Veil scalar: description, features of care, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 02:36

The angelfish is quite popular with aquarists. It is unpretentious in content, good-looking, does not require any special menu. It is quite possible for a beginner to care for a flat fish. Another thing is the veiled scalar, which requires certain conditions.

Origin

It is worth being in a pet store, and one involuntarily wants to admire the variety of colors of angelfish. In large aquariums, flat fish in yellow, leopard, yellow-pink and many other colors swim proudly.

But in fact, they are all artificially bred. The veil angelfish, which attracts attention due to its elongated upper and anal fins, is no exception. You look at her, a crescent moon floats around the aquarium, all so majestic and proud. Upon closer examination, it turns out that the "crescent" is not so majestic, and requires quite a significant amount of care.

But we digress, back to the origin of this fish. She is American, lives safely in the waters of the Amazon and Orinoco. It is obvious from the names of the rivers: the angelfish came to us from South America.

Natural coloring

This is interesting to know for all lovers of beautiful fish. Its natural color is not so beautiful, it can be safely called "rustic". Where does such a comparison come from? Reminiscent of the color of the simplest outbred tabby cat, which is popularly called the village.

The common flatfish, from which the veil angelfish originated, is silvery and striped. It sounds very nice - a silver fish, but in fact its main color is gray, with vertical black stripes.

Contents

If veil angelfish have appeared in the aquarium, their maintenance may be beyond the power of a beginner. He'd better start with the normal offspring of this breeding form.

As for amateurs and professionals, they know how to care for the capricious crescent. For those who want to acquire such a beauty, the basic rules for caring for her are described:

• It all starts with choosing an aquarium. A pet store can please a potential buyer with information that a 60-liter aquarium is enough for 5 veil striped angelfish. They, they say, are not particularly large, 8 centimeters is the limit of growth. This is pure deception, because angelfish cannot grow in a cramped aquarium. They remain small, the structure of the body is disturbed, the fins resemble a shaggy rag. And the fish in such conditions will quickly die. Therefore, when buying a beautiful angelfish, you need to know: an aquarium for five individuals needs a large one, at least 120 liters.
• Representatives of the species are able to growup to 20 centimeters under very good conditions. Then the owner will have to think about a more spacious aquarium.
• In their natural habitat, angelfish are very fond of hiding in the shade of densely growing river plants. In the aquarium, they need to create a familiar atmosphere, the background is formed with the help of dense plantings. When choosing plants, pay attention to their roots, they must be strong, because underwater inhabitants love to demolish plantings. The closer to the viewing (front) glass, the less plantings should come across.
• The soil is chosen run-in, without sharp edges. You can use river pebbles or sand.
• The aquarium should have decorations - shelters. Only you have to choose from high ones so that the fish do not damage their fins trying to get into cover.
• The natural waters in which the angelfish live do not spoil them with a fast current. The filter for the aquarium is selected, focusing on this fact. It should do a good job of cleaning and aerating the water, while not making its own adjustments to the life of the "half-moon fish".

Water requirements

The black veiled angelfish, like its other "sisters" with other colors, requires certain water parameters. Contrary to the opinion that representatives of the species are unpretentious, when it comes to veil fish, the system is collapsing before our eyes.

1. Let's start with the temperature of the water. If for ordinary angelfish it is not so important, and the fish are able to withstand drops of up to 15 degrees, then their veil"sister" is more pampered in this regard. Give her a temperature regime of 26 to 32 degrees.
2. Acidity should not exceed 7, it can range from 5.5 to 7.
3. Stiffness requirements, oddly enough, no.
4. Angelfish are territorial fish, which is why you need a large aquarium. Its minimum, as mentioned above, is 120 liters, and a 250-liter tank would be ideal.

Food

The marble veil angelfish, its leopard relative and the simplest "village" are cichlids. Albeit quite small, but predators who love to eat live food.

Other owners believe that feeding with live bloodworms is inhumane, why they prefer to buy frozen briquettes. But angelfish must be fed live food:

• Small bloodworm and tubifex are some of the favorite "dishes" of representatives of the species.
• Aquarium inhabitants will not disdain boiled beef heart, cut into small pieces, chicken breast in minimal quantities.
• Assorted flakes should be chosen from dry food. They include both herbal ingredients and animal origin. Another option is to purchase food directly formulated for angelfish. It comes in small to medium sized granules, depending on the size of the fish.

Please don't overfeed your aquarium beauties. They are very fond of eating, which they will testify to by swimming up to the glass and showing with all their appearance how hungry they are. But scalarsshould know their nutritional rate - twice a day for a small pinch, the value of which depends on how large the fish lives in the aquarium. Otherwise, instead of a beautiful "crescent" with luxurious fins, lush "fritters" will float on the tank.

Compatibility

Blue veil angelfish, like their relatives of other colors, look very nice in the aquarium. Especially in combination with bright greenery and discreet soil. As for the combination with other fish, here it is necessary to approach the issue very carefully.

It's worth scrolling through some of the forums where there are discussions about scalar content and compatibility, and a lot of questions will arise. If ordinary representatives of the species are recommended to be kept with mobile and nimble "neighbors" such as barbs, then the veil ones should be protected from such sharing.

Ideal fish suitable as neighbors for veil beauties will be:

Lalius and gourami. They grow large enough to stand up for themselves in case of conflicts over territories, but they are never the first to attack.

• Viviparous fish: swordtails, platies, mollies.
• Labeo and botsii - clowns.
• Catfish are not the most suitable neighbors for our angelfish. Pterygoplichts are too large, in addition, they can damage the delicate abdomen of the veil inhabitants of the aquarium. Ancistrus seem harmless, but with age they becomeaggressive. This is especially true for males that attack other aquarium inhabitants. And they can tear the fins of angelfish with sharp spikes. Therefore, the catfish-sturisoma will become an ideal neighbor. He swims in his aquarium, does not bully anyone. Not bad fit and corridors, these are the most harmless and small catfish.

Scalars and cichlids

A question that interests many beginners: is it possible to settle an angelfish with cichlids? She herself is one of them. Let's start with the fact that the veil angelfish, the photo of which can be seen below, is the most harmless cichlid. And she is not able to resist large and aggressive "comrades" in the aquarium. Settling flat fish with parrots or discus is tantamount to its instantaneous destruction. Such neighbors will quickly taste angelfish meat. Would you like to have a cichlid? Apistograms are the best neighbors for the scalar in this case. They are quite harmless, get along well both with their own kind and with other fish.

Important to know

Another question often asked by beginners concerns the breeding of beautiful angelfish. And if ordinary flat fish easily reproduce their own kind in aquarium conditions, then the veil ones refuse to do this. And the temperature of the water, and enhanced food, and frequent water changes will not make them breed at home. Although angelfish choose a mate for life, the situation with fertilization is very sad.

Our beauties are schooling fish, it will be uncomfortable for them to live in an aquarium together. If you want to get a scalar, count on a flock of five to six individualsat least.

Conclusion

If you have always dreamed of veiled angelfish (marble and not only) in the aquarium, but have no experience in keeping them, pay attention to the simple "sisters" of the desired fish. Learn to care for them, then you can think about the "half moon".