Labidochromeis yellow - care and maintenance in the aquarium

Each representative of the underwater world is unique and in order for the closed water system to become alive and natural, you need to know everything to the smallest detail. It is important to choose the right neighbors, plant the right plants, create the necessary living conditions for the inhabitants of the aquarium. To fish lived in harmony and did not destroy other species, you need to know their temperament, behavior, as well as the subtleties of living species in the natural environment. Today we’ll talk about a unique, amazingly beautiful and spectacular fish, labidochromeis yellow, or simply “yellow”, which has found its rightful place in the hearts of many aquarists. In fact, the fish can be not only yellow, in nature there are white and blue representatives of this species. However, labidochromis yellow is considered the most unpretentious fish that does not lend itself to many diseases, perfectly withstands various conditions and reproduces well in captivity. In addition, it is difficult to find a person who can remain indifferent to this surprisingly rich color of the scales.

Description and natural habitat of the species

Labidochromeis yellow belongs to the family of cichlids, fish are often called dwarf cichlids. The first representatives of this species got into decorative aquariums in the second half of the 20th century. The body shape of the yellow fish is quite characteristic for cichlids - elongated, flattened from the sides. Yellow is especially pronounced in both males and females. The only thing in young animals is the color of the scales is a little light, it usually determines the age of the fish. A long black stripe runs along the entire dorsal fin line; the remaining fins have a thin black border. Against the background of a bright yellow body, deep dark eyes stand out. The size of the fish in the aquarium can reach 8-10 cm, and sometimes more.

In nature, yellow cichlid is found in a single place - in Lake Malawi, which is located in East Africa. In the natural environment, fishes have chosen rocky shores, in which you can find many shelters. In nature, labidochromeis yellow lives at a depth of 20-30 meters. In general, labidochromeis yellow belongs to the genus “mbuna”, which are particularly aggressive and angry in relation to other species. However, yellow labidochromeis is the calmest fish of all 13 representatives of this species, although it is, in fact, a predator. An amazing feature of this cichlid is that the yellow African lives not in a pack, but in a single, or a pair.

Labidochromis yellow content

Despite the fact that the fish is quite unpretentious, it is necessary to create conditions for it in the aquarium that are as close to natural as possible. And then the yellow labidochromes will not only grow and delight the eye, but will also begin to spawn.

1. The temperature of the water in the aquarium should be within 24-27 degrees, the water should be fairly hard - 10-12 mol per cubic meter. The hydrogen index should also be slightly shifted towards alkalinity, about 8 pH.
2. The fish is quite sensitive to the quality and purity of water. In the aquarium there should be a sufficiently powerful filter that will purify water from various contaminants. Once a week, it is necessary to replace water in the amount of one third of the total volume of the aquarium. Old water should be replaced with clean water, since a lot of harmful nitrogen accumulates in it during long life of fish. The pure water that you add to the aquarium should be settled, free of chlorine and other chemical additives.During a water change, a bottom siphon should be carried out in order to remove food residues, excrement and other fish waste from the soil surface.
3. In an aquarium with labidochromeis yellow you need to have a good compressor that saturates the water with oxygen.
4. In the natural environment, yellow cichlids prefer wide open spaces, so it is not worth raising fish in a small aquarium. The minimum volume of the aquarium is 100 liters, where you can settle one male and several females. However, remember that this is the minimum volume in which the labidochromis yellow will not open itself completely. Ideally, yellow Africans should live in a large aquarium of 200-300 liters in a small flock. In this case, you will be able to observe the individuals - how they build relationships, how the hierarchy is built, how skillfully the males achieve the location of the female, etc.
5. It is especially worth paying attention to arranging the bottom of the aquarium. On the surface of the ground there should be many grottoes, various shelters, artificial rocks and gorges in which the fish will feel protected. Along with this, you need to plant a fairly dense layer of plants, in the thickets of which fish also like to hide. As the soil using river sand, shells or crushed marble. However, this is not important, since most of the time the fish spend in the middle layers of the reservoir.
6. The experience of most aquarists suggests that more females should be housed in a pack, and males should be half as much, this is a minimum. A large gathering of males leads to constant fights and showdowns. In addition, labidochromeis yellow coexists well with other types of cichlids, with some catfishes. Do not forget that labidochromis yellow is a predator that will not refuse to eat small fish like guppies or neons, if they happen to be neighbors.

These are the basic conditions that will help you breed a yellow African, maintaining her health and offspring.

Nutrition of yellow labidochromis

The natural environment pampers the yellow African with a variety of different dishes. In the diet of yellow labidochromeis there are both plant and protein foods. In nature, cichlids feed on small fish, mollusks, insects and their larvae, as well as various rocky algae, from which individuals get the right amount of vitamins.

In the aquarium, the fish is unpretentious to any kind of food, it can be fed with special formulations for cichlids, frozen and dry food. The fish does not refuse algae - it chooses what it needs right now. Yellow labidochromeis can be pampered with a carriage or small bloodworm, but it is better to refuse a tubule. In addition, chopped zucchini and lettuce can be added to the feed. But remember that overfeeding fish is very dangerous, some advise giving cichlids only half of the total amount of food, so the rest of the nutrition of labidochromeis will be obtained by itself. Overfeeding can cause severe bloating and even death.

Reproduction of the yellow African

If you are breeding labidochromeis, you need to separate the young couple for spawning and immediately remove it when fry appear, as sometimes parents themselves eat their offspring. You can feed babies with special food for fry or simply chop the usual food for cichlids. On average, individuals of the yellow African live for 8 years.

Breeding labidochromeis yellow is a fascinating activity that will allow not only to enjoy the juicy color of an African fish, but also to observe its interesting and meaningful behavior. The main thing in the content of labidochromeis is the sufficient volume of the aquarium and peaceful neighbors with whom the yellow fish will not have conflicts. And then your water system is sure to be filled with amazing yellow spots!

Video: Labidochromeis yellow aquarium fish