Tsikhlazoma Severum: Species, Description, Content, Reproduction

Tsikhlazoma Severum is the brightest representative of the family of cichlids. She has a refined structure and a diverse, beautiful body color. It is for this reason that cichlazoma is so popular among fish lovers that it can decorate any home aquarium with its presence. A bright coloring will make the exotic fish a highlight of the home collection.

Tsikhlazoma Severum: species

It should be noted that cichlazoma is popular not only among experienced aquarists, but also in beginners. Outwardly the fish looks like a discus (distant relative), it is sometimes even called a false discus. Currently, there are many different color variations, but the most popular is the cichlazoma north red pearl. Also in demand is the "blue emerald".

In "red pearls" the body is colored yellow with bright red spots. But the blue cichlazoma has a dark blue color with emerald overflows and very dark spots. Also there is cichlazoma diamond, black- and- white.

Aquarists attract a bright, beautiful appearance, which has the right to boast of cichlazoma north. Varieties - the selection variations of this fish are represented by the following species: blue north, golden, eight-stranded, turquoise, larvophilous. Very interesting is the cichlasmoma Severus raspberry, or redhead, named because of the back of the head is a very bright orange or red strip.

North Compatibility

Tsikhlazoma is the north, the content and breeding of which has its own characteristics, is very aggressive towards its relatives. Therefore, the question of the group content of this species is very problematic. The only option that you can try with a great desire to maintain a flock of such fish is to make a good zoning in a very large aquarium. Then, perhaps, they will get along together.

But to other fish tsikhlazoma the north is completely loyal. However, one should take into account the fact that neighbors need to be selected approximately the same size as the cichlid. She gets along well with astronotuses. Good neighbors can be different somomodobnye fish.

But with small cichlids and other small fish, the north can only get along with the condition of a large volume of the aquarium. Therefore, thinking about the settlement of the home underwater world by the inhabitants, first one should study their compatibility.

Dimensions of the aquarium

Tsikhlazoma Severum is an aquarium long-liver. With good care, she can live more than fifteen years. Keep the fish in a large aquarium. It should be assumed that one pair must have at least 130-150 liters of water. If you plan to keep cichlase with other fish, then the aquarium should be at least 250 liters.

Description of cichlasma

In the wild, cichlids live in the freshwater waters of the Amazon basin. Dimensions of the fish reach twenty centimeters. Aquarium representatives are more modest in size, about fifteen centimeters.

The body of the fish is not very elongated, but it is quite flattened, because in nature they live in strong thickets of algae. If there are large volumes of water, the cichlasma may take the form of a disc. The fish has a long anal and dorsal fins, which extend to the base of the tail.

Color cichlasma depends on the prevalence of one of the genes, which is responsible for the color. Sexual maturity of the fish reaches three years later.

"Severum" in Latin means "severe". Such a definition is quite suitable for cichlazom, which, by its very appearance, shows that it is angry. And perhaps the name indicates the northern regions of the fish habitat.

In general, tsikhlazoma northum (its species are very diverse) can have completely different colors. And in colors and shades can be observed quite a strong scatter. There are very bright and beautiful fish, and some have a completely faded appearance. Males, as a rule, are brighter than females. There is a cichlazoma north gold, as well as a red variety of them. Such species are very beautiful.

Tsikhlazoma severum: content and breeding

Tsikhlazoma is considered unpretentious in its content. In addition, it is very resistant to temperature changes and all sorts of diseases. Tsikhlazoma north, the content of which is not difficult, nevertheless, it is very demanding on the volumes of the aquarium. For her, a very important condition is the availability of a comfortable home. Even the shape of the aquarium is important to them. If the vessel is high, the fish will grow in width, and in the narrow - on the contrary, in length.

Tsikhlazomy are omnivorous. They love live food and even ice cream, but dry ones will do the same. However, in the diet must be present vegetable food. You can also use leaves of spinach and lettuce, scalded with boiling water. The food should be balanced. This basic rule should be strictly observed, as this depends on the successful maintenance and breeding of fish. Dry and vegetable feed should be alternated. In addition, knowing the gastronomic preferences of pets, you need to include in the diet proteinaceous substances or plant. The most convenient option is to use ready-made dry feeds, which are now widely represented in the market of pet products. Among them, you can pick up food for a fish like cichlazoma north.

Breeding cichlasma: talk more

If there are no difficulties with the content of this type of fish, then it's not so simple with breeding ... In order to form a pair, it is necessary to acquire a flock. Then, during puberty, the cichlazomas themselves will choose their partner. After this, fish must be planted, as they are aggressive towards their relatives.

As a solution to this issue, you can immediately acquire a couple. Spawning of the northern as well as all the cichlazomas. The stimulator of the process is to raise the water temperature in the aquarium by several degrees or very often to replace it.

Female and male differ from each other with dorsal fin. In male mice, it is pointed, and in females it does not. In males, color is distinguished by brightness and clear spotting, on the head and gill tops there is a clear pattern. But females have more faded and monotone coloring.

Spawning can be arranged in a separate tank (150 liters) or in a common aquarium. As a rule, before this fish arrange a kind of marriage dances, touching their mouths. Then the female lays eggs on a smooth surface. Its number directly depends on the spawning frequency: from three hundred to a thousand eggs. The incubation period is about a week, but depends on the temperature of the aquarium. During this period, the female and male take care of their future offspring. Then there are larvae, which begin to swim on their own in about seven days.

There is an opinion that fry tsihlazomy north do not eat artemia. However, this is not at all the case. For babies, daphnia, artemia or any other chopped food for cichlids is quite suitable. And in a couple of weeks they will be able to absorb unmilled flakes on their own. Fry grow extremely slowly, after a month they only reach one centimeter. At this time, the formation of color.

Parents are very jealous of their offspring. Fish-neighbors squeeze in the corners. Males are ready to stand to the death for toddlers.

If you have an intention to grow fry, then in a few weeks they should be removed from the aquarium, as the female can eat them. For all fish this is quite normal.

More on the specifics of the content

Tsikhlazoma severum (species listed in the article) in nature lives in dense thickets of algae. So, in the aquarium you should have live plants. It can be absolutely any kind of algae. On the one hand, cichlasma is not a vegetarian creature, but on the other hand - leaves of some tender plants sometimes suffer from it.

This type of fish calmly refers to the chemical composition of the water in which it lives. Different experts recommend them to contain in completely different conditions: from very soft water to hard. In fact, for fish this is not so important. The main thing is that the water is fresh and at the same time it is well saturated with oxygen. Comfort temperature for cichlasma is 24-26 degrees.

They get along well with other aquarium inhabitants. Small fish are never offended. However, the situation is different, conflicts can ripen in close aquariums, because with age, the character spoils, fish become more snooty and aggressive.

But with goldfish cihlazomy completely do not get along. They can not be categorically kept together. For an unexplained reason, veal fins become the target of attack from the cichlasma.

Severums are not at all incontinent. They start hunting only because of hunger.

Aquarium for the North should be designed in the style of the rivers of South America. Large stones and driftwood, sandy soil - this is the environment that the fish like. In such conditions, the cichlases will feel great. Add the picture can be fallen beech or oak leaves, which are located on the bottom. Very often fish begin to dig the bottom. This is a completely normal phenomenon for them. Sometimes this is a sign of the approaching spawning.

Diseases of cichlasma

Tsikhlazoma Severum is resistant to various diseases. However, it can suffer from poor aeration of water. Poor on it reflects the lack of secluded places, there may be stress. She loves various snags and shelters.

Very often the hosts panic any disease of fish. Unfortunately, no one is immune from the disease, the cichlasma of the north including. In a panic, people begin emergency treatment, forgetting about the most important steps to eliminate the disease.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the water parameters. Do not think that if you frequently change the water, then its condition is ideal, this is far from the case. It is necessary to check the content of nitrites, oxygen, ammonia. If you find any deviations, then they should certainly be aligned. Change in water indicators can lead to the rapid death of many inhabitants of aquariums. Even bacterial and viral infections do not affect fish at this rate.

Cysts can be affected by parasites of different species. Some of them are so insidious that they live not only in the intestines of fish, but even in caviar. Therefore, fry can be born sometimes sick. Infected fish seem sluggish and unhappy. They have no appetite, they still eat, but the sense of it is not enough. Sometimes there can be a swollen abdomen. In any case, when the diagnosis is confirmed, it is urgent to begin treatment, naturally, it will be medicamentous. Fish should be given the widely known drug "Metronidazole". To do this, you can use special drugs and feeds on its basis. Or just dissolve the aquarium tablets at the rate of: 250 milligrams of the drug per 40 liters of water. Treatment should last for five days. This procedure is carried out daily. But for a full recovery, you still need to use medicinal feed. After the drug course, you will have to replace part of the water and put a carbon rod into the filter.

Bacterial diseases, mechanical damage

Tsihlazoma severum (photo) is also susceptible to bacterial infections, which are often found at elevated temperatures in the aquarium. Such problems are also called a disease of dirty water. Help in this case can only antibacterial drugs.

Careful studies of cichlazoma have shown that African parasites are severely infected by African species from Lake Malawi. The University of Florida has long been studying the problem of cichlid disease. His workers found 52 species of parasites in Malawian individuals: intestinal, external and circulatory among them. Such diseased fish, getting into the aquarium, can infect not only cichlases, but also all other inhabitants.

Sometimes the north can become blotchy, but this is not always a sign of illness. Sometimes a similar phenomenon occurs when transplanting fish from one aquarium to another. Over time, such specks disappear.

In addition, fish can be mechanically damaged. For example, when buying and transplantation, or just run into the sharp edges of anything in the aquarium. If the damage is minor, then they are not dangerous. Gradually they will heal. But if the fish sits in secluded places, its activity is reduced, it means that the damage is serious enough. In such cases, it is recommended to put it in another container, because it can be attacked by its own kind. In addition, for rapid healing of wounds to fish give antifungal drugs. Most often use a drug such as "Antipar".

Poisoning aquarium inhabitants

Even aquarium fish can get poisoned. However, this can not happen by accident. Perhaps two options for the development of events: either the aquarium has got a bad feed, or chemicals. Both cases are a direct fault and an aquarist's fault.

Symptom of poisoning is reduced activity of fish and darkening of the gills. When treating aquarium inhabitants, it is necessary to calculate the dosage of medicines correctly and carefully, otherwise excessive amounts of them can become a poison for the inhabitants of the aquarium. If poisoning is detected, you should definitely replace some of the water in order to reduce the amount of poisonous substances, and then eliminate the cause of the accident.

Instead of an afterword

Tsikhlazoma Severum - a very interesting fish, popular among fans of aquariums. What attracts people in it is the bright and inimitable coloring. There are a variety of colors. However, novice aquarists who are thinking about the acquisition of such fish, it is worth knowing that they need to provide a large aquarium with enough water. In small volumes, cichlasma does not survive. Therefore, in the conditions of ordinary small apartments it will be difficult to arrange a large aquarium. In principle, it is believed that the north are fairly unpretentious fish, but remember that they can conflict with each other. And therefore it is problematic to keep a flock of cichlases. Exotic beauties are sometimes aggressive, although they are considered intelligent fish.

Experts believe that cichlazoma north is simple in content, that's why beginners should learn to treat it first, and then, having experience, you can buy other representatives of cichlids.