Fish floating in the middle layers of the aquarium. House for fish: basic parameters. Aquarium lamps and everything you need to know about them

When filling the aquarium with hydrobionts, it is important that all its inhabitants are evenly distributed over the layers of water, and at the same time do not interfere with each other.

Different types of fish prefer different layers of water - upper, middle, lower.

The fish that stay close to the surface:spatters, cockerels, and others, do not need a tall aquarium: in this case, the lower layers will be empty. It is better for these types of fish to increase the surface area of ​​the water. It should also be taken into account that many species of fish that live in the upper layers of the water like to “jump” above the surface of the water, so they need to make the distance from the surface to the coverslip at least 10-15 cm.

Fish living at the bottom of the biotope: fights, catfish, gobies and others, present other requirements for the arrangement of the underwater world. They love the directional flow of water near the bottom. Usually, catfish do not harm plants, and with most species bottom catfish and sucker catfish You can contain absolutely any kind of plants.

Fish that live mainly in the middle layers of the water: viviparous, characin and many others, require both open space for swimming and densely planted corners, or where they could hide from predators or choose a place for spawning. The middle layer is the most densely populated in the biotope.

An aquarium with a high and wide view glass is suitable for such fish.

How to determine in which layer of water this or that fish prefers to stay?

There are not so many fish that are ready to mortally defend their territorial spaces. Most species are ready to change their habits in conditions of aquarium crowding, and here the task of the aquarist is to create acceptable living conditions for the inhabitants of all levels. For example, barbs, in general, "colonize" all layers of water, however, when a predatory catfish, they immediately move to the upper layers of the biotope. This is where the aquarist should intervene: for example, create additional terraces, add long-stemmed or floating plants, and it is also possible to change the lighting scheme.

When choosing aquarium fish, it is necessary to take into account the different aspects of their behavior and maintenance requirements. Important is the correct choice and rational filling of water layers with fish in the biotope,. Ignoring this aspect will lead to overpopulation of the biotope, intimidation of some fish by others, fights between aquatic organisms, and, ultimately, their death.

It's tempting to imagine yourself owning a tiger shark. But for the ocean beauty, you will need a “house” with a volume of over 10 cubic meters. Most fellow citizens are unlikely to find a place for such an aquarium in their homes. And the age of novice wildlife lovers, as a rule, is small. It is not known for how long their hobby or for several days.

In addition, certain material costs will be required. Therefore, it is better to choose an aquarium of modest volume and pick up small “residents” for it.

The number and size of its possible inhabitants, as well as their health, depends on the volume of the aquarium. The parameters of the "reservoir" also affect efforts to maintain the required temperature, acidity, hardness of water and its saturation with oxygen.

Aquarium has a long history. During this time, many species of small aquarium fish were found in nature, which they managed to relocate to an artificial habitat.

Breeders have managed to bring out a large number of their varieties, differing in shape and color. Recent advances in microbiology and genetics have led to the emergence of so-called nano fish. This is a miniature version of the usual large fish.

The most common inhabitants of home aquariums

Young aquarists are often advised to start with guppies from the Pecilia family. These colorful babies with large tails are the most unpretentious and inexpensive of all types of babies. They can eat dry food, do not require water aeration. Males grow up to 3 cm.

Guppies are found in many freshwater warm waters. They are specially bred there to fight malarial mosquitoes. Guppies eat the larvae of these harmful insects.

No less popular species belong to the same family: swordtails and mollies.

Neons (family of tetras) can compete for the title of the most popular. They are distinguished by shiny bright stripes on the body, sparkling when moving. Neons are native to the Amazon. The maximum length is 4 cm. They prefer live food, live in the middle layers of the reservoir, love cleanliness and spaciousness. One individual should have at least 1 liter of water. Neons are peaceful and get along well in the same aquarium with the same non-aggressive neighbors.

Small aquarium fish are also in the carp family. Easy-to-keep zebrafish are popular. For their unique color - yellow-green with dark blue stripes - they received affectionate nicknames: "ladies' stockings" and " striped stripes". Rivers, streams of Hindustan and the north of Indochina are their habitat.

They prefer the upper layers of the aquarium, so they are easily combined with lovers of the middle and bottom layers. For the biological features of the development of zebrafish, they became a kind of laboratory white mice of ichthyologists.

Representatives of this species even participated in space experiments. Breeders have bred a variety of zebrafish with a leopard color. And more recently, even genetically modified fish have appeared - fluorescent.

From other cyprinids, barbs (about 15 species) and dwarf rasbors should be distinguished. These are active beautiful small aquarium fish that love the middle layers of water. Rasbora baby - the smallest of this family. An adult does not grow more than 1.5 cm. All cyprinids get along well in one aquarium.

A bit of exotic

Representatives of the labyrinth suborder (perch-like detachment) are surprisingly arranged. They got their name due to the presence of a special organ in them - a labyrinth, which allows saturating the blood with oxygen directly from atmospheric air.

Such fish are able to live in muddy water and stay on land for a long time. Crossword lovers are well aware of the name of the most famous of the labyrinths. This is a climbing perch, capable of moving from one reservoir to another during a drought.

But when choosing fish for an aquarium, amateurs prefer to buy other fish of this suborder - dwarf gourami. An oblong, laterally flattened body (3.5-4 cm long) of olive color with a strip of small dark spots distinguishes these peaceful fish.

Shy kids love all sorts of caves and shelters. An aquarium in which gouramis live should be covered with a lid so that its inhabitants do not catch a cold. An amazing feature of gourami is a characteristic rather loud rumbling during the spawning period.

Experienced aquarists try to make keeping fish as naturalistic as possible and create a small semblance of a natural biosystem in their reservoir: they settle bottom dwellers in it. For a small aquarium, small catfish are suitable. They do not interfere with other fish, because they are constantly concerned about the cleanliness of the walls and bottom of the aquarium.

It is interesting to watch peaceful, cheerful and active corridors. About 150 species of these catfish are known, whose birthplace is the rivers of South America. Fish are able to breathe by swallowing air bubbles.

A native of West Africa - a small (3-4 cm long) torch epiplatis - received a completely Russian nickname - a clown pike for outward resemblance to the river heroine of our fairy tales. Males are distinguished by a beautiful torch-like tail. Peace-loving fish cannot stand cocky and predatory neighbors, they can hide and even refuse to eat.

A striped pecilobrycon grows up to 4 cm. A distinctive feature is a narrow body with four transverse spots. In the dark, a dark band appears between the first and second spots. The fish swims with an inclination, head up.

Throughout the aquarium, another baby is confidently holding on - nannostomus nitidus from the lebiasin family. Small (up to 3.5 cm long) fish should be kept separately from predators. Its natural habitat is a small river in the Brazilian state of Para.

In 1929, a pandaki goby was discovered on the Philippine island of Luzon. From Latin, its name is translated as pygmy pygmy. Almost completely transparent fish feed on plankton and grow to a maximum of 7-15 mm. Her image is on one of the coins of this country. Some time ago, fashionistas even wore crystal aquarium earrings with a tiny live fish inside.

The smallest and most interesting aquarium fish for home keeping are:

• green city;
• badis red "Scarlet";
• pygmy scissor-tailed parsing;
• Danio "Panther".

These fish can be planted in a small artificial "reservoir" by 8-10 individuals. They are very interesting to watch. But you need to know - these kids are quite shy, and if other species of fish are planted with them, they can get sick.

Danio Panthers are not left in an open container - active babies can not only swim, but also jump.

Rules for beginners in the aquarium business

Those who decide to purchase aquarium fish for a small aquarium should follow a few mandatory rules:

• Fish less than 5 cm long should live in flocks of 4 to 12. Depending on the type;
• The aquarium should be filled with plants and a variety of hiding places so that the fish feel comfortable, and aquarists can enjoy their beauty and unique behavior;
• Kids are peaceful and shy, so bully neighbors and predators are unacceptable.
• When installing an “artificial” reservoir and populating it with inhabitants, you need to take into account the illumination - the fish may need an additional light source, or vice versa, the container will have to be shaded in the daytime;
• Miniature fish are sensitive to water temperature, because their homeland is warm countries, and in the cold season they require special attention.

Peaceful fish are not boring at all - there are many species for safe cohabitation, all of which are also beautiful and interesting, in bright colors. In order for the settlement to succeed, it is necessary to take into account the water conditions in which the fish can live, their lifestyle and behavior. Consider the most popular peace-loving fish.

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schooling fish

Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

The neon tetra is a great pet for an aquarium that can be settled in a tropical pond. Suitable for beginners - aquarists - she has a calm disposition and unpretentious requirements for maintenance. Will stand out against the background of green aquarium plants. It is necessary to keep neon tetras in aquariums with a volume of 50-100 liters (for 5-8 fish). In the first days of the settlement, they will perfectly fit into the underwater ecosystem.

Iriatherina werneri (Iriatherina werneri)

Although the males of these fish of the Melanotheniaceae family can fight with each other, they are actually peaceful fish. Often they are victims of other fish that like to pluck their long fins, so it is better to settle in the same peaceful species. When kept in a good and spacious aquarium with a volume of 50-60 liters in a group of at least 6 individuals, they will demonstrate interesting behavior and good disposition towards the same neighbors.

See what Iriatherina Werner looks like.

Carnegiella marble (Carnegiella strigata)

Marble Carnegiells are an excellent choice for a 60-100 liter aquarium. They swim in the top layer of the aquarium. They have a very interesting appearance: their wedge-shaped abdomen and variegated color immediately attract the eye. They are calm and shy and may leave other fish alone. Aquarium fish are kept in groups, it is recommended to settle a flock of 6 individuals at least. The flock prefers to swim in the upper layers of the water, without disturbing the peaceful bottom fish. However, the aquarium must have a lid so that the fish do not jump out of it. Sometimes blows on the lid are heard - it means that it frolics or requires attention to itself.

Somiki

Twig fish, or Farlowella catfish (Farlowella vittata)

Farlovella catfish are an excellent choice for hobbyists who want to take care of the cleanliness of their home aquarium. These herbivorous catfish will definitely not prey on fry of other fish, and even on small fish. They prefer calm, peaceful aquariums, where there is no place for hostility. They do not take away food from others, but eat up its leftovers.

They grow up to 15 cm in size, so they should be settled in spacious aquariums with a volume of at least 120 liters. Sensitive to the parameters of the aquatic environment. Twig fish are the best algae eaters. For their maintenance, constant feeding with plant foods is necessary - zucchini and algae plates, otherwise aquatic plants will eat. Compatible with peaceful fish swimming in the upper layers of the water.

Otocinclus (Otocinclus affinis)

One of the calmest types of catfish, it also likes to eat algae. In appearance, they are charming fish, distinguished by a peaceful disposition and a slow swimming style. For a settlement, an aquarium with a volume of 50 liters or more is sufficient. It is advisable to settle 6 fish at once, since catfish are shy and shy.

It also requires the presence of a sufficient number of shelters in the form of grottoes, caves and snags. Their fragile body is sensitive to water quality, so regular water changes are a must. You can settle with small fish (no more than 5 cm) and slow ones swimming in the middle and upper layers of the reservoir.

Catfish panda (Corydoras Panda)

Panda Corydoras are small fish of the Armored catfish family. They can live in an aquarium with a volume of 50-100 liters. These are bottom fish that prefer rectangular aquariums with a sandy substrate. Like other aquarium catfish, they must live in a group of 5-7 fish to feel safe.

Between themselves, they are contact, friendly, sometimes they arrange games and catch-up, without causing damage to each other. Sometimes they show hyperactive behavior. The best neighbors for them are other corridors of small sizes, and small fish up to 5 cm in size, which do not show an aggressive disposition and swim in the upper and middle layers of the water. It is important that the catfish get the food that they collect from the bottom.

Viviparous species with peaceful character

Mollies

Mollies: many types of mollies in captivity grow up to 5-10 cm. Their character is completely harmless, therefore they are compatible with peaceful and medium-sized fish. It is not recommended to settle to predatory, active and aggressive species. They perfectly exist next to other viviparous fish: guppies, swordtails, platies.

Guppy

Small aquarium fish, males are smaller than females, the length of aquarium species is 4-5 cm. Peace-loving creatures, do not touch neighbors. However, large and predatory fish can offend them. Cannot be kept with aquarium sharks, swordfish, giant gouras, pangasius. It is also not recommended to settle them with barbs and thorns, who like to cut off the fins of beautiful fish.

Perfectly take root with neons, rasboras, cardinals, speckled catfish, tarakatums. A small flock of 5 fish should be placed in one tank, in such a quantity they will be comfortable and safe. A 20-50-liter aquarium is enough for such a number of fish.

swordsmen

Swordsmen: unpretentious, bright and beautiful representatives of the water world, characterized by peaceful behavior. However, you should know that the male swordtails show aggression towards each other, each of them has its own, individual disposition. Males are slightly smaller than females - 8-10 cm. Aggression is promoted by cramped aquariums in which either there are no plants or there are very few of them. More than 2 males cannot be kept in one aquarium, this will lead to fights. With other fish, both viviparous and spawning, they live well. It is not recommended to settle with golden fish. Their ideal neighbors:

• Pecilia;
• Guppy;
• Mollies;
• gourami;
• Neons;
• angelfish;
• Rainbows.

See how to keep the swordsmen.

However, this is not the whole list of peaceful fish. The following take root mainly with small viviparous species and medium-sized catfish.

Other peaceful species

Gourami are endemic to Southeast Asia. They love calm warm water. In the general nursery, barbs can terrorize them, since the movements of the fish are slow and unhurried. Plant live plants in groups so that the fish have somewhere to hide. Compatible with, swordtails, mollies, iris, discus.

South American angelfish - badly coexist with guppies and neon, perceiving the latter for food. Contained in the same conditions as large cichlids. It is advisable to settle alone or at once two adults who grew up together. Sword-bearing neighbors can resist them thanks to their dexterous disposition.

Rainbowfish are brightly colored aquarium fish that attract predators in the wild. Not compatible with koi, cichlids, goldfish, astronotus. Compatible with scalars, gourami, corridors, danios, guppies, mollies, rasboras, bots.

Beginners aquarists should start with unpretentious in fish keeping. Over time, if there is a desire, move on to more demanding ones. So you can avoid big disappointments in a pleasant hobby. Even non-difficult species of fish need competent care, only you with them it will be faster and easier.
Always buy or keep only those aquarium fish that you like, which pleasant to you personally. This applies to both types of fish and specific individuals. Among the unpretentious and difficult to keep, there are many delightful, interesting and beautiful fish. The choice is large, you can always find something to your liking.
In the beginning it's better familiarize With classification fish, read their characteristics. Understand habits, requirements and terms content liked types. Do their lifestyle, breeding frequency, maintenance requirements, etc. suit you? It is not only pleasure and admiration. Aquarium fish need to be taken care of. Then you have to pick compatible for keeping in the same aquarium.
Having decided on the types of fish and the number of individuals for your aquarium, you can go to buy. Need to buy healthy. Do not be too lazy to travel around several stores, bypass different sellers. And then return for a purchase in a more trustworthy place, where the right fish are better. New fish are good to keep in quarantine even if they look healthy on the outside.
If the aquarium is new, then first you need to properly run the aquarium and only in a few days buy and run the first fish.

Aquarium fish are:

1. Freshwater, saltwater and fish that can live in brackish water.
Marine suitable for keeping in aquariums with salty, sea water. freshwater- in fresh water, it is about them that we will mainly discuss below.
2. Preferring to lead schooling, single, double or harem Lifestyle.
Depending on these preferences, you need to buy the necessary minimum quantity fish of this species in your aquarium.
3. viviparous(females do not spawn, but fry already formed, ready for independent life) and spawning.
4. tropical(minimum 18-20°C) and living in cold water(14-25°C).
5. Living mainly in top layers of water, in medium layers of aquarium water and leading benthic Lifestyle.
6. Predators, varied eating, herbivores.
Fry and relatively smaller fish are considered as food by most peaceful and calm fish (not obvious predators).
7. Nimble and mobile, calm and slow(by temperament).
Mobile can annoy the calm and slow. And large, but slower ones can be bitten by more nimble and aggressive small fins.
8. Very large, large, average, small and very small.
Large ones can exterminate, eat, or simply kill obviously smaller ones.
9. Demanding a lot oxygen dissolved in water(should be kept in large aquariums), average the amount and for which the amount of oxygen in water not very important.
The latter include those living in the bottom layers (catfish). As well as labyrinths (cockerel, gourami), which are able to breathe oxygen from the atmosphere.
10. Territorial, aggressive and accommodating.
Some aggressors can only be kept alone or with larger species.
It's good for anyone to have plenty of hiding places in the aquarium made of plants, snags, rocks, coconut shells, etc.

Classification of aquarium fish with a description

freshwater

→ Viviparous

Pecilidae (lat. Poeciliidae)

About 20 genera and 140 species. The family contains many species of viviparous carps. Unpretentious to feeding and conditions of detention, ease of reproduction.
Most species of pecilia have a bright color. A large number of new forms have been bred, differing in color, size and shape of the dorsal and caudal fins.

Pecilia (Xiphophorus, lat. Poecilia)

Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)

Molliesia (Poecilia, or Mollienesia)

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata, or Lebistes reticulata)

→ Spawners

labyrinth

Family order Perciformes (Perciformes). They are able to breathe atmospheric air through a special organ - a labyrinth.
Labyrinth fish - easy to keep and care, small. Males build a nest for eggs from air bubbles on the surface of the water.

Cockerel (Betta)

Gourami (Trichogaster)

Lyalius (Colisa lalia)

Macropods (Macropodus)

Family Carp (Cyprinidae)

It includes 275 genera, including more than 1500 species. Easy to keep. Many species are gregarious. Lots of small ones. Nimble or calm, many are peaceful.

Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Barbs (Barbus)

Danio (Danio)

Cardinal (Tanichthys albonubes)

Rasbora

Labeo

Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) and Siamese flying fox (Siamese flying fox)

Gorchak ordinary (Rhodeus sericeus amarus)

Microrasbora (Microrasbora)

Family Characinidae, American tetras (Characidae)

American tetras, neons - flocking, small, peaceful (exclusive, piranha), mostly brightly colored. Fish with characteristic dark or luminous spots and strokes by reflected light.

Minor (Hyphessobrycon minor)

Ornatus (Phantom) (Hyphessobrycon)

Ternetia (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)

Neon (lat. Paracheirodon)

Tetra

Subfamily piranha (lat. Serrasalminae)

Family Alestovye, or African tetras

Tetra Congo (Phenacogrammus interruptus)

Arnold's tetra (Arnoldichthus spilopterus)

Family Cyprinodontidae (Cyprinodontidae)

Brightly colored and unpretentious to the conditions of keeping and breeding, especially to the volume of the aquarium, they are excellent aquarium fish. They live in streams, rivers and lakes, live 2-3 years. Some species exist in dry waters and puddles and live only one season - 6-9 months.
An interesting divorce. Species living in permanent reservoirs lay several eggs per day on plants near the bottom or floating near the surface. Species living in drying up reservoirs lay their eggs in a soft substrate (most often peat). After the water has dried up fish die, and caviar in peat it enters a state of diapause, which in some species can last up to 18 months. At the onset of the rainy season and filling the reservoir with rainwater come out of the calf fully formed fry that immediately begin to swim and feed. As an adaptation to the transience of the life cycle, representatives of these species become sexually mature already at the age of 4-6 weeks.

Afiosemion (Aphyosemion)

Notobranchius (Nothobranchius)

Family Melanoteniaceae, Rainbows (Melanotaeniidae)

The family contains about 10 genera and is limited in distribution by fresh waters. australia and New Guinea.

Melanothenia (Melanotaenia)

Family Tetraodontidae or pufferfish (Tetraodontidae)

In a moment of danger, they can swell up like a balloon to appear to the enemy as “too big to devour.”

Tetraodon (Tetraodon)

Family Cichlids or Tsikhlovye (Cichlidae)

Akara

Apistogramma

Astronotus , peacock eye (Astronotus ocellatus)

Discus (Symphysodon)

scalar

African lake cichlids

Family Toxotidae, genus Toxotes

They are distinguished by the ability to splash water onto land or into the air in order to knock down and subsequently eat insects that they feed on.

Striped Archer (Toxotes jaculatrix)

Vyunov family group (Loaches, Loaches, Boats, Balitorovye)

Very small scales. There are mustaches. Most bottom fish, get food for themselves at the bottom.
In addition to breathing with gills, they are able to absorb oxygen from water through the skin, as well as by swallowing atmospheric air into the intestines (excl., Balitorovye).

Botsiyye (Botiidae)

Plucked (Cobitidae)

Pseudo-scat Seville (Beaufortia leveretti)

Family Shell or Callicht catfish (Callichthyidae)

These catfish are able to breathe atmospheric air. They feed at the bottom, the orderlies of the aquarium.
Peaceful and non-territorial. Easy to keep and breed. Most are small (up to 6 cm).

A decorative aquarium is a prototype of a home reservoir. Compliance with the basic rules for maintaining an aquarium, aeration and settlement of companion fish contributes to the creation of favorable conditions for the peaceful coexistence of various types of aquarium fish. So, we select fish for an average aquarium

What fish live in an ordinary aquarium

Before you buy an aquarium, you should find out what kind of fish live in a regular aquarium. The purchase of an aquarium with an average volume of up to 150 liters opens up a lot of opportunities for its settlement with various types of fish, including exotic ones. In such an aquarium, you can create several options for natural biotopes. At the same time, it is necessary to clearly divide the total volume of water into typical layers that create the most favorable living conditions for a particular type of aquarium fish. It is believed that if the mouth of the fish has a kind of protrusion or is turned up, then such a breed prefers to live in the upper layer of water. Otherwise, the rock is bottom and inhabits the lower layers of water. With the right selection of aquarium fish, all layers of the water in the aquarium are evenly populated, giving the impression of a natural ecosystem.

The optimal number of fish for each layer is calculated based on the volume of the aquarium and the size of the aquarium fish. So, for fish up to 5 centimeters long, 1 liter of water is required. With large sizes of fish, you need to add 2-3 liters for each.

Depending on the characteristic features of some types of aquarium fish, it is necessary to provide for the settlement of calm and peaceful fish in a separate layer of water, freeing up space for their more active counterparts.

Types of aquarium fish for the average aquarium

The most popular type of reservoir for an aquarium up to 100-150 liters is the South American model. In this case, it is necessary to select small and medium-sized fish of the order of characins (tetras, neons, blackthorns) or cichlids (blue racars, angelfish, parrots, discus).

It is also possible to populate such fish combinations as Sumatran barbs and pelvikachromis (parrots), blue acaras, barbs and cockroach catfish, blue dolphins and iris.

The middle layer of water in the aquarium can be populated with spotted leopard ctenopoma. This shy fish has an interesting camouflage coloration and prefers a nocturnal lifestyle. With a calm nature, Ctenopoms get along well with fish such as gourami, catfish and goldfish.

An aquarium of medium volume can be populated with a flock of 8-12 fish of the beauties of the Congo. The scales of these fish are iridescent in color, so they look very impressive in a flock. In the community of this type of aquarium fish, most representatives of the haracin order, small catfish, viviparous fish and medium-sized cichlid species can live.

To settle in the aquarium with goldfish, you should reduce the density of planting fish, without restricting their movement. An average aquarium is suitable for a pair of goldfish.

To create comfortable living conditions for various types of aquarium fish, it is necessary to determine the possible composition of the soil and plants in the aquarium and regularly maintain its cleanliness.