KEEPING LARGE FISH IN AN AQUARIUM
Many people like the Paracheirodon axelrodi Schultz, Xiphophorus helleri and Rasbora heteromorpha, but for some aquarists these fish are extremely small. If you want to take your aquarium skills to the next level and explore a new aspect of the aquarium hobby, it is worth considering keeping some of the larger aquarium fish. Keeping discus and other large cichlids can be a very interesting task.
Choosing the right substrate
When it comes to the design of an aquarium interior, the choice of substrate is one of the first issues to consider. A substrate in an aquarium does not only have a decorative role - in fact, its function is far greater. Most importantly, the substrate in an aquarium is where most of the beneficial bacteria, which play a major role in maintaining the nitrogen cycle, will live. Substrate also provides a life-giving environment for the establishment of living plants, and some fish species simply need it, as they sift through it during feeding in search of food. The preferences of larger fish species must be taken into account in an aquarium, but gravel or sand are still the best choice. Those fish that sieve the substrate through their gills for food are fine with sand, others can be satisfied with gravel.
Eelgrass and plants
Though they play an important role in decorating the aquarium, they may pose problems for larger fish. Larger cichlids often move all decoration material and uproot bushes along with the roots by digging in. Care should therefore be taken to securely anchor the snags and plants in the ground by placing stones around them. Avoid placing stones with sharp edges in the aquarium, as these may injure the fish. Snags are usually the best choice for aquariums with large fish, although many different decorations are currently available on the market. Snags give the aquarium a natural look (especially in combination with live plants), and they are light enough so that the fish can move around easily without harming themselves if they do.
You can also decorate your aquarium with living plants, which provide many advantages but require care. Live plants not only imitate the natural habitats of the fish as closely as possible, but also provide food (this applies particularly to herbivorous fish).
The plants will also neutralize carbon dioxide by converting it into oxygen and, in addition, in competition for nutrients, suppress the development of algae. However, living plants need a nutritious substrate as well as a certain level of light in order to develop properly. But before introducing plant shrubs into the aquarium, make sure they are compatible with the fish species you wish to keep together. Plant taller shrubs closer to the back and side walls of the aquarium, and lower shrubs closer to the viewing window.
Shelters
Regardless of the type of fish you keep, shelters are obligatory. Of course, the bigger the fish, the harder it is to find suitable shelters. If you want to save money, you can use ceramic or plastic pots, which you must partly bury in the ground in order to fix them in place. A ceramic pot can also be broken in half to make two hiding places. Different materials can be experimented with, just try to distribute the hiding places evenly over the entire area of the aquarium so that each fish can claim its own hiding place and a small area near it.
Tips for reducing aggression in fish
Although not all large fish species are aggressive, nonetheless larger fish are usually less community-friendly than smaller fish. Never keep several aggressive fish species in one aquarium. If you do keep fish with different characters in the same tank, it may be a problem, but nothing is impossible. To reduce the signs of aggression among the fish, keep them in a sufficiently large aquarium - this is the most important requirement, which will drastically ease your task. Separate the areas in the aquarium with tall plants and various decorations.
After setting up the aquarium completely, you should allow time to see how the fish feel and whether they display excessive agitation. Aggressive behavior in fish is usually manifested by reddening of the gills or fins. If this is noticed, the fish should better be removed, otherwise there is trouble.
Keeping large fish in a home aquarium is a very interesting hobby. Large fish sometimes have very interesting behavior. In order to make your aquarium a joy not only for you but also for all the inhabitants that inhabit it, it must be planned carefully from the beginning and then it will be much easier to maintain.
