Aquarium fish minor - care and maintenance

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Minor (Latin Hyphessobrycon serpae) or serpas is a beautiful fish that looks like a small and mobile flame in an aquarium. And it’s impossible to take your eyes off the beak minor. The body is large, red, black spot immediately behind the gill cover, giving them a very noticeable appearance.

In addition, the minors are very attractive, they are also unpretentious, like many types of tetras. Keep them in a flock, from 6 individuals, with other fish suitable in size and activity. The disadvantages include a somewhat hooligan nature, they can chase and tear off fins to slow or veil fish.

Habitat in nature

Minor or Serpas long-flipper (Hyphessobrycon eques, and previously Hyphessobrycon minor) was first described in 1882. It lives in South America, home to Paraguay, Brazil, and Guiana. A fairly common fish found in stagnant water, with a large number of plants: tributaries, ponds, small lakes. Keep near the surface of the water, where they feed on insects, their larvae and particles of plants. Minor live in flocks, but often they fight with each other and bite their fins.

The body structure is typical for tetras, narrow and high. Minors grow up to 4 cm in length, and live in an aquarium for 4-5 years. The body color is bright red with bright reflections. The black spot is also characteristic, immediately behind the gill cover. The fins are black, with a white edging on the edge. Also there is a form with elongated fins, veil.

Content difficulty

Serpas is very often on sale, as it is very popular with aquarists. They are unpretentious, live in small volumes and in principle are not difficult fish. Although it is very easy to care for them, however, they themselves can become a problem, chasing and cutting off fins to slow fish. Because of this, you need caution when choosing neighbors.

Minor aquarium fish eat all kinds of live, frozen and artificial food. They can be fully fed with high-quality flakes, and the bloodworm and strawberry can be given periodically for a more complete diet. Note that the tetras have a small mouth and you need to choose smaller feeds.

Content in an aquarium

Minors are quite unpretentious fish, which need to be kept in a pack of 6 pieces. For such a flock, 50-70 liters would be enough. As for the other tetras, for minor, you need clean water, and dim lighting. It is advisable to install a filter that, in addition to water purification, will create a small flow. Mandatory regular water changes, about 25% per week. And dim lighting can be done by floating plants on the surface of the water.

Water for the content of a minor is preferably soft and sour: ph: 5.5-7.5, 5 - 20 dGH, temperature 23-27С. However, it is so widespread that it has already adapted to different conditions and parameters.

Compatible with other fish

Minor aquarium fish are considered good fishes for common aquariums, but this is not the case. Only if they live with large and fast fish. Fishes that are smaller than them will be the object of persecution and terror. The same can be said about slow fish with large fins. For example, cockerels or scalar. They will be constantly tugging at the fins until the fish gets sick or dies.

Good neighbors for them will be: danios, black neons, barbs, akantoftalmusy, antsistrusy.
In a group, the character of a minor is somewhat softened, since the hierarchy is built and attention is shifted to relatives. In this case, the males are satisfied with the form that they are fighting with each other, but do not hurt each other.

Aquarium with a bunch of veil serpasov:

Gender differences

Determine where the male, and where the female in a minor is quite difficult. The most pronounced difference in the time before spawning. The males in the minor are brighter, more slender, and their dorsal fin is completely black. In females it is paler, and they are fuller even when they are not ready for spawning.

Males of voile form

Breeding

Dilute a minor is quite simple. They can breed in pairs and in groups with approximately equal numbers of males and females. The key to successful breeding is to create the necessary conditions in a separate aquarium and select healthy producers.

For spawning suitable small aquarium, with very low light, and bushes of small-leaved plants, for example, in the Javanese moss. Water should be soft, no more than 6-8 dGH, and a pH of about 6.0. Water temperature is 27C.

The selected producers are fed abundantly, giving preference to a variety of live food. Males become more active and brightly colored, and females noticeably grow stout. Spawning begins at dawn, the couple lays eggs on plants. After spawning, fish are deposited, and the aquarium is placed in a dark place, as the caviar is very photosensitive.

Two days later, the fry will hatch, and will live off the yolk sac. As soon as he swam, you need to start feeding him egg yolk and infusoria. As they grow, larger feeds are transferred to naupilii of artemia.

Appearance

Minor are small. Usually adult fish has a length of 4-5 centimeters. They live about 6 years. The body of these fish is flattened from the sides, is slim. The main difference of this species from others is the shape of the dorsal fin. It is quadrangular. It is located vertically, can be elongated.

A dark stripe runs across the body of the minor. The upper body of these bright fish is olive-brown. Their belly and sides are red. Only on the dorsal fin there are dark spots.

There are individuals in which the tip of the dorsal fin is painted white, but most often the dorsal fin is black, sometimes framed by a white border. The adipose fin in the minor is transparent. The rest are bright red. There are no scales at the base of the tail. Females are paler than males, but larger in size.

Compatibility

The Minors have a peaceful nature. In nature, they live in small flocks of at least 4 minors. If they are kept alone, they begin to show aggression. Minors can attack small fish and even their own kind. They bite off the tail and fins to small fish. Therefore, they should also be kept in flocks.

By the minors you can share any fish. The main thing is that they are just as peaceful and active, and also have similar dimensions.

Conditions of detention

The best conditions for representatives of this species will be as close to natural as possible. What is needed for this?

Minorov allowed to contain even in a small aquarium. Its volume must be at least 30 liters. But best of all they will feel, if each individual will account for 10 liters of water. Minor, like all heracin, can jump out of the water. Therefore, the aquarium should always be covered. It is important that the aquarium is long.
Minor will live at the bottom of the aquarium, as well as in its middle part. It is necessary that there was enough vegetation in it, but at the same time there was still a place for swimming. Algae are planted directly into the ground. If it is floating algae, then they are placed on the surface. Very good for these fish fit plants such as Javanese moss, as well as the Thai fern.
It is important to provide the aquarium with an aerator and a good filter. The lighting in the aquarium should be medium in intensity. Every week it is necessary to do the substitution of one-fifth of the water.
The acidity of water is from 6.8 to 7. The most suitable temperature for representatives of this species is 22-26 degrees. But if the water is sometimes cooler, the Minors will take it normally.
It is desirable that the ground was dark. It can be made of gravel or sand. Fancy snags and caves will serve not only as good decoration elements, but also as a shelter for these small fish.

Feeding minors

These fish in food unpretentious. But when feeding them it is important to consider a few points.

Food should be small, as the fish themselves are small. Large feed, they just do not capture.
It is also very important that a varied food be present in the diet of the minors. Different types of feed they need to give in turn. This will provide the necessary substances. As a result, the fish will be healthy, which means they will delight you with their beautiful coloring and activity.

In the wild, minors usually feed on insects, which are collected from the surface of the water. Also their food becomes small aquatic inhabitants.

When the aquarium content they can be given almost any kind of food. Crustaceans, bloodworm, small insects. From dry food, they will eat both flakes and pellets. It is also important that they eat vegetation. Perfect for this salad, dandelions and spinach.

Breeding

If you decide to breed minors, first of all you need to organize for them a spawning. For this you need to prepare a small capacity tank. Aquarium suitable for about 10-20 liters. At the bottom of the tank must be laid separator grid. This is necessary so that the parents themselves do not eat the caviar, which they will postpone. This behavior is typical for this species. The light in the spawning should be weak and diffused. There is no need to equip any soil, but plants are needed. Best of all, if it will be plants with small leaves and a long stem.

Then you need to pour water into the aquarium. In such a spawning room, a small layer of water with a height of about 10-15 centimeters is poured. For successful spawning, you must create the following conditions:

The temperature should be quite high - 24-28 degrees.
The acidity level of water is from 6.2 to 7.
Stiffness - not higher than 15.

Water in the tank can be peated or fresh. To prepare peat water, you need to add a decoction of peat of high concentration. Infused such water from a week to one month. During cooking it is very important to monitor the acidity of the water.

Sometimes the female can lay her calf later than a few days. Until this happens, the fish do not need to be fed.

If she still does not lay eggs, the fish are returned to the aquarium. After some time, you can try again.

If the caviar is still delayed, then in 24-48 hours the fry will hatch. They hang on the vegetation and glass spawning. Feed them need infusoria, cyclops and rotifers. Every 15-20 days you need to replace them with water. At the age of 8-10 months, the fish become adults, and they can be used for breeding.

Maintain and breed minors easy. The main thing - to comply with basic conditions and maintain cleanliness.

What does a minor look like?

The size. These are fairly small fish with a length from head to tail of no more than 4-5 cm and a life expectancy of about six years.

Structure. Their body is slender, high, compressed from the sides, and elongated in length. A distinctive feature of the minors is the dorsal fin: quadrangular, strictly vertical, sometimes strongly elongated.

Coloring. A dark longitudinal line is clearly visible across the body. From above, the fish is painted olive-brown with green color. Bottom (abdomen and sides) bright red. The space behind the gills and dorsal fin is covered with small dark spots.

Fin on the back is black, it may have a white border or just a tip, and the rest (except for fat, which is transparent) are monochromatic, rich red. The tail is heavily carved, its base has no scales on its body.

Character and compatibility

Minors have a rather peaceful temper. They prefer to stay in flocks of 4 individuals.

If you keep them one by one, they can start attacking other small fish or even their fellows. Especially they do not like sluggish veils, gnawing their fins and tails.

Almost all peaceful moving small fishes of approximately the same size and temperament, with the exception of the above, can become neighbors for minors.

How to create conditions?

Ideal for minors are the conditions of the aquarium "tropical forest". What is required?

Long aquarium. Thirty-liter containers are quite acceptable, but the optimal volume is 10 liters for each fish from the flock. There must be a lid on top, since these heracin ones are pretty jumping.

Vegetation. In the aquarium should be as abundant thickets of plants and open space for swimming. It should be noted that the Minors prefer the lower and middle layers of water.

Plants with roots are planted in the ground, and floating located on the surface of the water. Echinodorus, Javanese moss, cryptocorin, Thai fern will be quite appropriate.

Water parameters. The water itself should have a temperature of 22-26 ° C (and the fish can tolerate its periodic lowering well), hardness 4-8 degrees, acidity 6.8-7.

Filtration, aeration. Be sure to install a filter and aerator. Substitutions can be done weekly, removing and adding one fifth of the water. Hyphessobrycon minor feel great in peated water.

Lighting. The intensity of illumination is quite average.

Priming better to take a dark color. It may be sand or gravel. At the bottom put the snags, which will decorate the home pond, and will serve as shelters for minors.

How and what to feed?

The fish in question are undemanding and not capricious in terms of nutrition. There are a couple of important points to consider:

Feed size Fish small and large particles simply can not capture.
Balance Feed should be alternated. I think there is no need to explain how important this is for the health and harmonious development of pets.

Under natural conditions, the minors eat insects from the surface of the water and various small aquatic animals.

In captivity, you can give all kinds of food: live (daphnia, Cyclops, Artemia, crustaceans, bloodworms, small insects, Enchitreus), dry (granules, flakes), vegetable (spinach, duckweed, peristristum, dandelion leaves and lettuce).

Habitat in the wild

Minor fish or long-fledged serpas was first mentioned as far back as 1882. You can meet him in the natural environment by going to South America, or rather to Brazil, Paraguay or Guiana. In most cases, this fish prefers standing water with a huge amount of vegetation.

It mainly inhabits practically on the surface of water bodies, where there are plenty of insects and their larvae, as well as particles of vegetation, which are their favorite delicacy. It is worth noting that the Minors prefer to be in small flocks, but do not differ in their peace-loving character, constantly arranging small internecine skirmishes among themselves.

Distinguish these aquarium fish from the rest is not particularly difficult. So, they have a typical physique, characteristic of all tetras, namely, high and narrow. Adults can reach up to 40 mm. in length, and life expectancy is up to 5 years. As already mentioned, the minors have a bright red tint with a characteristic black speck located behind the gills. The fins can be both veil-shaped and with a dark edging along the edges.

Minor fish: maintenance and care

In this article we will talk about one of the fish, ideal for beginner aquarists. Her name is minor. This small fish has gained its popularity by the fact that it does not require complex care, it is quite unpretentious, but at the same time it is very interesting to watch a moving and playful flock of minors. Despite the simplicity of the content, it is impossible to admit the deterioration of conditions, since these kheratsinovyh slows down growth, the brightness of the coloration is lost, they begin to multiply poorly, their life is shortened.

Aquarium minors: content

Minors feel calmer if they are not alone in an aquarium: they like to swim in a flock of 6 individuals (this is the minimum). This rule is important to observe and for the reason that the minor can become aggressive, living alone in the general aquarium. It is possible that he will begin to attack other aquarium inhabitants. The minor still has this peculiarity: its content with small fish with long filiform fins is not recommended. The fact is that minors can confuse them with plants and nibble.

Minor loves space, so its content involves buying a fairly large aquarium or using an existing one. The temperature of the water in the aquarium should be at least 23-26 degrees, pH - 7.5, and the hardness - 20 dGH. And, of course, the maintenance of minors is permissible only in pure water. To improve aeration, the compressor should be used at least twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, leaving it to work for 10-20 minutes.

Pondering over which soil to buy, choose a small-sized river pebble. If there is a desire, then you can purchase a color version of pebbles: such an aquarium will give not only peace, but also cheerfulness. Plants can be bought both slim and lush, but again it must be remembered: the minor likes space, which means there should not be too many plants. For the bottom of the aquarium fine-leaved plants are perfect. Minor fish will not mind if you put freshwater snails in an aquarium: they will help to create an optimal climate in the water kingdom.

Minor like light, but if it is not intense, soft. In winter, the fish will definitely need an additional light source.

Do not forget to say about the stern. However, you won't have to rant for a long time: aquarium minors eat everything. They love live food, and dry, and various vegetation. But especially likes daphnia minor. The fish will enjoy such a meal, and you will get a lot of pleasure by watching the aquarium minors chasing daphnias throughout the aquarium.

Совет: Желток можно использовать как натуральную витаминную добавку. Сварите яйцо, остудите его, тщательно перетрите и небольшими порциями всыпьте в аквариум.

Успешное разведение невозможно без правильного содержания, а потому стоит быть внимательным ко всем из перечисленных правил.

MINOR: COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER FISH

Good neighbors for them will be: danios, barbs, akantoftalmusy, antsistrusy.
In a group, the character of a minor is somewhat softened, since the hierarchy is built and attention is shifted to relatives. In this case, the males are satisfied with the form that they are fighting with each other, but do not hurt each other.

minor photo of fish

Minor: how to create conditions?

Ideal for minors are the conditions of the aquarium "tropical forest". What is required?

Vegetation. In the aquarium should be as abundant thickets of plants and open space for swimming. It should be noted that the Minors prefer the lower and middle layers of water.

Plants with roots are planted in the ground, and floating located on the surface of the water. Echinodorus, Javanese moss, cryptocorin, Thai fern will be quite appropriate.

Water parameters. The water itself should have a temperature of 22-26 ° C (and the fish can tolerate its periodic lowering well), hardness 4-8 degrees, acidity 6.8-7.

Filtration, aeration. Be sure to install a filter and aerator. Substitutions can be done weekly, removing and adding one fifth of the water. Hyphessobrycon minor feel great in peated water.

Lighting. The intensity of illumination is quite average.

Priming better to take a dark color. It may be sand or gravel. At the bottom put the snags, which will decorate the home pond, and will serve as shelters for minors.

Minor is a bright and unpretentious inhabitant of your aquarium.

Minor is a schooling fish, which belongs to the family of Haracin. Otherwise a minor is called a red tetra or a bloody tetra. The name, however, is not related to the character: the Minor fish are peaceful, they are not among the predatory representatives of the aquarium inhabitants. In scientific literature, this creation can also be found under the name Hifessobrikon, callistus. The habitat of the minor in natural conditions is the Amazon River basin.

Red tetra or minor fish: features of the content in the aquarium

Among the large variety of aquarium fish, people prefer beautiful and unusual specimens. The rarest and most exotic species are found in remote corners of the planet, where nature creates ideal conditions for their existence. Among them, the minor is a small fish that belongs to the family of the Haracinas and lives in the reservoirs of Brazil (from Guyana to the Paraguay River).

Minor live and breed in the southern areas of the Amazon (South America). Their length reaches 5 centimeters. The body is elongated in length, and compressed at the sides. The back of the fish is brownish-olive, the flank has a rich red tint, a slight black spot can be seen behind the gill cover. The dorsal fin has a black contour at the edges, the tip of which remains white. Other fins are red-ruby.

Females are much denser than males and have less bright and saturated coloring. Aquarium fish minor has a different name - red tetra. These are schooling and peaceful representatives of the underwater world who love to swim in the lower water layers.

Special features

Minor have a playful character and prefer to relax in dense thickets. Fish enter puberty by 8 months, but do not create steam. But in a single copy, a minor fish can become aggressive. She begins to hunt for smaller representatives or enter into a fight with calmer fish.

Red tetra is unpretentious in food: minors are happy to take any kind of feed. They can offer live moth, artemia, daphnia, Cyclops, dry gammarusa. The diet can include dry dandelion leaves, lettuce, spinach and duckweed. The best would be the alternation of these feeds.

Minor is an active fish, and therefore it needs a similar environment or fish that will be stress-resistant to its mobility. You can choose barbs, rasborov, catfish, placium, labo and iris.

Varieties

Minor - a fish, the photo of which is presented in various sources about the underwater world, can become unrecognizable. The fact is that minors can easily mate with similar species of fish. As a result, unusual specimens are obtained, the type of which can only be determined by an experienced aquarist. Some amateurs are able to produce veil and albino forms in aquariums.

Minor have the following varieties: