This incredibly beautiful and shark-like fish for a long time has grown fond of aquarists and has taken an honorable place in aquariums. It is imported from Asia and Africa, where it lives in clean streams and flowing lakes in the neighborhood of hippopotami, being for them a salvation - they successfully clean their skin from parasites.
Fish Labeo - Species
Outwardly the fish are slim, with a dense and slightly elongated body. In the natural habitat grow up to 20 cm, in aquarium conditions - up to 10 cm. A characteristic feature of all labo-contrasting staining and a curved dorsal profile.
Aquarium fish Labeo often have a dark velvet body color and bright red fins. Although there are fish of white, silver, green and other colors.
The species diversity of the Labeo is not particularly wide. Basically for aquariums you can find these types:
- Two-colored fish Labeo - with a black velvety body and a red caudal fin, the most common species.
- > Green or Thai Labeo - dark brown with a greenish tint, all fins have a red color.
- Black Labeo - has a monophonic color of the trunk and fins. It is these fish that have an external resemblance to a shark and are one of the first species introduced from Asia.
- Labeo albinos - have a white trunk and red-brown fins. They are a kind of green labo.
- Leopard Labeo .
- Harlequins (Congolese view).
Contents of a fish labeo
Care and maintenance of fish in a home aquarium is not difficult. For the normal coexistence of fish with other inhabitants, the aquarium should be large - 100 liters or more.
Also for the successful detention of Labeo, it is necessary to comply with the following conditions:
- clean water , good filters;
- a sufficient amount of vegetation, especially that growing in the ground at the bottom;
- shelter in the form of driftwood and various underwater scenery;
- additional lighting.
It is important that there is a special filter and compressor in the aquarium for good water purification and aeration. The temperature regime is also important and constant in the range of +23 ... 27 ° С. Water hardness is not critical, it can fluctuate within 5-15º, but acidity should be kept at 6.5-7.5 pH.
Vegetation in an aquarium with Labeo is important for several reasons. First of all, it is for them an additional food. In addition, it is a good shelter for them. Algae are also known to be an additional source of oxygen and its filter.
In addition to vegetation, shelters for labeo can serve as stones, driftwood, grottoes. For attraction they can be moss covered.
Labeo - compatibility with other fish
Fish Labeo have a very difficult nature, because sometimes do not get along with their relatives, not to mention other representatives of fish. They are very mobile, besides they are willing to fight for occupied territory, defending it. Often the territory of an individual is determined by the use of three-dimensional elements of the landscape. For this, plants are often planted in such a way that a little
The compatibility with other fish is influenced by the age of the Labeo. The older they become, the more vividly they display bellicose traits of character. Adult males are the most aggressive. And if there are several males in one aquarium, clashes are inevitable between them. The dominant male will prove his superiority, and rivals will receive scraped scales and fins.
As for representatives of other species of fish, it is necessary to select neighbors who can stand up for themselves or which the labeo will not touch because of the obvious superiority in size.