Cichlazoma Eliot: description, content, compatibility and breeding

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Cichlazoma Eliot is an original fish in color. Her scales sparkle and shimmer, attracting others with their beauty. In nature, it lives in flocks along the banks of the slowly flowing rivers of Guatemala and Mexico, in places where there are shelters. It was opened in 1864. Conquered many lovers of aquarium fish. Differs in unpretentiousness and settled habits. She is the most beautiful of her kind.

Description

Cichlazoma Eliot comes from the cichlid family. Suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists. An adult can grow up to fifteen centimeters. Sexually mature age is usually reached by twelve months, but maybe by eight to ten. Eliot's cichlazoma quietly exists with other peaceful, commensurate fish. You can buy an individual about three centimeters.

This is a very attractive looking fish. The body is quite high, flattened laterally. The head is oblong, the lips are fleshy, and the eyes are large. Dorsal fin with long rays. The pectoral and ventral fins are transparent. Mostly color from green with blue sparkles to brown. Males have morecontrasting coloration, and in size they are slightly larger than females. The muzzle has a two-tone color.

Elliot's cichlazoma is a schooling fish. Despite the fact that she is a predator, she has a calm disposition. In order for the fish to form pairs, they should be bought in 8-10 pieces. They will choose each other. Existing pairs cannot be split. Those who have not found a mate should be transferred to another aquarium.

Food

Problems with this usually do not arise. It is recommended to choose food for fish so that they fit the size of their mouth. Large representatives can be safely given bloodworms, shrimp cut with scissors, minced beef heart. Eliot cichlids are not very picky eaters and mostly eat what they are given. Suitable live worms and insects, pieces of meat and squid, small fish, dry food. Able to get used to any diet. But in order for their scales to sparkle, be bright and fascinate with different colors, it is necessary to give more live food.

Eliot's cichlazoma feed on algae, which are formed on the walls and stones, daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp. The diet should contain a herbal supplement. Feeding is recommended twice a day. To strengthen the immune system, it is advisable to have a fasting day once a week, that is, not give them food at all.

These creatures are very voracious, so they eat all the food that has fallen to the bottom of the aquarium, passing through the gills. That is why the ground must be clean.

Contents

Soft water isan environment in which Eliot's cichlazoma feels great. The content should take place in a spacious aquarium, as the individual grows up to fifteen centimeters. Even in the aquarium there must be small and large stones and shelters (grottoes). For the ground, it is better to use medium-sized dark or light gravel, and even better - soft and clean sand, as the fish love to wallow in the ground. Aquarium plants are suitable with tough leaves and a strong root system. It is better to strengthen the roots with stones. Plants do not have to be many. You can put some snags, dry scalded oak and almond leaves on the sand. Extra elements should be in moderation, because the fish love the space to swim.

They do not touch the plants, they do not pay attention to other inhabitants. Eliot's cichlazoma has good compatibility. Aggressive behavior has not been observed, however, it can come into conflict with large fish, and small inhabitants can be harmed or eaten.

These amazing fish remember their owners and try to attract attention when they appear close. The aquarium should have a high-quality filter, as the fish need clean water. There should be enhanced aeration and daily replacement of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water. One pair should account for one hundred liters. Should not be kept with species that have veiled fins. The fish feels comfortable in soft and medium hard water (dH 4-12 °) at a temperature of 25-30 degrees and pH 7, 0-8, 0.

Lighting

For Eliot's cichlazoma fish, the lighting should be moderate (about 0.3 W / l in intensity). Or you can plant bushes of floating plants on the surface of the water. They will be like a natural light filter.

Breeding

With good feeding, by the year of their life, the fish are looking for a mate. Spawning, as a rule, takes place in a common aquarium. They choose a suitable stone, clean it, lay their eggs on it, or dig a small hole next to it. The female lays eggs, later the male fertilizes the eggs, and then they guard the site together. They drive everyone away from him. About 100-500 pieces can hatch. Until the larvae hatch, the fish eat little. Caviar can be taken or left from Eliot's cichlazoma fish.

Breeding these fish is a fascinating process. When there are a lot of fry, they swim in a "cloud". They should be fed brine shrimp. As it grows, you can start giving other foods. It is necessary to control the content of nitrites and ammonia in the water, since their presence is difficult for the inhabitants to tolerate. Juveniles can die because of this, even if the concentration of these substances is low.

After the pairs have formed, the remaining individuals must be removed, otherwise strong aggression will be shown towards them.

Care for offspring

Both parents guard the fry. This usually lasts until they reach a size of one to two centimeters. When there is someone else in the tank, the cichlids will be unfriendly, taking care of the offspring.

Eliot's cichlazoma fish is fabulous in its beauty. Its maintenance and breeding is simple, as it is unpretentious. The only thing that matters to her is clean water. In a short time, this fish became in demand among amateur aquarists due to its calm nature, unusually beautiful appearance and interesting behavior. This underwater inhabitant is not cocky, she calmly exists with other similar inhabitants of the aquarium. But do not forget that by nature she is a predator.