Catfish killer whale care. Siamese killer whale (leiocassis siamensis)
Mystus tengara
In my opinion, Mystus striped is undeservedly ignored by lovers of aquarium exotics. This is a very attractive fish in appearance and interesting in behavior. The white belly and stripes on the body shine with mother-of-pearl, long whiskers and winking eyes give the fish a very extravagant appearance.
Features of keeping mistuses
It is best to keep these catfish in a flock of three or more, then they will show themselves in all their glory. Mistuses grow very quickly, they maximum size reaches up to twenty centimeters, so you should choose a large aquarium for them - from 150 liters and above, and its length should be much greater than its height. It should also be taken into account that catfish are very active and love to race around the aquarium. It also needs shelter in the form of various snags and grottoes - for example, my young mystus somehow hid under half a toothless shell.
Nevertheless, mystuses are visible almost all the time during the day, but their activity does not decrease at night either. At the same time, they can misbehave and bite the long fins of other fish - my handsome one left his tails mollies without their original lyres.
When getting yours, you should clearly know that they are predators, so all small fish, if any in your aquariums, will sooner or later be eaten by catfish. Therefore, it is best to keep them in the company of large fish; mine, for example, lives with astronotuses .
There is evidence that these catfish can spoil living plants by gnawing on their tender young leaves. You can try to “make friends” of catfish with plants by feeding them plant foods: lettuce leaves, scalded nettles.
Feeding mystus
Mistuses are very fond of special tablets for catfish. When I feed them to my mystus, he rushes like lightning into a pile of fish, grabs the tablet and runs away. After about five minutes he usually loses it and swims for another. These catfish are unpretentious in food, they eat absolutely everything: dry, frozen, and live food.
Water for mistuses
They require standard settled water with a temperature of about 25 degrees; it is enough to change it once every two weeks.
Mistus breeding
You can try and breed them, but this requires stimulation of the fish using pituitary injections, which, of course, is not available to all hobbyists. Therefore, it would be better to just watch these catfish and get aesthetic pleasure from them.
Shifter killer whale (Mystus leucophasis, Heterobagrus leucophasis)
No matter how beautiful and unusual this catfish is in appearance, it is so uninteresting in behavior. During the day it is not visible, since at this time of day it sits out in secluded places in the aquarium, under snags and in grottoes, and the catfish emerges from them only at night. If at this moment you turn on the light in the room, then it rushes like lightning into the shelter, sweeping away everything in its path.
Features of keeping killer whales
The catfish-shifter grows up to twenty-five centimeters. Its method of movement around the aquarium is interesting - the catfish constantly swims with its belly up. If you keep a changeling in a low aquarium, then when he falls asleep, you can even stroke his soft belly - he does not wake up immediately.
It should be borne in mind that this catfish is an active predator, so it is necessary to select large fish that can fend for themselves as neighbors. My catfish manages to bite the fins of even such giants as my astronotus at night.
You can keep shifters either alone or in a group, but sometimes they can sort things out among themselves, but this usually does not lead to serious injuries.
It should be noted that the shapeshifting killer whale is an almost unkillable fish. My catfish came to me at the age of five from a very dysfunctional aquarium, in which siphoning and replacement were not carried out for several months, there was more waste there than soil, and yet the fish were fed twice a day.
The catfish sat for three weeks in a forty-liter aquarium while my old one was being repaired; during catching, two antennae on the upper jaw were damaged - they turned white and fell off completely, and a large antennae was also damaged and broken. So, within a week, everything that fell off my catfish completely grew back and was restored.
The Siamese killer whale (pseudomystus siamensis, leiocassis siamensis), and not the killer whale, as is found in most searches, is a representative of the killer whale catfish family, which is found exclusively in fresh water bodies of South Asia.
In an aquarium it reaches a maximum of 12cm, in nature it can grow up to 20cm. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed; it is possible to distinguish a male from a female only by its smaller and more slender body.
The lifespan of the Siamese killer whale catfish (correctly Orca) is about 5-6 years.
Terms
This view aquarium fish loves space - an aquarium is selected from 100 liters, while long length height is preferred. In a large, spacious tank, the number of fights between males is reduced to a minimum, which allows breeding larger number these catfish. The aquarium should also come with a filter, a compressor and a lid (orcas are very active, playful and jumping).
The water must be clean and fresh (no salt!), its parameters: temperature 20-25°C, hardness up to 15°dH and acidity 6.5-7.5pH. Change the water once a week, about a third of the total volume.
Soil - coarse sand, pebbles, gravel, no coral or marble chips, they are suitable only for cichlids, as they increase rigidity. Lighting is moderate, diffused, the Siamese killer whale (a killer whale is a bird, a swallow) does not like bright light and tries to hide from it in all sorts of crevices. Decorations - grottoes, broken pots, tubes in which you can hide (not too narrow or small, otherwise your pets have a good chance of getting stuck there).
This type of catfish prefers to swim in the water column in its active phase (which begins with the arrival of twilight). The fish can sometimes be seen hanging in an upright position among the thickets of plants, the poet
A small amount of them (vallisneria is a good choice) would be very appropriate.
Spreading: As the name suggests, these catfish live in freshwater rivers and reservoirs of Thailand and Kampuchea, hence the name “Siamese”.
Description: The Siamese killer whale has an elongated body of a yellow-silver color, darker fins, and covered with spines on the back and chest. On the sides of the body, depending on age, maybe. wide dark stripes. There are whiskers on the lower jaw. They can make creaking sounds from the articulation of their jagged fins. There is another common species of Siamese killer whale - the catfish. It floats belly up, which is why it got its name. These catfish have no scales. This subspecies is more timid, and can only be seen at night, and then it will immediately hide in a shelter. Due to the fact that they do not have scales, these catfish are covered with mucus, which, while performing protective functions, is poisonous.
Dimensions: grow up to 20 cm (in an aquarium - up to 12 cm)
Feeding/types of food: They eat any frozen and dry food, you can feed them with tubifex and bloodworms. Feed or part of the feed must be given at night, since this species leads night look life.
Basic parameters of the aquarium:
- Temperature 21-25°C
- Acidity level pH 6.5-7.5
- Hardness dH up to 15
The aquarium must be at least 100 liters. The lighting is dim. Catfish can jump out, so it is necessary to cover the “jar”. In the reservoir itself there should be a lot of shelters, snags, various cylinders, etc. Also, there must be enough vegetation for Siamese killer whales to hide in it. This species loves clean, oxygenated water. Therefore, appropriate measures must be taken (aeration, filtration, replacement of part of the water).
Social behavior: fish are peaceful, but can also be predatory. In general, the content in community aquarium quite acceptable, but we must take into account that the remaining inhabitants must be no smaller than these catfish, and the proximity of veiled fish is also not recommended - the tails and fins will be bitten. The fish are active at night. If two males do not divide the territory, there will be fights.
The Siamese killer whale is nocturnal. If you want to see this fish more often, then you need to create dim lighting in the aquarium, since the fish hides from bright light.
Sex differences: females larger than males and more complete.
Breeding
To breed Siamese Killer Whale, you need a spawning aquarium with a volume of at least 100 liters. In females, before spawning, the abdomen becomes significantly fuller. Usually, in preparation for spawning, pituitary injections are used, then eggs are collected manually from the female and milt from the males. Fertilization of eggs occurs artificially in a separate container. There are no facts of successful breeding of Siamese Killer Whale in an amateur aquarium yet. With professional breeding, it is possible to achieve numerous laying of eggs with a diameter of 1 mm. In this case, an important condition for spawning is an increase in temperature in the spawning area. Siamese killer whale fry are fed rotifers.
A little cocky, mischievous and active fish... These are the epithets that can be used if we briefly describe the character of mystus - a small Asian catfish.
This active representative of catfish can be found in the reservoirs of India and Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and in some other southern Asian countries Oh. The fish is interesting because it can live both in the fresh waters of rivers or lakes, and in the slightly brackish water of the mouths of rivers flowing into seas and oceans.
Schooling catfish, the length of which is natural conditions reaches 45 cm, is very mobile, playful, often swims belly up among the thickets in the coastal strip.
For this, some types of mistuses are nicknamed. However, these fish have quite a lot of names: killer whale catfish, Indian mystus, long-whiskered, striped and several more names in Latin.
The thing is that even many experts still confuse individuals of the genus Mystus with each other.
In nature, there are representatives of about 30 species, which are almost impossible to distinguish at the age of 3-4 months. Species differences appear only in maturing fish.
Asian catfish are pronounced predators. During the day, they usually rest in thickets of aquatic vegetation or among stones, and at dusk they go out hunting, eating small floating things they come across. In principle, all river (sometimes sea) living creatures that they are able to swallow become their food.
Description
The striped (or cobalt) mystus, which is most often found in aquariums, has a long, spindle-shaped body. The total length from the beginning of the muzzle to the edge of the tail is 16–20 cm.
The belly of these fish is light, shimmering with mother-of-pearl, the back is gray-brown.
From the base of the head to the very tail there are two pearlescent stripes, which give the name to the species.
The upper lip is decorated with a pair of long mustaches, from lower lip two pairs of whiskers extend slightly shorter than the upper ones. Whiskers are organs of touch that allow fish to feel confident in the dark, in dense aquatic jungles.
The catfish's eyes are large and protruding. They give the fish a funny and mischievous look, especially if the catfish winks.
The dorsal fin is high, transparent and short, consisting of individual sharp rays. The pectoral and pelvic fins are small, and the tail, on the contrary, is large, regular V-shaped.
The species was described a long time ago, back in the first quarter of the 19th century. The scientific (Latin) name of the species is Mystus tengara.
Sexual characteristics are expressed quite clearly. Females are noticeably thicker than males, in addition, males have a special process called the “urogenital papilla”.
The usual lifespan of mystus is 5–6 years.
Conditions of detention
The main feature of keeping it is the need to purchase a large aquarium, from 150 liters or more. It is better if it is extended in length, since representatives of Mystus tengara love to play, chasing each other or chasing their neighbors around the aquarium.
It should be remembered that the cobalt catfish is jumping, so it must close the “can”.
Loneliness asian catfish cannot tolerate it, becoming either incredibly fearful or showing strong aggression.
But group housing is optimal, allowing the fish to feel calm in captivity.
The aquarium follows grottoes, caves, and driftwood, which are places for daytime rest. Regarding aquatic plants, then the catfish will constantly bite their tender and soft leaves. It is possible to withstand such a proximity of plants only if you feed the fish with pieces of plant food (scalded chopped lettuce leaves, for example).
Aquarium water parameters:
- temperature in the range from +22 to +27 degrees Celsius;
- acid-base balance is about neutral (pH=7);
- water hardness is not higher than 24 degrees.
Lighting should be dim. This will allow you to enjoy observing the behavior of your pets during the daytime.
Feeding
If you decide to start a flock of Mystus tengara, then you must not forget that they are predators. Small decorative fish will inevitably become hunted; they will be gradually eaten, and there is no doubt about it.
Catfish can be given a variety of foods:
- live food (bloodworms or earthworms),
- frozen, dry food.
They also happily consume commercial tablet or granulated food for ornamental catfish.
Remains of food that have settled to the bottom will also be eaten; however, the soil should be siphoned periodically.
Compatibility
Its features are associated with the predatory nature of Asian catfish. They pursue not only small aquarium fish, but also larger ornamental fish with veil-shaped fins. Catfish, of course, will not be able to swallow such neighbors, but their fins will be bitten and irreparably damaged. That's why the best option is a species aquarium, the so-called somyatnik.
However, if this option is not possible, then any sized fish with low fins can be kept together with mystus. Races around the aquarium can be seen every day, but these are more like games without any real aggression.
Reproduction
Facts natural reproduction absent in amateur aquariums. Reproduction by hormonal injections is carried out in special nurseries. Actually, from there the striped mystuses go on sale.
Exotic cobalt catfish are not as popular as they deserve to be. Possessing some intelligence, they recognize their owners, even allowing them to stroke their belly, turning over with their backs down. And don’t be surprised if a mischievous striped catfish one day cheerfully winks at you with its big black eyes.
Aquarium fish Siamese killer whale
– the fish often hides in various holes, spaces between stones. It lives in reservoirs with fresh water in Kampuchea. The size of this cute fish does not exceed 12 centimeters. It has a body length of up to 20 cm. The body is elongated, caudal fin has highly developed blades.
Description
Names: Siamese killer whale
Family: Bagridae.
Range: Thailand, Kampuchea, Cambodia, Sri Lanka.
Habitat: freshwater rivers and reservoirs.
Description: elongated body, caudal fin with highly developed blades. The adipose fin is well developed. The body is surrounded by wide dark stripes of various shapes. There are spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins.
Color: yellow-silver with dark stripes. The intensity of color depends on size and age.
Size: Siamese killer whale grows up to 20 cm.
Content level: easy.
Life expectancy: 5-6 years.
Feeding:
Diet: live (frozen shrimp, daphnia, insects, bloodworms, coretra) and dry food.
Feeding frequency: adults – often in small portions in the evening and at night, juveniles –
Behavior:
Character: peaceful, sometimes predatory, nocturnal, timid. When kept in a small aquarium, males become territorial.
Water zone: middle layer of water.
Can be kept with: fish of the same size.
Cannot be kept with: small fish and fish with long fins.
Fish breeding:
Sexual differences: the female is plumper and larger than the male.
Breeding season: rainy season.
Preparation: use hormones.
Spawning aquarium: from 100 l, dH to 10′, pH 7.0, t 26-28’C.
Mating games: eggs are deposited on the roots of plants.
Quantity of eggs: up to 800 yellowish eggs (diameter 1 mm).
Feeding of juveniles: rotifer.
Mystus striped, Indian killer whale catfish (Mystus vittatus) is a playful representative of the underwater world. Originally from Asian countries, its habitat is the waters of the rivers of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Prefers fresh waters streams and lakes, sometimes swims into sea bays.
Mistus is a kind and active fish, which is very pleasant to watch. He literally races with his neighbors in the aquarium, but before you start a Mythus, you should familiarize yourself with the conditions for its adaptation.
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Description
Mistus reaches 20-25 cm in length, has a slightly flattened, elongated body. On the large head with large eyes there are three pairs of cute mustaches. For dorsal fin there is a small adipose fin. The body is colored pinkish-yellow, iridescent with a blue-violet tint. On the sides of the body there are several horizontal stripes of dark color, on gill covers- black spots. The fry are silver in color.
The difference between the female and the male is visible after 3 months of life: the female has a full white abdomen and is larger in itself. The male has a urogenital papilla, a special process that is visible after the third month of life.
Mistus striped is sometimes calm, sometimes cocky. Loves to actively play in the aquarium with other fish, especially at night. Prefers places where there are many grottoes, snags, and plants. Sometimes in pursuit he teases his comrades, sorting things out with them. Mistus is a predator, so small fish OK he will eat quickly. Also Indian som may nibble young leaves aquarium plants, so you need to start getting acquainted with plant foods as early as possible.
Watch a video on how to keep mistuses.
How to properly keep and feed
At maximum length A 20 cm mystus can swim quickly in water; for a spacious place, an aquarium of about 120-150 liters is needed (length is greater than height). The bottom should be lined with stones, driftwood and plants.
The water temperature is preferably 22-28 o C, pH – 6.0-7.4, water hardness – up to 5-25 dH. Good aeration and moderate-to-strong current are required. Dim lighting is recommended. The water can be changed once every 2 weeks, or 25% of the water can be changed weekly, not forgetting about aeration and filtration. Mistus loves the lower layers of water, so it should be crystal clear. IN favorable conditions mistus lives for five years.
The diet consists of live and frozen dry food, sometimes it eats what other inhabitants of the aquarium have left uneaten. Loves salad oatmeal, worms. It does not leave a single gram of food behind, eating it from the bottom of the aquarium.
Neighbours
Mystuses are characterized by territorially aggressive behavior, so it is better to stock several individuals in the aquarium. Their neighbors may become more large fish. Catfish have very big mouth to swallow small fish such as zebrafish and neons. They will also chase fish with veil fins, plucking their fins.
Look at striped catfish in an aquarium.
Breeding
Having reached a length of 10-12 cm, mystus becomes sexually mature. In a common aquarium, male and female reproduce very rarely, so the appearance of offspring is possible with the help of pituitary injections. Unfortunately, they hardly reproduce in captivity, but there are isolated cases.
Mysthuses easily reproduce in a spawning tank with active aeration (the female can lay up to 500 eggs). The fry develop quickly; from the first days of life, their main food is microplankton. It is advisable to sort them by size so that they do not eat each other.