Showing posts with label American Cichlids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Cichlids. Show all posts

2017-04-03

FLOWERHORN Fish - A Hybrid Cichlid of South American Origins

One of the more unusual cichlid varieties is the flowerhorn. It is actually not a recognized species due to its hybrid origins. The actual parent species remains a mystery because the original breeder has not made the origins public. It is widely believed however that South American cichlids were used in it's creation.

The flowerhorn is an unusual looking species that can grow a large nuchal hump on it's forehead. Coloration can vary as many variations have been created using selective breeding. Red patterns with scattered black scales are typical of the fish frequently seen. Other types such as the red flame flowerhorn have large yellow areas at the dorsal end of the fish's body. The black scales are sometimes arranged into bands as seen in the red general flowerhorn.

English: Tanking
Tanking (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Flowerhorns have the potential to grow quite large. 40 cm can be expected from a mature specimen. For this reason a large aquarium of 4 feet and upward is recommended. Due to their potential for aggression they are often kept alone or with other flowerhorns in such fish tanks. If your aim is to keep more than one fish it is advised to select the tank mates while young. By doing so they can become accustomed to one another and show less aggression once mature. Suitable fish to keep with flowerhorns are red devils and other large South American cichlids. Such species will be better suited to defend themselves than smaller varieties.

These fish should be cared for in the same way that other South American cichlids are. A high protein cichlid pellet can be fed though there are also foods produced specifically for flowerhorns. Water should pH should be kept in the vicinity of neutral using a test kit and adjustment additives.

As large cichlids have a tendency to rearrange their surroundings care should be taken in decorating the tank. Aquarium plants can not be used because thy will soon be uprooted and damaged n the process. Large stones and resin ornaments are suitable but heavy rocks should not have any gravel beneath them. This will ensure the object is not undermined and toppled onto the digging fish.

While these behaviors can be tiresome for the aquarium owner it is quite stimulating for the fish. To further amuse your flowerhorns additional objects can be offered from time to time. If you have several tanks the ornaments can be periodically switched around.



2017-02-16

The OSCAR CICHLID

The Oscar Cichlid is an intelligent fish which creates a friendly bond between itself and its owner. To achieve this, the fish requires the utmost care and undivided attention. They respond well to gestures and will swim into your palm once the bond is formed. The Oscar Cichlid has lots of amusing gestures. For instance it knows when the owner gets home and will wag its tail.

English: These are my pet Oscars, I call them ...
Oscar Cichlid (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The personality of the Oscar Cichlid is unmistakable. In the first instance, they will be timid and will spend most of their time in hiding. As time goes by, they gradually come out and interact with the owner. Within no time, the fish will eat from the hand of the owner as well as ask for food.

They will swim to the surface while moving their teeth as though they are eating. This gesture is meant to mean that it's time to feed.

The name Oscar is the most commonly used while the scientific name is Astronotus ocellatus. It goes by other names like Velvet and Marble. As a pet, the Oscar is very easy to keep. However it needs a very big aquarium, large enough for it to swim freely around and burrow. In particular, it needs a well maintained water volume of up to a maximum of 600 liters.

In the aquarium, you need to include plants also although they are easily uprooted. Include in it bigger rocks so that the fish can be able to find places to hide.

It is not possible to immediately tell the sex of the Oscar. To tell the difference, you should wait for them to start spawning. When they are ready, the sexual organ will be evident on the female. Usually these fish will form a lifelong relationship with each other.

When breeding these fish, it is a good idea to breed them in even pairs of males and females. This encourages them to choose a mate for themselves. In the event one of them dies, they will rarely make new relationships. This might be the time to go and purchase a new pair.

The size of the adult will be up to around 45cm and weigh up to 3.5 pounds. The best temperatures to keep these fish in are between 22 and 26 °C. Their feeding is pretty general. They feed on almost anything a fish can feed on. It is however recommended that you feed them with protein foods.



They originate from river stems in South America. It is good to note that the fish should not be placed in communal tanks where the fish are all smaller that the Oscar. It is generally not aggressive but during breeding, the fish overly protects its young and could be hostile.In times of danger, the female Oscar cichlid will protect its young ones through mouth brooding.

you can generally tell the males due to the dark spots located towards the dorsal fin. The males also generally mature faster than females do. Within a year, the Oscar can reach its sexual maturity and continue with this for up to 10 years.

    By Pauly Freeman
    Want to know more about the Oscar Cichlid [http://www.cichlidssite.com/oscar-cichlids/]? Then check out www.CichlidsSite.com [http://www.cichlidssite.com/] for the latest info on caring for, breeding and raising big beautiful Oscars.
    Article Source: EzineArticles


2017-01-30

FLOWERHORN FISH

Flowerhorn Fish