Elassoma zonatum
Elassoma zonatum, where "Elassoma" means "small body" and "Zonatum" means striped. In the wild, these fish can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes located in the continental United States. The fish keep in small groups. The fish are easy to keep, making them a popular choice for home aquariums.
The Elassoma zonatum is characterized by a brightly colored body, varying from blue to yellow, brown or red, depending on the habitat. The body is cylindrical in shape. Males are longer than females and have a longer dorsal fin orange at the base, transitioning to white at the tip of each lobe. They have three dark brown vertical stripes running vertically along the body: one through the eyes, one between the gills and, one behind the anal fins, which are wider than the other two. Juveniles are less colorful than adults, and have a black spot at the base of the tail. The maximum size of the fish reaches 4 cm.
Keep Elassoma zonatum desirable group of 4-6 fish in a species aquarium of 50 liters. As a substrate preferably coarse-grained river sand or fine gravel. The aquarium should be equipped with numerous shelters in the form of grottos, large flat stones placed on top of each other and snags. The perimeter of the aquarium should be densely planted with aquarium plants. It is also necessary to have an aquarium lid, because these fish are able to jump out of the water.
Elassoma zonatum relatively peaceful and when kept in a common aquarium with other peace-loving fish do not disturb them. The main aggression they demonstrate towards each other if they do not have enough space to create their own territory.
Water parameters: temperature 20-25° C, hardness dH 2-12°, acidity pH 7,0-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh water.
Medium light intensity. Daylight duration of about 10-12 hours per day.
The menu of fish in nature consists of plant food and small invertebrates, insects and aquatic larvae. In aquarium conditions, the fish eat flake and pelleted food, chironomid, Tubifex, Artemia, Daphnia. Food is given once a day.
Reproduction
Elassoma zonatum reaches its sexual maturity by the age of one year.
In nature, spawning of fish occurs in the spring, with the onset of the rainy season. Females lay eggs among aquatic plants or on the flat surface of rocks.
The eggs incubate for a few days. All this time the male is at the clutch fanning it with his fins. Hatch fry remain near the spawning area until they stabilize. Fry grow quite rapidly and by the month of age reach a size of about 2 cm.
For breeding fish in the aquarium should be selected formed a pair of fish that are together as a pair for at least five months. Then the producers begin to feed abundantly with live food.
Life expectancy of Elassoma zonatum in the aquarium is about 2 years, although in nature these fish live up to 4 years.
