If you own a large enough aquarium of more than 250 liters, then you have a great opportunity to have one of the most interesting "domestic" fish - the blue dolphin. Of course, this fish can be placed in a smaller aquarium (150 - 200 liters), but you need to bear in mind that for a full-fledged development and longevity this flocky representative of the underwater world needs a company of 8-12 relatives.
The homeland of aquarium fish of dolphins is the African lake of Malawi. It was there that these sympaths were born, which were named because of external resemblance to a well-known representative of mammals. So, the aquarium fish blue dolphin boasts a lubasty head with large round eyes, as well as a flat body, stretched to 20cm in length. As for the color, it changes throughout the life cycle of the individual, but invariably remains an interesting shade of the blue palette:
- young fish are gray-blue, with vertical lateral bands and dark spots;
- mature fish light blue, almost always monochromatic;
- Fish, ready for spawning, can take a dark blue hue and become covered with transverse bands.
Are there compatible fish for the blue dolphin?
By their biological origin aquarium blue dolphins are the only representative of the genus cyrtocara moorii family of cichlids . As a consequence, there are only two variants of their content:
- a group of aquatic blue dolphins with a predominant number of females are colonized in the aquarium with other representatives of African cichlids;
- The aquarium is inhabited by mono-flocks of the genus cyrtocara moorii.
- It should be noted that both options are acceptable, but it is better to still plant the dolphins separately, since they have the property of losing self-confidence in mixed communities.
Requirements for content conditions
Like all cichlids, the blue dolphin feels well in aquariums with large sand or gravel and bushy plants with powerful roots. Not bad fit in their system of ideas about the world and individual ferns planted among the stones. In addition, a prerequisite for these African guests is strong lighting. As for water temperature, this parameter is not so significant, and can vary from 22 to 30 ° C. Also these fish require a weekly replacement of one-third of the used water with fresh, preferably treated with a biological filter. Regarding pH, aquarium blue dolphins equally tolerate both hard and soft water, but only as long as the water parameters are within the alkaline range. Feed dolphins should be a live food. An excellent addition to the diet will be such plants as, for example, limnofily. The leaves of this species have the property of losing elasticity over time and, due to their flabbiness, turn into an excellent feeding for fish.
Social behavior of aquarium fish blue dolphin
In general, these representatives of the water world are peaceful enough. If small fights occur among males, they are not of a dangerous nature. According to some researchers, the fatty growth that appears in males after puberty is nothing more than a sign of the role of its owner in the social hierarchy of the pack.
Thus, the blue dolphins are beautiful and peace-loving fish that do not require special over-care. Perfectly suitable for always busy residents of megacities, as well as families with young children, because it can be more exciting for a child than to start a home of their own dolphin!