottom of the river for its home, which it leaves only to search for food or during spawning. Catfish feed on small fish, crustaceans and even frogs.
You can rarely find catfish in lakes and ponds. They most often end up in these bodies of water by accident. Externally, lake catfish are practically no different from river catfish; the only difference is more dark color skin. These fish do not live as long in the lake as catfish live in rivers. This is due to diet. After all, in stagnant lake water there is not much choice in food. It is because of this diet that lake catfish are not large in size. On average, the weight of such fish does not exceed 5 kg. The average catfish in such conditions is significantly less than that of river inhabitants. river fish- 80 years old. This is the answer to the question of how long catfish live in favorable conditions(lakes and ponds can hardly be classified as such). From this we can conclude that it will not be possible to find long-livers among lake catfish.
Aquarium catfish
Very popular among fans aquarium fish OK decorative and hybrid ones are often called aquarium orderlies because sedentary lifestyle life and sucker-like mouth.
These fish are quite unpretentious in keeping and easily get along with other species without creating conflicts. The colors of catfish are not bright and beautiful - this is due to the fact that the fish camouflage themselves under the bottom on which they spend their time. most time. Catfish are active at night, so it is advisable to have shelters for these fish in the aquarium. Driftwood, stone castles, caves or other secluded places are suitable for this. How long do catfish live in an aquarium? It depends on the conditions under which the fish are kept. If temperature conditions and feeding regime are observed, catfish can live for about 8 years. But some hybrid species of such fish can live up to 10 years if kept well. They should be fed in the evening, but they can find food for themselves. For example, by filtering the bottom of the aquarium, catfish find leftover food from other fish.
Long-lived catfish
This fish is famous for its fatty and tasty meat, so fishermen simply do not allow catfish to grow. IN natural conditions A catfish can easily live more than a hundred years. But humanity constantly pollutes water resources, thereby calling into question the normal existence of fish. Therefore, how long catfish live depends primarily on their living conditions.
There is a lot of evidence in history about the weight of which reaches more than 300 kg. Accordingly, scientists assume that the age of such individuals is more than 100 years. It can be assumed that there are also older catfish, which, according to legend, hunt swimming dogs and even people, but this information has not yet been confirmed.
ANCISTRUSS
catfish sucker, stuck, cleaner
Ancistrus are the most popular catfish in the aquarium world! Everyone knows and maintains them, both beginners and pros. Ancistrus have earned such attention due to their qualities: they are classified as “aquarium orderlies”, they are unpretentious in maintenance, extraordinary in behavior and, of course, the structure of their sucker mouth noticeably distinguishes them from many other catfish-like fish.
At the same time, these fish can hardly be called handsome! Strange mouth, some warty growths on the face, dark color, and, as a rule, they often hide in snags and grottoes... they love twilight! What is it that attracts aquarists all over the world to these fish? I think the answer will be given by a full story about them! So, the Latin name: Ancistrus dolichopterus (Ancistrus common); Russian name: Ancistrus, sticky catfish, sucker catfish, cleaner catfish, ancitrus catfish;
Order, suborder, family: cap-shaped, catfish-like, chain-mailed or loricariid catfishes (Cypriniformes, Siluroidei, Loricariidae). Taking into account the fact that many people are confused about the classification of fish, and on the Internet you can often find false information, it should be said that Loricariaceae and Chainweeds- It is the same. The family of Chain catfish in Latin will be Loricariidae - these are ancistrus, pterygoplichts, loricaria, sturisomes, farlovellas, hypoptomas, otocinclus and others. It is often written that Ancistrus are armored catfish, but this is not true. Armored catfish Callichthyidae are Corydoras, Dianemas, Brochis, Thorakatums, etc.
Comfortable water temperature: 20-28°C (for manufacturers 20-26°C);
"Acidity" Ph: 6-7.5 (for manufacturers up to 10°, KN up to 2°);
Hardness dH: up to 20° (for manufacturers 6-7.3);
Aggressiveness: relatively non-aggressive (20%);
Difficulty of keeping ancistrus: light;
Ancistrus compatibility: these catfish can be kept with virtually all types of aquarium fish; in fact, they are peaceful inhabitants of the aquarium bottom. However, it is impossible to say that Ancistrus is an absolutely harmless fish! Yes, everywhere - in Runet articles they write that these catfish behave like “God’s dandelions”, but in aqua. On forums you can often find information that ancistrus chase fish, pester them and even damage their skin... And it’s true! Therefore, it is not advisable to keep them with slow and clumsy fish, for example, with the Goldfish family. Also, from personal experience I can say that you cannot keep them with scaleless fish, for example, with sacbranch catfish; ancistrus can cause serious wounds to such fish with their “ passionate kisses». Not compatible with: large, aggressive and territorial cichlids, especially during the spawning season. For more information about fish compatibility, see HERE!
How long do they live: with proper maintenance they can live more than 7 years. You can find out how long other fish live HERE!
Minimum aquarium volume for ancistrus: A normal aquarium for a pair of ancistrus is considered to be 80 liters, but many keep them at 50, 30, and even 20 liters. aquariums. This is not correct, unfortunately, in such conditions the fish will not live long, it will “drag away” and die. See how many fish you can keep in X aquarium HERE(at the bottom of the article there are links to aquariums of all sizes). Requirements for care and maintenance conditions: Ancistrus unpretentious fish. Elementary compliance with the recommended water parameters is the key to success in their maintenance and even breeding. These sucker catfish do not need personal and excessive attention; the only desirable element in the aquarium should be shelter: grottoes, caves and especially snags or stumps. Aeration, filtration, weekly replacement of water with fresh water are mandatory. In addition, it is advisable to set up a correctly and sufficiently active water flow in the aquarium, which will imitate the natural habitat of catfish. Feeding and diet: Ancistrians, however, like other representatives of loricariids, are classified as phytophages, that is, fish that feed on plant foods. It is this feature of the sucker catfish that makes it an indispensable assistant for the aquarist in the fight against algae fouling of the aquarium walls and decor. Due to their unique mouth structure, ancistrus clean/scrape off any small plant formations. Thus, we can say that ancistrus are unpretentious in nutrition and can obtain food on their own. However, this does not mean that the aquarist should not feed them. The diet of ancistrus should be 70-80% plant foods and 20-30% protein foods. To fully feed cleaner catfish, you can buy special branded food for loricariid catfish, as a rule, these are green tablets that fall to the bottom. Also, many feed their suckers weekly with scalded pieces of fresh cucumber, lettuce, spinach, green peas, pumpkin and cabbage leaves. Some aquarists lavishly decorate the aquarium with snags and stumps especially for Ancistrus; Ancistrus happily “gnaw” the snags and constantly hang on them. And in stumps, under good conditions, they can even reproduce spontaneously and independently.
Photo of feeding ancistrus
Feeding any aquarium fish should be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. Article
Here.
Description of Ancistrus:
![](https://i2.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_9_1.jpg)
Ancistrus mouth- These are suckers with horn-shaped scrapers, with the help of which they scrape food from the surface.
Dorsal large, flag-shaped, often pressed against the body by the fish. The pectoral, ventral and dorsal fins are wide.
Breeding and propagation of acistrus
![](https://i1.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_10_1.jpg)
For targeted breeding of the pair, the spawners are placed in a shallow spawning aquarium - 40 liters, or if the spawning tank is large, 100-150 liters. You can plant one male and two females. The incentive for spawning is frequent water changes, abundant feeding, an increase in the amount of protein and live food, and an increase in water temperature.
It’s easy to distinguish a male from a female! Males have branched, developed leathery processes on the head and along the edges - tentacles, popularly called “antennae”. In females, the antennae are located only at the edges of the head, poorly developed or absent altogether.
![](https://i0.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_11_1.jpg)
The breeders must be the same size or the female must be larger than the male. There have been cases of males killing smaller females!!!
The aquarium is equipped with pipes or long stumps, only in them the female will lay eggs!!! However, there have been cases when eggs are deposited in pots or simply on driftwood. However, plastic pipes are considered the best spawning substrate.
The spawning aquarium is filtered and aerated.
After the female lays a clutch of 30-100 eggs in the tube, the male takes all care of the offspring. He drives the female out and during the entire incubation period of maturation of the eggs, he fans her with his fins, creating a flow of water and access of oxygen to the clutch, in addition, the male removes the dead eggs. You should not disturb the male during this period, otherwise he may eat the eggs in a “panic”. photo of ancistrus egg laying
![](https://i2.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_12_1.jpg)
After about five days, small larvae are born, which the caring male guards for a couple of days.
![](https://i0.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_13_1.jpg)
![](https://i1.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_14_1.jpg)
![](https://i0.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_15_1.jpg)
Interesting things about Ancistrus:
![](https://i2.wp.com/src.akva-rybka.ru/malenkie-somiki-dlja-akvariuma_16_1.jpg)
- when launching ancistrus into a good herbalist, you must always remember that if there is a deficiency plant food, the catfish may begin to feed on plant leaves and damage them. For a professional herbalist, it is better to use otocinclus and Siamese algae eaters.
- there are an insane number of Ancistrus species, their classification is quite confusing and complicated by the presence of bred selection forms. The most popular types of ancistrus are: golden, veiled (veiled leopard and other subspecies), red, dark, brown, pink, star-shaped, albino. But what are they worth? numbered L-somas, their number is simply amazing.
There are a lot of varieties of Ancistrus! Below is a description of the most popular variety of this loricarian catfish.
Video about veiled ancistrus
Pterygoplicht brocade catfish: contents, compatibility, photo-video review
Prerigoplicht is a popular representative of the chain-mailed (loricariid) catfish. The conditions for its maintenance are simple and virtually identical to the maintenance of all catfish of this family, for example with. There is only one caveat - pterygoplicht big fish! Often, beginning aquarium keepers take them into their small aquariums, and then two years later they don’t know where to put this “log.” And it's not empty words! Very often on our forum, and on other aquarium resources, newcomers are trying to solve this problem and accommodate the grown-up “Nile crocodile”.
We hope that this article will help the reader make an informed choice regarding this aquarium inhabitant, let's get to know him better.
Latin name: Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps;
Comfortable water temperature: 23-27°C;
"Acidity" Ph: 6,5-7,5;
Hardness dH: up to 15°;
Aggressiveness: not aggressive;
Content complexity: light;
Compatibility: Pterygoplichts can be classified as peaceful fish. However, you always need to take into account its impressive size and water parameters for its maintenance. Pterygoplichthys should not be kept with slow-moving fish (for example, the goldfish family) or scaleless fish (for example, sacbranch catfish). Pterygoplichts can injure them by attaching to them. It is also worth noting that pterygoplichts have intraspecific aggression.
How long do they live: with proper maintenance they can live more than 15 years. You can find out how long other fish live HERE!
Comfortable aquarium volume for pterygoplichts: from 400 liters per couple. You can often hear the phrases on forums: “My little bird lives well in 100 liters... and everything is fine.” However, there is nothing normal about this. In small volumes, the fish can exist, but it does not grow, it shrinks, in fact, it gradually turns into rickets - a disabled person. Further fate Such fish is obvious - it is difficult to live long with such pathologies.
Description and a little history
Habitat of Pterygoplichthas brocade - shallows river systems Amazon and Orinoco, in rivers with slow flow, as well as on flooded lands during the rainy season.
The first scientific description of this species was made by the Austrian zoologist and ichthyologist Kner in 1845 and named it Ancistrus gibbiceps. Later, in 1980, this species was included in the genus of pterygoplichthys - Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, and then in the genus of glyptoperichthys - Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps, in 2003. When sending samples for export this type received such definable L-numbers as L083 and L165, respectively. For additional information, see: Numbered L-somas.
Etymology - translation from Latin Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps very clearly reflects the essence of the fish: Pterygos- wings, keel; pleion– more, ichthys- fish, gibbiceps- with a hump on his head.
Video in which Pterygoplichthus is shown in all its glory
The characteristic features of Pterygoplicht brocade are protruding nostrils, a ridge in front of the dorsal fin, and a large dorsal fin with 12-13 rays. The length of the first ray is equal to the length of the head.
The body of the catfish is elongated, dark, the head is large. The body is covered with bony plates, except for the abdomen, which is smooth. Small eyes are located high on the head. Distinctive feature- a tall and beautiful dorsal fin, which can be up to 15 cm long.
Body color: large brown spots separated by yellowish streaks.
Body size adult more than 50 centimeters!!!
Care requirements
and conditions of keeping pterygoplicht
The impressive size of Pterygoplichthus and its habitat determine the conditions for its maintenance. The aquarium should be spacious, preferably the environment should be slightly acidic (pH 6.5), the aquarium should be equipped with a high-quality filtration system, which will help level out fish waste products and avoid excessive concentrations nitrogenous compounds. Must be placed in the aquarium driftwood, because For normal digestion, catfish need cellulose. Aeration and high-quality water changes are mandatory.
Feeding and diet of pterygoplicht
Brocade pterygoplicht, like all loricariid catfish, can be classified as phytophages - their diet should include 75% plant food and only 25% protein.
Aquarists usually introduce scalded leaves of lettuce, spinach, zucchini, and cucumber into the diet of pterygoplichts. Catfish respond well to spirulina and nori, as well as homemade or branded food based on them.
Feeding aquarium fish should be correct: balanced, varied. This fundamental rule is the key to the successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. Article “How and how much to feed aquarium fish” talks about this in detail, it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime for fish.
In this article, we note the most important thing - feeding fish should not be monotonous; the diet should include both dry food and live food. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet food either with the highest protein content or, conversely, with plant ingredients.
Popular and popular food for fish, of course, is dry food. For example, food from Tetra, the leader, can be found on aquarium shelves all the time and everywhere. Russian market, in fact, the range of food from this company is amazing. Tetra’s “gastronomic arsenal” includes individual food for a specific type of fish: goldfish, cichlids, loricariids, guppies, labyrinths, arowanas, discus, etc. Tetra has also developed specialized foods, for example, to enhance color, fortified, or for feeding fry. Detailed information You can find out about all Tetra feeds on the company’s official website - Here.
It should be noted that when purchasing any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its manufacture and shelf life, try not to buy food in bulk, and also store the food in a closed state - this will help to avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.
Breeding and propagation of pterygoplichts
Sexual maturity in brocade catfish occurs at 3 years of age. However, the peculiarities of spawning do not allow mastering the breeding of pterygoplichts in aquariums. In nature, the female places her eggs in very deep burrows in the river bank. It is difficult to create such conditions in an aquarium; moreover, in captivity, fish often do not grow to the size necessary for reproduction.
Breeding of Brocade Pterygoplichthus is successfully carried out in earthen ponds on commercial farms in South-East Asia, Australia and USA.
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In the photo there are caviar and fry of Pterygoplichtas
Catfish spawn at night. The female lays 120-500 eggs in the hole, which the male then guards. The hatched fry are gray-gray in color with black dots. After the yolk sacs are reabsorbed, the juveniles are fed with special nutritional supplements.
Beautiful photos with Pterygoplichthus
Answer to the question: how long do catfish live in nature?
River catfish
Lake catfish
Aquarium catfish
Decorative and hybrid species of catfish are very popular among aquarium fish lovers. Catfish are often called the orderly of the aquarium due to their sedentary lifestyle and sucker-like mouth.
These fish are quite unpretentious in keeping and easily get along with other species without creating conflicts. The colors of catfish are not bright and beautiful - this is due to the fact that the fish camouflage themselves under the bottom, where they spend most of their time. Catfish are active at night, so it is advisable to have shelters for these fish in the aquarium. Driftwood, stone castles, caves or other secluded places are suitable for this. How long do catfish live in an aquarium? It depends on the conditions under which the fish are kept. If temperature conditions and feeding regime are observed, catfish can live for about 8 years. But some hybrid species of such fish can live up to 10 years if kept well. They should be fed in the evening, but they can find food for themselves. For example, by filtering the bottom of the aquarium, catfish find leftover food from other fish.
- large stones;
- grottoes;
- ceramic tubes;
- driftwood;
- small flower pots (without bottom).
When caring for a changeling, you have to catch it with a net from time to time. This must be done very carefully, as synodontis spreads spiny fins, which are very easy to damage. Often for this purpose experienced aquarists use glass jars of suitable size, to which special handles are attached.
The catfish is a calm and peaceful fish that prefers to live in a school. During the day it hides in shelters and is active at night. For this fish an aquarium will do volume of at least fifty liters.
Feeding
Behavior
Changeling catfish: reproduction
Fry
Brocade catfish is the best aquarium cleaner
Habitat and description
Living conditions
- Brocade pterygoplicht is not picky about its contents, but its fairly large size obliges it to be bred in very large aquariums with a capacity of 150 liters or more. And the larger the body of water, the better.
- The water temperature is 22 °C and higher, since the heat-loving brocade catfish feels good in water of 30 °C. Water hardness should be approximately 4-20°, and acidity should be from 6.5 to 8.2. filtration and aeration of water are important criteria for the normal development of fish. Because without these conditions, the catfish will develop poorly. It is also worth changing the water weekly, at least 30 percent of the total volume.
- As for feeding, this species of catfish prefers a mixture of both animal and plant foods. However, it is worth remembering that the main part daily diet must consist of vegetation. For example, scalded leaves of cabbage, green salad, nettles and fresh cucumbers. Catfish can snack on dry food made from spirulina. But taking into account all the preferences, you need to know that the brocade pterygoplicht is a nocturnal fish, so it is better to feed it before going to bed. It should also be noted that with intensive feeding, the fish become lazy and stop cleaning the aquarium.
- hardness - up to 30°,
- acidity - 6–8,
- temperature - 20–25°C.
Aqua parameters. The composition of the water usually does not affect the well-being of Corridors. There are values that are comfortable for them:
However, these bottom dwellers They tolerate less hard water well, as well as a wide temperature range from 2 to 35°C.
Aeration. These are inhabitants of small bodies of water, where the water in the heat is almost devoid of oxygen. But catfish are not afraid of this. They swallow air from the surface and breathe it. Thanks to the presence of intestinal respiration, fish survive where other species cannot exist.
Speckled catfish cannot tolerate salt in water. Salt cannot be used for its treatment and preventive measures, since even after a short stay in salt water, this fish usually dies.
Can sizes. For catfish it is not necessary to purchase a spacious aquarium. A volume of 40 liters is quite enough. The pond is designed so that fish can hide.
Vegetation. Suitable for this purpose aquatic plants. You just need to make sure that they do not cover the surface of the water excessively. Nothing should prevent the catfish from gaining air.
Decor. We must not forget about other shelters: stones, snags, grottoes. It is better to take medium and shallow soil so that these fish can turn it over, looking for food.
Of course, if there is excess dirt at the bottom, the catfish will muddy the water, so you can’t do without a good filter. You also need to regularly clean the bottom of the reservoir.
Lighting. To make the catfish comfortable, the lighting is not very bright.
Compatibility. The corridor in the aquarium should never be lonely, because catfish are schooling fish. They feel great in the company of 5-6 individuals. These are calm inhabitants of indoor ponds, so all peaceful species of not too large sizes get along well with them: Swordtails, Plaecilias, Danios, Angelfish, Neons, small Cichlids.
With good care Speckled catfish can live 8–10 years. And sometimes there are 15-year-old specimens.
Since ancient times it has been surrounded by myths and mysteries. And all this thanks to longevity (which is unusual for most river inhabitants) and a hidden lifestyle. Catfish is credited with incredible weight and body size. Many people believe that fish can live 100 years or more. This article will help you figure it all out.
How long do catfish live: truth and fiction
The ordinary catfish does not shine with beauty, and in old age it becomes even worse. Water worms in large numbers stick to his body and head, making our centenarian completely ugly.
River catfish, by the way, live longer than lake individuals. There is also a slow-growing species called reed. Its favorite habitat is cluttered river holes and backwaters with a large layer of silt.
How long do catfish live in the river? Everything, of course, depends on the environment and food supply. If the fish’s habitat is not polluted, and there are a lot of frogs and small fish in the neighborhood, then the catfish will live up to 40 years. Although there are individuals that live 60 years. But this is rather an exception.
Lake catfish live 10-20 years less than their river relatives. Mostly their age reaches 15-25 years. The fact is that there is not as much food in the lake as in the river, and it must be shared with other residents of the closed reservoir.
How long do catfish live: spawning age
At the age of 4-5 years, the named fish reaches sexual maturity. Catfish leave their holes and backwaters for about a month. During this period, males find their female - 3-4 contenders swim after one female. She chooses a mate for herself, and then the two of them drive away the rest of the gentlemen.
After this, the couple builds a nest for future offspring. Usually it is made in a primitive form in coastal vegetation. Here the female lays large eggs - the egg diameter is 2-3 mm. Their number varies. It all depends on the age of the female - a young female lays 10-15 thousand, and an older female lays 350-450 thousand eggs.
Until the young hatch, the catfish protects the nest from uninvited guests. It slaps the water with its huge tail, terrifying all the fish living nearby. At first, the baby is in the nest, feeding on silt and vegetation. And then the offspring scatter in all directions and begin to lead a predatory lifestyle.
Hunting and feeding catfish
The question of how long catfish live is directly related to the food supply. The abundance of food allows the inhabitant of bottom pits to hunt nearby. He cannot spend much energy searching for food, because his body is not adapted to fast swimming and long pursuit of his prey.
Usually the catfish bursts into the flock suddenly and unexpectedly. Or he grabs the first fish he comes across that accidentally approaches him. Often during hunting, catfish use their wide tail, which stuns several fish at once.
However, it is always difficult for him to get fish. Therefore, the inhabitant of pits and backwaters prefers to hunt frogs. For him, this is a delicacy and easy prey. The catfish does not disdain mice that fall into the water, catches chicks of domestic and wild birds, and devours various mollusks and crayfish. Old and fat catfish easily attack adult waterfowl; they can even drag a dog to the bottom of a reservoir.
There is an opinion that seasoned catfish even hunt calves and pigs. But reliable facts have not yet been recorded, so these are more fiction than reality.
Most often, people do not allow soma to live to a ripe old age. For a fisherman, catching a big and old catfish is the ultimate dream. Fish fillet also plays an important role in its catch - it is juicy, fatty and not tough.
Based on all of the above, it becomes clear how long catfish live. On average 10-15 years, or even less. A rare specimen lives to a ripe old age.
Aquarium catfish
River catfish are not the only representatives of this species. It is in great demand among aquarists, as it is unpretentious in food and maintenance and adapts perfectly to any living conditions.
Aquarium catfish feed on almost any food - both live and dry. For them, the hardness and acidity of the water in the aquarium are not significant. Even an unexpected drop in water temperature is not scary for them.
Aquarium catfish can easily live in muddy and heavily polluted water. And all this thanks to its unique respiratory system. However, the better the living conditions for catfish, the longer they live.
Beginning aquarists are interested in the question: how long do aquarium catfish live? Everything just depends on the conditions in which they live. On average they live 7-10 years.
However, this indicator is not for all catfish. Some species live 13-15 years. And some varieties of aquarium catfish live a short life, only 3-5 years. But despite how many years the catfish lives in captivity, it is a decoration for any aquarium.
How long will an aquarium catfish live?
Catfish are unpretentious and beautiful fish that even aquarists with little experience can breed without any problems.
Catfish are schooling beautiful fish that get along well with many non-aggressive species of the inhabitants of your aquarium!
The habitat of catfish is South America. In their natural environment, these fish live in stagnant muddy ponds, where they can easily get food for themselves. digging out of the silt:
In home aquariums, catfish play the role of cleaners, eating leftover food from other fish from the bottom and cleaning the walls of the container from plaque and microorganisms.
Unlike the fish living next to them, aquarium catfish completely unpretentious to the conditions of detention. They can eat almost any live fish food; the acidity and hardness of aquarium water is not an important criterion for them.
A sharp decrease in the water temperature in the aquarium by a couple of degrees will not cause any harm to the catfish. Due to the unique structure of the respiratory system, these fish can live in very muddy and dirty aquarium water. where there is no air aeration.
Almost all types of catfish live at the bottom of the aquarium, where they carefully explore the shallow soil in search of food. From time to time they rise to the surface of the water. to swallow air bubbles, which are subsequently absorbed in their intestines. The behavior of catfish is not affected in any way by the purity, quality and aeration of water in the aquarium.
How long do catfish live?
To the question “How long do catfish live in an aquarium?” no answer. It all depends on many factors, such as:
- water temperature;
- type of catfish;
- water quality;
- food quality;
- water aeration;
- water salinity;
- fish living next door.
If a clean aerated aquarium with thickets of dense plants, with an acidity of up to 8.2 and a water temperature of up to twenty-five degrees Celsius, then catfish can exist in the aquarium for about eight years.
The food that catfish eat also affects their lifespan. Live food is optimal for feeding these ground dwellers in your aquarium. Be aware that it is forbidden to keep catfish in salted or salt water - this will lead to the extinction of the fish.
Reviews from aquarists
My seasoned platidora crawled out of his hiding place, I looked at this miracle and wondered how old he was? They gave it to me along with a hundred-liter aquarium, the owner was selling the aquarium and gave me this miracle as a bonus, with the words “take him, he’s left alone and won’t live long, he’s about six years old already, and he’s been living in a rotten jar for the last months, which there was no one to deal with.”
The aquarium really looked like it was in a deplorable state, it was all overgrown. Well, so I took this beast. This was around 2003. After a while, the owner of the aquarium, learning that the animal was alive, was very surprised. The ending of the story is this: the year is 2015, the catfish is still alive and what is most surprising is that it is in excellent mobile condition (I specially examined it from all sides), does this mean it is 18 years old?
In addition to this catfish, I also have a girik, I bought it in February-March 2002, it is also vigorous, alive, chasing and building everyone in the aquarium.
An ordinary Ancistrus has been living in my aquarium for seven years now. Daddy is wonderful.
I have had acanthus in my aquarium since about 2003, there were three of them, recently I saw two, and at the moment there is only one left.
My friend has had a Pter since 1999, in a healthy 700 liter jar, about forty centimeters in size. In general, catfish live much longer than other aquatic animals purchased on the market. Why this is so, it’s better to find out from professionals, just as far as I know, the lifespan of fish in an aquarium is calculated at a couple of years, then they either die or get bored and pass into the hands of the next aquarist.
Catfish live for at least 10 to 15 years and often die from stupid, even sometimes ridiculous mistakes of their owners; neither a pro nor a student is immune from this.
I have an agamix swimming, which I bought in 1997. In addition to my oldest catfish, I have another male ancitrus from 2000, from 15 to 17 centimeters long.
Where does this information come from?
Even an ordinary anz lives for about 10 years, many even longer; large L catfish live for decades.
I suppose my acanthic catfish will even outlive me. Even if I now give up drinking, smoking, and gambling. and switch to a low-carb diet. my monster is my baggage, which I will carry until my death.
Exactly a year ago, I managed to exchange a pair of L181 catfish from an employee at work, asking the owner how old they were? She answered that about seven years.
This is all nonsense, 7 years. I read in the literature about wild male 046, who is now 15 years old and still takes part in spawning. But we are talking about a small species of catfish. Just imagine how many years large acanthics and panacians live.
It’s good that there are 14 years old, otherwise I thought mine were quite old. But it turned out not old, but experienced.
Answer to the question: how long do catfish live in nature?
Catfish can be classified as one of the oldest fish that inhabit the fresh waters of the planet. These scaleless creatures are the undoubted champions in size and weight among their freshwater counterparts. You can often hear legends about man-eating catfish, which have been living at the bottom of rivers for more than a century.
River catfish
Catfish are freshwater predators that live primarily in rivers. This fish chooses a hole at the bottom of the river for its home, which it leaves only to search for food or during spawning. Catfish feed small fish, crustaceans and even frogs.
It is impossible to say with accuracy how many years a catfish lives, but fish farmers were able to compile a table of the relationship between the weight and age of fish. For example, individuals weighing 10 kg lived 5 years, 32 kg - 12 years, 128 kg - 50 years.
Lake catfish
You can rarely find catfish in lakes and ponds. They most often end up in these bodies of water by accident. Externally, lake catfish are practically no different from river catfish; the only difference is the darker color of the skin. These fish do not live as long in the lake as catfish live in rivers. This is due to diet. After all, in stagnant lake water there is not much choice in food. It is because of this diet that lake catfish are not large in size. On average, the weight of such fish does not exceed 5 kg.
The average lifespan of catfish in such conditions is significantly less than that of river inhabitants. Average age river fish - 80 years. This is the answer to the question of how long catfish live in favorable conditions (lakes and ponds can hardly be classified as such). From this we can conclude that it will not be possible to find long-livers among lake catfish.
Aquarium catfish
Decorative and hybrid species of catfish are very popular among aquarium fish lovers. Catfish are often called the orderly of the aquarium due to their sedentary lifestyle and sucker-like mouth.
These fish are quite unpretentious in keeping and easily get along with other species without creating conflicts. The colors of catfish are not bright and beautiful - this is due to the fact that the fish camouflage themselves under the bottom, where they spend most of their time. Catfish are active at night, so it is advisable to have shelters for these fish in the aquarium. Driftwood, stone castles, caves or other secluded places are suitable for this. How long do catfish live in an aquarium? It depends on the conditions under which the fish are kept. If temperature conditions and feeding regime are observed, catfish can live for about 8 years. But some hybrid species of such fish can live up to 10 years if kept well. They should be fed in the evening, but they can find food for themselves. For example, by filtering the bottom of the aquarium, catfish find leftover food from other fish.
Long-lived catfish
This freshwater fish is famous for its fatty and tasty meat, so fishermen simply do not allow catfish to grow. In natural conditions, catfish can easily live more than a hundred years. But humanity constantly pollutes water resources, thereby calling into question the normal existence of fish. Therefore, how long catfish live depends primarily on their living conditions.
There is a lot of evidence in history about giant catfish, whose weight reaches more than 300 kg. Accordingly, scientists assume that the age of such individuals is more than 100 years. It can be assumed that there are also older catfish, which, according to legend, hunt swimming dogs and even people, but this information has not yet been confirmed.
Many of us love fish like catfish. Some people love dishes prepared from them, while others like to keep them in their home aquariums. But how long does a catfish live? Read the answer to this question further in the article!
The common catfish is a very large predator that lives in fresh water.
These fish can be either miniature in size (aquarium) or quite huge - reaching a mass of more than three hundred kilograms.
The appearance of these fish is very different from other fish. The catfish has a large mouth and two large whiskers. The head is very large. These fish feed on worms, possibly mollusks and sometimes crayfish or other fish. The color of this strong fish is not very noticeable. It does not have scales, the catfish is usually almost black on top, and the belly of the catfish is usually white.
How many years do catfish live?
The lifespan of catfish is approximately one hundred years. That is, these fish are long-lived.
The catfish is growing with each city, and there have been cases when fishermen caught catfish with very high large mass body and a fairly respectful age. Of course, the living conditions must be acceptable, as well as the diet. If you take these factors into account, your catfish will live a very long time and will decorate your home for a very long time.
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