Mandarink is considered a fairly popular aquarium fish. Other its names are psychedelic, striped, green tanger. This exotic species is characterized by bright color scales. In addition, it is carnivorous fish, and this is important to take into account future aquarists. Read more about Fish Mandarin and its content - in the article.
Description and appearance
Exotic Mandarin Fish (from Lat. Synchiropus Splendidus) is the inhabitant of the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. It can be found off the coast of Australia, Indonesia, Philippine Islands. Fish is quite a buggy, so prefer not to leave a safe zone - That is, they do not float on the coastal reefs. Due to the active and bottom lifestyle, fish extremely rarely managed to watch them even in closed lagoons.
Most of the time, the tangerine prefers to spend on the bottom where enough food - basically it is small crustaceans. By nature, a heat-loving fish, so the best habitat for her is shallow water.
The appearance of this fish is so diverse that it is quite difficult to confuse it with some other maritime life. Scales are truly unique - there is orange, yellow, blue, purple, green.
As for the name, it does not have anything to do with citrus fruit. Only because of the similarity of the color with the robe of Chinese imperial officials - Mandarins - Fish and received such a name. The sea inhabitant has a saturated color, which includes the motley strips and specks. The main color of the body is blue, manifested by certain cells by chromatophoras. It is in them containing a certain pigment responsible for the refraction of light.
This species does not differ in large sizes - on average, the body reaches 6 cm, in shape resembling a torpedo. Eyes are large and convex.
Floav lines having a rounded shape, several are abdominal (next to the head) and the dorsal. The characteristic feature of the mandaring is in the presence of an inconspicuous mouth, which is advanced forward. In addition, the body of the fish slippery, covered with mucus.
By nature, the mandarinks are quite slow fish. Therefore, experts do not recommend settling them with more "fast" neighbors. It is fraught with the struggle for feeding, as a result of which the first will remain without food.
As a compromise, you can use a small feeder, where only tangerine individuals will be squeezed. Such feeders are better lowering on the bottom.
Listing fast fish with which the tangerine is likely to be seized:
- Barbus;
- Somomik;
- Danio;
- TERNECTION;
- Surgeon fish;
- Neon Nannakar.
Interestingly, a multicolored person does not enter into battle with other species, if the case has come to that - rivalry is manifested only among the relatives. For this reason, it is recommended to set out in one aquarium for one or two mandarinks.
Conditions of detention
Usually, the dilution of this type of fish is engaged in truly experienced aquaries.
The fact is that the multicolored tangerine is quite complex in keeping at home. In addition, the marine inhabitant requires a special nutrition.
It is also important to know that aquarium individuals can significantly increase in size - up to 10 cm.
Mandarin fish breeding specialists allocated several recommendations regarding the content, which should be followed by novice aquarists:
- maintaining a specific temperature regime - not lower than 24 degrees;
- It should be selected a reservoir of at least 300 liters per person;
- The appropriate version of the aquarium is a species, which is designed specifically for one kind of fish to avoid rivalry for food.
Aquarium equipment
To ensure the perfect life of Mandarin, it is better to purchase a spacious aquarium where it will be easily reproduced by the natural conditions of habitat of this species. So, in the open waters, the fish prefer to swim among coral reefs, so it is important to establish them as much as possible. By the way, experts advise to hold such reefs in water for about a month, and even then launch a mandar.
Multicolored fish loves various shelters, so when the aquarium bottom is arranged, do not forget about the corygas, cave, castles. At the bottom it is better to lay small pebbles.
Besides, An important condition for the content is regular filtering and aeration of water. . And also to maintain natural acidity indicators - 8.4. It will not be superfluous to add various nutrients and trace elements to the water.
As for lighting, it should be moderate.
Mandatory point in care - regular cleaning of aquarium. In addition to the aesthetic side, when dark green dirt is settled on the glass, it greatly harms the health of the inhabitants of the aquarium. In addition, it should be included in an equally important procedure - a change in water.
For cleaning it is recommended to use the following tools:
- Special filter;
- Sidex;
- "Methylene blue";
- "Malachite green."
Feeding and reproduction
Decorative fish breeders offer two types of tangerines - caught in the sea and derived at home. Actually For self-breeding, motionless fish is enough to create close to natural living and reproduction conditions..
Before the reproduction processes themselves, two-way individuals depict the so-called marriage dance, which consists in twisting fish in water. Just at the same time, the females are meticulous eggs, the number of which varies from 10 to 500.
In the natural laws of females attract large males. This feature should be taken into account aquarists that will want to breed two-fallen individuals for further offspring.
As for nutrition, it is almost impossible to provide natural food. Therefore, you have to resort to alternative means. So, small worms are suitable for food, and other animals.
True, you first need to teach the fish to such a meal, because it will not like her immediately. Will not be superfluous to ask the breeder about the first babes - It will greatly facilitate the search for suitable food.
With proper care, the mandarin fish can live for about 12 years.
Aquarium tanger - a unique fish with multicolored scales. It is for decorative qualities that she fell in love with aquariums around the world. Care and maintenance for it can not be called easy, but it is possible to provide natural living conditions. The main thing is not to forget about regular filtration and aeration of water, as well as about the periodic cleaning of the aquarium.
Having bought two individual sexes, you can successfully explore these colorful fish. Remember that good conditions and proper nutrition are the key to the life of your aquarium pets.
What does a mandar rod look like, look next.