Unpretentious aquarium catfish tarakatum

2025 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-22 17:55

Aquarium fish catfish tarakatum belong to the shell family. These are quite large (up to 16-18 cm long) fish with a wide, slightly flattened head. Females differ from males in the larger size and shape of the pectoral fins (they are shorter and rounder), in turn, in male tarakatums, the first of the pectoral fins is somewhat thickened and colored red.

Aquarium catfish: tarakatum and its content

Tarakatums are quite peaceful fish, so you can safely populate them in a common aquarium. Additional intestinal respiration is another of their distinguishing features. Therefore, often the owners of tarakatums have the opportunity to watch how catfish rise closer to the surface of the water and begin to swallow air. Moreover, sometimes these fish even jump out, so it is very important that the aquarium in which the tarakatum catfish lives is constantly covered with a lid.

Pare somsan aquarium of 100 liters is quite enough, while the larger the aquarium, the higher the likelihood that these fish will reach the maximum possible size for their species. Catfish tarakatum is a nocturnal fish, prefers twilight, so it is desirable that there is a lot of vegetation in the aquarium in which the tarakatum could hide. It is possible to install special caves, grottoes and snags there. This fish spends a lot of time at the very bottom, looking for food in the ground. It is worth adding that catfish do not harm the fauna of the aquarium at all.

In food, tarakatums are not picky, with great pleasure they eat both vegetable and live food, which is collected mainly from the bottom. However, catfish sharing an aquarium with other fish species often adapt to eating together near the surface of the water, sometimes even dispersing their larger neighbors.

Breeding

In breeding, catfish tarakatum is unpretentious, fertilization of eggs can take place both in a common aquarium and in a separate one. It is not difficult to stimulate spawning: you just need to constantly change the water and increase its temperature by 2-3 degrees. In addition, you need to take care of the future nest for eggs in advance: for this, a sheet of plastic or foam plastic with a diameter of about 10 mm is laid on the surface of the aquarium water. Later, the male tarakatum will equip a container for eggs under this leaf. If several pairs of catfish live in the aquarium at once, then sheets on the surface of the water should be installed 1-2 more than steam. This is done in order toavoid fights between males.

Immediately after spawning, the nest with eggs can be transferred to another aquarium, or you can leave it, because the male is able to take care of his offspring on his own. Females do not take part in the further fate of eggs and fry, since males begin to drive them away from the nest immediately after spawning. After 4-5 days, larvae hatch from the eggs, which after 2 days become fry. As food, babies eat brine shrimp, tubifex, and rotifer. A small catfish tarakatum grows very quickly, but is afraid of souring, therefore it requires a more frequent change of water. With good care, these fish can live for about 10-12 years.