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According to research, multi-feathers came to this world even more than sixty million years ago. Modern polypteruses originated from the African continent. This species is divided into two subspecies. The first is Erpetoichthys, which has only one subspecies. And the second is known as kalamoikht Kalabar or fish - a snake, it is he who has more than 12 different subspecies.
Polypteruses, or in other words multi-feathers, got their name thanks to multiple individual dorsal fins. In addition, they have a serpentine body with large pectoral fins, which they use to move and swim in a special way. They can sharply gain speed with their own tail.
Polytherus has the characteristic features that are inherent in other prehistoric fish. These include the presence of pronounced nostrils, as well as large rigid scales, which protects them from the cruelty of the outside world. Among other things, they made for themselves modified swimming bladders that resemble the lungs and are divided into 2 parts horizontally. This feature allows representatives of this breed of fish to capture a certain amount of air above the water, which is especially important if the body of water has a low oxygen content.
Existence with other inhabitants of the aquarium
Modern aquarium science divides these fish into several species, among them there are common and not very. In total, there are about 12. The brightest representative of the Polyperus breed, having a pronounced pattern, is ornatipinis or the marble dragon. Degelsi - striped bishers have an extraordinary body shape and size that are suitable for medium aquariums. Their characteristic features are a pointed caudal fin and the presence of dark blurry stripes against the background of a light body. Less popular species are the Nile palm, endlicher and Senegalese.
The maintenance of polypterus in the aquarium is not particularly difficult with a certain experience of this activity. Unwanted neighbors for them - fish with a large size and aggressive disposition - snakeheads and cichlids. They get along well with fish - a knife, hitala ornata, with a black knife, large barbs, catfish, veil synodontis. For a neighborhood catfish with a mouth in the form of suction cups will not work. With their attempts to suck, they will pester the polyterus. A great option to keep them with non-aggressive fish that are large. However, sometimes the polytherus can attack larger fish and injure them, and this is because he does not see well.
Polypteri always respond to the presence of food in the aquarium, floating out of hiding. They move towards the stern until they are right next to it. Sometimes, due to poor eyesight, they have difficulty finding food and begin to search it randomly.
Sometimes aquarists say that polypteruses are ordinary predators, but the statement is wrong, they are simply omnivores. Naturally, polypteruses feed on smaller fish, if any. They are fed a variety of high protein foods, mussel meat, beef heart, shrimp, fry and small fish. You can give them small pills, and even cereal. Young growth feeds on live food and sinking granular.
Stereotypically, due to their slow movements and poor eyesight, there is an assumption that fish of this breed are not able to catch prey in the form of fish living in water.But polypteruses are extremely active when needed. The greatest danger lies in wait for other aquarium inhabitants at night, when they hide at the bottom, resting, and the polytherus is just showing activity.
Conditions of detention
In order to equip an aquarium for polypterus, it is necessary to proceed from the size of its inhabitants, whom it is planned to settle there. Even representatives of small species sometimes grow to a size of about 30 cm in an aquarium; some individuals can reach about half a meter.
Where the size of the width of the aquarium plays a greater role than its height. If the fish are small, then aquariums with an area from 1 meter of 20 cm to 40 cm are suitable. But, if its inhabitants are larger, then you need a larger tank with sizes from 180 to 60 cm. For polypterus, the presence of atmospheric oxygen is important, to which they rise to the surface. Therefore, the aquariums containing the polyperus should be closed so that there is a layer of oxygen between the glasses and water.
Particular care should be taken to ensure that the polypterus does not have the opportunity to escape from the reservoir. Some individuals tend to jump to the surface, and they may die. Most often, representatives of this breed of fish are described by aquarists as individuals, which in some places are aggressive between themselves and other species. It happens that they start fights with representatives of their kind, most often this happens when fighting for food. But, fortunately, they are not able to cause significant harm to their relatives. If in the same tank with them contains fish of the same size, then it is unlikely that there will be serious brawls between them. Naturally, individual representatives may experience strong aggression, for this reason such individuals should be resettled.
Soil requirements
The soil in the aquarium where the polytherus is contained should be such that it does not cause problems with cleaning and maintenance. The best option is to have a thin layer of sand or fine gravel at the bottom. But sand is a more comfortable environment for them.
Decor
A large number of aquarists are of the opinion that polypteruses should be kept in empty aquariums. This makes it possible to reduce their territorial aggressiveness. However, an empty tank without decorating elements looks a little boring. Moreover, polypteruses also look much more interesting if they are between plants, stones and shelters. To decorate the aquarium, it is preferable to use ceramic or plastic tubes, but their appearance is less natural.
Regarding plants: they are needed only for decoration, since polypteruses do not feed on them, but can be entertained with their help, making their way through dense thickets. For this reason, it is preferable to use hard-leaved species or moss as vegetation.
Filters
It is important to ensure a sufficient level of filtration. Despite the fact that polypteruses are not the most mobile fish, and, moreover, fairly clean, the use of protein feed for them can cause a lot of small wastes, due to which water quickly deteriorates. Therefore, high-quality filtering is simply necessary.
The temperature of the water for keeping these fish must meet the limits of 25 - 30 degrees. As for the parameters, they are not so important, but the water should be soft, pH neutral, or slightly acidic. The presence of light does not play a particularly important role because the polytherus is a nocturnal fish.
Possible diseases
This breed of fish has good enough health. Thanks to their reliable scales, the risk of various types of damage is minimal. For the same reason, they are little susceptible to diseases of bacterial infections and parasitic diseases.However, members of the breed who enter the aquarium from natural conditions can be infected with a freshwater leech. If you have any, you should not settle them together with artificially hatched fish.
Gender differences
The distinction between males and females is somewhat difficult. Characteristic features of males are the presence of a wider thick fin on the side of the tail, as well as the dorsal fin. Females are larger than males. In young representatives of this fish breed, it is extremely difficult to determine gender.
Breeding Features
It is worth noting that in captivity they rarely breed. All representatives of this breed of fish that fall on the implementation, as a rule, are caught in natural conditions. The condition for reproduction is slightly increased acidity of the water. Sometimes it is possible to provoke individuals to continue the genus by changing the parameters of water, its temperature and alkalinity.
How does this happen?
Males form cups from the caudal and anal fin, in which the females lay eggs. After that, they scatter them on small-leaved plants. After spawning, adults need to be resettled for the reason that they tend to eat their own eggs. Caviar looks quite large, it is about 3 mm in diameter. Larvae appear after about 4 days, no more. They begin to eat after 7 days. You can feed fry with nautilia, brine shrimp, microworms.
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Mnogoperov there are about a dozen different species. All of them are very similar to each other. Some differ in size, color, place of origin. The most popular ones for keeping in the aquarium:
- Ornatipinis. The most striking and patterned look is the polytherus ornatipinis, which is also called the marble dragon or variegated polypterus. His body has a gray-brown color. It is decorated with marble drawings. This fish has a mesh pattern on its head, and the belly has a yellowish-white color.
- Digelsi. Polygterus digelsi or striped bishers also differ in average sizes. They have a pointed caudal fin, and fuzzy black stripes are located on the light body. Its distinguishing feature is the contrasting color. From the abdomen to the back, the color gradually acquires a greater saturation from yellow to green.
- Senegalese. Senegalese, or gray polypteruses, come from Senegal and the surrounding area. They have a plain color. Their original variety is Senegalese albinos. Their scales are marbled white. The dimensions of this species can be up to 40 centimeters. The colors are silver with a cold tint. The body is elongated, diamond-shaped scales.
Mnogoperi or polyopterus appeared on planet Earth long before people came to it. These fish have a delightful prehistoric appearance, so they look very original and exotic. Their maintenance does not cause any additional trouble. But still they should not be kept in the same tank with small fish. For some individuals, neighbors of multi-feathers, this can end in a tragic way.
Despite all the unpretentiousness of the content, their breeding requires particularly favorable conditions. The cost is about 1000 rubles.
Video: aquarium fish polyperus
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