Dwarf tetradons: characteristics, tips for care and breeding

If you want to populate an aquarium with exotic fish, it makes sense to pay attention to dwarf tetradons. They have a very unusual appearance and are even capable of changing their shade.

Dwarf tetradon is an aquarium fish native to India, a representative of the blowfish family. Its other names are yellow tetradon or dwarf fugu. The predator does not differ in outstanding parameters and reaches a length of only 3 centimeters. However, due to their exotic and vibrant appearance, tetradons are quite popular with aquarium holders.

The shape of the fish is a bit like a drop or a pear with a large head. On the surface of the body there are sharp spikes that come to the rescue in case of danger. In a calm state, they are not visible, but in case of danger, the dwarf fugu swells and releases thorns. The large eyes of a dwarf tetradon can turn in different directions independently of each other, which makes it possible for them to observe the surrounding space without making unnecessary movements.

Its abdomen is white or slightly yellowish. The color of the scales ranges from green to mottled brown, depending on the condition of the animal. In the mouth, a bit like a bird's beak, there are two dental plates at the top and bottom.

The yellow tetradon is a very smart fish. She notes the appearance of the owner in the room and consciously monitors what is happening. As mentioned above, in stressful situations the fish transforms, but these transformations, being frequent, negatively affect its health.Therefore, it is strongly discouraged to specifically scare the tetradon.

The fish is quite aggressive and prefers to keep in a flock. She does not use plants. Dwarf tetradons live up to 5 years, subject to quality care.

If you do not regularly clean the latter, then an excess of ammonia may be found in the water, a high concentration of which is extremely dangerous for fish. When poisoning, the gills of living beings become inflamed and redden. In this case, the container should be cleaned immediately and the concentration of hazardous substances in the water should be checked.

The amount of nitrates is also harmful to the state of the tetradon. His behavior immediately changes - the fish feels restless and anxious. Its fins and gills protrude, and breathing problems arise. A sick pet must be transplanted into a separate container filled with clean water of the correct composition. The main aquarium is cleaned at this time.

Dropsy in tetradon occurs in case of malnutrition. The disease is easily identified by a swollen abdomen and faded color.

Dwarf tetradons are divided into several subspecies. Among them red-eyed tetradon, the length of which ranges from 3 to 7 centimeters. The color of the fish also varies depending on the environment and the condition of the creature. Males are colored chestnut, while females have a softer color - from bronze to sand. A red-eyed tetradon can be identified by the blood-red tint of the iris.

The body length of a yellow tetradon does not exceed 2.5 centimeters. Males are characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the abdomen. As you might guess, the color of this species is yellow and very rich.

Eight tetradon in length it can reach about 10 centimeters. The belly of the fish is white, and the back with barrels is painted in a golden hue with dark spots. The back is covered with circles that define the name of this subspecies.

Caring for a dwarf tetradon is not considered too difficult, but this type is still recommended for people with at least little experience. Main condition - feed the pet well and keep the water clean and warm. The water temperature should vary from 24 to 26 degrees Celsius.

It is important to ensure that there are no sudden changes in temperature or that the hydrochemical composition of the liquid does not change. From time to time, tests should be carried out to determine the level of acidity, hardness and the amount of ammonia.

Experts believe that dwarf tetradons do not need large aquariums. In principle, 10 liters will definitely be enough for one fish. Moreover, a twenty-liter capacity is enough for a small flock. The device must be filled with water that is balanced in composition, since the dwarf fugu does not react well to the high content of nitrates and ammonia in the water.

Salt should not be added to the water, since it is believed that it is it that shortens the life of the fish. It is very important to install a powerful filter as fish leave behind a lot of waste. In addition, regular water changes are important to reduce the amount of nitrates and ammonia.

It is better to choose a vessel square or rectangular. Round and convex walls stress the aquarium inhabitants. Inside the container, you will need "living" shelters from plants, which include fern, duckweed, lemongrass and others.Some green dwellers will need fertilization. Also, they all need sufficient lighting.

Small pebbles should be poured at the bottom, and oak or almond leaves should be placed to obtain a natural tea shade of the soil. You will have to clean the soil at least once a week using a siphon.

A set of standard devices will need to be placed in the aquarium. In this case, we are talking about a filter, a compressor and a heater. The filter can be both internal and external, but without a strong pressure. The heater is only needed when the water temperature is too low.

In summer, it is convenient to cool the aquarium using a cooler or a bottle filled with ice. The lighting in the container can be bright, but only if there is a sufficient number of shady shelters.

To create natural decorations in an aquarium, driftwood, rocks or grottoes made from natural materials are suitable. In addition, the use of clay pots, coconut shells, ceramic pipes and even artificial plants is encouraged for decoration. Their number should be moderate so that the fish have enough room to move.

It is better not to use metal decor, since this material changes the composition of the water, which adversely affects the state of the living creatures. The same applies to artificially colored parts. Before installing the decor, it must be thoroughly rinsed, and driftwood with stones, in addition, and boiled.

In nature, the dwarf tetradon feeds on snails, insects and small invertebrates. Therefore, at home, you should adhere to a similar regimen and abandon artificially created granules and flakes. To ensure adequate nutrition, you will need small snails and frozen food containing bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia.

In the case when the fish refuses frozen foods, they should be mixed with live snails, which form the basis of the diet in nature.... Previously, the "dish" will need to be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, piperazine or methylene blue.

The dwarf puffer prefers small snails, since they are too large to gnaw with their teeth. Thanks to their shell, fast-growing teeth grind off in blowfish, which is a significant plus. In order to ensure a regular supply of shellfish, it is best to breed them yourself in a separate container. Feed your pets once or twice a day.

It is worth mentioning that sometimes aquarium owners place pets with shrimp. This is a rather gross mistake, because invertebrates are exactly what tetradons feed on in nature, which means that all small specimens will be eaten pretty soon. It is better to enrich the diet with squid, earthworms and gammarus intended for fish.

Breeding tetradons can take place right in the aquarium, but you will need to organize a special spawning container with a filter that does not create a strong flow of water and does not suck in the fry. Plants are pre-planted there.

To distinguish males from females, you will need to carefully examine their appearance. The color is richer in male representatives of the species and most often a dark line is visible on their belly. Their fins sometimes turn yellow. Female fish look thicker and much larger in size.

Approximately two weeks before the start of spawning, it is necessary to start feeding tetradons with nutritious live food. For reproduction, several females and one male are required. The fish will spawn on the leaves of plants and the ground. One female, as a rule, produces a dozen eggs.

As soon as the fish spawn, they must be moved to another container. Fry should appear after 5 days. They need to be fed with ciliates, small snails and frozen food.

Surprisingly, tetradons from different owners manifest themselves in different ways. In some cases, they easily live with other fish, and in others, they kill neighbors and cut off their fins. Ideally, dwarf fish are best kept in a separate aquarium in a group of 5-6 individuals. In this case, the level of aggressiveness will be less, each creature will have its own territory, and tetradons can easily break into pairs.

If, however, to populate fish together with other species, then it is better to choose non-aggressive creatures that feed on plants. For example, we are talking about rainbows, corridors and rasbora. In no case should you choose large fish or those with long fins.

The following video will tell you how to keep and breed dwarf tetradons.