How to know what a fish is. How to understand that something is wrong with the fish? gold aquarium fish

Guppies are beautiful freshwater fish. It is hardly possible to find another of the same breed of fish, which for several decades would have retained the commitment of beginners and experienced aquarists. The phenomenon is explained not only by the simplicity of maintenance, unpretentiousness in nutrition, but also by the huge variety of colors, shapes of fins, interesting features breeding.

Guppies have a strong sexual dimorphism. The male, unlike the female, has a more elegant physique, elongated fins and is more intensely colored. Guppies reach sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 months. The conditions of detention have a significant impact on the reproductive functions and maturation of the fish. An increase in water temperature by 2-3 degrees leads to an acceleration of metabolism and earlier puberty of guppies.

Some experts warn that stimulation methods such as changing and increasing the temperature of the water are only needed if labor is difficult or occurs prematurely. A decrease in temperature can significantly slow down not only the development of the reproductive system, but also lead to lethargy, decreased activity, and diseases.

These cute fish are viviparous, or rather, oviparous. In them, fertilization occurs inside, and the fertilized eggs also develop in the female's stomach. From a single mating, she can give several groups of fry, so it is necessary to notice the pregnancy in time and put the female into the spawning ground so that other fish or the parents themselves do not eat the babies.

It is necessary to observe “marital courtship” so that several males do not choose one female, which will adversely affect the condition of the future mother and the quality of the offspring. Therefore, the ideal option is a pair of guppies, which must be isolated.

Readiness of fish for fertilization

When breeding thoroughbred guppies or engaging in selection, it is necessary to strictly monitor the crossing of fish and form pairs correctly. And for this you need to determine in time the readiness of guppies for mating.

A sign of readiness for the mating process in guppies is courtship. The male begins to "chase" the chosen one, cling to her side, anal fin. At this point, the aquarist should isolate the couple, as the fertilization process has already begun. In the future, placing a pregnant female in a separate vessel can be dangerous for her and her offspring, since she becomes very sensitive to changes in the characteristics of the environment.

These unpretentious fish can breed in a small container, but how better conditions, the more healthy and large offspring can be obtained. The "maternity hospital" should have enough space for 2 guppies. Experienced aquarists claim that from the moment the pair is isolated, it is possible to count the female's pregnancy. Very rarely, a male may need 2-4 days to fertilize.

Depending on age, number of previous marks, water temperature, type of food and other characteristics, the duration of the gestation period can vary from 30 to 60 days. Normally, the period is 30 ± 5 days. A reduction or increase in gestation periods may indicate a violation of the conditions of detention or health problems with the fish. The interval between litters can be 1-2 months.

A feature of the "live-bearer" is a mark stretched in time. A fertilized fish can "give birth" to fry in groups with a temporary gap between births. Sometimes another male mates with the female who has given birth, and in the next generation babies from both males will appear.

fertilization process

Spermatozoa are introduced into the female's genital opening using the gonopodia. The formation of the copulatory organ begins during puberty. Prior to this, there are no differences in the structure of the anal fin in the female and male. With the onset of puberty, the rays in cross section resemble a triangle, and later - a tube.

Equipped muscle fibers the tube is raised or lowered, which facilitates the introduction of spermatophores - "packages" of spermatozoa into the female's body. They are partially spent on the fertilization of part of the eggs, and a certain amount of seed material is stored inside the reproductive organs of the female for several months. In guppies, often as a result of one insemination, from 5-6 to 11 marks occur.

When the female is fully ready for mating, she releases environment a special secret that attracts males to it. They also have a chemical effect on the mating behavior of females. The copulin secreted by the sex glands of males forces the female to take a position that is most convenient for inserting the gonopodium into the genital opening. Swimming of the female in an inclined position is another sign of her readiness for copulation.

But such chemical "markers" of readiness for procreation do not replace physical stimulation. The male begins a mating dance around the female, spreading his fins and sparkling with the bright color of his body, he rapidly rushes around the chosen one. Several males can “drive” a female at once.

Interestingly, each male has his own dance, which he repeats in great detail during each mating. This marriage ritual fixed in the genetic memory of males. If he does not “care”, then the female will not let the male approach her, despite the chemical marks.

Also, the female chooses the "cavalier" according to the brightness of the color and the length of the fins. The winners are males with red coloration or red spots and long fins. They grow in males throughout life and testify to longevity, good health. These qualities are desirable in offspring. Thus, in the appearance of the male, information about his viability as the father of numerous offspring is “encoded”.

Signs of pregnancy

By observing the behavior and appearance of the female, you can determine if she is pregnant. Experienced aquarists note that before the appearance external signs pregnancy, there are changes in the behavior and appetite of the female. 1.5 weeks before the birth, there is a sharp increase in the appetite of the fish, so inexperienced guppy owners write off the rounded abdomen for overeating.

But if you carefully monitor the condition of the female, you will notice that her tummy is increasing. Unlike an overeaten fish, the belly is enlarged not only in the lower part, but also from the sides. When viewed from above, the rounded sides of the fish are visible. The closer to childbirth, the more “square” the abdomen, and the “prenatal” or maturity spot appears in the region of the anal fin. It is dark brown, yellowish-ocher or black. Through the stretched skin of the abdomen, one can see the “graininess” of the spot, the so-called “eyes of the fry”.

A few hours before birth, the abdomen is already so large that a noticeable depression forms between the chest and abdomen. A bulge forms in the region of the anal fin. Its appearance signals that about a day remains before the appearance of fry. It is worth noting that the degree of severity of the stage of the "square" abdomen and "prenatal spot" in some varieties of guppies is less pronounced, but the anal bulge must be present without fail.

Before giving birth, the behavior of the fish also changes. She starts looking for cover or tries to hide among the plants. This is especially noticeable in community aquarium- the males begin to chase the female, and she hides from them. Features are also observed in movements - the fish hangs motionless at the surface of the water or in the middle layers, it lowers its tail.

When “contractions” occur, you can notice the trembling of the muscles in the anal region and the trembling of the caudal fin. Childbirth lasts from 3 to 5 hours. Sometimes the process stretches up to 5-7 days. The number of fry in the label depends on the size, age of the fish and the number of previous births. A first-timer can have 15-25 babies, and with repeated births, their number increases. A case was registered when a guppy gave birth to 180 fry in one mark.

The health of the fry and the female depends on:

• environmental conditions - high temperature causes premature birth and the appearance of non-viable offspring;
• food - live food contributes to the normal formation of fry and the preservation of pregnancy. When feeding a pregnant female with dry food, the fry may experience scoliosis;
• the presence of one or more males - they exhaust the female.

Sometimes a young and healthy female cannot be born. In order to stimulate labor activity, a replacement with settled fresh water is carried out, temperatures are raised to 28-30 ° C, or a young male is planted before spawning begins.

Guppy pregnancy video

Caring for fry and female

After the female has fry, it must be transplanted or the fry should be placed in a container for rearing. The fry are active and immediately begin to seek shelter. Their survival depends on this, since guppies have no parental instinct at all. The female perceives large fry as prey. Therefore, pebbles, artificial or live plants are placed at the bottom of the spawning ground - everything that kids can use as shelter.

An interesting feature of guppies is that they have hermaphrodites - individuals who have developed genitals of both sexes. These fish are capable of self-fertilization. In addition, there is a spontaneous transformation of a female, even already spawning, into a male. Much less often, the male turns into a female.

Guppies are interesting in terms of breeding. Behind short period they can give several groups of fry, which is very convenient for selection. To get healthy pedigree offspring, you need to know all the subtleties of the reproduction of these amazing fish.

How to determine when buying a fish is healthy or sick.

Sick fish can be distinguished from healthy fish in many ways. First of all, it indicates the disease appearance: dull coloration, pressed, as if glued fins, fringe on them, sometimes barely noticeable, retracted or, conversely, swollen belly, excessive thinness. Roughening of the scales, its damage can be observed. In some cases, the gill covers are raised or damaged. Obvious signs of the disease are sores, various kinds of rashes on the body, a cottony coating in some areas, the presence of a walleye, bulging eyes, hemorrhages, etc. Excrement often looks like long mucous threads. Sick fish also differ in behavior: they often stand in one place, sway, clog into corners, scratch on the bottom, plants, sometimes move in jerks, rotate in one place.

Why do fish get sick?

Diseases aquarium fish, as a rule, occur due to their content in adverse conditions. The fish become weak and are easily susceptible to disease. To adverse conditions include: low water temperature or its sharp fluctuations, excess or lack of lighting, unsuitable for this species chemical composition water, the presence of toxic substances in the water, etc. Sharp changes in environmental parameters have a bad effect on fish: replacement immediately a large number water, transplanting fish into an aquarium with other conditions, etc. The cause of the disease is often improper feeding: lack or excess of food, monotonous or poor-quality food, inadequate diet, inconsistency of its composition with the needs of fish of this species (for example, the lack of plant foods in the diet of herbivorous fish) . And of course, diseases can be caused by the introduction of infectious agents from natural reservoirs along with live food and plants, as well as in connection with planting fish in an aquarium without prior quarantine. If the fish are kept in an aquarium with an established biological regime, on a complete food, they, as a rule, do not get sick, although pathogens may be present in the aquarium (the so-called "dormant" infection).

How to understand that the fish is sick.

Nonspecific signs of disease in fish.

These signs may appear alone or in combination. They only matter if they are abnormal.
- Loss or decrease in appetite.
- Abnormal behavior of one kind or another.
- Color change.
- Compressed fins.
- The fish is hiding.
- Lethargy.
- Respiratory disorder.
- Abnormal swimming.
- Fish excrement takes the form of long threads hanging from the anus.
Fish showing any of these signs should be watched closely for additional signs of any particular disease. It is necessary to check the concentration of nitrogen-containing substances, as well as other water parameters such as temperature and pH.
It is not always possible to accurately diagnose and identify a specific fish disease. In such situations, the measures to be taken will depend on the circumstances. It makes no sense to treat an unknown disease by the arbitrary application of chemical medicines in the hope of accidentally getting on the right medicine. Many drugs are toxic to fish to some extent and can cause an exacerbation. The combination of different chemicals (when different drugs are applied sequentially without destroying traces of previous treatment by partial water replacement or neutralization) is very effective method poison the fish.
If a diagnosis cannot be made based on outward signs of illness, samples will need to be taken for laboratory analysis. To clarify the situation, either tests may be required aquarium water(they are useful if you suspect poisoning, but the cause is not clear), or biological material obtained from the autopsy of fish. In both cases, the tests have to be done with the help of a veterinarian or a fish health consultant.

Nonspecific signs of irritation in fish.

Diseases of fish caused by adverse conditions.

Unfavorable conditions, in addition to direct action, weaken the body of fish and open the gate infectious diseases. Most often, fish get sick due to prolonged keeping at low temperatures. This usually happens in spring and autumn - during periods when the heating season. Increasing the water temperature to 32-35°C usually has no harmful effect on fish of many species. At very high temperature fish begin, as a rule, to rush about in a vertical plane, sometimes even trying to jump out of the water. Sharp fluctuations in temperature can also cause illness.
Lack of oxygen can lead to death by suffocation. It is usually determined by the behavior of fish that rise to the surface of the water and swallow air bubbles. Worse, if there are no noticeable signs of oxygen deficiency, then proper measures are not taken and the fish gradually weaken. Young fish in this case become "tightened". Various kinds of diseases and death due to insufficient oxygen occur more quickly at high water temperatures. Diseases can occur when kept in water that is too acidic or too alkaline for this type of fish, as well as in too soft or hard water.
For a number of fish species, excessive water loading with various organic residues is contraindicated. On the one hand, during the decomposition of residues, oxygen is consumed and its deficiency is detected, on the other hand, decomposition products are formed, for example, nitrogen and sulfur compounds, which are poisonous in themselves,
Humic acids reduce the pH and hardness of the water making living conditions unsuitable for many species, while other fish can be kept long time under the same conditions without visible harm.

Fish diseases caused by improper feeding.

Starvation of adult fish, sometimes even for a long period, usually does not lead to visible negative results. In contrast, for fry in the first periods of feeding, it has a very great importance both quantity and quality of feed. As a result of insufficient feeding of fry, as well as in the case of a deficiency of calcium or other components, fish often grow up with pathological changes in the structure of various organs, this is primarily reflected in the curvature of the caudal peduncle. Insufficient feeding of grown fry in some species is compensated in the future by accelerated growth. However, there are cases when fry after a long starvation completely refuse food and die from exhaustion. For the most part, mature fish that did not receive food in sufficient quantities at one or another (especially early) stage of development turn out to be “tightened”. Many of them are further unsuitable for breeding.
Obesity of the intestines is a common cause of death of adult fish in aquariums. This disease of fish can almost entirely be attributed to keeping them in captivity. Restriction in movements and abundant regular food are the main reasons for the deposition of unused substances in the body of adult fish. When keeping many animals in captivity, they usually arrange one day a week "hungry"; maybe we should do the same with fish. The deposition of fat in the liver leads to its degeneration, causing severe metabolic disorders. Due to obesity of the testes and ovaries, fish can become completely sterile. Obesity of the viscera greatly weakens the body of fish, makes them susceptible to infectious diseases, primarily to infectious dropsy of the abdomen. Curing fish with fatty entrails is usually impossible.
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines often occurs in adult fish in an aquarium as a result of long-term feeding of monotonous food, especially in cases where it is very concentrated. Inflammatory process begins, in particular, when feeding with enchitreus, more often dry food (as a result of a lack of vitamins, proteins or fats), as well as bloodworms or tubifex, obtained from reservoirs contaminated with various kinds of waste. Sometimes there are difficult to explain cases of poisoning with a completely benign bloodworm. With inflammation gastrointestinal tract fish, as a rule, do not lose their appetite, their movements become lazier, the color darkens somewhat. If at the same time the abdomen swells slightly, then inflammation of the stomach can be suspected. With inflammation of the intestine, the anus becomes reddish, the excrement becomes mucous, bloody, thread-like. Inflammation of the stomach and intestines weakens the fish and opens the way for many infectious diseases.

Poisoning. Insecticide poisoning, etc.

Chlorine in tap water for fish and plants.

In order to combat microorganisms, chlorine in the form of a gas is added to tap water. As a result, hydrochloric acid and chloric acid are formed, the latter decomposes in the light into hydrochloric acid and oxygen. This oxygen is very active at the time of its formation and, with its strong oxidizing effect, kills bacteria and other microorganisms. Tap water usually contains some chlorine (0.1-0.4 mg/l), but in special occasions, in particular in spring, the chlorine content in the water rises to 0.4-0.5 mg / l (at this time it smells of chlorine) and has a harmful effect on fish, and sometimes kills them. First of all, the toxic effect affects the gills, while they get sick, their tissue is destroyed, then the fins and the whole body are damaged. Chlorine is harmless to aquatic plants.
Chlorine can be removed from water by settling for 1-2 days or by vigorous blowing for several hours. When pasteurizing water for 30-40 minutes, chlorine is also completely removed.

Wounds inflicted by fish on each other.

In aquarium practice, very often one has to deal with such cases when fish hurt each other. Many large cichlids, labyrinths and some spawning carps and other fish damage, to a greater or lesser extent, representatives of both their own and other fish species. Damaged areas of the body and fins regenerate with high speed without harm to the victims (of course, if the damage did not affect vital organs). In these cases, usually, any kind of infection does not affect the injured fish.

A useful video about the treatment of fish, which will help solve the question of what to do with a dying fish?

How do fish sleep in an aquarium?

What is a "fish" dream

What do fish look like in a dream

Briefly about hibernation in winter and summer

How to determine that a fish is pregnant:: aquarium fish pregnant:: Breeding

How to care for pregnant guppies

How do guppies bear fry?

How are guppies born?

Toward the end of the gestation period, a week before the expected birth, the female can be transferred to a prepared maternity tank by pouring water from a common aquarium into it. In such an aquarium there is a dividing wall, so the fry will not suffer from a hungry female. On the day of pregnancy, the female must not be transferred to such a tank, otherwise a miscarriage will occur. When the female is ready to give birth, she may swim slowly, or look for a secluded spot in the aquarium. In one birth, she will produce 10-60 fry, although some mature females can give birth to up to 200 babies.

How long does childbirth take? Usually several days. For 1 day, the female can bring all the fry, and it happens that one fry per day. If giving birth is in a community tank, make sure it has lots of live plant bushes where the babies can save their lives. Unfortunately, the fry are highly visible, so they become victims of their parents and their neighbors in the aquarium.

How to determine the readiness for childbirth? Before this process, the body of the female trembles, she is inactive, she has no appetite (feed can spit out). If a heater is installed in the tank, then the female may be near it. Also, these signs may indicate premature birth. During the birth itself, the tail of the female trembles, for a few seconds she freezes. Lively and nimble fry come out of the anus, they immediately actively swim, starting an independent life.

See how guppy fry are born.

A female guppy can become pregnant again, even a few hours after giving birth. She can store male spermatozoa for one year, and from one fertilization up to 8 pregnancies can occur, in case of favorable conditions in the aquarium. In one life (3-5 years), a female fish is able to give life to 2000 fry or more. The day before the birth, a swelling may appear at the anus, if it is not there, this is a clear pathology.

After 2 weeks, the babies will mature, grow up to 1.5-2 cm in length. At this age, you can sort the fish by gender. Young females of this age can be recognized by the first sign of sexual dimorphism - they have a dark spot at the bottom of the abdomen, at the base of the anal fin. You can transplant males and females into different aquariums by pouring the “old” water familiar to them from the previous aquarium. In silver and light breeds of guppies, sex differences are more difficult to determine - in females, there will be a barely noticeable belly on the abdomen. White spot, not black. It will be easier to find out the sex of fish at the age of 1.5 months, however, late sorting dates can provoke early pregnancy.

The danger for pregnant female guppies is the disease plestophorosis. Fry can become infected from the mother. The fish looks lethargic and faded, the caudal fin goes down, the female swims at an angle of 45-60o. A sick fish can bounce, trying to return to its original position, normal position body, refuses food. Pleistophorosis is not treated, so a pregnant fish will not be able to survive. It is destroyed, and all decorations and equipment must be strictly disinfected.

Fry that have received insufficient amounts of light and protein may suffer from scoliosis. The causes of scoliosis are not well understood, sometimes this disease manifests itself in tuberculosis. It is believed that the main causes of spinal curvature are stress, trauma, pathology of egg development, improper feeding of a pregnant fish, oxygen starvation.

How to determine the pregnancy of a swordtail:: how to find out that a female swordtail is pregnant:: Breeding

How to understand that a cockerel fish is pregnant :: how to determine the age of a cockerel fish :: Breeding

How to understand that a cockerel fish is pregnant

Cockerels are one of the most spectacular species that pleases aquarists not only with their bright colors, fluffy tail and fins, but also with fighting enthusiasm. However, breeding bettas requires special care, because the male will take care of the caviar, and the fish become especially aggressive during this period.

British pregnancy question - 1 answer

Instruction

1. To breed betta fish, select at least two fish: a male and a female. You can determine the sex of the fish in comparison - the males are larger, they have a large tail, a rounded fin. They behave more aggressively, if you put them in front of a mirror, they begin to inflate their gills, jump into the reflection. Females behave more modestly and are painted in paler shades, they always have a white speck on the abdomen. The difficulty lies in the fact that some males also have a white spot, and some "hens" behave aggressively and can beat the "spouse" badly.

2. Choose the right pair, preferably one species, for example, a female and male veiltail. Fish capable of breeding are not younger than 3.5 months, but not too old either. Before planning spawning, it is better to seat them in different water bodies for a week and feed them with live food: bloodworms or coretra, it contains many nutrients.

3. To determine the pregnancy of a cockerel fish, just watch it. In fact, caviar is constantly formed in the female, so you can’t talk about her pregnancy as a temporary period. For the aquarist, such a concept as the readiness for spawning of a cockerel is much more important. The abdomen slightly increases, the stripes from horizontal become vertical and very clear. In light individuals, eggs can appear through the abdomen. Behavior also changes: females begin to inflate their gills, flirt and swim next to the male.

5. Please note leading role a male cockerel plays in the nest device. He builds a foam nest on the surface of the water, then pushes the female to the nest, presses on her abdomen and the eggs slip out. Then he fertilizes them and puts them in the nest. After the “birth”, the male begins to push the female away from the nest - at this moment it is better to put her in another body of water, she will no longer take care of the clutch. When the fry hatch and begin to swim, it should also be transplanted.

gold aquarium fish

Goldfish: The Beginning

Some general information

Video about goldfish

Fish health

Golden fish - a golden palace!

And the Lord said, "Be fruitful and multiply"

How to understand that a guppy is pregnant :: how to understand that a guppy will give birth soon :: Aquarium fish

How to understand that a guppy is pregnant

Guppy is a freshwater fish that belongs to the Pecilia family. It is considered quite unpretentious, and also popular of all aquarium fish. It should be noted that every breeder should have an idea of ​​how to determine that a female guppy is pregnant. This knowledge will help to create certain conditions for a female expecting offspring in a timely manner.

Question “opened a pet store. Business is not running. What to do? » - 2 answers

Instruction

1. As a rule, the pregnancy of a guppy is determined by the shape of its abdomen. The fact is that the female carrying offspring has a rounded voluminous abdomen, which, immediately before childbirth, becomes slightly rectangular shape. Sometimes fry can be observed through the gaps, and closer to labor, the guppies have a dark birth spot localized on the abdomen. It should be borne in mind that the shape of the head of the fish during this period begins to seem elegant due to the voluminous belly. In addition, a pregnant female is distinguished by a peaceful and calm behavior.

2. Often, before throwing fry, the back of the belly becomes dark in guppies. In the event that only fish of this family are present in the aquarium, and there are also many shelters in the form of stones, snags and algae, then the female can not be planted. However, when other fish live in the aquarium, the guppies bearing offspring, in without fail for the period of throwing should be deposited, and then run back. It is important to remember that fry must be kept in a separate container.

3. When weaning a pregnant female, it must be taken into account that she is able to eat her fry. Thus, it is advisable to take care in advance of acquiring plants with which they can hide from the mother, who is temporarily next to the offspring. The number of fry born to a female directly depends on her age. A young fish can bring up to ten offspring, while an old one can breed a hundred fry. In order for the offspring to have a beautiful color and develop quickly, they should be fed a variety of foods three times a day.

4. Basically, a guppy's pregnancy lasts forty days. During the first week after birth, the fry live in the nursery. Then they are transplanted into the most spacious containers. Already in a month you can see distinctive features to determine the sex of the fry. Females have a birthmark near the anus. Males at the age of three months change the so-called anal fin into a gonopodium. It should be borne in mind that in order to prevent the reproduction of guppies, it is advisable to distribute young offspring by gender in a timely manner and be sure to keep them separately. AT winter time it is necessary to observe the temperature of the water, which should be eighteen degrees Celsius. Such actions will not only help to avoid unnecessary spawning, but also allow the female to take a break from labor.

A quick web search can usually tell you if your fish is viviparous or spawning. This way you will know if you should pay attention to the bloating of the abdomen during pregnancy or to the tiny jelly-like balls of caviar in the aquarium. If you are expecting new young fish, try to learn as much as you can about your particular breed, as raising them yourself can be a challenge.

Steps

Determination of pregnancy in viviparous fish

Use this method for viviparous breeds. Guppies, mollies, swordtails and platies are probably the most common species of viviparous aquarium fish. Males and females of these breeds mate, after which the eggs develop in the body in the body of the females. After a period of one or two months (for most aquarium breeds), fish hatch from the eggs, and their mother gives birth.

1. Learn to identify males and females. As a rule, males of viviparous breeds are lighter in color and more flamboyantly colored, and they have a thin long anal fin in the lower part of the body near the tail. Females are duller in color with a triangular or fan-like anal fin. If you can determine their gender, it will be easier for you to determine if two fish are fighting (usually two males or two females), or they are mating, or preparing to mate (one male and one female).

   • In some breeds this is more difficult to determine and you may need the help of an expert from an aquarium store.

2. pay attention to mating games. Different types fish behave differently during merging, embracing and other mating behaviors. In many breeds, including most guramiids, the male actively chases the female, occasionally scratching, biting, or otherwise injuring her. In other breeds, such as discus, the male and female work in pairs, protecting the aquarium area from other fish. In any case, during mating, the male and female will grab each other, turn upside down, spin around each other and make other subtle movements that are difficult to see.

   Check for bulges during pregnancy. In a female fish, a bulge grows in the back of the abdomen. The abdomen usually grows within 20-40 days, taking either a rounded shape or a "box" shape.

   • Some fish species, such as the balloon mollies, have a naturally bulbous belly just behind the pectoral fins.
   • Overweight male fish may grow a large belly near the front of the chest. If you stop feeding them for a couple of days, it may disappear, while the abdomen of pregnant females will remain in place.

3. Look for a red or black spot. A pregnant female often develops a "pregnancy spot" on her abdomen near the anus. It is usually black or bright red and becomes more distinct as the pregnancy progresses.

   • Some fish always have this spot, but it usually becomes lighter or darker when the fish is pregnant.

4. Decide how to prepare for the emergence of young fish. Raising the young (fry) can be extremely difficult and you may need a separate tank for the fry to keep the adults and aquarium filters from harming them. If you are not ready for this task, contact an aquarium shop or an experienced aquarist who may be willing to help you or take your fish from you. If you decide to take care of young fish, you can skip to the section below to understand how to raise young fish, but we also recommend that you understand the characteristics of your particular breed.

   Determining nesting and laying eggs

   1. Use this method for spawning species. Most aquarium fish lay eggs, including discus, fighting fish and most types of gourami. Females of these breeds lay hundreds of eggs, usually in a prepared nest on the floor, walls, or water surface. If the male is introduced in the same aquarium, he may fertilize the eggs after they are laid, or by mating with the female before, depending on the breed. Live fish will hatch from the eggs.

      • Search the web for your breed name to determine if it is an oviparous or viviparous breed.
      • Females of some fish species are able to store sperm for several months, then to use it to fertilize eggs, so in a new aquarium that contains only females, fish will sometimes be able to breed.

   2. Watch for signs of nesting. Some spawning fish nest to keep their eggs safe. Nests may look like mounds of gravel, but they are not always visible. Some gourami can make the elaborate bubble nests that the male usually makes on the surface of the water.

      Follow the eggs. Some females of these breeds swell as the eggs grow inside them, but this is not usually main feature and doesn't stay long. The laid eggs look like tiny jelly-like balls. Usually it is released into the water, but in some breeds it may be nesting or stuck to the floor or walls of the aquarium.

      • Many spawning breeds, including most gouramis, also have mating games. Usually these games are very energetic and can last for several hours until the moment when the eggs are laid.

   3. Get ready to lay eggs. Taking care of the young can be tricky, but even if you are caught off guard, you still have a little time before the eggs are laid. If you are interested in raising fry yourself, ask your aquarium shop for advice, as the process is different breeds may differ. If you are caught off guard, see the chapter on raising young fish for basic tips, but remember that this method is not ideal for different breeds of fish.

   Raising young fish

   Get to know your fish species as best you can. The instructions below will walk you through the basics and are suitable for emergency situations when your aquarium is suddenly filled with young fish. However, caring for young stock is a real challenge, and the more you know about the traits specific to your breeds, the better.

   • To learn more about a particular breed, find articles on breeding and raising gourami, discus, fighting fish and guppies.
   • Ask for advice from the staff of the aquarium store or on the forum of aquarists on the Web. Usually their advice is more helpful than advice from the staff of a regular pet store.

   1. Replace the filter with a sponge filter. If you have a filter that sucks in water or creates a current, turn it off and replace it with a sponge filter from the aquarium store. Otherwise, the current can weaken the young or even suck them into the filter and kill them.

   2. Separate the fish. Many aquarium fish breeders take a new aquarium and transfer eggs or young into it. But if you are not an experienced aquarist, it will be difficult for you to create a safe and stable aquarium environment in short term. Instead, you can get a plastic separating net from an aquarium store to separate the fish. Depending on the species, the parents can be either caring or predatory, so try looking online for advice about your fish breed. If you cannot find advice, make a decision on how to separate the fish based on the behavior of the parents:

      • If the parents have spawned in the nest and are protecting it from other fish, divide the aquarium with a net so that the parents and the nest are on one side, and the rest of the fish are on the other.
      • If the mother has given birth to live fry or laid her eggs in the water, keep the adult fish to one side of the net. The young must swim through the net to hide from them.
   • If you don't want the fish to breed, separate the males and females. If you are late, the aquarium store can take the fish from you.

   Warnings

   • If your fish are getting fat, sluggish and bristling, see a professional or pet store for advice. It may not be pregnancy, but a disease.
   • Never release fish into natural waters unless you have caught them from the same source before. Otherwise, you may accidentally cause infection, which will lead to the death of the environment.
   • If you are not properly prepared, most, if not all, of the fry will die.

Aquarium fish are excellent pets that do not require careful care. They are distinguished by a wide variety of species and colors, and the aquarium can adequately decorate any home. However, sometimes fish are prone to stress and disease. Taking proper care of your fish and aquarium and being able to recognize warning signs in time will help you keep your pets healthy and deal with potential problems.

Steps

Part 1

Fish care

Watch the fish. Pay attention to how they swim, breathe, eat and interact with other aquarium inhabitants. Be aware of what is the norm so that you can recognize deviations from it. Healthy fish have a good appetite and actively swim in the aquarium.

Learn about various types aquarium fish. For each type of fish healthy life certain aquarium sizes, temperature, care, equipment and food are required. Freshwater and sea ​​fish require different conditions.

Make sure the fish are not stressed. The best way to keep the fish healthy is to provide them with such conditions that will not cause stress. Stress weakens the immunity of fish, as a result of which they can get sick. Prevent stress proper care and care to protect their pets from various diseases.

• Keep an eye on the aquarium and do regular partial water changes. Change about a quarter of the water in the aquarium every two weeks.
• Give your fish a nutritious and varied diet. Most fish remain healthy and even thrive when fed processed food in the form of flakes or pellets. Vary your pets' diet to provide them with additional nutrients and dietary fiber by giving them frozen or dried red worms, live or frozen plankton, and some vegetables.
• Don't overfeed your fish. Give the fish as much as they can eat in three minutes. Excess food will not only pollute the water, but also adversely affect the health of the fish.
• Check if the filter system is working effectively. Filters remove toxins such as ammonia and nitrite from the water.
• Make sure the fish have enough space to comfortable life. Don't overpopulate the aquarium. Observe the following rule: for every 2.5 centimeters of the length of the fish, there must be at least 4 liters of water.
• Settle in one aquarium fish of those species that get along well with each other. You do not want the fish to compete with each other, fight and eat each other. A peaceful fish will experience stress if it is hooked up to aggressive species or those that use a completely different sign language to communicate.

1. Monitor the temperature of the water in the aquarium. The temperature should correspond to the needs of this type of fish. Too cold or warm water will stress the fish. For example, goldfish prefer temperatures no higher than 21°C, while most species tropical fish a temperature of 23–26 °C is required.

2. Buy your fish from a reputable pet store. If the fish lived in an overcrowded and dirty aquarium, then they experienced stress all the time, and when they move to your aquarium, they can infect other fish with diseases. It's better to spend a little about more amount for healthy fish and be sure that they do not die within the next month.

   • In the store, the fish must live in clean aquarium, be active, have a bright color and not experience stress.
   • The pet store must have a certificate for the fish they sell and a full refund if the fish dies within a few days of purchase.
   • Sellers should know everything they need to know about the fish they sell, as well as the rules for caring for an aquarium, its size, inhabitants, diseases, and so on.
   • As a rule, it is better to go to a store that specializes in aquariums and aquarium fish.

3. Heal other illnesses. You can try to deal with the symptoms using the above methods. Often, more frequent water changes and careful maintenance of the aquarium can get rid of the disease within a few days or weeks.

   • If the fish has a swollen belly, it may suffer from constipation. In this case, try using frozen peas. Peel it from the skin, defrost and cut into tiny pieces. Give a few pieces to the fish, then do not feed it for several days. Instead of peas, you can give the fish fresh, frozen or dried daphnia.