Apistogramma Paraguay
Apistogramma sp. Paraguay in natural conditions inhabits water bodies located in South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana). These fish are rarely found in the tributaries of the Amazon, which originate in Brazil and Guiana. Fish can be found in places with soil covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves. Now there is a rush of interest in these fish, and many aquarium enthusiasts are involved in expeditions to search for new varieties of these fish, which in turn allows you to find new fish, but on the other hand, these searches are not systematized, the fish are given different names, but do not pay attention to what species they belong to. As a result there is a confusion - completely different species of fish are called the same, or the same fish has a bunch of synonyms.
Apistogramma paraguay - fish is quite beautiful. Males are almost 2 times larger than females. Their dorsal and anal plumage is filamentous, long. The pelvic fins are transparent with a small admixture of white color. Their tips are elongated and pointed, in some individuals, the tips of the pelvic fins reach the root of the tail plumage.
Keep Apistogramma paraguay should be kept in small harems consisting of 1 male and 2-4 females. Each male in the aquarium captures a certain area, which protects from other males. It is in the territory of the male his females choose their shelters. If one aquarium contain more than one group of these fish, in order to avoid confrontation between males aquarium should have a volume of at least 150 liters (per 2 males and 4-6 females). At the bottom you need to place a large number of stones and snags, as well as delimit the territories of high and plants.
Water parameters, the following: temperature 22-28°, hardness dH 2-10°, acidity pH 5,0-7,0. Need filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of 1/4 of the aquarium water fresh. It should be noted that these fish are very sensitive to water hardness and when its parameters exceed the required life expectancy of fish is significantly reduced.
Fish menu is a variety of live and frozen food, as well as dry food in the form of pellets and flakes. Feed the fish should be 2-3 times a day.
Reproduction
Its sexual maturity Apistogramma Paraguay reaches the age of 4-5 months.
Spawn fish in the same aquarium where they live permanently. Females spawn in caves between rocks, grottoes or in ceramic pots, laid sideways. One female hatches up to 200 eggs. The eggs incubate, depending on water temperature, for 1.5 - 2.5 days. Immediately after hatching fry they swim in a flock near their mother, but after ten days they are better to transfer to another aquarium.
The first 7-10 days the fry feed on their yolk sac, and then they begin to feed artemia.
Life expectancy of Apistogramma paraguay in aquarium conditions is about 3-4 years.
