Externally, the fish are very similar to each other. Usually the male is somewhat larger than the female, although there are exceptions. The dress of the female is almost completely red and orange shades, with a small amount of sparkles. Males, on the contrary, are decorated like a Christmas tree, cast in blue-green colors. The fins of the stronger sex are longer and brighter.
Habitat and living conditions
If you decide to buy such an interesting fish as handsome chromis, the content may surprise you with its ease. The aquarium should be spacious enough, preferably more than 60 liters (for one pair). Pay attention to the equipment; for normal vital functions, chromis require good filtration and aeration of water, maintaining a constant temperature. The optimum temperature is 21-25 ° C, hardness up to 20 ° W, PH 7.0.
When purchasing soil, remember that these fish are actively digging in it, especially during the spawning season. Therefore, sand and other small fractions will not work. It is best to take large crushed stone, and the plants are well strengthened with large stones.
In the aquarium there is always a lot of organic matter (food residues, biological waste), which forms turbidity on the ground. Due to the activity of the fish, it will constantly rise, so regular blowing of the soil and weekly replacement (25 - 30% of the volume) of water is required.
Gentle algae with fragile root systems do not get along well with these fish, being several times carelessly dug out, they die. Well suited Anubius, which stand any test. Or, as an option, plant the plants in a flower pot that you drop into the ground.
Character, behavior
A handsome chromis fish is far from being quiet and pretty, as it may seem. As in each species, there are separate individuals rather calm, and others attacking everything that moves. In any case, the neighborhood with them can be costly for other species of fish.
These fish are monogamous, a stable married couple is formed, which divides between them all the care of offspring. Therefore, it makes sense to buy an aquarium with a volume of 120 liters and start two pairs. It will be very interesting to observe the redistribution of territory between them, you can also facilitate their task by dividing the bottom with a high draft. The main habitat of chromis is the bottom area, so this is how you draw a clear boundary.
Underwater structures made of stones, crafts in the form of sunken ships will serve as shelters where a formed couple can retire. This helps to avoid territorial clashes when several individuals live in an aquarium.
Livable with neighbors
As already mentioned, the nature of the fish is complex, so initially it is worth taking care of the safety of all underwater inhabitants. Definitely not suitable chromis-handsome for a hostel with small popular fish: guppies, neons and others. Ragged fins and broken eyes are the least that can happen.
Chromis is also an unsafe neighborhood for snails. A large one, like an ampoule, will easily bite off the antennae, and the smaller ones will be eaten by shaking out of the shell. According to the experience of many experienced aquarists, one can say that they peacefully coexist with large catfish and barbs.
It must be remembered that prolonged feeding of unsuitable or unbalanced feed can lead to illness or death of the pet. The basis of the nutrition of these fish is protein. It is easiest for a beginner aquarist to buy specialized, balanced mixes for cichlids. It should be noted a serious plus of this approach.
Such bright representatives of the species, like handsome chromis, need food with a high content of pigment. It is he who accumulates in the tissues, maintains the richness of color. Living in artificial conditions, fish have one opportunity to obtain a sufficient amount of pigment - from special mixtures.
Based on some experience, you can combine different feeds, providing optimal feeding. It should contain:
- live food: tubule, bloodworm, fish fry and earthworms,
- meat feed: beef, shrimp,
- dry food, including small supplements of vegetable food, such as spirulina.
Cichlid can be fed 2 times a day, little by little, or 1 time. The amount of food is determined empirically, depending on the number of individuals and the type of food (dry mixes are much less nutritious than meat). The portion should be eaten in 20 seconds, make a start from the next feeding.
Another important factor is age. Youngsters and young individuals must take 3-4 meals per day. With good nutrition, they will reach maturity by about 6 months.
Breeding
One of the most exciting and long-awaited moments for each aquarist is the creation of a pair of fish and breeding offspring, especially if you have a handsome chromis. Reproduction begins with the fact that individuals change color, the female becomes crimson-red, the blue-green spots begin to shine in the male.
For the first time, offspring of fish are about 9 months old.
The couple chooses a place for spawning, chasing away all the guests from it. The nursery usually becomes a flat stone, the walls of an aquarium, or a mock of a sunken ship. Having marked the eggs, the parents alternately guard it with movements of the fins ensuring the flow of water.
One clutch has from 300 to 500 eggs. The development is fast, in 4 days the fry will hatch. Another week the kids remain in place, during which time they will finally develop and begin to try themselves in independent swimming. Parents continue to accompany offspring here.
It will take another 10 days, and the fry reach a length of about 1 centimeter. Now you can separate the children from their parents, putting them into a nursery aquarium, where in six months adult chromis will swim. Reproduction, as you can see, does not carry much difficulty.
Care for the young
The speed of development depends mostly on good feeding. The conditions of detention do not differ from those in which the parents live. Feeding begins with zooplankton, gradually switching to daphnia and finely chopped tubule.
Even being very young, the fry of handsome chromis already show their aggressive disposition. As we grow up, we need to constantly separate the weakest individuals, otherwise the brothers and sisters will score them. By the age of 6-7 months, it is necessary to prepare future housing for all fish, so that, when they become sexually mature, they do not fight for the redistribution of territory.
Compliance with such simple rules will give you the opportunity to observe the life of the brightest representative of the cichlid family day after day. Having become acquainted with them, many amateurs translate their aquariums into a monopoly mode, where one or several pairs of handsome chromis live.
Habitat and Habitat
Widespread along the coast of West Africa, from southern Guinea to Central Liberia.
It inhabits small and shallow streams and canals, in places with overhanging and above-water vegetation.
From the name of the fish it is already clear that the African chromic chromis-handsome is one of the most prominent representatives.
The body is red in color, which changes to bright purple when the fish are in the wedding dress. There are turquoise dots scattered throughout the body of the fish with a black spot in the middle.
Maximum standard length is 15 cm.
The size of the aquarium from 100 * 30 * 30 cm - 100 liters.
Provide a spacious aquarium with as many hiding places / shelters as possible to help dispel aggression and provide shelter. This can be achieved through the use of clay flower pots, various grottoes - forming caves, snags and areas with dense planting. However, the handsome Chromis are diggers, so all plants must be with very strong roots or in pots.
Behavior and Compatibility
A territorial species that becomes incredibly aggressive when the spawning period comes. It can be contained with larger tetras of the Alest Family (Alestidae) *, such as Congo-tetras, Somodonys and Loricariye catfish, and in a large enough aquarium with other African cichlids, such as Steatocranus casuarius. It is best to keep in pairs, although simply buying a pair usually results in the weak fishes being killed. It is necessary to acquire a group of adolescent fish to enable the pair to form from them independently.
* African tetras - Family of ray-finned fishes of the orderly character. Endemics of Africa. The family includes about 18 genus s and 119 species. The most famous representatives are: Phenacogrammus interruptus and the genus Hydrocynus.
There will be almost everything that you don’t offer, although live food will help enhance the coloring of the fish. It is necessary to provide dry food with additives of plant origin in the form of granules / flakes or blanched spinach / lettuce.
Notes
Not recommended for beginners or for a mixed community aquarium, although it is often sold as such. Chromis-handsome (Hemichromis bimaculatus) appears regularly in the trade.
Two closely related species of fish are often called the same - the more famous Chromis red (Hemichromis lifalili) and the handsome Chromis (Hemichromis bimaculatus). These species can be easily distinguished - the Red Chromis has only 2 black spots on the sides, while Chromis the handsome 3 have them, it has an additional spot on the tail stem.
H.lifalili spots are round and located above the lateral line. In H.bimaculatus, the spots are oval and some of them pass below the lateral line.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 22-28 ° C
pH: 6.0-7.8
Stiffness: 4-18 ° DH
It is very important that the water is clean and well saturated with oxygen. Regular water changes. Taking into account the diet of the fish and its habit of digging the bottom, it is better to use an external filter.
Behavior and Compatibility
A territorial species that becomes incredibly aggressive when the spawning period comes. It can be contained with larger tetras of the Alest Family (Alestidae) *, such as Congo-tetras, Somodonys and Loricariye catfish, and in a large enough aquarium with other African cichlids, such as Steatocranus casuarius. It is best to keep in pairs, although simply buying a pair usually results in the weak fishes being killed. It is necessary to acquire a group of adolescent fish to enable the pair to form from them independently.
* African tetras - Family of ray-finned fishes of the orderly character. Endemics of Africa. The family includes about 18 genus s and 119 species. The most famous representatives are: Phenacogrammus interruptus and the genus Hydrocynus.
There will be almost everything that you don’t offer, although live food will help enhance the coloring of the fish. It is necessary to provide dry food with additives of plant origin in the form of granules / flakes or blanched spinach / lettuce.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is not easy to distinguish. Look at the tail fin fish. The males have a blue net pattern in the middle of the fin. Also, adult males develop sharp dorsal fins. It is believed that the female is smaller and has a more rounded belly.
Breeding
Relatively easy. The basis of the manufacturers. It is difficult to choose a pair of adult Chromis, so it is recommended to acquire 5 or 6 young fish, allowing the pair to form naturally. However, even this may take some time. Fish should be kept in a species aquarium, where conditions are created, as suggested above, with the addition of several large stones acting as spawning grounds, as well as a good, varied diet. An aquarium of about 100 cm will be a suitable spawn. Water should be slightly soft and acidic with a pH of about 6.5-7.0 and a temperature of 25-28 ° C. Once a pair has been identified, other fish must be removed, as they may be killed. This couple will now stay together for life.
When the pair is ready, the intensity in color is enhanced, achieving an amazing effect. If there are other fish in the tank, remove them now or they will probably be killed. At this point, the fish will even attack your hand! They will choose a spawning area on a flat stone (usually an area located at a slight angle), a wall of the pot, or even the glass of the aquarium and thoroughly clean it. The male is very active and aggressive in his pursuit of the female and can drive her to death if she is not ready.
Spawning occurs in the same way as many other cichlids, the female lays a line of eggs, before moving away, allowing the male to take its place and fertilize them. Up to 600 eggs can be fertilized in this way. The larvae hatch in about 48 hours, and during this period the male will protect the clutch. Sometimes parents change places. Also at this time, the couple pulls out a series of shallow pits / grooves in the ground around the spawning ground.
As soon as the larvae hatch (about 72 hours), the whole brood moves by the female to one of these pits. They will usually be moved a few more times before they float freely, usually after 24 hours or so. At this point, they can be fed with a microcorm and / or nauplii of artemia. Parents usually take care of the offspring for about a month or until they become about 1 cm long, after which the fry should be removed, since parents can start spawning again.
The life span of a handsome Chromis (Hemichromis bimaculatus) is about 5 years.
Notes
Not recommended for beginners or for a mixed community aquarium, although it is often sold as such. Chromis-handsome (Hemichromis bimaculatus) appears regularly in the trade.
Two closely related species of fish are often called the same - the more famous Chromis red (Hemichromis lifalili) and the handsome Chromis (Hemichromis bimaculatus). These species can be easily distinguished - the Red Chromis has only 2 black spots on the sides, while Chromis the handsome 3 have them, it has an additional spot on the tail stem.
H.lifalili spots are round and located above the lateral line. In H.bimaculatus, the spots are oval and some of them pass below the lateral line.
Chromis red (Hemichromis lifalili) Loiselle, 1979
Conditions of detention, nutrition and breeding are similar in both species.
Habitat and Habitat
Is endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It lives in streams and tributaries with a slow current. Despite this, they are usually rich in oxygen.
Maximum standard length 10 cm.
Behavior and Compatibility
Territorial view, which becomes incredibly aggressive during spawning, but rather calm usually.
The volume of the aquarium of 70 liters.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 23-26 ° С
pH: 6.0-7.8
Stiffness: 4-15 ° DH
Description and lifestyle of the fish Chromis handsome
In nature, chromis lives in rivers: Congo, Nile, Niger. Ideal conditions for life and breeding are the small size of the river and streams with a slow current, as well as the presence of developed vegetation on the coastal and surface parts. The body length of the fish reaches 27 cm.
In an aquarium, space is limited, so the maximum chromis size is 15 cm.
Special attention deserves the color. Bright red color can vary from pink to purple, due to the influence of the marriage period and the influence of other external factors.
On the back you can see a transition to a dark olive tone, and the belly is highlighted with a reddish tinge. Blue dots are distributed throughout the body, which resembles a scattering of precious stones, especially when the fish can be seen in good light (under sunlight or lighting). On each side in the area of the gills there is a dark spot.
An inexperienced aquarist is immediately difficult to distinguish a female from a male, which is explained by the underdevelopment of dimorphism in fish of this species.
It is rather difficult to distinguish a handsome chromis female from a male.
The only clues are the following facts:
- the size of the female is smaller, rather than male,
- males during spawning painted in a brighter shade,
- in the female during spawning the abdomen is rounded.
By the nature of the chromis is far from angels, however, this does not prevent a pair of fish with trepidation from taking care of the offspring, in every way protecting the fry from possible threats.
Conditions in the aquarium
Aquarium should be selected under certain types of inhabitants and in accordance with their number.
To create favorable conditions, you will also need:
- water filtration system
- aerator,
- backlight.
Recommended water indicators:
- temperature - 21-25 degrees,
- hardness up to 20 °
- PH 7.0.
Chromis is actively digging in the ground, so it is important to choose the right bottom material.Choosing a filler for filling the bottom, it is worth considering that chromis is actively digging in it, especially during spawning. Therefore, preference should be given to a larger fraction: for example, rubble or stones.
The presence in any aquarium of a large amount of organic matter (food residues, biological waste, etc.) provokes a rapid turbidity of water. To prevent rapid contamination, it is recommended to regularly conduct the following activities:
- water filtration
- soil blowing,
- replacement of 1/3 of water every week.
Водоросли и другая растительность с хрупкой корневой системой плохо уживается с хромисами, рыбки быстро с ними расправляются.
Поэтому если есть желание озеленить аквариум, то предпочтение стоит отдать стойким вариантам с развитой корневой системой (анубиус, ротала индийская, рождественский мох и др.), или производить высадку предварительно в горшок, который впоследствии устанавливается на дно в камни.
Chromis-handsome refers to predatory fish, so when choosing food, preference should be given to feed of animal origin.
For feeding is best to use feed of animal origin.
The favorite delicacy of cichlids are:
- earthworms
- tubule,
- shrimp, mussel meat,
- artemia,
- bloodworm,
- small fish.
You can also supplement the diet with vegetable food:
- lettuce leaves
- by stern with the addition of spirulina, carotene and etc.
The feeding process takes 2-5 minutes. Preliminary it is better to turn off the filtering devices so that they do not get clogged with food fragments of fish. If a lot of chromis live in an aquarium, then, when pieces of food get into the water, a flock of fish literally attacks the prey, forming a real storm of sand gravel.
Signs of overfeeding fish:
- turbidity of water (not related to the replacement of fluid in the aquarium),
- appearance unpleasant smell,
- germination of algae on the glass,
- education bacterial film on the surface of the water.
When overfeeding, the water in the aquarium becomes cloudy
Compatible with other fish
Chromis-handsome due to the bright color attracts the attention of fans of aquariums, but not everyone knows that the neighborhood for the neg need to be carefully selected. It can be any large fish, ready to stand up for themselves.
Other cichlids are considered the best companions:
- blue-spotted akaras,
- turquoise acaras
- bees
- black-striped and others
Anxiety and hostility are observed except during the period of mate selection and spawning. But this behavior is inherent in varying degrees, any fish.
Content difficulty
To keep aquarium fish chromis-handsome in general is easy. The problem is that very often it is bought by beginners for bright colors, and they are kept in a common aquarium with small fish. Which handsome chromis methodically exterminates. It is recommended for content for fans of African cichlids, or aquarists who know exactly what this fish is.
I am happy to eat all kinds of food, but to achieve maximum coloring, it is desirable to feed it with live food. Bloodworm, tubule, artemia, shrimp and mussel meat, fish fillets, live fish, here is an incomplete list of feeding for handsome chromis. Additionally, you can give vegetable food, such as lettuce, or food with the addition of spiriulin.
Breeding
Chromis-handsome monogamous, as soon as they choose a mate for breeding, they will only spawn with her. The problem is to find a female for spawning (and it is difficult to distinguish it from the male) and even one that suits the male, otherwise they can kill each other. They are very aggressive with each other, if the pair did not suit them. The first time when you sit them down to each other is very important to watch how they behave. If you overlook, then one of the fish can be found with dangling fins, wounded or killed. If the pair converges, the male prepares for spawning and its coloring is very enhanced. In this case, you need to follow the female, if she is not ready to spawn, then the male can kill her.
The female lays up to 500 eggs on a smooth, pre-cleaned surface. Sometimes it can be inside the pot, but more often it is a flat and smooth stone. The larva hatching after two days, and parents are very caring for it. The female collects them and hides them to another place until they consume the contents of their yolk sac and float. This will occur about three days after the appearance of the larvae. The male will protect the fry and arrange in the aquarium the perimeter, which can not cross a single fish. However, the female will not lag behind him either.
They feed the fry of hromisa naupilii artemia, but grow very unevenly and eat each other. They need to be sorted. Parents will look after the fry until they are about a centimeter long, and then leave them.
Photo Chromis
Content
As a rule, handsome chromis is a fairly demanding in the care of fish. So, their content is placed in a spacious artificial reservoir with a volume of not less than 60 liters. and maintaining a comfortable temperature regime of 22-28 degrees. Remember that the hardness of the water should not vary in large ranges.
Also, the comfortable content of these fish depends on the design of the soil. So, a good solution would be to place small, rounded pebbles on it, creating shelters of different height from them. In addition, as plants it is better to use larger specimens with a well-developed root system, since these aquarium fishes have a habit of pulling out the soil. This is especially pronounced during the period of spawning.
If you do not cover the artificial pond with a lid, then a handsome chromis can jump out of it!
It is worth noting that in terms of the nature of the food, chromis is a handsome man, a predator. That is why, when planning their maintenance, it is necessary to take into account that food of animal origin is most suitable for them as feed.
- Bloodworm
- Tube maker
- Rain worms
- Small fishes
It is also worth noting that handsome chromis prefers to eat pieces of large food.
Preparing to spawn
These fish are sexually mature when they reach 6-7 months. It is also worth noting that when creating comfortable conditions in an artificial reservoir, they can spawn in the general vessel without any special problems. In addition, if the need arises, then they can be stimulated for reproduction by raising the temperature slightly and softening and acidifying the aqueous medium.
An interesting fact is that just before spawning, the color of these fish acquires more saturated colors, and in some cases they even begin to glow, in many ways resembling neon advertising signs, as shown in the photo below. They also begin to actively prepare the nest, digging a hole in the ground for this purpose, or forming it from stones or plants.
Make sure that there are no fry or litter of the previous pair nearby during spawning.
Fish are excellent parents, so you can not completely worry about eating future fry, and leaving them to fend for themselves.
Chromis fry
As a rule, the first larvae appear at the end of 4-5 days. As food, they use the contents of the yolk sac. But after a few days, they may already be able to independently feed on daphnia, nauplii and artemia. Adult individuals all this time do not cease to care about the younger generation for a minute without leaving them. It is recommended to set fry away from parents only when they reach 8-9 mm in length.
Remember that at least there are no particular difficulties in breeding these fish, but making a daily replacement of 1/3 of water from the total will not be superfluous.
