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Copper tetra or Hasemania is a common specimen of aquarium fish due to its moderate care and maintenance requirements. She has been actively bred at home for more than six decades, especially when evaluating the copper color of males with delicate porcelain fins.
It is also known that males are not only more attractive, but also slender. Female individuals begin to get fat during spawning, and the body is covered with yellow scales. In the usual state, the latter has a pleasant monochrome olive sheen. Also along the body of the fish stretches a noticeable silver stripe. On average, an individual has an elongated body shaped like a rhombus.
Many aquarists value copper Tetra for an attractive color, but it often loses its beauty, dies in captivity and does not reproduce. That is why it is very important to comply with the conditions of its maintenance and care,which will help extend the life of pets up to 4 years.
How to keep in aquarium Hasemania
Representatives of this species love the space, so it would be optimal to purchase an oblong and roomy aquarium.
The length of the body of each fish is 40-60 cm, but in nature 150 mm of “giants” can also be found. It is necessary to keep fish in flocks (at least 8 copies), which will allow them to behave naturally and naturally in captivity. Loneliness is contraindicated for Tetra - she will quickly wither, lose playfulness. Also, with a single or a pair of these fish can begin to dominate over the representatives of the aquarium (for example, biting the fins of other fish).
Under optimal conditions, the school Hasemaniye normally coexists with other small peaceful fishes (Guppy, Sword, Konko, Molliesia and others). Tetras are not well tolerated in the neighborhood with golden fish and carp, astronotus, cichlid. Optimal neighbors consider Ternetia, other types of Tetras, Rhodostomuses.
Soil for the aquarium pick up dark shades (sand), which is preferable in copper Tetra. And to create a natural environment, put a few snags on the bottom.As for the vegetation - fish unpretentious and do not spoil the environment. Experienced aquarists are advised to place thickets of living plants (limnofila, kabomba, alternanthera), as well as floating ones (pistii, riccia, azzole, etc.). It is possible to use decor (stones, roots, caves), but remember that the fish is mobile and requires enough space for swimming.
As a rule, the flock mainly floats in the middle and upper layer of the liquid, is distinguished by vigor and mobility. In rare cases, the fish can jump out of the aquarium, so it would be advisable to cover it from above with a lid. By the way, representatives of the species are quite demanding on the characteristics of the water. A suitable temperature of the content is 24-26 ° C, the acidity is not more than 7.5 points, and the hardness is up to 20 degrees. To create specific conditions allow special chemicals for the aquarium, which can be purchased at an affordable price at a pet shop. As for water purification, it is necessary to replace 30% of the aquarium liquid weekly, as the copper Tetras need purified water.
Also an important requirement for keeping Hasemania in captivity is the installation of a filter for purifying water andenriching it with oxygen.
In poor conditions, the fish lose their natural mobility and activity, turn pale.
Feeding features
Feeding the fish of this species is not burdensome, as they are not picky. Nauplius Artemia, coretra, tubule, Cyclops, Daphnia, bloodworm and similar organisms (in live and frozen form) are quite suitable for drawing up the usual ration. The listed feeds (except for the pipe worker) keep the pet's color bright. Overeating moths leads to intestinal disorders of the fish, as the latter is poorly absorbed. Overeating by the pipe maker quickly causes obesity.
Tetra doesn’t particularly like vegetable food, which is why these fish are not a threat to the small-leaved flora placed in the aquarium.
In some cases, specialized and high-quality dry foods are acceptable, but against the background of such feeding, dimness of scales may be observed. In feeding Tetra moderation and diversity are important. Overfed fish die quickly.
How to breed copper tetra
It is believed that the reproduction of these fish is quite simple,but in order to get enough young stock for an aquarist, it is advisable to purchase a spawning fish - a special aquarium of about 50 liters (a small flock). It is important to maintain the balance of males and females (one to one).
12 days before the expected start of spawning, the producers are deposited in the spawning ground and begin to actively feed a variety of food (there must be living organisms in the diet).
For optimal fertilization, it is necessary to maintain the parameters of water: the temperature is slightly higher than usual (25-27 ° C), reduced acidity (up to 6.5 points), reduced rigidity (up to 8 degrees). The water level should be about 200 mm.
At the bottom of the spawning aquarist places a special net for spawning, which will allow the roe to settle in it, preventing the producers from eating. Also at the bottom you can put Javanese moss and peristristist.
The first larvae hatch after 1-2 days, and after 3-4 days the fry develop. The latter are very sensitive to light. For them, the initial food can serve as ciliates, artemia or rotifers. Good effect on the formation and development of young copper Tetra daily replacement of water (20% of all fluids). But it is only necessary to begin the water change after the fry can feed on their own.
It is necessary to take into account that males reach sexual maturity by about half a year of life, and females are ready to spawn by 4 months.
In general, copper Tetra is an attractive, playful and peace-loving fish that has not been out of fashion for aquarists for decades. It is demanding to the neighborhood with other fish and quickly loses its bright color with inadequate care. But still gives a lot of pleasant emotions to the owner of the aquarium and enviable offspring.
Video: aquarium fish copper tetra
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