Polypterus: features, species and content of fish

Not all aquarists prefer to have only standard-shaped fish. Many people like more unusual species, such as polypterus, which can even seem a little harsh. Like any fish, polypterus requires compliance with certain rules of keeping, but not everyone knows how to properly care for these individuals, which inhabitants of the aquarium they will get along with and how to reproduce them. All these nuances will be described in detail in this article.

Such a fish as polypterus is ranked by scientists as one of the most ancient inhabitants of the planet. This is evidenced even by the shape of its body, which is very atypical for most aquarium fish. Its skeleton is similar to that of a shark and is made more of cartilage than bone. Another sign of the antiquity of the breed is the ability of such animals to breathe oxygen.

Like the lungs of mammals, the fish's bubble consists of two compartments. Also, representatives of this type of fish have a well-developed scent, which helps them to move around the muddy bottom space. However, the vision of polypters can hardly be called good..

The scales covering the body of the fish are rather large and diamond-shaped. It is noteworthy that while examining the scales of these fish, scientists found in it substances that were present in the scales of an ancient extinct fish.

The dorsal fin of this fish has an unusual structure. It begins in the middle of the back, and ends in the tail of the body. Its structure is also atypical that it consists, as it were, of individual vertebrae, around which fins are formed. These vertebrae are arranged in a row and can be raised or launched depending on the fish's needs. Their number ranges from 15 to 20 pieces.

The natural environment for the accumulation of polypters is shallow fresh water bodies located in India and Africa. They do not like light, often find shelter in various thickets growing at the bottom. The color of the scales of a given fish depends on the species to which it belongs. The scales can be gray, beige, contain darker or brighter blotches and patterns on their surface. Albinos are also found among these fish.

There are different types of polypters, whose names hide sets of unique characteristics. Let's consider the most famous varieties.

• The most active representative is the Sinegal species of polypterus.... It is also characterized by such qualities as curiosity, perseverance, as well as friendliness towards both its relatives and other larger fish. Its body length can be from 30 to 40 cm.

• Much larger is the endlicher species, the body length of which reaches 75 cm. The activity of this polypterus is manifested mainly at night, and during the day it is rather slow. On its scales, this fish has small horizontal black stripes.

• Kalamoicht Kalabar has a much more subtle body. The second name of this type of polypterus is the snake fish. It feeds mainly on small fish. It is also able to seep into various crevices and depressions using the structure of its torso.

• The marbled dragon or polypterus ornatipinis has a very interesting color. Brownish-gray scales are covered with a white-marbled pattern, while the abdomen is painted in a yellow-white tint. On the head of this fish there is a pattern in the form of a net. The body length of a marble dragon is only 0.4 m. In an aquarium, such a predator will show only during feeding periods.

• Delgezi polypterus has a rather bright color. The size of its body is small - only 35 cm. During the day, such a fish is practically inactive and mostly stays in shelter.

• The largest representative of polypters is the uixia, whose body is 90 cm long. It is characterized by a gray-green color, massive fins. This species is more likely to be kept in aquariums than in a home-type aquarium.

• Polypterus lapradi is also popular with aquarium fish lovers. Originally found on the African continent, this polypere has a greenish color with dark blotches and a body length of up to 74 cm.

• Gray-yellow fish of the polypterus palmas species are small (36 cm). Above and on the sides of their body, gray color predominates, while the abdomen is yellowish. On the sides of the body, due to spots, a dense mesh-type pattern can be observed. Initially, representatives of this species lived in African swamps.

Remember that the comfort of a polypterus in an aquarium tank is significantly influenced by its relationship with other fish. There are a number of fish, the neighborhood with which in the same aquarium will be good for individuals of polypterus. These fish include the following:

• astronotuses;
• Indian knife fish;
• cichlids;
• large barbs;
• blue acars;
• African akars.

It is worth noting that in a general aquarium, polypters are unlikely to get along with sucking catfish. The habits of these fish are incompatible with each other. Remember, too, that different species may react differently to their surroundings in the aquarium. Some polypters, such as large endichlers, get along better in a tank without the company of other inhabitants.

Keeping fish such as polypterus in an aquarium requires a number of conditions. Only taking into account the following nuances will the fish be as comfortable as possible in your home:

• the minimum tank size must be 200 liters; the more spacious the polypterus dwelling, the better it will feel;
• the lid of the container must be firmly fixed, but at the same time it must be equipped with holes allowing oxygen to pass through; it is better to leave an air gap between the surface of the lid and the water; despite being at the bottom of the tank, the fish periodically needs oxygen, they swim up;
• indicators of acidity of water should be equal to 7;
• the preferred temperature in the container for these fish is 25 to 30 degrees Celsius;
• water hardness should not be more than 20 units, but its exact indicator is not so important, since many species can live in both soft and hard water;
• the aquarium ecosystem will be better if aeration is carried out in it;
• in no case neglect the use of the lid on the aquarium, otherwise such a fish may simply crawl out or even jump out of the water;
• the change of water in the aquarium with this fish is carried out once a week by 25-30%, while the water should be defended in advance; it should not include impurities, including bleach;
• be sure to equip the aquarium with a filtration system;
• vegetation in the tank is optional, but it will not be superfluous along with stones and other decor.

It is better to compose a diet of a polypterus, focusing on the natural needs of a given fish. In natural conditions, they are predators, so most of the food must be alive. It could be animal bus, worms, bloodworms, also fit shrimps, pieces of squid, small fish.

Therefore, sometimes such components are added to their diet as mussels, pieces of beef, fry... If you use a ready-made dry mixture for feeding, be sure to pay attention to the date of its production and shelf life. And it is better to give preference to packaged versions, rather than loose.

Some decide to propagate the aquarium polypterus on their own. Before doing this, you need to understand the main signs of gender differences in individuals. As such, there are no direct signs of difference, especially in those individuals who have not yet reached sexual maturity. But indirect signs are such as the presence of a thicker and wider anal fin in males. Their dorsal fin thickness is also more impressive. However, females tend to outnumber males in overall size.

Consider the factor that in natural habitat the so-called mating season for such fish begins in mid-July and lasts three months. To stimulate the spawning process, you should slightly cool the water in the tank.In the process of mating dance, the male and the female touch their bodies, sometimes they can also bite each other.

The female lays very small eggs to see them, take care of the don cover in advance. A convenient option would be Krismas, string or Java moss. As soon as the eggs are laid, the moss should be removed along with it, otherwise the parents may eat their offspring.

Newborns should be fed with brine shrimp nauplii. You may notice external gills in some of the small polypters, but there is nothing to worry about as they will disappear over time. Since these fish are predatory, they begin to hunt soon after birth. During this process, strong individuals can destroy weaker relatives. To keep more offspring, separate the larger fish and transplant them into a separate container.

Before starting polypters, you should familiarize yourself in advance with the following possible ailments, from which they may suffer, as well as the reasons for their appearance:

• obesity becomes a consequence of too frequent and abundant feeding;
• if you do not clean the filter, then the fish can get ammonia poisoning;
• if the body of the fish is struck by monogeny, then it begins to swim to the surface of the water more often in order to swallow air, and also becomes extremely motionless, lies at the bottom all the time; monogeny especially affects the head area, which occurs rather quickly; treatment should be carried out with "Azipirin".

For the content of the polypterus, see below.