Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, Convict cichlid

In some countries call as a Zebra Cichlid

Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum this fish is a member of family of Cichlids (Cichlidae).

It lives in crowd warm waters of central America, in aquaria's achieves 10 cm of length,, usually smaller, female grows to 8 cm.

Male has elongated considerably and sharpened fins dorsal and anal, female however shorter and lightly rounded. Coloration: usually white - grey, from seven black, irregular, perpendicular belts.

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Zebra's require many hideouts which construct from suitably arranged stones or special caves in a enough large aquaria's. Plants in aquarium have to be strongly fastened to base with the help of stones, or planted in flower-pots because fish these before spawning like it to tear out and to destroy. We on bottom of aquarium place the fat layer of gravel as well as the smooth, well cleaned stones which will to be of service to composition of spawn.

Water in tank should be very clean, about hardness 10-12 ° n, pH - 7 and temperature 24-28 ° C. best accepted food is animal (enough large sizes mosquitoes', plankton, and warms ). Zebra's do not despise with foods of vegetable origin also, and even dried plankton though they eat him less willingly. Passed to aquarium food be taken in characteristic for this species way. After they observations fish's food they take him, moving quick jumps very violently. If lively food is sale large to swallowing, they kill trophy and really when it drops on bottom of reservoir, they tear to pieces him and devour.

Unusually interesting reproduction these fish is. It be holds usually in separate, similarly prepared aquarium, or in reservoir in which speeded so far: it was one should was however remove every different fish then because beating would threaten them strong, and even to death.

They before approaching zebra’s spawning alter coloration considerably, enlarged aggressiveness near what marks it then. In spawning period the male has the darkened skin considerably until to atrophy of black belts, visible it is the ruffling the fins as well as black tinge of muzzle also.

It with female was it been possible was to observe the orange - tinge of stomach, the glittering blue belt, covering it borders the dorsal fin and anal, as well as, similarly how with male, the black tinge of muzzle. Female's stomach is then considerably enlarged obviously.

The temperature of water in breading aquarium should have carried out since 28 to 30 ° C, however we leave without changes reaction and hardness. In so prepared tank female begins the building of nest, digging up gravel muzzle, transferring unnecessary pebbles in different place as well as removing with vicinity of plant's nest, for what exactly stone cleans, being near at hand near nest. After long-lasting courtships and it lures the spawning dances the female, which on previously the cleaned up stone folds ok. 100-200 grains of spawn. Female looks after with spawn, fanning over her, fins.

Young fish usually hatches after 3-4 days and transferred in female's muzzle to nest immediately. After outflow 4-6 days young cichlids begin swimming. It can look after with offspring both female and male. With rule yet before hatching young male be attacked by female and when young fish begins executing to repel first movements, old female male. It was it been possible in this period to remove from reservoir male, to avoid fights to right about care over offspring. It pretended me it was observed that I will grill over nest male can take over also. After some next spawning and hatching young female was driven out from nest by male which in the face of her so large aggressiveness that I had be forced to remove her to different tank. In this situation male looks after from the same with offspring result as female had acted this. After three - four weeks adult fish stop to be to interest with offspring and one should it to shut oneself off from young. We feed the fry the protozoan initially, and then the change the plankton with addition of with the added vitamins foods, on example Microvit. Suitably fed fry grows enough quickly, but very irregular. Therefore also, more quickly growing specimens can eat smaller fish, selection be indicated according to growth from here. Do not command from young to leave both parents because it in small space comes between them to fights about care over offspring often and weaker side has not where to run away. I last of all would desire to warn before breeding zebra's cichlids with different species together because it is then very aggressive fish (particularly during spawning); it be able to rout about many enemies larger from them.

I about aggressiveness these fish had opportunity to convince alone when I in their spawning period tried to take out from aquarium and to clean up filter. Male attacked my hand sharply.