The goldfish in the aquarium is the best domesticated underwater pet that will always delight the eye and cheer up not only children, but also adults. Individuals of this variety are relatively small, in comparison with the rest of their family (crucians, koi), descend from the carp (Carassius auratus), brought from East Asia. Over the entire thousand-year history of the existence of goldfish in China, many of their species have been bred. Individuals vary in color (combinations of black, yellow, brown, orange, white, and red are often found), fin and body shape, and size.

How long does a goldfish live in an aquarium?

In addition to the appropriate conditions, the population of the aquarium significantly affects the life span of the fish. If you keep too many underwater creatures in a small area, their lifespan significantly decreases. In addition to all this, one should not forget about the compatibility of breeds, since certain types of delicate creatures simply do not get along with others in the general aquarium.

The lifespan of goldfish is directly determined by the temperature of the water. These organisms are cold-blooded, and in this regard, their body temperature will depend only on environment in which they live. The warmer the liquid in the tank, the sooner your pets have metabolic processes in the body.

Depending on the species of aquarium creatures, their lifespan varies, but even experts disagree on the reliable numbers. A lot is due to the heredity of individuals, their environment and transportation to the point of sale.

Lifetime of goldfish:

• short-bodied individuals of this type live up to 15 years;
• long-bodied are more durable and exist for about 30-35 years.

How long a goldfish lives in an aquarium, now everyone already knows. The main thing is to adhere to certain norms of its content.

How to keep a golden beauty in an aquarium

Like most cyprinids, goldfish produce large amounts of scales, waste, and feces. The clogging will soon increase the poisoning of the small reservoir, which can result in the death of pets. To avoid early contamination, it is required to keep individuals in large aquariums. One underwater creature needs 75 liters of water, mostly 38-40 liters are taken away for decorative species.

What should be the temperature of the water?

Goldfish are cold-blooded organisms, and they can live at temperatures that are comfortable for humans. However, large changes in temperature (for example, in an office space on a winter night), especially in miniature vessels, can kill them. Care should also be taken to fill in new water, the temperature of which should be the same as in the aquarium. This point should be monitored with special attention.

The temperature in the aquarium for goldfish, especially small ornamental, less than 10 ° C is risky for their health. But comets and common goldfish can survive in harsh environments. Too much heat(above 30 ° C) is dangerous for pets. The most suitable temperature for all types of fish is 20 - 22 ° C.

Since these fish prefer to eat plant foods in the aquarium, equipping it with live plants is problematic. Only a few members of the genera Anubias and Cryptocoryne can withstand the pressure. Often, artificial algae are used to decorate the container, although their sharp plastic edges can injure the eyes and skin of the fish.

What determines the color of individuals?

In the dark, underwater animals take on a dim grey colour... When exposed to light, they produce a pigment similar to the one that appears when a person's skin tans under the sun. These creatures have cells designated as chromatophores, which produce pigments that reflect light. The color of pets is determined by the number of this substance in the chromatophores, as well as its placement in the cells. The more its quantity and concentration in the cage, the more saturated the color of the fish.

Underwater compatibility

At first glance, a goldfish in an aquarium may seem like a very sociable and hospitable creature, to which you can add many more of the same breeds or other species of individuals. However, this is not the case. Although with the combined content, cohabitation of various types is permissible.

What types of fish can be populated together?

It is imperative to take into account the nature of any "settler" in a goldfish aquarium. And in order to create the most comfortable atmosphere for all the inhabitants of the reservoir, it is necessary to launch the creatures young and at the same time. The phased introduction of new pets to the dwelling inhabitants leads to sad consequences.

There are some breeds of goldfish that can be roughly divided into two categories: long-bodied and short-bodied.

Long-bodied

Individuals are characterized by good lightness and activity, for the most part they swim in schools and are able to grow in size up to 30 cm without taking into account the tail. They feel especially comfortable in aquariums with a volume of at least 200 liters.

Short-bodied

Such fish in the aquarium are considered less energetic and calmer. That is why they should be kept separate from long-bodied ones. It is even better to keep species of goldfish separately, such as stargazers, telescopes and water eyes - they have very sensitive eyes that other residents can injure.

If a goldfish in an aquarium can get along with others like it, then it is unlikely to get along with other breeds of underwater creatures. She just will eat everyone she can swallow. Likewise, other fish are capable of perceptibly causing harm to goldfish, nibbling their fins, tails and even their sides. In addition, in a reservoir with underwater pets, there is a rather peculiar ecological environment, and if the temperature conditions and feeding regime are also included here, then, in addition to quiet catfish, no one will be allowed to join them.

Caring for your goldfish in the aquarium

There are some rules for keeping these cute creatures that will help beginners to avoid various difficulties.

1. For the fish, an overall capacity is required (it is undesirable to use an aquarium of a regular round shape) so that their maintenance takes place without harm to the pets themselves. You can get 2-3 fish per gallon of water, but no more. From this it follows that 2 pets in 10 liters of water, as a rule, feel great, but if their number is increased, then the level of water clogging in the tank increases, and the complexity of the work for the aquarist increases.
2. A filter with a pumping capacity should be purchased. Goldfish need oxygenated water. Unlike labyrinth individuals, she inhales it in a body of water.
3. It is required to buy a suitable "filling" for the aquarium. Bottom gravel is an ideal solution, as it contains beneficial microorganisms that consume ammonia and reduce its level in the water. But it is necessary to choose this element taking into account its fraction, giving preference to the middle one so that the fish does not eat it.
4. It is not recommended to immediately launch underwater creatures into the reservoir, as a biobalance must be established there. After settling the aquarium, you can put a few catfish or snails in there, which will slightly "clog" it, the ammonia will be processed by microbes, and the water will become suitable for the fish (this action can take from 2 days to a week).
5. You need to give your pet good food. There is a special pelleted food or flake formulation especially for aquarium fish. You can also pour chopped lettuce and pieces of boiled egg onto the surface of the water in a container - the goldfish in the aquarium will happily use them.
6. Such delicate creatures should not be fed in any way, and food should be given out in small portions and no more than 1-2 times a day. All feed should be absorbed within 5 minutes. It is also not recommended to throw more food into the pond than the fish can eat during this time. After all, it is known that they love to overeat.
7. From time to time, it is necessary to carry out some tests (tests for the degree of ammonium, pH, nitrates and nitrites). These substances are very dangerous for the inhabitants of the aquarium. If they are above 0, this is already bad. The measure of nitrates is considered to be up to 40.
8. It will be imperative to put a thermometer in the vessel, because the goldfish in small aquarium or a huge body of water in cold water won't live long. The temperature in such a container should be somewhere around 21 ° C.
9. Don't forget to change the water as well. For an aquarium of 5-10 liters, a water change of 25-30% of its volume is necessary once or twice a week. The old liquid is drained, and the new one is poured into the vessel itself. Aquarists do not advise completely changing the water, as this can destroy the biobalance, and fish with plants may feel unwell.

It will be useful to study various diseases of underwater pets. Knowledge of their signs will contribute to the early identification of the disease and will make it possible to save the creature.

Breeding

Reproduction of goldfish in an aquarium is characterized primarily by the difference between males and females during spawning (the female has a round abdomen, and the males have a light rash on the pectoral fins and gills). Sexual formation in such individuals begins a year after birth. However, the final maturation, the splendor of the fins and the greatest color saturation come only after 2-4 years.

What conditions are required for spawning?

For reproduction, you will need a spawning grounds where any goldfish can lay eggs. In a round or square aquarium, this happens - it does not matter, the main thing is that their volumes are from 20 to 50 liters, and the water level is not more than 20 cm.Water needs purified and quartzised for several hours or kept under direct sunlight. The container should have strong aeration and good lighting.

At a distance of 2 cm from the bottom, a large plastic mesh is installed, and a bundle of thread or nylon sponge is placed in any of the corners. After the fish are released into the spawning grounds, the temperature is gradually increased by 2-4 C.

In order for the eggs to be fully fertilized and spawning is ensured, 2-3 males are taken for 1 female. You can also organize group spawning for a school of fish.

The mark itself lasts from 2 to 5 hours. During this period, the female manages to sweep 2-3 thousand eggs. Then they stick to the washcloth and fall to the bottom under the net, where adults are not able to eat them. Parents are removed immediately after breeding.

At a temperature of 25 ° C, the incubation period lasts 4 days. During this period, it is required to remove the whitened and dead eggs, since they are overgrown with the saprolengia fungus, which can also go on to live eggs.

Mollies is a viviparous aquarium fish with a calm and peaceful character. The original appearance and simplicity of content make mollies an excellent pet.

Impossibility of neighborhood with a goldfish

No less calm and majestic goldfish can be called a pioneer in the world of aquarium fish. These animals are domesticated representatives of the carp family and fascinate people with their beauty and elegance. Selected and bred by humans many centuries ago, these fish are never found in the wild.

Mollies and goldfish in the same aquarium will never get along, since usually calm mollies can show their negative qualities. She is quite capable of biting the body of a goldfish, patting its tail and fins.

In some cases, the case even ends with the death of a goldfish, so it is advisable to keep the latter with creatures similar to it - carp, stargazers, telescopes and some catfish. And relatively cool temperature regime, suitable for goldfish, is unlikely to suit the tropical beauty of mollies.

Neighbors of mollies

Newcomers to the aquarium business can be taken by surprise by the question: mollies - with whom do these pets live? The fish calmly get along with viviparous neighbors, which are not much larger or smaller than the mollies itself.

An ideal option for living together can be scalars, barbs, guppies, gourami, catfish corridors, battles, rasbora and discus. These fish are non-aggressive, practically do not pay attention to plants, and they live in approximately the same conditions.

The list can be supplemented with peaceful cichlids, but it is better to select them by geographic origin. Malawian cichlids are quite aggressive and get along only with their own kind. And their diet, half of which is vegetation, will leave mollies without a cozy corner for solitude. Ancistrus catfish can become a calm neighbor and a useful acquisition for the aquarium: it does not touch other fish and does its job of cleaning the glass of the aquarium.

The unpretentiousness of the goldfish

Goldfish do best in large, spacious aquariums with good water filtration. It is best to provide natural light in the aquarium. The temperature threshold for water in a goldfish tank can fluctuate significantly, since pets are not particularly picky about the characteristics of the water.

It is recommended to use pebbles or coarse sand as a soil, since the fish loves to dig in the soil very much. The plants in the aquarium should be large-leaved, with tough leaves and a good root system, as the delicate leaves of the plants are quickly spoiled by goldfish.

Goldfish for a long time they were considered very unpretentious, and the literature indicated that their content does not cause any particular difficulties. Is it so? Only partly, especially at the present time, taking into account the peculiarities of keeping fish from Southeast Asia. You can put it like this: keeping goldfish will not cause difficulties when a number of conditions are met: a spacious aquarium, a moderate population density, a powerful filtration and aeration system in combination with regular partial water changes and proper feeding.

What is contained in the word "content"? This term hides a set of actions that can be conditionally classified as follows.

1. Arrangement of the aquarium and populating it with fish.

2. Feeding.

3. Regular maintenance of the aquarium and prevention of diseases.

Aquarium.

So, you have become the happy owner of an aquarium with a capacity of at least 100 liters (why not less - read below) and want to have goldfish ...

Priming.

Let's start with soil... Good soil for aquarium a fraction of 3-5 mm is considered, however, it should be noted that goldfish love to sort out this very fraction and, under certain conditions, a pebble can get stuck in their mouth, therefore some aquarists recommend a larger fraction, or, conversely, smaller. But you should not get too hung up on this, this happens quite rarely; just make sure the stones don't have jagged or sharp edges. As a last resort, you will have to save the unfortunate creature with tweezers or a toothpick.

Equipment for aquarium.

1) Internal filter. Goldfish They are distinguished by a rather large mud formation, both in connection with their physiology and due to their love for digging in the ground. Therefore, a good internal filter for mechanical cleaning in aquarium seems necessary. Requires regular cleaning (rinsing in aquarium water when changing).

2) External filter... Helps organize biofiltration in aquarium, especially when using special fillers, a rather useful, although not absolutely necessary device. Indispensable when there is a desire to save space in the aquarium. Another great advantage is that it requires cleaning much less frequently than the internal filter.

Since many manufacturers indicate the nameplate performance filters without fillers, and over time, as it becomes dirty, it still falls, it is recommended to purchase filters, both internal and external, at the rate of 3-4 aquarium volumes per hour.

It is definitely worth reminding that filters must work around the clock.

3) Heater. Gold- cold water fish, however, it was noticed that they do not always feel comfortable at a temperature of 18-20 degrees. Especially it concerns fish local breeding, grown in aquariums... Moreover, such fish like telescopes, ranches, lionheads, are considered to be more thermophilic. You can keep the temperature at 22-25 degrees, choose according to the well-being of your pets, but keep in mind that the increased temperature causes accelerated aging of the fish.

4) Compressor... It is also a rather useful acquisition, since gold coins need a fairly high oxygen content in water. Even if the internal filter is doing its job in aeration mode, it is a good idea to keep a spare compressor just in case. If the compressor noise is annoying (for example, the aquarium is installed in the bedroom), you can find low-noise compressors on sale (they are quite expensive), or install a submersible aerator (in this case, the air diffuser and the rotor are enclosed in a single housing that is installed on the bottom aquarium, and the air intake is carried out through a hose leading out of the aquarium).

5) Siphon- a must-have for every aquarist. Required for regular cleaning soil.

Plants.

To plant or not to plant live plants to the aquarium with goldfish? Definitely: plant! Availability plants favorably affects the ecological situation, helps to cope with algae, pleases the eye and serves as an excellent food for fish. However, there is a small problem here. Goldfish they happily eat almost any aquarium plants and can quickly turn your "blooming garden" into a nibbled wasteland. Many aquarists believe that in this case, there is nothing to worry about with plants, but the authors strongly disagree with this. Quite the opposite, that is why it is worth planting “tasty plants” in the aquarium - they diversify the diet of our pets, serve as an additional source of vitamins and brighten up the monotonous fish life. In addition, there are a large number of large-leaved, tough or simply "tasteless" plants that fish will not touch. These are, for example, Anubias, Schizandra, Cryptocorynes, Echinodorus, etc. Such plants will not be eaten and will serve as additional ecological stabilizers in the aquarium.

In order to rummage in soil, the fish were not pulled out every time plants with the root, when planting them, the bottom around the roots can be overlaid on top of the soil with larger rounded pebbles.

Aquarium decoration.

The form aquarium for goldfish desirable as close to "classic" as possible, that is, when its length is about twice its width. However, you should not choose aquarium with a water column height of more than 50 cm, because, firstly, this will create additional difficulties in caring for it, and secondly, difficulties may arise when growing plants, because the light will reach the lower layers of the water and the bottom with difficulty. However, almost all commercially available aquariums are not 100 percent suitable for wild growth. plants; the lighting system most often has to be modified in terms of its amplification to a ratio of at least 0.5 W per 1 liter of water.

Design aquarium for goldfish- this is a personal matter and a figment of the imagination of every aquarist. Someone attracts professionals, someone prefers to develop their own project and implement it with their own hands, and someone neglects the "standards" (which in fact, maybe not!) And decorates their aquarium from the principle of "how it goes" ...

At aquarium decoration it is necessary to take into account one important circumstance: what kind of goldfish will live there. If you plan to keep telescopes, stargazers, water eyes, you will have to abandon not only stones and soil particles with sharp edges, but also plants with leaves that have sharp edges or teeth. Otherwise, there is a very high risk of injury to the fish.

Separately, it is necessary to mention some decorative elements: "castles", "grottoes", "ships" and the like. Firstly, their aesthetic value is small, and secondly, fish can easily injure fins, eyes or growths on the head about these decorations. Therefore, such decorations for aquarium with goldfish seem superfluous.

aquarium for goldfish- not an axiom and not a law. Small aquariums (from 50 to 100 l) with one fish (or two per 100 l) can be very beautifully designed and properly maintained. It just seems to the authors that it is in large containers that these fish will feel much better: there is some kind of space for swimming, a "flock" of goldfish looks much more beautiful than a lonely individual, and, as many experts note, take care of a large aquarium. much easier ... for aquarium with goldfish seem superfluous.

Of course, large (at least 200 liters) or medium (100 to 200 liters) aquarium for goldfish- not an axiom and not a law. Small aquariums (from 50 to 100 l) with one fish (or two per 100 l) can be very beautifully designed and properly maintained. It just seems to the authors that it is in large containers that these fish will feel much better: there is some kind of space for swimming, "

What and how many fish to settle?

Strange as it may seem, not all breeds goldfish compatible with each other. There are fish that it is desirable or necessary to keep separately, including from their relatives. In addition, representatives of different breeds may not be suitable for each other in temperament, in particular, this concerns the cohabitation of long-bodied and short-bodied goldfish.

About long-bodied goldfish special conversation. They are much more mobile than their short-bodied counterparts, most often these fish are gregarious and, in addition, are able to grow very large, up to 30 cm or even more (excluding the length of the caudal fin). Therefore, the most comfortable long-bodied goldfish feel like in ponds. When keeping them in an aquarium, it is desirable that its capacity is at least 200 liters. Long-bodied goldfish it is recommended, due to their temperament, to be kept separately from short-bodied. In general, these fish ("ordinary" goldfish, comet, shubunkin, wakin) are rather unpretentious, hardy and not so sensitive to changes in conditions of detention.

Among the short-bodied fish, there are those that, as mentioned above, are recommended to be kept separately for various reasons. Telescope clumsy, blind, so neighbors can leave him on starvation rations, in addition, his eyes are very vulnerable. The same applies to the astrologer. Neighbors, through negligence or deliberately, can injure their "bags" to water eyes. In this group of fish, the most unpretentious are considered riukin and fan-tail... Harder to keep oranda, telescopes, astrologers, ranches, lion heads... For beginners, pearls and water eyes are clearly not suitable.

And now we come to one of the "cornerstones" of keeping goldfish - the volume of the aquarium and the population density.

It should be borne in mind that one goldfish a volume of 50 liters and more is recommended. Moreover, it is advisable to organize the minimum volume of 100 liters per pair (in this case, the fish will be more free in movement, even if there are neighbors). With an increase in the volume of the aquarium, the stocking density can be slightly increased, but you cannot get carried away much, with these fish it is very easy to step over the line. In particular, two goldfish can be placed in a volume of 100 liters (three are possible, but in this case it will be necessary to organize powerful filtration and increase water changes). In 150 l you can plant 3-4 individuals, in 200 l - 5-6, in 250 l - 6-8, etc. Let's make a reservation that we are talking about grown-up fish, not less than 5-7 cm in size, excluding the length of the caudal fin.

Why are the requirements so strict? There are, perhaps, two main reasons. Firstly, the fish brought from Southeast Asia are raised in ponds and, as already mentioned, are difficult to adapt to small aquariums compared to ponds. And, secondly, due to its natural gluttony and structural features of the digestive system, goldfish have an increased biological load on the aquarium. This is expressed in a large number produced waste. As soon as this amount exceeds a certain limit, in the aquarium, the biological balance begins to fail with all negative consequences, up to the death of fish. In addition, a high stocking density of fish that have not reached their maximum size is quite capable of causing a phenomenon that in aquaristics is called "tightening": fish stop growing, some structural defects begin to appear, they become more susceptible to diseases.

A very often asked question by newcomers: "Who can be kept with goldfish?" And, as a rule, the unequivocal answer to it is nobody! Goldfish are extremely poorly compatible with any other aquarium fish, the main problem here is that, figuratively speaking, everyone who is not eaten by gold will eat gold in one way or another. There are real examples when guppies almost ate alive large hulking goldfish(especially veiled). And those, in turn, will gladly feast on everything that can get into their mouths. Add to this a difficult ecological environment in aquarium with goldfish, temperature requirements and feeding regime and you will have to exclude almost all ornamental fish from the compatibility list. An exception can be made only by peaceful, unpretentious catfish, which will perform the role of cleaners in the aquarium. Here, too, you need to be on the lookout, since there are often cases when even ancistrus, typical phytophages, "attempted" on short-bodied goldfish and sucked their sides to the meat.

Aquarium care

Of course, before you run to a pet store or a familiar breeder and bring home a coveted package with gold"Flock", a set of measures is needed, called "launch" aquarium... Recommendations for the correct "start" aquarium are given in many literary sources and therefore there is no point in repeating here. Let's just say that when the content goldfish Special attention must be paid to the "start-up" due to the increased biological load that they bring.

A very common mistake of novice aquarists is the "salvo" planting of fish in a "young" aquarium with unstable biofiltration, and even in combination with intensive feeding. In this case, the biological balance, already fragile without that, may not withstand such a "blow", after which the aquarium takes place sudden jump concentration of harmful nitrogen compounds and practically inevitable poisoning of fish.

Landing the same fish in the "not launched" or "launched" incorrectly aquarium can cause extremely negative and often irreversible consequences for them.

Aquarium care with goldfish will not cause any particular problems if done regularly. In general, it differs little from aquarium care with other fish (this is also described in detail in the literature).

1. Weekly water changes.

2. Regular cleaning of filters as they become dirty (internal - about once a week, external - at least once every 3-4 months).

3. Regular siphon of the soil (as it gets dirty, at least once every two weeks; can be combined with water changes).

4. Cleaning glass from algae.

5. Pruning and thinning of plants.

6. Maintenance of the rest of the equipment.

And yet in the case of goldfish there is a certain specificity. And it is connected, first of all, with the peculiarities of their physiology. In this regard, it is necessary to organize quite frequent water changes in the aquarium, in this regard, goldfish are quite problem-free and, being accustomed, can easily tolerate even a daily complete water change. However, do not go to extremes, changing 25 - 30% of the volume of the aquarium once or twice a week is considered optimal. A good option there will be the purchase of tests for nitrates and the organization of the replacement regime in accordance with the results obtained. It should be noted that a sharp change in regime can cause shock in the fish, which in the future can lead to some complications. If you need to radically change the change mode, do it smoothly, gradually accustoming the fish to the new option. If the stocking density of fish increases, it is very often necessary to increase the frequency of water changes. The same thing happens when the biological balance is out of balance in the aquarium for one reason or another.

Filters in aquariums with goldfish get dirty more often. Accordingly, more often they must be cleaned. A dirty filter can be judged by a significantly reduced performance. The sponges of the internal and external filters must be rinsed in the aquarium water drained during the change. Fillers for biofiltration (both in external and in some models of internal filters) should be “disturbed” as rarely as possible. In no case should such fillers be completely changed! Typically, the maximum amount of filler to be replaced is one third. If there is a need to rinse the fillers, this should be done by light rinsing in the aquarium water drained during the change. Before flushing or changing the biofiltration filler in the internal and especially external filter it is recommended to reduce the biological load on it, for which it is necessary to reduce the feeding of fish in about 2-3 days, resuming the original feeding regime no earlier than a week later.

Seaweed- an almost inevitable settler of any aquarium. The presence of nitrates in water (and in aquarium with goldfish maintaining a low level of nitrates is quite difficult) contributes to their rapid growth. Algae are bad at least because, settling on glasses and plant leaves, they spoil appearance aquarium, not to mention a lot more. Therefore, you need to get rid of them. You can, of course, subject the aquarium to "chemical treatment", as recommended by the manufacturers of "miracle remedies" for algae, and it is better to arm yourself with a special scraper or an ordinary household sponge. Some experts generally advise to clean only the front, viewing glass of the aquarium, since algae, absorbing nitrogen, thus also positively affect the ecology in the aquarium.

Soil siphon- not the most pleasant, but inevitable procedure. With its help, excess organic matter is removed from the bottom, and this is very important for an aquarium with goldfish. It is recommended to siphon the soil at least once every two weeks. At the same time, carry out this procedure (especially for small aquariums and aquariums with internal filters; in this case, the bulk beneficial bacteria, participating in biofiltration, lives in the soil) you need to be careful - aerobic bacteria live in the surface layer, and too intensive mixing of the soil layers can destroy them.

Feeding goldfish

Feeding goldfish is a very difficult question, especially for beginners. The fact is that these fish are very gluttonous and always hungry. Every time I pass by aquarium, we see their unfortunate muzzles, greedily “shouting”: “Give! Give!" But you must be firm and not be led by the fish. Train your and their willpower, remember the rule: the hungrier the fish, the healthier it is. Feed the gold you need once or twice a day in small portions so that everything is eaten in 5-10 minutes or less (if you feed twice a day, accordingly halve the portions). Overfeeding is a very common problem with these fish and can easily lead to various diseases, primarily associated with the gastrointestinal tract.

Goldfish omnivorous. Therefore, the diet for them should be varied. It also includes live food (you need to be careful with them, often together with live food in aquarium pathogens of dangerous diseases fall; frozen food is safer in this regard), and plant food, and specialized food for goldfish produced by a number of manufacturers (for example, Sera, Tetra).

Dry food(both flakes and, in particular, granules) before feeding, it is advisable to soak for a few minutes in a saucer with aquarium water. Otherwise, there is a risk that feed particles that swell after eating will provoke a digestive system disorder.

Frozen food before feeding it is necessary to defrost, bringing to room temperature, and to feed immediately after defrosting. When feeding juveniles with frozen brine shrimp, it is recommended to soak them in water in order to eliminate excess salt concentration.

Do not freeze the feed again!

It is also necessary to add various plant foods to the diet, such as lettuce, cucumber, dill, cabbage, nettle, etc. All this is scalded, cut into small pieces and served to fish. Adult fish are able to eat, for example, lettuce leaves, without scalding, and sometimes without the need for fine slicing. Fruits (orange, kiwi, etc.) are also a good addition to the diet.

Some are also good plant foods. aquarium plants- duckweed, riccia, hornwort. Hornwort is doubly useful due to the fact that, being fast-growing, it intensively absorbs nitrogen from the water, thereby contributing to a decrease in the concentration of nitrates.

Adult fish receiving balanced diet, even endure a two-week hunger strike without any problems. And one of the ways not to leave the fish on a starvation diet during a vacation or a business trip, if there is no person who could feed the fish, is to put a "bunch" of hornwort in the aquarium. This food will be enough for fish for a long time.

Disease prevention

You can avoid this scenario. How?

1. Do not overpopulate the aquarium.

2. Maintain a healthy living environment, high quality water. No wonder they say that even with the help of "simple" water changes, you can get rid of many misfortunes!

3. Avoid introducing aggressive neighbors into the aquarium, which can stress or injure the fish.

4. Observe correct diet nutrition and feeding regimen.

There is an opinion that it is necessary to think several times before adding a new fish to a long-established aquarium, both from the point of view of ecology and “relationships” within the fish “family”, even if the volume allows it. There is a very high risk that the old-timers will negatively perceive the new settler, he will begin to experience severe stress, and then there will be only one step before the disease. Even "banal" fin rot can do a lot of trouble.

But what to do if the desire to become the owner of one more fish outweighs everything, including, sometimes, common sense? It happens: a person walks into a pet store and suddenly sees something that can literally knock him down. And he certainly wants this miracle to float in his home - and no one else.

In this case, the human eye, experience and, of course, quarantine will become assistants.

Purchase of fish- the same responsible event, as well as its actual content. If the aquarist possesses at least an elementary store of knowledge, he is able to distinguish between knowingly sick fish, if it has obvious signs of disease. But it also happens that even a specialist does not see the disease at first sight! Goldfish imported from Southeast Asia is directly related to this. They have this or that dangerous disease may appear after a week, or even two after the purchase, and this is not due to the fact that this is an imported fish, but to the conditions in which it was kept upon arrival, including in a pet store. It makes no sense to rely on the seller's honesty - he also may not know what he is selling, especially since so many of today's pet store sellers need to sell, and what to sell is of little concern to them. Therefore, the buyer can easily be misled about "overexposure of the fish for two months in quarantine" (but in fact, even a week before, it splashed in a Chinese pond), and about "local breeding." The quarantine remains.