Aulonocara firefish
Aulonocara firefish is a hybrid obtained by crossing Aulonocara aurica, red zebra and Aulonocara nyasa. In nature, these fish are not found. Keep these fish can even beginners aquarists with experience in aquarium care.
Aulonocara firefish fully justifies its name. The fish has an elongated body with a bright red-pink coloration. The dorsal plumage is elongated. The head is large. Males have a brighter coloration than females. Males reach their maximum coloration by the age of 2 years. Females are smaller than males, their coloration is more faded, and all fins have a rounded shape. The maximum size of the fish reaches 14 cm.
Aulonocara firefish has a peaceful character and these fish can be easily kept in a common aquarium with other non-aggressive representatives of cichlones. Males Aulonocara firefish do not pay attention to other fish and show signs of aggression only in the spawning season.
Water parameters: temperature 25-28° C, hardness dH 7-20°, acidity pH 7,4-8,5. Need filtration, aeration and periodic replacement of water fresh (2 times a week by 1/3 part).
Coarse-grained river sand should be used as a soil. The thickness of the soil should be at least 3 cm. This is due to the fact that fish in the spawning period build a nest in the sand. It is also necessary to place on the bottom grottoes, snags, stones, among which could hide the female and young fish.
Menu Aulonocara firefish are all kinds of live and frozen food. It is necessary to plant additive to the feed, which should be at least 30% of the total amount of food given to the fish. Fish also eat a variety of dry food in the form of flakes and pellets. Issued food should be strictly dosed, as these fish do not know the measure of food and are prone to obesity. Feed the fish should be 1-2 times a day.
Reproduction
Aulonocara firefish reaches sexual maturity by one year of age, with females becoming sexually mature a couple months earlier than males.
The female lays, depending on her age and size up to 70 eggs in a hole previously dug in the sand by the male. After fertilization of eggs by the male, the female collects all the eggs to his mouth where it is incubated for about 3 weeks after which her mouth leaves fully formed fry. First time fry swim under the control of their mother and at night again swim to her mouth. After 2-3 weeks, the fry are desirable to drop off, as they swim in different directions and the female for them to lose control.
The fry are fed cyclops, artemia, daphnia, and after some time small moths.
Aulonocara firefish has a life expectancy of about 8 years.
