The homeland of popular aquarium fish is the South America. They have perfectly adapted to survive in the reservoirs overgrown with plants, having acquired in the course of evolution the form of a trunk in the form of a winged leaf. It allows them to easily squirm, overcoming many obstacles. In captivity, these elegant creatures sometimes grow up to 25 cm, but usually their size does not exceed 15 cm. They delight their host for about 10 years with their beauty, although there are happy exceptions when the scalars survived to a more respectable age. Various factors play an important role here. This is not only the conditions of detention, water temperature, quality food, but also those who live next to them in the neighborhood.
What fish get on with the scalars?
Scalaria is a common name for several representatives of the family of cichlids living at will in the basin of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. They have a similarly rounded structure of the trunk on both sides. In the wild, these fish prey on small animals - shrimps, males, various larvae. Accordingly, they belong to predators, so their neighbors must be one that does not allow themselves to be easily offended.
Let's consider, with whom the scalars get along, on an example of neighborhood with the most widespread kinds of aquarium fishes:
- Cichlids and scalars - compatibility . These fishes belong to the same species of living beings. But the scalars themselves are not as mobile as most of their relatives, therefore, wars often arise between them. African cichlids (princesses of Burundi and others) can pick them up and drive them away from the feeder. Some amateurs of aquarists lead examples when their wards for years have behaved quietly towards their neighbors. But when they repeated this experiment with other fish, as between the scalars and the "Africans", at once violent fights began. It all depends on the temperament of the neighbors.
- Barbuses and scalars - compatibility . In many tables it is written that these fish should definitely make friends. But you need to be careful, and watch the first time for your charges. Ordinary games in "catch-up" and demonstrating their superiority to serious consequences do not lead. But when the barbs begin to pinch the scalar, it's better not to pull it and immediately start taking action.
- Gourami and scalars - compatibility . Most fans are sure that these fish can safely settle together, without fear of unpleasant consequences. Most often, they try not to notice the neighbors. But in a small aquarium, disputes and small skirmishes are possible.
- Skalaria and neon - compatibility . Let's say at once what happens in different ways. Some breeders are lucky, and they do not touch the neon's scalars. Most often this happens in the case when they are launched into the aquarium still fry. Younger neons rush through their glass apartment, animating the interior. But do not be surprised if one of them is missing one day. Do not forget that the scalars are predators. One day they will become bored, and they will simply drive a couple of neons into a corner to find out what their neighbors are like.
Well, if the fish occupy different zones of the aquarium. For example, the scalars live in its upper or middle part, but the catfish prefer space near the bottom. They will not share the territory among themselves. Also, there will be no war if the neighbors are not much inferior to them in their size.
Who can get along with the scalar can be found from the numerous tables published on the Internet. But they should not be completely trusted, there are many examples when the fish broke the truce, mercilessly devouring their neighbors. If the aquarium is spacious, there are many shelters in it, the fish are well chosen, then your scalars will behave quite peacefully. Heat and satiety is the key to good behavior of your wards. Attack on your neighbor your fish can only during a severe famine. But hooligan antics are in their blood, and therefore in a multi-species aquarium, especially if it is small, often there are various quarrels.