Eretmodus cyanostictus
Eremodus cyanostictus lives naturally in the African Lake Tanganyika. The fish stay in the high tide zone along rocky, algae-covered shores in fairly strong currents. Experienced aquarists are recommended to keep the fish.
Because Eretmodus cyanostictus inhabit rocky areas with strong currents they have adapted to these conditions, they have long dorsal fins and a compressed body shape. Their dorsal plumage is very spiny and serves as a weapon against predators and birds. Throughout the body sand-coloured, dark transverse stripes run through the body. It should be noted that coloration may vary depending on the habitat. Sexual differences are poorly expressed. Males are usually slightly larger than females and have longer pelvic fins. The maximum size of fish is 8 cm.
Eretmodus cyanostictus are territorial fish. They should not be kept in a common tank with other territorial fish species. Cyprichromis Leptosoma, Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis, Tropheus sp. "Red Moliro. Eretmodus cyanostictus can also be kept as singles or pairs, a pair being formed for life.
Keep the fish is recommended in an aquarium of 250 liters. Use sand or fine ground gravel as substrate. The aquarium is a large number of stones, placed in such a way that between them were formed crevices and caves to the surface of the water and which could freely swim fish.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 10-25°, pH 8,0-9,0. Need filtration, powerful aeration and a weekly change of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh.
Lighting should be bright, lasting about 10-12 hours per day. This intense lighting is required to stimulate the growth of algae, which the fish feed on.
The diet of the fish consists mainly of plant foods such as blanched spinach and lettuce and spirulina. A variety of live and frozen foods serve as supplementary food. Fish should not be fed protein-rich foods such as shellfish and worms. Feed 1-2 times a day.
Reproduction
Eretmodus cyanostictus reproduce in the aquarium, but it is quite difficult to achieve. Fish reach sexual maturity at the age of two years.
To breed fish, you should buy a group of young fish and give them the opportunity to form pairs on their own. Buying adult fish to form a pair does not always ensure a positive result.
Remove the remaining fish from the aquarium once a pair has been formed. A pair of Eretmodus cyanostictus placed in a spawning tank of 120 liters with several large flat stones that will act as a spawning substrate. The water temperature in the spawning tank is maintained in the range 26-27° C. Strong aeration of the water is also required.
Before spawning, the female picks up for spawning one of the stones and carefully cleans the surface of his dirt. then producers are beginning to swim around this place, touching the belly to each other, and at one point the female puffs out 1-2 eggs, which immediately collects to her mouth. She then swims up to the male, who has egg-shaped spots on his anal fin, and at this point he emits a cloud of milk, thereby fertilizing the eggs in the female's mouth. The process then repeats. In total, the female hatches up to 30 eggs.
The eggs incubate in the female's mouth for a fortnight. During this time she does not eat anything. Once the fry hatch, the female transfers them to the male's mouth, where they remain for 7-14 days. During this time the male also does not eat anything.
The parents do not touch their offspring. The fry are fed powdered food containing spirulina and artemia. Fry grow slowly.
Eretmodus cyanostictus has a lifespan of about 5-8 years under aquarium conditions.
