Care and maintenance of thorns

In nature, ternetia fish live in the reservoirs of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. The natural size of these interesting creatures is 6 cm, but in aquarium conditions they reach only 5 cm. The difference in thorns is the presence of a large anal fin, which can be compared to a skirt. And also the characteristic features of this fish are transverse stripes located closer to the head.

With proper care and observance of all conditions of keeping in the aquarium, thorns live no more than 4 years. The volume of the aquarium is selected at the rate of 10 liters per individual. It is allowed to place 2 individuals in a 10-liter container, but it is customary to keep thorns in groups, since these are schooling fish. Therefore, it is better to grow them in an aquarium with a volume of 35 liters or more. An ideal option for a flock of fish is a glass house with a volume of 60 liters. In shape, it should be a long, but shallow container with a height of about 50-60 cm.

Prepare settled clean water for settling new pets. The optimal temperature limits for a comfortable life of thorns are 22-28 °. The acidity of the water is permissible in the range of 6.5–8.5 pH, and the hardness should be no more than 20 dGh. There should not be a strong current in the aquarium, a moderate movement of water is sufficient. There should be no salt in the water.

It is believed that grottoes and shelters for these fish are not necessary, so you can not spend money on a large number of different decorations.It is enough to put a cave, put a snag or a pipe, throw a couple of large stones, or get by with one ceramic pot. For aesthetics, buy light-colored soil, let it be coarse river sand or small pebbles. Black fish will look pretty impressive on a light background.

Instead of an abundance of grottoes, it is better to use live vegetation as decorations. For example, a bright green ambulia will look impressive in the background. Thickets of elodea grow beautifully in aquariums, and this plant will also serve as an additional filter for water.

A prerequisite for keeping any aquarium inhabitants is the purchase of a filter. For thorns, low power equipment is suitable, which will not create a strong current. And also do not forget to get a heater that will maintain the temperature at the desired level in the event of a heating shutdown in the apartment. Comfortable conditions for fish are also created by the presence of a compressor, which ensures the supply of oxygen to the water.

Don't forget the lighting fixtures. Most aquariums with lids are already pre-equipped with shades or a place for them to be installed. For example, a tubular LED lamp will create a very beautiful effect. It is important not to overdo it with natural light, as an overabundance of sunlight can provoke increased growth of aquarium plants.

Before buying a termination, you should know that there are several types of them. So, the veiled variety is popular, which is characterized by large wavy fins. Another common type is the golden thorn. Its difference is the absence of stripes and a light golden color.

Particular attention should be paid to genetically modified fish, which are distinguished by their fluorescent colors. They are blue, green, yellow, red, pink, orange, purple, blue. These are luminous individuals, the color of which becomes even brighter under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

And also colored fish are painted by means of special injections, and although multi-colored species look very impressive in an aquarium, they have one significant drawback - their life expectancy is much shorter than that of individuals with an ordinary natural color.

Thorns are not picky, and even a novice aquarist can handle their content.

• A couple of times a week it is necessary to change the water in the aquarium, or rather, replace 1/4 of its volume. Do not overuse frequent complete replacement, as the old water already contains all the beneficial bacteria that form the microclimate in the aquarium. These microorganisms die when the water is completely changed, and the fish have to re-adapt to the changed conditions. Pour only clean water that has settled during the day into the aquarium.
• Remember to clean the filter. The frequency of the procedure depends on its power and type. If it is an internal filter, then clean it once or twice a week, the frequency of cleaning the external unit is determined by its capacity. Sometimes cleaning a couple of times a year is sufficient.
• Provide the thorns with at least 10 hours of daylight. Fluorescent lamps should not be of high power, otherwise they will provoke a thermal burn on the body of aquarium inhabitants.
• Watch for algae growth. If they have grown too much (for example, this is typical of elodea), then thin them out, otherwise the fish will be uncomfortable to swim in such dense greenery.Rinse the plants, as they accumulate dirt particles, and also organize islands between them for the thorns to float freely.
• Keep in mind that when breeding, fish should be placed in a spawning grounds and immediately after throwing eggs, placed back in a common aquarium, otherwise all eggs will be eaten. The number of eggs for one spawning is about 1000 pieces.

In terms of the diet, the thorns are unpretentious, and the basic rules of feeding include adherence to the dosage. The fact is that this pOvereating tends to overeat, which leads not only to a worsening of the condition, but even to the death of some individuals.

Another problem is that, unlike most other aquarium fish, due to the peculiarities of the oral cavity, thorns do not pick up fallen food from the bottom, but eat it only on the surface or in the process of settling to the bottom.

It is recommended to feed the thorns in a variety of ways. The menu may include special commercial food, animal and plant ingredients. If you feed the fish monotonously, it will lead to metabolic disorders, reduced survival and passive reproduction. Live food can be offered in natural form or frozen.

In nature, these fish love to feast on insects and their larvae that have fallen to the surface of the water. It is recommended to enrich the diet with vitamin supplements, which strengthen the immune system of fish, ensure the development of a strong skeleton, and enhance the brightness of the color.

Difficulties in keeping aquarium fish at home can arise if the compatibility of different species is not observed. For example, catfish or gourami are considered good neighbors for thorns, and smaller varieties such as guppies or neons can fall prey to curious thorns. It is also not recommended to grow thorns with cichlazomas and astronotuses, which can injure small fish. Problems arise if the thorn is kept alone: ​​it becomes aggressive. These are schooling fish that only feel comfortable in a group.

To avoid health problems, each new individual is placed in a jig for a 3-week quarantine. A sick fish becomes passive or, on the contrary, aggressive, it often floats to the surface due to oxygen starvation, does not respond to environmental stimuli. Low acidity of water or a large amount of ammonia in it can lead to diseases.

Possible infection of pets and bacterial diseases. The presence of such is indicated by the uneven color of the gills, the formation of mucus, filamentary feces, white marks on the fins. Sick fish should be planted for 25 minutes in a 2% sodium chloride solution and the manipulation repeated after 2-3 days. Next, the "patient" is placed in a flow-through aquarium.

A story about the type of fish in the next video.