Kalamoikht Kalabar - care and maintenance in the aquarium

Kalamo yacht Kalabar means a serpentine creature with a fish's head, fins and tail. At its core, an aquatic inhabitant is something between a full-fledged fish and a snake. The representative of the family looks very unusual, but it is necessary to ensure proper care for these individuals in order to have a comfortable existence in aquarium conditions. It is allowed to contain snake fish exclusively with seabel-like or other large subspecies. Because the small fish will be immediately perceived as a snack.

Description

1. Despite the frightening external data, the kalamoaht is rather cowardly. He may be frightened if a person abruptly approaches the aquarium, and then immediately hide in a secluded corner.
2. By their natural characteristics, fish live in African countries, they are found in the rivers there. They like stagnant or slowly flowing water, adapt to low oxygen accumulation. Fish make up the deficiency by breathing atmospheric oxygen. They stick their heads out of the water, getting their portion of air.
3. If the humidity is high enough, fish can crawl out of the water and live on land. However, a long stay in such conditions is dangerous. In the natural environment, snake fish can reach a length of 1.5 m. But under aquarium conditions, their growth does not exceed 40 cm. With a lifespan of 20 years.
4. Due to its decent size, one individual has 200 liters. water. Therefore, when buying a couple, take care of a spacious home for new pets. Fishes are awake at night, but, feeding them during the day, pets will get used to and become more active.
5. Do not make sudden movements or stick your hand into the aquarium, the fish are cowardly. If they suspect the persecution, then they will hide for a long time in a secluded corner.

Content

1. It is necessary to equip the aquarium so that it repeats the biotope to a greater extent. The soil is selected a brownish tint, small and soft. It is important that there are no sharp edges, because pets can rub against stones and damage the scales. It is unacceptable.
2. Since these representatives of the species can feel great on land, the aquarium should never be kept open. Do not leave even cracks so that the pet supposedly breathes. Purchase a tank with a lid and close it tightly. Fish are strong if they strain their body. In cases where they get to land, then a fairly large distance will creep.
3. Fish prefer neutral acid water. Therefore, the alkaline environment of the water should be 6.5-7.5 units. Representatives of the family live at a temperature of 25-27 degrees.
4. It is advisable to implement a natural habitat in the aquarium, that is, install cobbles, various driftwood, vegetation, pipes. You should also install lamps with scattering light, not very bright.
5. It is important to remember forever that too salty water is poorly tolerated by fish of this family. Therefore, measure the indicators before starting the pets in the aquatic environment. The norm is 1.005 units.
6. These fish prevail over the smallest in size. Therefore, they are not kept with those whom kalamoahts can swallow. It is better to add large guests to them, for example, cichlase, harazinc, synodontis. Snake fish will eat catfish, small cichlids, shrimp, barbs.

Feeding

1. Most often, representatives of this group are fed with bloodworms. Since the mouth apparatus of these fish is slightly different, it is not very convenient to collect small bloodworms and artemia from the bottom. Speaking correctly, these fish do not have a mouth, but a mouth, because they are predators by nature. Fishes go hunting only for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
2. They can also be fed shrimp and squid, dry food for representatives of this group. Since fish can be frightened by other guests, make sure that they still eat. Food should go to everyone.
3. When a snake fish searches for food, it does so through olfactory and tactile receptors. However, this does not help much in an aquarium environment, because pets literally do not see food under their nose. They need to feel it, experienced aquarists are advised to give smelling food.
4. A fish can swim 30 cm from a dropped bloodworm, but will not feel it until it encounters food “nose to nose”. It is difficult for family members to search for food, because the sense of smell is highly developed, and a delicious smell spreads throughout the aquatic environment.
5. Since, according to their characteristics, fish digest food for a long time, it is necessary to feed them every 30-40 hours. This is done when the pet swims through the aquarium in search of food and finds nothing. If you wish, you can purchase a device from the pet store designed to feed these snake-like ones.

Compatibility

1. It is better to keep these representatives separate from others. But if there is a temptation to cheat someone else, then give preference to medium / large cichlids with a peace-loving character.
2. You can not be hooked to the pets of small aquatic inhabitants, because the kalamoicht will eat them at night. If this fish begins to feed on relatives, then this will continue constantly.
3. Loyally, pets of this group belong to scalars, clown fish, corridors. In order to have a world without fights in the aquarium, provide all the inhabitants with food and sufficient water space.

Breeding

1. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to breed the fish in aquarium conditions. Such cases were noted quite rarely. Represented fish are caught in the wild. As an alternative, breeders have learned to breed individuals on special farms. A special hormone is purposefully administered to fish.
2. As for the content, unusual fish do not cause any problems in a freshwater aquarium. Represented individuals can be observed for a long time. They have unusual habits and unique character. If you provide individuals with proper care, they can live in the aquarium for up to 20 years.

Behavior and gender differences

1. If you decide to purchase an exotic specimen, be sure to pay attention to the color. Completely healthy fish should have an olive delicate color. In no case do not get individuals with a gray or similar shade.
2. Also do not forget that there should be no damage to the body of the fish. This criterion applies to absolutely all aquarium representatives. As for gender differences, it is rather difficult to distinguish between individuals. There is an opinion that the male on the dorsal fin has about 12-14 rays. If there are fewer, this is a female.
3. As mentioned earlier, the reproduction of such individuals in an aquarium is an extremely complex process. Even experienced breeders do not always cope with this task. Only a few cases are known when it turned out to achieve the desired. Unfortunately, there are no details.
4. Experts believe that breeding in an aquarium is simply unrealistic if individuals do not have hormonal injections. Separately, it is worth noting that the fish in question are most active in the evening or at night.
5. If an individual feels as comfortable and safe as possible, activity is also observed in the daytime. Keep in mind that fish is not cowardly. Therefore, it will easily sail to you as close as possible. You can easily admire an unusual individual.
6. However, such fish are simply not interested in what happens outside the aquarium. Do not forget that you should not keep small fish in one aquarium with kalamoikht.Otherwise, small representatives will be eaten soon.
7. The fish in question will hunt prey especially at night. It is worth knowing that the ordinary inhabitants of the aquarium do not see anything in the dark, they are disoriented. Snake fish have excellent sense of touch and smell. That is how he hunts.
8. It is also interesting to observe the individual during feeding. You will notice atypical behavior for fish. In search of a tidbit, an individual can search the entire aquarium. At the same time, she will achieve her goal.

Snake fish is a very unusual inhabitant of a home aquarium. Individuals are distinguished not only by their appearance, but also by their behavior. It is very interesting to watch a pet. A special sight can be seen at the moment when the snake fish begins to search for food.

Video: Kalamoikht Kalabar (Erpetoichthys calabaricus)