Pethia ticto
Pethia ticto naturally inhabits water bodies of the Hindustan Peninsula. The fish can be found in small rivers and streams, densely overgrown with aquatic vegetation and heavily silted soil. In general, the fish has an attractive appearance and can be recommended for keeping beginners aquarists.
Pethia ticto males are pink or red with an orange hue. The coloration of the females is silvery with a pinkish dorsal fin. The body of fish has a pair of dark spots, one of which is located near the gill cover and another near the root of the tail plumage. Males slimmer than females. The size of the fish reaches 6 cm.
Pethia ticto peaceful fish that can easily be kept in a common aquarium with other peaceful fish. Keep barbs preferably a group of at least 8-10 individuals in an aquarium of 80 liters. In this case, the males in the fight for the attention of females will be a bright color, thus demonstrating their attractiveness.
Any recommendations regarding the design of the aquarium is not, the fish are quite normal feel in any environment. However, in order for the fish to have a more vivid coloration, it is desirable to bring their conditions closer to natural. Along the back wall of the aquarium to plant tall bushes. At the bottom, place large stones and snags. The soil can be any, dark-colored, well silted.
Water parameters: temperature 18-25° C, hardness dH 2-12°, pH 6,0-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of 1/5 of the aquarium water with fresh.
The lighting should not be too bright. Duration of daylight hours of about 10 hours per day.
The menu of fish in natural conditions are insects, small worms and invertebrates, as well as plants. In aquariums, Pethia ticto feed a variety of frozen and live food: Tubifex, chironomid, artemia, dry vitamin feed in the form of flakes and pellets. Feed the fish 2-3 times a day in small portions, giving as much food as they can eat in 5 minutes.
Reproduction
Pethia ticto usually spawn in a common aquarium where they reside permanently, but in this case, the safety of offspring is out of the question. As a result, the surviving part of the fry is extremely small. In order to keep the stock of fry bred fish recommended in a small spawning aquarium of about 25 liters.
At the bottom of the spawning tank should be placed separator mesh, which will protect the eggs from the producers desire to eat it. Usually the spawning period of fish occurs in spring. At this time, males are excessively active in every way trying to attract the attention of females. At this time, the fish need to feed intensively, and when the females noticeably rounded abdomen, to put them together with males in the spawning tank. As soon as the females will mark the spawning of producers put back in the general aquarium.
Fry hatch in 1-2 days, and after another day starting to swim in search of food. Feed the fry to live dust and dry food designed for juvenile fish.
Life expectancy Pethia ticto in aquarium conditions is about 3 years.
