Seeing for the first time a beautiful fish of the Elkhit cichlazoma species, it is easily confused with another celibate relative, the Mechaki cichlazoma. However, each of these species has differences, both in appearance, and in content and behavior. In Latin this species is called Cichlasoma ellioti (Tsikhlazoma elioti).
Description
These fish in nature inhabit the waters of the rivers of Mexico and Guatemala. They are kept by groups near the shore in shallow water. During the spawning period, the group is divided into separate pairs that occupy a certain territory. And the formation of pairs begins with the young age.
In cichlazoma Elioti, the color can be different: from grayish with emerald spots-sequins to olive. Head, gill covers and abdomen are purple. The fins have a purple edging, and the paired ones are transparent. The head of the cichlazoma Eliot is oblong in shape, the lips are thick, and the eyes are large. The average life expectancy in an aquarium does not exceed fifteen years. Determine the sex of the fry of cichlazoma Elioti is almost impossible, so you should buy at once 15-20 individuals. Fish, which will not be able to form a pair, you can resell.
Content
It is impossible to name the content of Eliot's cichlazoma simple and problem-free, because some important nuances require attention and time. So, these bright beauties require a large aquarium with a biological filter, comfortable high temperature and aeration. Weekly, even there is a filter, it is required to substitute a third of the water for fresh.
Primer in the aquarium is better to pick up in light colors, imitating natural habitats cichlazom Eliot. But even the dark background effectively highlights these bright orange beauties. A mixture of small gravel and small gravel is a wonderful solution. Be sure to build at the bottom of the grottoes and small caves, where the fish could hide from attacks by neighbors.
Underwater plants should be chosen to be stable, resistant to digging, because cichlids are not indifferent to them. Suitable anubiasy, vallisneria spiral ehinodorusy, elodea Canadian.
Gentle and demanding cihlazomy Eliot comfortably feel in the water, the temperature of which is 24-26 degrees. That's why you can not do without a heater with automatic adjustment. Rigidity and acidity should be between 8-15 and 7, respectively, and the level of nitrites and ammonia in water is minimal. Do not make too bright a light, because the light for cichlazoma is stress.
During the spawning of the cichlazoma, Eliot becomes aggressive, due to her belonging to the territorial species. At other times these fish are peaceful enough, but neighbors should still choose the appropriate size. It is undesirable to put in the aquarium veal-tail and small fish.
Concerning fodder, in the natural conditions of cichlazoma, Eliot eats detritus, small crustaceans, algae. In the aquarium as a feed for fish you can use daphnia, small-scale artemia, bloodworms. One day a week - unloading.
Breeding
The process of reproduction of cichlazoma Eliot can also take place in a common aquarium. The female croaks eggs in a pit, which was previously dug in the ground. You can not transfer the clutch to another place, because stress will provoke parents to consume caviar. To dilute the cichlazoma Eliot successfully completed, the fry should immediately move out. This can be done with the help of a hose, draining the fry into a vigorous aquarium. The first days to feed the young should nauplii artemia, and then gradually translate it to feed a larger fraction.