Breeding apteronotus is not too complicated, but as any “not too complicated event” has its own quite specific features.
Aptheronotus reaches sexual maturity at the age of about one and a half years. Adult fish in aquarium conditions can reach a size of 35-40 centimeters. Therefore, to keep apteronot need an aquarium of 150 – 200 liters.
Gender differences
Sexual dimorphism is very weakly expressed. Females are somewhat smaller than males and have a rounded abdomen. Males may have a fatty outgrowth on the occipital region.
Leningrad aquarists are the first to breed apteronotus in captivity. They also shed some light on the physiology of reproduction of this species.
The apteronotus is a nocturnal fish. During the day, they prefer to rest in some secluded place. And the positions are very diverse from lying on the side to the top of the belly.
Apteronotes are omnivorous, but it is better to feed them live food. However, cases when they were fed dried daphnia and boiled beef have been described.
Compatibility
Apteronotes are not aggressive towards other species. Also do not touch fry, at least when they have enough other food. But to members of their own species, they tend to be aggressive, arranging now and then fights for food or a secluded corner for daytime rest. These scuffles rarely end in the death of fish, but they can injure each other. The most common damage during such clashes – bite the caudal fin. This fin soon grows back. This indicates a great ability to regenerate.
Apteronotus breeding Preparing the spawning tank
For spawning, it is better to prepare a separate aquarium of one hundred fifty to two hundred liters. Apteronotes like the flow of water and lay eggs also in places of greatest water movement. In the aquarium, these are places in which the water flow is formed by benthic filters and pumps. Eggs can fall into the filter, from which it will be difficult to remove them.
Therefore, it is better to separate part of the aquarium with a partition made of large mesh or Plexiglas with holes drilled in it. The holes or mesh should be at least 3 millimeters. The pump should be positioned in such a way that it creates a constant flow through the partition to the side of the fenced-off corner. Then the eggs will be drawn there, but to the pump itself will not fly, and will settle to the bottom. Thus, the eggs will be safe.
Water parameters in the spawning tank
Water for the spawning tank should have a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. The hardness is about 6 degrees. Hydrogen index 6-6.5. It is desirable to salt the water. Concentration of salt one tablespoon per 20 -30 liters of water. Salt can be used as sea salt, and food salt.
If you are lucky enough to have a pair of different-sex fish, sooner or later they will lay eggs. In this case, the male and female usually showed to each other are not the warmest feelings then and there arranging squabbles over all sorts of small things for the period of spawning will declare a truce. And positioned in a suitable, in their opinion, will begin to hatch a few eggs. Spawning lasts for several hours.
Apteronotus breeding Care of the roe
Eggs are large 2 – 2.5 millimeters light gray, transparent. It is better to remove whitened eggs.
Incubation averages 48 hours, sometimes accelerating to 32 hours or slowing to 96. The reason for this is not clear at present. Larvae are large with a large yolk sac. They are yellow in color. As the yolk sac dissolves, the juveniles turn black.
It is necessary to constantly remember about the increased oxygen demand and regularly change part of the water, as well as to establish a low-flow aeration.
Fry swim vigorously at night, and during the day they hide in hiding places. In this case, they can be so much clogged in small cracks that sometimes they can not get out of them and die. Therefore, I do not even undertake to tell you any soil for spawning aquarium with apteronotami. Although it may be suitable for ordinary sand. And for a day aquarium anything just shade. After all, small fish are clogged in the cracks between the stones because of an innate fear of light. If you exclude the possibility of getting into a crevice, which can become a grave, then there will be less disappointment.
Well, shading the aquarium for a day, we remove the very reason forcing to climb into the crevices, from which then it is difficult to get out. After the larvae turn into fry they should begin to feed. The best starter food is nauplii cyclops and artemia. Then you can move on to small crustaceans. And when they reach one and a half centimeters in length, you can treat them with small moths.
Fry are the children of their parents 🙂
It should be borne in mind that apteronotes are aggressive towards members of their own species from the age of fry. Therefore, it is still necessary to provide your pets with a sufficient number of spacious shelters after excluding too tight gaps. As they grow, fry should be planted on more spacious dwellings. Given the size of adult fish about this is better to take care of in advance. Namely think about who you can give or sell these fish to.
If you remember that a couple of adult apteronotov need an aquarium of two hundred liters, it becomes clear that to provide sufficient volume for the normal existence of these fish most aquarists alone is not possible. If you leave the younger generation in an aquarium of small sizes, they will be delayed, will not reach their majestic size. And in addition, given their bully character, they are likely to constantly fight for territory, cave or food.
As you can see breeding apteronotus is not such a difficult task. I hope this article has answered some of your questions. And most importantly will help you decide whether it is worthwhile to engage in breeding apteronot white caimovy in the home, if you do not have somewhere to go in time to children grown up fish.
