Mossy barbus: description, content and breeding

There are many types of aquarium fish that are great for home breeding. In order for the inhabitants of a home reservoir to feel wonderful and delight in beauty, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for them. In this article, we will consider one of the most common types of barbs.

The mossy barbus, which is also called the green mutant barbus, is very popular among aquarists for its expressive appearance. Experts note that with age, the barb loses its former brightness, but retains its beauty and charm. The active behavior of the fish is also noted. This species is great for novice aquarists due to the fact that it is not demanding in terms of care and maintenance. Despite this, it is necessary to take care of the fish and create special conditions for them. Like other species, the mossy barb loves clean water and a stable temperature.

This species is a mutation of the Sumatran barbus. The new species is more attractive than its ancestor. Its color is rich, dark green, with a blue iridescent tint. The shade depends on the lighting.

The body of the mutant barbus is rounded, the head is pointed. The maximum size reaches 7 centimeters, but under artificial conditions they are smaller.

The mossy species lacks the black stripes that are characteristic of the Sumatran species. When it's time for spawning, a red color appears on the muzzle. There are also scarlet markings on the fins.

Barbs include many species, each of which has an expressive color. The following types are popular: black, fiery, striped, cherry. In their colors there are such colors: blue, green, orange, golden, silver. They are similar in nature and conditions of detention.

The first records of this species are dated 1855. Barbs can be found in Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra and Cambodia. Certain populations live in America, Australia, Colombia, and also within the borders of Singapore.

Under natural conditions, the fish live in rivers and streams that flow in the green and dense jungle. Such places are ideal for their living due to the high oxygen content in the water.

The mossy barb easily tolerates changing aquariums. At the same time, do not worry that the fish will become inactive or lose their appetite. Keeping barbs in a school is an important component for the normal behavior of fish. A certain hierarchy is established, due to which the excessive activity and cockiness of individual individuals is reduced. It is important that the water in the aquarium is clean and thoroughly aerated. For this, special equipment is used.

The mossy species of barbs feels great in small schools (up to 7 fish). If the number of individuals is less, the barbs begin to behave sharply and even aggressively. Living in a pack reduces their rudeness and insolence. It is better not to add slow fish with long fins to the aquarium.

Due to their activity, barbs get along remarkably well with other mobile species such as conga, zebrafish and thornsia. You can not keep cockerels, marble gouram and lalius in the same aquarium with mossy barbs.

A green mutant and a Sumatran barbus will look great in one flock. They are equally active, however, the appearance of these two individuals is significantly different. The contrast of colors will not go unnoticed.

As food for them, frozen as well as live types of food are great. Artificial food is also used. It is recommended to diversify the diet of these pets as much as possible. This feeding system will provide the fish with good health and strong immunity. Experts recommend choosing high-quality cereals as the basis of the diet. As a supplement, it is better to use tubule, bloodworms, corotra, and brine shrimp. The menu may include cereals containing spirulina.

If you are choosing an aquarium for 7 fish, opt for containers of at least 70 liters. Long aquariums are recommended. High walls are also important, as barbs can jump out of the water. If you notice increased fish activity, be sure to replace the lid on the aquarium.

Ideal water parameters:

• pH - from 6.0 to 8.0;
• dH - 5 to 10;
• the optimum temperature ranges from 23 to 26 degrees Celsius.

In nature, barbs live in soft water. To maintain cleanliness, be sure to install a quality and efficient filtration system in your aquarium. On sale you will find many models that are designed for different volumes. Do not forget about the air supply device (aerator).

Fish feel great among the dense flora, however, in order to save enough space for them to swim, experts advise planting algae in the corners and in shaded areas of the aquarium. For example, near the back wall. Plants with large foliage are great for this. Also, the underwater flora can become a source of food, but only if the fish feel a lack of plant food.

Bright and excessive light exposure negatively affects the health and behavior of the fish. The light should be soft and diffused. The maximum daylight hours should not exceed 16 hours. If you want the aquarium to become an interior accent, think over its design wisely. As decorative elements, medium-sized stones, as well as natural driftwood, are great. Fish will use them as hiding places. This design will contribute to the comfort of the underwater inhabitants. The optimum soil height should be about 5 centimeters. Medium-sized sand and gravel are suitable for filling the container.

Determining the sex of barbs before their full sexual maturity is very difficult.

Adults differ in the following ways.

• The female has a more rounded shape and a large belly.
• The male has a color that is much brighter and more expressive than that of the female. Also, males are smaller in size. When spawning, red marks are visible on their muzzles.

It is not difficult to propagate this species. Fish reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 months. During this period, their body length already reaches 3 centimeters. To start breeding, you need to choose a pair from the flock. Make a choice in favor of the most attractive and active individuals. These are spawning fish. They do not take care of their offspring at all and often eat eggs. In this regard, it will need a separate container with a protective mesh at the bottom.

Before spawning begins, a couple is abundantly fattened. It is recommended to use live food. This lasts for two weeks. After a couple of barbs are transplanted into a separate spawning grounds.

In most cases, the spawning process begins at dawn. If the fish do not spawn within two days, some of the water in the aquarium should be replaced. You also need to raise the temperature by 2 degrees from the usual. During spawning, the acidity of the water should be 6.0 pH, dH - up to 5 units.

The female lays about 200 eggs at a time. These are transparent bubbles with a yellow tint. The male fertilizes them immediately. After that, a couple should be immediately deposited in another container in order to avoid eating caviar. Add methylene blue to the water. After 36 hours, larvae will emerge from the eggs.

For the first 5 days, they will feed on the contents of the yolk sac. After the fry, you need to feed the ciliates. Microworms will do, too. As they grow, they switch to larger feeds. There is no exact information on how often barbs hatch eggs. It all depends on the conditions.

If the living conditions are not favorable, mossy barbs can suffer from infectious diseases. The most common are aeromonosis and rubella. To avoid them, you need to keep the aquarium clean and change the water periodically. Do not forget about the mandatory quarantine for new inhabitants of the aquarium.

Poor quality feed can lead to severe fish poisoning. If not adhered to a feeding schedule, they become obese. In all other cases, this species has excellent endurance and rarely gets sick.

For information on how to properly breed a mossy barbus, see the next video.