Petushki - fish with fighting qualities

For many aquarium lovers are importantunpretentiousness and beauty of fish. Betta fish (betta splendens), or cockerels, are fish from the labyrinth family. They are able, if necessary, to breathe atmospheric air, and to look after them simply.

Aquarium fish cockerel grows to 6.5 cm. The individuals have a large head, the body is flattened laterally. Magnificent fins of males (with separate contents with other males) can reach a rather large size and attract rapturous glances. The females are more pale and smaller in size, their fins are not developed. Behave females, as a rule, calmly.

Creating a habitat for betta fish

All beginning aquarists are interested in the question: "How to care for fish?" Cockerel is really extremely unpretentious. For its maintenance, an aquarium with a volume of 60 liters is required. As a primer, large and fine pebbles, large sand, are suitable.

The soil must be disinfected. One way to treat sand for the bottom is to heat on a hot frying pan (10-15 minutes). The processed sand is cooled and washed. Pebbles enough to pour boiling water in a bowl or a pan, then cool and rinse under running water for five minutes.

The central part of the aquarium should be freefrom plants. Algae and other aquarium flora is placed on the sides of the aquarium. You can add a few beautiful snags and stones to the bottom, after having processed them.

The water for the aquarium is settled. It should be medium hard, with a neutral pH and a temperature of at least + 25 ° C. Compressor is included twice a day for 15-20 minutes.

Feed for males

The brightness of the color of males is affected by the quality of the feed. Dry food, suitable for example for guppies, for fighting fish is poison! In the menu of males there should be only live food, egg yolk, small pieces of meat (boiled pork or beef).

The food is prepared as follows: 100 g of fresh meat is ground, rolled into balls and boiled for 1-2 minutes. Ready meat is removed from the water and allowed to cool. When feeding fish 1-2 balls are crumbed into the aquarium.

Neighborhood

In the case of fighters, it is important to remember thatOnly one male should live in the aquarium, otherwise the death of one of the rivals can not be avoided. The female can be four or five. If the male begins to attack the female, which is extremely rare, it is immediately "resettled" in a separate aquarium.

Petushki - the fish are very beautiful, but their behavioraggressively. Therefore, the content of fighting fish in the aquarium, along with herbivorous fish is impossible. Aggressive males will constantly destroy peace-loving fish.

Good for aquariums, where live males, fish catfish and snails. They will prevent excessive reproduction of bacteria.

Reproduction

Pregnant female is separated 7 days before spawning. During this period, she is intensively fed. Soil in the new aquarium is not needed, it will take a bit of ricci from the plants to arrange the nest. The water temperature in the aquarium should be + 28-30 ° C. After the male is attached to the female.

Male betta fish builds a nest onsurface of water from air bubbles and begins to take care of the female. A female specimen is spawning, and the male picks up and puts eggs into the nest. After the spawning process is completed, the female must be set aside to prevent the male from attacking.

Male cockerel, caring for eggs, sortsthem and adds bubbles to the nest. It lasts 1-2 days until larvae with a yolk sac appear. Larvae hang from the bottom of the nest for about 3 days under the supervision of a male, and after dispersing on the walls. When small males, fish up to 3 mm in size, begin to swim, the males are planted.

The fry is fed with live dust (you can get by with an egg yolk). For foster individuals, fodder for fish "Artemia Solina" is suitable.