Melanochromis auratus - care and maintenance in the aquarium

Melanochromis auratus belong to the cichlid family, fish love to fight and get roommates. Therefore, they approach their content responsibly, carefully choosing the neighborhood. Interestingly, it is quite easy to distinguish a female from a male. Men have dark stripes, women have light stripes. Thanks to this color of aquarium pets, the task is easier for fish lovers who decide to try themselves in this field.

Description

1. This type of fish became known in 1896; it was found in Africa in Lake Malawi. Water inhabitants prefer to settle in rocky terrain, so they need to equip an aquarium taking into account the natural biotope. According to their characteristics, fish live in a polygamous fashion, that is, 2-3 females belong to a male.
2. Professionals know that these fish are able to change the color to the opposite. For example, females often become males and show their dominance. Males, on the contrary, turn into females, wanting to be humble servants.
3. If the males do not have their own territory, they will settle in a group of 10 fish or remain lonely for a long time. As for nutrition, they eat vegetation, tearing it off the rocks. Also feed on plankton, snails, fry.
4. If you need to understand what gender an individual is in front of your eyes, you have to wait until puberty is reached. Males are famous for their dark color, against which golden or bluish stripes flaunt. Females, on the contrary, are yellowish, dark-striped.
5. Otherwise, the fish of the family represented are called golden parrots. They belong to the cichlid group, are considered the most dangerous and aggressive. Fish prey on smaller individuals, biting off their fins or simply hammering them. Again, it is important to pay attention to the choice of neighbors.
6. So that all representatives of the subspecies exist in harmony, it is advisable to settle only females in the aquarium environment. Professionals say that females get along much better without male representatives, without showing strong aggression. If you do not have a task - to breed these fish, then buy only ladies.
7. Pisces are also called Mbunas. The family is so unique that every 13th individual is born aggressive. That is, the 12 previous ones can be quite peaceful, but the 13th will certainly be born with a terrible temper. Partly for this reason, beginners are not recommended to start their careers in this field with the maintenance of Mbuns.
8. If, due to inexperience, release fish into a common tank, then you will lose all the inhabitants. This is especially true for males who cannot tolerate other fish.
9. If we consider the dimensions, then the fish can not be called huge. They grow to a maximum of 12 cm. With a life of 5 years. Fish are distinguished by expressive eyes, a medium-sized head, and a long fin on the back.

Content

1. If there is a desire to put cichlids in a hostel, then from the neighbors give preference to fish swimming above the average level.
2. To contain these fish, you need to take care of a spacious tank in advance. One individual relies on 200 liters. water. If there are a lot of different fish in the tank, then arrange the space so that the free swimming zones alternate with shelters.
3. To decorate the home, they use huge stones, driftwood, clay pots, and other paraphernalia of this kind. Shelters should be located not in the lowland, but in the entire height as a whole. That is, expose them in such a way that a variety of driftwood, stones and houses extend from the ground to the water mirror at the top.
4. Soil should be made of fine gravel or rather large sand. Large flat stones should also be present. Fish will be used as a platform for throwing caviar. For the aquarium, it is worth making a diffused, but at the same time bright light.
5. Water should be medium hard and slightly alkaline. Try to maintain the temperature of the medium within 26-28 degrees. Thus, you can create favorable conditions for these individuals to live.
6. In addition, the aquarium will need a powerful canister filter, which should work smoothly. Such conditions are necessary for the comfortable maintenance of the optimal environment that the fish in question need.
7. As you already understood, the water in the aquarium should be changed at least 2 times a week. To do this, you need to use about a quarter of the liquid from the total volume. Water change must be carried out by mixing cold and hot tap water.
8. In addition, a special conditioner must be mixed into it, which neutralizes the chlorine content. The composition can be created independently from baking soda and salt. Experts say that frequent water changes muffle the aggressive temperament of individuals.

Nutrition

1. In the wild, these individuals feed mainly on algae that grow on underwater rocks. In addition, fish supplement their diet with protein foods. Most often, they prefer to consume small aquatic organisms, which just live in such algae.
2. In aquarium conditions, wild algae can be replaced with lettuce leaves without any problems. Also, the fish eat excellent dandelion leaves, spinach, parsley, steamed peas and oats. Sometimes individuals are allowed to indulge in white and black bread. From time to time, give the fish daphnia, coronet, bloodworm and enchitrea.
3. Protein feed should be only a minor addition to the main diet. Also, fish are sometimes allowed to give balanced dry food that is designed for herbivorous cichlids.
4. If you accustom the considered individuals to such food, in the near future they will stop eating algae, which grow in the aquarium. Do not forget that the basis of the diet of such fish should still be plant foods. If individuals consume protein products a lot, they can die due to poisoning.

Compatibility

1. Breeders strongly recommend keeping these individuals in a separate aquarium. Alternatively, they can be salted alone with cichlids. Auratus can also get along with no less aggressive mbuns. In this case, there are also subtleties. Fish should not be similar in color and body shape.
2. If the fish are similar in appearance to each other, constant skirmishes and aggression cannot be avoided. If you provide a large number of shelters in a spacious aquarium, then the individuals do not die. But living in such conditions will be very uncomfortable. You can forget about spawning.
3. It is highly recommended that the male of this species be kept in the harem, where a sufficient number of females will fall on it. If you get a pair of males, only one will survive. The individuals are very pugnacious.

The discussed individuals are recommended for maintenance by advanced aquarists. People who do not have experience in such matters should not get mbuns for themselves. They are famous for their anger towards other guests, especially these characteristics are inherent in males.

Video: aquarium fish melanochromis auratus