Veil-tail fish: description, varieties, content and breeding

Many novice and experienced aquarists are attracted by the original goldfish with stunning tails and plush fins. They are interested in the features, varieties of veil-tails, advice on the care, reproduction and feeding of unusual inhabitants of the aquarium.

In natural nature, the veil tail does not occur. The breeding of ornamental fish was made in China from the most common and very common crucian carp. But Japan is considered to be the homeland, since it was from there that it came to Europe.

The aquarium fish, veil-tail, differs from other representatives of this species by a short ovoid body. Its characteristic feature is a forked, bushy and very long tail. It looks like a light, almost weightless fabric. In comparison with other representatives of this species, the transparent fins are elongated.

The head is decorated with large eyes. The length of the fish can reach 20 cm. The short body, the smooth transition of the head into the body does not give it the opportunity to keep up with other inhabitants of the aquarium on the way to the food. Life expectancy in good conditions is 10-15 years and even more.

The color is very diverse: from pale pink to fiery red. There are individuals with black, blue, purple, green, yellow, bronze tint. Gold and red colors are especially common. There are one-color, two-color (the body has one tone, fins and tail - a different shade), multi-colored (a variety of the color spectrum of all parts) veil-tails.

During the first year of life, it is very difficult to distinguish a male from a female. In adulthood, the male is determined by its small size. He is always interested in new fish, immediately swims up to them. The female does not show any interest in the relatives that have just appeared in the aquarium.

During the spawning period, males develop white tubercles on the gill covers and along the pectoral fins. The paired front fins develop saw-like serrations. The female has a brighter color, round abdomen and large size. Against the background of the female's round and short pelvic fins, they look pointed at the male.

There are scaly and scaly varieties of these cold-blooded ones. Individuals can vary in color. There are albino fish. Blue-eyed veil-tails are extremely rare. A large number of inhabitants of the aquarium were bred with an interesting combination of colors. Most often, each fish consists of two or three colors. The following varieties are found.

• Calico Veil characterized by orange, white and dark spots. He looks awkward, swims with difficulty due to large fins.
• A rare and valuable species is the inhabitants of the aquarium. black and red with different fin shapes.

According to the shape of the tail, such species are distinguished.

• The classic veil tail includes two identical tail lobes that resemble a skirt.
• The fantail has a right-angled fin between the top and bottom. Its tail is like a fan, the length of which is half the body.
• The tape version implies 3 or 4 blades. The tail of such a fish is like a beautiful lush veil.

Goldfish are unpretentious and undemanding to temperature, hardness and acidity of water. They feel great in a pond, any artificial reservoir and aquarium. The fish produces a large amount of waste, so it requires a container with a capacity of at least 100 liters of water. For each additional individual, it is necessary to add another 50 liters of liquid.

The water needs to be constantly changed: a third of the volume should be updated weekly. However, an external filter must be used. Veiled tails prefer cool water - no special heating of the liquid is required in a room with a positive temperature. It is undesirable to get direct ultraviolet rays on a container with fish. Too warm water does not suit them.

Veil-tails calmly tolerate temperatures below 10 degrees. For this reason, it is not recommended to keep them together with tropical individuals. In addition, some aggressive fish can nibble on the magnificent tails and fins of the veil tails. Fast and nimble guppies, thorns, Sumatran barbs do not get along in the same container with goldfish. Neighborhood with perky inhabitants is undesirable: the crescent can quickly peel off chic fins and an amazing tail for a slow and peaceful fish.

The use of sandy or gravel soil is recommended. Representatives of this species of fish love to dig and rummage in it. But the gravel must be taken large in order to avoid swallowing it, which often leads to the death of fish.

It is advisable to place large-leaved plants in the container. Vegetation with tough leaves and a strong root system works well, as the veil-tails have a habit of nibbling at them. Elodea, egg capsule, vallisneria and sagittaria are recommended.

It is undesirable to stock these fish species in a round container. This form contributes to the deterioration of vision and growth retardation of the individual. It is considered ideal to keep the veil-tails in a rectangular aquarium with shelters in the form of grottoes and mild snags.

Veil-tailed fish do not have a stomach, so food goes directly to the intestines. Food is consumed continuously until it completely disappears. The food is not digested, so fish often die from overeating. It is very important to correctly calculate the amount of food. For the inhabitants of the aquarium, two meals a day are sufficient. The portion should be sized for 10 minutes of food intake. It is advisable to remove the surplus from the reservoir.

We need to provide pets balanced nutrition. Special food in the form of granules is intended for the golden inhabitants of aquariums. They are convenient in that they do not disintegrate, but settle at the bottom. The granules are easy to dose. Veil-tails are suitable for live, vegetable, frozen, artificial food. But they must be given with caution, as many of them are overly nutritious for voracious goldfish.

The diet needs to be varied. Dry and vegetable feed must be present. From time to time you can feed the veil-tails with duckweed, scalded nettles and lettuce leaves. Plant foods should be alternated with protein foods. Different types of food are not recommended for the same meal.

Veil-tails spawn in March-April. One female requires 2-3 males of two years of age. Before spawning, females and males should be kept separate for two weeks. They must eat abundantly. Then heterosexual individuals are released into an aquarium with sandy soil and a special spawning grid. A bunch of small-leaved plants should be placed in the corner of the container.

Spawning is stimulated by gradually bringing the temperature of the water to 26 degrees. Males immediately begin to be active and chase females.

Spawning begins in the early morning and lasts for 5 hours. Appears up to 10 thousand eggsthat need to be left in the aquarium, and producers should be removed from them. For two or four days, the eggs are incubated. Fry appears after 5 days.

The pet store sells "live dust" intended for feeding newly hatched fry. They eat independently brine shrimp, slipper ciliates and rotifers. After 2 weeks, the young move to small cyclops. The fry can be fed 2 to 4 times a day. When young animals reach 3 cm, they are placed in an aquarium with adults.

• Keeping the veil tails in a spacious aquarium is recommended. There they feel comfortable, live long and do not get sick.
• To maintain a stable temperature in the aquarium, you must use a thermometer placed in the water. The ideal temperature is 20-22 degrees.
• Sometimes the concentration of nitrogenous compounds in the tank exceeds the norm. As a result, representatives of the veiled-tailed species receive burns, which are observed on the body of cold-blooded ones. In this case, it is necessary to immediately remove the accumulated poisons of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate from the tank by completely replacing the water.
• To prevent fish disease, new individuals must live separately from them. After a month of quarantine, they are placed in a shared aquarium.
• Acquired small individuals, growing up, sometimes tend to completely change color. For example, a golden veil tail can turn completely white.
• Goldfish love to lie on the ground. Do not be afraid. An active, healthy individual is simply resting without any signs of illness.
• Long fins are easily injured, so there should be no pointed objects, stones, needle-like knots in the aquarium. The individual can get hurt and lose part of the luxurious tail or beautiful fin.
• A swollen abdomen and protruding scales may indicate dropsy.Antibiotic treatment is necessary.
• Fin rot on the body and fins of cold-blooded individuals should be treated with medications.
• When the veil tail is feeling unwell, a little salt is added to the water - 5-7 g / l.

See below for the details of caring for goldfish.