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Exists big variety aquarium fish. They can be of different colors and sizes. They are interesting to watch and do not require special care. Tetras are a subspecies of fish of the Kharicin family. They are distinguished by their special brightness and activity. They can be started by beginner aquarists. Tetra Congo is one of the most luxurious representatives of the family.
This fish reaches a length of 8.5 cm. general characteristics
Congo is widely distributed in nature and is not endangered. It was described in 1899 and given the scientific name phenacogrammus interruptus. Found in Africa, in Zaire. Prefers to live in acidic and darkish water. Fish live in flocks, they feed on insects, plant debris and larvae.
Congo fish is a large tetra. An adult reaches a length of 8.5 cm. Females are slightly smaller - 6 cm. On average, they live up to 5 years. The color of the scales shimmers from bluish to yellowish. Veil fins with white trim.
In this video you will learn more about this fish:
The Congo aquarium fish has an egg-shaped body., high and streamlined. It is flattened on the sides. This species has unusual fins that are lavender with an ashy tinge. The tail is triangular with an outgrowth in the middle. The dorsal fin is elongated and high. The females are not as bright as the males.
Congos are sensitive to aquarium neighbors, as some of them can aggressively attack and cut off their fins. She is particularly timid and more assertive comrades may not give her food. It is necessary to control that the food goes to all the inhabitants of the aquarium.
It coexists well with black neon, speckled catfish, lalius, tarakatums.
Features of care
- temperature regime - 28 ° C;
- filtration;
- part of the water is changed every week;
- floating vegetation on the surface;
- brown leaves at the bottom;
- neutral or acidic pH 6.0-7.5.
Do not forget to provide appropriate conditions for this fish
It is better to keep the fish in flocks of 10-15 individuals, most of which should be occupied by males. For such a number of individuals, an aquarium with a volume of 50 - 70 liters is needed. Fish need good lighting to thrive. They can jump out of the water, so the aquarium must be covered with a lid and leave free space between it and the water.
At home, congo is eaten different types fodder:
- flakes;
- frozen;
- alive;
- granules.
It is advisable to constantly change the feed, as the fish get used to the monotony. It is important to choose only famous brands flakes and granules, otherwise there is a risk of buying low-quality products. Be sure to add vegetable products and algae. Several meals are required per day.
Reproduction of fish
These individuals lay many eggs A net is laid at the bottom of the aquarium, as some individuals eat their eggs. Be sure to install bright lighting, plants sit down, since in nature spawning occurs in thickets. Sometimes the preparation takes several days, sometimes it starts right away. The male actively pursues the female. She is able to lay up to 300 eggs., but usually it is 100-200 pieces. Most of them die on the first day.
Full fry appear on the sixth day. They are fed brine shrimp, rotifers, crushed flakes. You can give boiled egg yolk and infusoria. The fry reach sexual maturity by 10 months.
Possible problems
The fish of the Congo is sick due to improper conditions of detention. Violation of filtration, the small volume of the aquarium, etc. - all this leads to the accumulation of poisons in the water. The immunity of individuals falls, and they begin to get sick. Therefore, if the inhabitants of the aquarium begin to die, the first step is to check the conditions of detention and put them in order.
If fluff appeared on the fish, it got sick Stress is also a risk factor. It is obtained due to small spaces and aggressive neighbors. Intimidated individuals are distinguished by unusual behavior, clamped fins and a pale color. In itself, the purchase and transportation of fish is stressful for her. To reduce it, turn off the lighting of the aquarium and do not disturb it for 12 hours after launching the beginner into the water.
The appearance of fluff, moss and cotton wool on the body of a fish is a consequence of fungal diseases. With bacterial lesions, swellings, ulcers, bruising or mucus appear on the scales. Sick individuals are best placed in a separate aquarium for the duration of treatment. It is advisable to do this if any suspicious symptoms appear. The use of drugs is discussed with the veterinarian because each case requires an individual approach.
Congo aquarium fish (Latin Phenacongrammus interrutpus) is a native of the African Congo River, from which it got its name. It can be called differently: rainbow tetra, blue congo, tetra congo and is a real decoration of any freshwater aquarium.
On an excursion with children in the aquarium, I asked each child to choose the most beautiful fish. Two guys chose the rainbow tetra because of the unusual tail fin and resemblance to the rainbow.
Coloring and appearance
Let's take a look at the photo of the Congo fish and see the traces of the rainbow on its body.
The color of females and males differs well: it is the appearance of males that underlies the name - rainbow tetra congo.
If the females are pale and larger than males, then the Congo tetra is the opposite: females are smaller and completely inconspicuous next to bright, iridescent males.
A photo of a Congo fish shows the color of a sexually mature male: a reddish strip with yellow-orange hues runs along the body closer to the back, and iridescent tints of bluish hues diverge up and down from it. The upper part of the head is also dominated by red-orange hues.
Appearance features:
- The body is elongated and slightly compressed on the sides.
- The eyes are quite large and expressive.
- Like all characins, there is a small adipose fin on the back between the dorsal and caudal.
- The ventral fins, dorsal and anal are lush and do not have a pronounced color - gray, sometimes with a purple tint.
- On the dorsal fin and in the middle of the caudal fin, the characteristic long veil processes are clearly visible in males. Sometimes the tail of the male Congo is called three-lobed, considering the protruding middle part of the tail as the third lobe.
The usual body length of males of the Congo tetra is 8.5 - 9 centimeters, and a little less in the female - 6 centimeters. Life expectancy - up to 5 years.
Place in the fish system
The Congo Tetra is a member of the Characin family of the Characiformes order (Characiformes), they are sometimes called Charax-shaped. Distinctive feature external structure fish of this order - the presence of an adipose fin on the back, located behind the dorsal, closer to the caudal fin.
All members of the detachment live either in equatorial Africa, or in the central part of the Northern and South America. Therefore, they are divided into African and American. Our Congo is an African characin fish and was described by the British zoologist and botanist George Albert Boulenger in 1899. Oddly enough, the scientist has never been to Africa, but he is considered an expert freshwater fish Africa.
Congo living conditions in nature and in an aquarium
In addition to the river of the same name, in the upper reaches of which it lives, the Rainbow Tetra Congo inhabits other rivers in the central part of Africa - the Zaire River basin. AT natural conditions In the murky waters of African rivers, fish flock to feed on insects, crustaceans, and other zooplankton species. Plant foods are also present in their diet.
Most of the Tetra Congo sold in stores is bred in Eastern Europe and in Asia.
- Taking into account the lifestyle in nature, buying fish in flocks of 6-8 copies, and preferably up to 10.
- Choose an aquarium of the appropriate volume - 100 - 130 liters or more.
Both factors are needed to maintain the brightness and beauty of the color of males. In a small group, each fish feels insecure and becomes shy, that is, under stress.
Frequent stressful situations "kill" the beauty and brightness of the male Congo rainbow tetra. Sufficient space in the aquarium for free swimming is good for acquiring a characteristic coloration.
Due to their shy nature and susceptibility to stress, the Congo aquarium fish will thrive in an aquarium with plenty of hiding places. Therefore, when designing an aquarium, it is necessary to place a lot of plants, both live and plastic.
But it is preferable to use live ones, as they keep nitrate levels low, and this is very important for water quality.
Most best option aquarium design - plant live plants closer to the side walls. In this case, the central part of the aquarium will be free and provide an opportunity for active swimming of the fish.
Other conditions of detention: subdued lighting and adequate neighbors in the aquarium.
The use of dark soil and the provision of subdued light is necessary to reduce the likelihood of fish being stressed. You can plant plants in the aquarium that float on the surface and create shading.
Since Congo fish are quite peaceful, they can only bite the tender parts of plants, but not other fish neighbors, so they should not be planted along with too active, and even more aggressive species. It is not necessary to settle with those who can bite off the veil part of the fins of males.
The best neighbors for the Congo are fish of the same size as them. Good Neighbors - Diverse peaceful cichlids, iris and catfish-corridors. Also, do not plant very small fish in tetras - they will be uncomfortable next to 8 cm male Congo tetras.
Food
The omnivorous nature of rainbow congos makes them much easier to keep. You can take flakes as the basis of the diet and supplement them with live food and vegetables. Artemia (can be frozen) and bloodworms are recommended as live food. Herbal supplements to the diet serve to save the leaves and young shoots of aquarium plants, which, in case of an unbalanced diet, the fish will actively eat.
Breeding
Reproduction of the Congo tetra in a home aquarium is considered difficult, but real. This is a spawning species. Readiness for reproduction occurs at 8-9 months.
As producers, you need to choose the most frisky fish. The male should have a very bright color, and the female should be the largest. Producers are seated in aquariums separately and during the week they are intensively fed with live and frozen food.
- In a spawning aquarium, it is necessary to simulate conditions close to natural: in the rivers of Africa, Congo tetras spawn among underwater plants and algae.
- It is necessary to lower live plants tied to weights to the bottom of the spawning ground.
- And for the safety of the laid eggs from the parents, a separator mesh is placed on the bottom (about 2 cm above the bottom).
- Water temperature is maintained at 26 degrees and pH 6.5.
- You can put several spawners in the spawning ground, but with a predominance of males.
Spawning is preceded by courtship, after which the female lays eggs (from 100 to 300 eggs). Eggs are scattered at the bottom of the aquarium among the plants. They are transparent, round and quite large (1.8 mm). The duration of spawning can be up to three days.
The very first eggs laid may die (usually they turn white). They must be removed using a long pipette, and the water must be disinfected by adding methylene blue.
After spawning is completed, adults sit down. An aquarium with a laid caviar must be darkened and the water level lowered by 3 centimeters. On the 6th or 7th day after fertilization, the fry hatch and are already swimming, and the water level must be raised again. They feed newborn Congo tetras with egg yolk, ciliates, cyclops, rotifers, high-quality artificial feed.
Congo tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptusis)
Tetra Congo is not recommended for beginners, it needs a larger aquarium and stable water parameters, which are difficult for beginners to maintain. Otherwise, these aquarium fish may lose their beautiful color and shape of the fins. These fish are also found under such names as phenacogrammus, tetra-phenacograms, rainbow phenacogrammus.
Origin and description
Zoologist George Albert Bulenger described the Congo tetra in 1899. These fish are native to Africa, found in the upper basin of the Zaire River (Congo). Tetra congo can be found in streams, tributaries, ponds and swamps with slightly acidic and murky water. Their habitats have dense vegetation, and the bottom is usually covered with silt or mud. There may be rocks on the bottom, but no snags or sunken trees. Congo tetras swim in flocks and feed on worms, crustaceans, insects, vegetation, algae, and zooplankton.
Rainbow phenacogrammus has a typical tetra body shape, quite voluminous. Males have beautiful lush fins. Long dorsal, anal caudal fins with veil edges, the middle part of the caudal fin is elongated. Males reach 8.5 cm in length, the female is only 6 cm long.
When ripe, the Congo acquires a beautiful coloration along the entire body, from the front to the back. A rich palette of opal colors shimmers from blue at the top, changing to red down to yellow-gold in the middle of the body, and again to blue closer to the belly. Ribs greyish-purple with white margins.
The life expectancy of fish in an aquarium is from 3 to 5 years.
Congo tetras are moderately hardy, but because of the care requirements, are recommended for hobbyists with some experience. These aquarium fish are sensitive to water quality, so they need conscientious owners who do not forget about regular maintenance of the aquarium. Otherwise, the fish may lose their color, and the male's fins may be damaged and lose their shape. When buying these fish, remember that the beautiful long fins of the Congo tetra can attract aggressive tankmates, and injuries and damage to the fins can lead to illness and even lethal outcome. Therefore, avoid the neighborhood of the Congo with pugnacious fish.
Congo tetras are successfully kept and bred even in small/nano aquariums up to 75 liters. These aquarium fish are bred for sale in huge numbers and have learned to adapt to different conditions content. However, when kept alone or in small numbers, these fish become shy and even aggressive, so it is recommended to keep a flock of 6 fish. And for a flock, you need an aquarium of 75 liters, and for a large group of adult fish, a capacity of 150 liters or more is recommended.
Congo tetras prefer water that is softer and more acidic, with good flow. In dim lighting, the fish will show their best colors.
To create an environment close to natural for the Congo tetras, dark soil and many living plants are used in the aquarium. The Congo Tetra looks especially impressive against the backdrop of living plants, but it also needs open space for swimming. Without a dark background, these tetras look somewhat washed out.
In an aquarium, driftwood can be used to lower the pH, as well as dry leaves that color the water in brown colors. Remember to change the leaves regularly.
Content options
Temperature: 23 - 28 ° C;
Breeding temperature: 25 to 28°C;
pH: 6,0-7,5;
Rigidity: 4 - 18dGH;
habitation: all areas of the aquarium.
Aquarium maintenance should be regular and aimed at keeping the aquarium clean. Otherwise, with an excessive content of organic matter in the water, the fish will become faded, and the fins of the males will lose their attractiveness. To maintain cleanliness, regular water changes of 25% to 50% of the aquarium water every two weeks are recommended. To purify water, it is advisable to use special conditioners every time. The volume of replacements depends on the degree of population of the tank: the denser the population, the greater the replacement.
Compatibility
Congo tetras are very timid, so you need to keep them in a group of 6 or more individuals. An ideal group of Congo fish up to 20 pieces. It is advisable to stick to a ratio of 2-3 females to 1 male - this will smooth out any aggression that may occur in the group.
As a rule, congo tetras peaceful fish, but may try to bite smaller fish. Avoid neighborhood with any aggressive species. Other types of tetras, viviparous fish, pearl gourami, loaches, corridors, synodontis, rainbow fish, chain catfish (ancistrus), peaceful dwarf cichlids. Stay away from fin-biting bully fish such as Sumatran barbs. And with peaceful discussions, the Congo can get along.
Congo tetras are sometimes prone to eating aquarium plants, especially soft leaves and young shoots.
Feed and feeding
Kongos are omnivores. In nature, they eat insects, small worms, crustaceans, plant foods, algae, zooplankton. In the aquarium, these fish can be offered all types of aquarium fish food, both dry flakes and live and frozen food. Live small bloodworms, brine shrimp grown in salt water, tubifex - all this will be a good addition to the daily feeding of dry food and diversify the diet. Supplement your diet with plant-based foods, as well as foods containing algae. Congo can taste live plants "by the tooth", so it's best to provide them with plant foods.
Feed several times a day in small portions.
Differences between male and female
The male is larger, brighter and more colorful, and the caudal and dorsal fins of the male are longer, the elongation of the center of the caudal fin is especially noticeable. The adult mature female is more rounded.
reproduction
Congo aquarium fish lay eggs and breed at home. However, getting offspring in a home aquarium can be a difficult task, since the spawning of these fish in nature is seasonal and it is quite difficult to stimulate a pair.
For spawning should be allocated large aquarium(about 70 liters). The water in the spawning area is filtered through peat granules and bright lighting is installed. Water should be soft and acidic, pH 6.5 - 6.8; hardness about 1.5 - 3 ° dGH; temperature from 25 to 28 ° C. Live plants, artificial grass, bunches of moss are added to the aquarium - the plants stimulate the female to lay eggs. A protective mesh layer can be added to protect the caviar from the parents.
Congo tetras breed in pairs or groups, 2 males per female. To stimulate future parents, they are separated in advance in different aquariums, males and females are abundantly fed with live foods, for about 14 days. Females choose the most rounded, and males the brightest. Fish are planted in spawning grounds in the evening.
Bright lighting should stimulate spawning of fish. Egg laying may begin immediately, or it may take 2 to 6 days. The male starts chasing the female through the plants until she spawns. The female lays up to 300 transparent eggs.
After a successful spawning, the parents are removed and the aquarium shaded, as the eggs are sensitive to light. Caviar exposed to light becomes blurred and fungal growth appears on it. If this happens, remove the damaged eggs to prevent the fungus from spreading.
The fry appear after 6-7 days and immediately begin to swim freely. Only the hatched fry are large enough to eat freshly hatched brine shrimp and rotifers, as well as crushed flakes.
Congo tetra (lat. Phenacogrammus interruptus) is a bright representative of the Kharacin family. Despite its small size, it has a contrast appearance, it is difficult not to notice among the aquarium thickets. The luxurious body shimmers with a luminous sheen, and thin fins resemble a lady's fan.
Congo fish live in a school, so they require a spacious aquarium for swimming. In captivity, they grow up to 8 centimeters in length.
The natural habitat is the Congo River, which is located in the African country of the same name Congo (Zaire). It was first described by the French zoologist P. Boulanger in 1899. The Congo Tetra has been described as a beautiful, calm, schooling fish with an active lifestyle. Due to the unusual iridescent color, it received the names "blue Congo" and "rainbow Congo". In the Congo River, where these fish constantly live, the water is acidic and dark. The diet consists of zooplankton, insects and plant remains.
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Appearance and feeding
Blue Congo can be called a large tetra, because an adult grows up to 6-8.5 cm in length. Live 3-5 years good conditions. An adult fish looks like a rainbow, its color is full of blue, orange, yellow, white and pink. Females are smaller than males, their abdomen is rounded, males have longer fins. The fins of the fish are transparent, veil-shaped with a white sheen. The dorsal fin is narrow, resembling a sail.
See what the rainbow tetra looks like.
For a full life in captivity, you will need both live and plant food. The rainbow tetra is an omnivorous fish, which makes it easy to keep at home. Food can be purchased at a pet store: flakes, small granules that the fish can swallow are suitable. Accepts live and frozen food. However, due to their shyness, they do not eat in plain sight, or do not have time to collect all the food, so carefully watch their meal.
Rainbow tetras prefer darkened water, not hard, with dark soil. It is desirable that the aquarium has floating vegetation. Soft lighting sets off the shimmering scales, such a sight looks amazing. Aggressive, large fish can offend them by breaking off their fins. It is better to keep a flock in a separate nursery, together they feel comfortable and safe. Some breeders keep them along with speckled catfish, lalius, neon.
The scenery of the water reservoir should create the effect of a natural biotope, where there are various driftwood, shelters, hard-leaved plants and dark soil. Water should be soft and acidic. A 70 liter aquarium is fine for a small flock, but a large space is a joy for them. For a flock of 6 individuals, a 200 liter container will be a worthy home.
Water parameters:
- Neutral or acidic pH 6.0-7.5;
- On the surface of the water - floating vegetation;
- Purity of water with a regular change of 20% of the volume once a week, filtration;
- Water temperature - 23-28 degrees, hardness - 4-18 o;
- To give the water the effect of a natural river, you can put brown leaves on the bottom of the container.
Look at the spawning of Phenacogrammus interruptus.
Breeding conditions in the spawning ground
Breeding the rainbow tetra is possible if you are an experienced aquarist. In spawning grounds, they do not breed so easily. For brooding, you will need the brightest pair of fish, which should be settled in separate containers for two weeks, feeding them with live food. A separator net and plants should be laid at the bottom of the spawning ground to protect the eggs - like many tetras, the Congo eat their child due to negligence.
Stimulation for reproduction is acidity and softness. aquatic environment, as well as an increase in temperature to 26 degrees. In the spawning area, a ready male actively cares for the female, chasing her until she agrees to spawning. During the day, the fish lays 100-300 large eggs. But on the first day, many of them die from a fungal disease, so it is recommended to add methylene blue to the water.
Parents need to be removed. A week later, fry appear, starter feed for them - egg yolk and infusoria. Further, it is recommended to add Artemia naupilii to the diet. They become sexually mature at the age of 10 months.
This fish of the Alesto family owes its name to its habitat - the Congo River in Africa and its basin. Congos prefer stagnant water bodies or weak currents with dense vegetation.
The size
The size of the Congo depends on the sex: females are 2-3 cm smaller. On average, the length is 6-8 cm, but larger individuals are also found.
Color
The color of the fish is very bright and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. The abdomen glows with a turquoise tint, the rest of the body is yellow-green, with an olive tint. A wide stripe runs along the entire body, the color of which, depending on age and conditions of detention, ranges from orange to bronze and golden. The Kongo's eyes are large and black, framed by a blue ring. Males are brighter in color than females.
body shape
The body of the Congo is ovoid, strongly flattened laterally, high and streamlined. The fish has beautiful and unusual fins. The tail is triangular, the tops are rounded, and there is an outgrowth in the middle. The dorsal fin is high and elongated. The rest of the fins are large, pale lilac with an ashy tinge. The females have smaller fins and don't look as luxurious.
Congo is a rather peaceful fish, gets along well with different neighbors, but it is still undesirable to plant too small fish in it. The lifestyle of the Congo is flocking, so it is advisable to keep 10-15 individuals in one species aquarium. In this case, males should predominate.
Congos are long-range mobile, they need space for swimming. They stay mainly in the upper and middle layers of the water. It is desirable that the aquarium is well lit. These active fish can even jump out of the water, so the aquarium must be closed, and the distance between the water surface and the lid must be at least 6-8 cm. Do not forget that plants and algae are necessary for the Congo as well as a place to swim .
Requirements
The optimal conditions for Congo are: water temperature 23-25 degrees, hardness 5-20, acidity 6-7.5. Feeding is necessary varied: live, vegetable, dry. Kongos are very fond of flying and falling insects. Plant food must be in the diet, with a lack of plant food, they can destroy the plants in the aquarium.
Breeding
Congos reach sexual maturity and are ready to breed at 8-9 months. Before spawning, producers should be kept separate for two weeks and fed well and varied. For spawning of the Congo, it is necessary to plant several individuals in a large aquarium with a separator net, among which males will predominate. The water in the spawning ground should be soft, temperature - 26 C, acidity - 6.5. Such conditions are optimal for larvae. The size of the eggs is about 1.8 mm, they are round and transparent. Spawning can last two or three days, the female lays up to 500 eggs, which fall to the bottom through a separator mesh. Then the adults are removed, the aquarium is darkened and the water level in it is lowered by about 3 cm, and after the birth of the fry, they are raised again. The fry begin to swim on the 7th day. They should be fed with rotifers, cyclops or good artificial food.
