Xenotilapia flavipinnis
Xenotilapia flavipinnis or yellow sand cichlids live naturally in Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. The fish are found in areas with sandy bottoms. They are peaceful, calm fish that are very interesting to watch, especially during the spawning period. They are easy to keep, and beginners should be able to keep them.
Xenotilapia flavipinnis has an elongated body. The head and eyes are large. The body is coloured silver with a pearlescent sheen. Dorsal plumage is yellowish. Pectoral fins are colourless and broad. Tail fin is also colorless. Sexual differences are absent. Fish reach a size of 8-9 cm in aquarium conditions.
The Xenotilapia flavipinnis is a very calm and leisurely fish with a peaceful disposition. It should be noted that if you keep together a small number of fish in the aquarium, it is very common between them there are signs of aggression. To avoid this was necessary to contain a group of fish consisting of at least 8-10 individuals. May be kept in a common tank with other peace-loving fish, preferably occupying the upper layers of water.
The fish can be kept in an aquarium of 150 liters. As the soil is suitable only sand, fish are constantly swarming in the soil and if it is in the form of small gravel, he when feeding fish, as a result of sifting it through the gills may get stuck in them. Several large stones, ceramic pots, placed on their sides and grottoes should be placed at the bottom.
Water parameters: temperature 23-27° C, hardness dH 10-25°, pH 7.5-9.0. The water should be crystal clear, so the use of an external high-efficiency water filter is essential. Aeration and a weekly change of 1/5 of the aquarium water with fresh water is required.
Medium light intensity. About 10 hours of daylight per day.
The menu consists of live and frozen food: bloodworms and small invertebrates. The fish should be fed once or twice a day.
Reproduction
During the spawning season, a fully formed pair separates from the fish group. Producers pick up an area in the aquarium and quite fiercely begin to protect it from other fish. The female lays eggs in small portions directly on the substrate, and immediately after being fertilized by the male, she collects them in her mouth. This continues until the female spawns completely.
The eggs incubate in the female's mouth for 10-12 days. During this time, the male is near the female, guarding her territory. The male takes a direct part in the incubation of eggs by taking them from the female to his mouth, while the female guards his territory.
Once fry turn off, they are 8-10 days in the mouth of his parent, and then leave it and begin to swim under the indefatigable control of his parents and at the slightest danger immediately swim into their mouth. This lasts for about 2-3 weeks, after which fry prefer to swim separately and parents have difficulty keeping track of them. At this time, it is advisable to remove the fry in another aquarium.
The fry are fed live daphnia and artemia 4 times a day.
Life expectancy Xenotilapia flavipinnis in aquarium conditions is about 8-10 years.
