My biotope aquarium

Common names: African knife

Habitat : This fish inhabits the calm, vegetation-rich coastal basins of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Benin and Cameroon. It also lives in Chad, the Nile, the Congo and the Niger Basin

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Size: 30 cm in nature, usually less in the aquarium.

Water chemistry: Fresh water without the slightest addition of salt, Temperature 22 to 28 ° C (temporarily up to 32), pH 5.7-7.2, 2-10 kH

Difficulty: Moderately demanding (5/10)

Aquarium: The aquarium should have at least 450l for one fish, calmer water with lots of hiding places and vegetation. It stays at the bottom where it searches for food.

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Feeding: It is a micro predator. In nature, it feeds on anything that goes into its mouth. Food should be as varied as possible, fish, earthworms, t ubifexi , snails, insects, insect larvae , crustaceans, minced meat, ... We feed them if possible after the lights go out.

Breeding: The species was bred in an aquarium but very rarely. So there is little detail. The recommended aquarium size for a couple is 2000-3000 L, it has a very pronounced cannibalism. The female has a more rounded body during spawning. At night, they lay 150-200 eggs with a diameter of two millimeters in holes and cracks. The male protects the eggs, which hatch in 6-9 days. The pups are transferred to a breeding aquarium and start feeding with Artemia. Spawning and breeding is very demanding (9/10)

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Description of fish

The knife is an elongated, transversely compressed fish, which gives the appearance of a knife. It has an arched back, a large mouth and a small dorsal fin, which at first glance seems to be non-existent. The caudal pectoral and subcostal fins are combined into one and run all the way from the gills to the caudal tip. Such a fin gives the animals superior control in the water as it can move back and forth with ease. The pectoral fins of the African snipe are long and designed to give the animals precise control while swimming. They are often used in movements related to the caudal / pectoral / subtail fin as the fish retreats to its lair. The lateral organ is the most important sensory organ besides the eyes. A fish is a nocturnal animal. The eyes of this fish are large in terms of body size. The animals provide excellent night vision. The mouth is large and the fish also have a pair of short mustaches that are used in hunting. When the fish is not resting and hiding in any cave, it swims upside down with its mustache in the immediate vicinity of the ground. Combined with sharp eyes, mustaches help fish find food. The butterfly uses, like the butterfly, the air bladder as an auxiliary organ for respiration, every now and then (approx. 3 hours) the fish must come to the surface for air, when it absorbs it it makes a special sound. The snipe is a fish that emits an electric field that helps it orient and search for food. The flank is her most powerful sensory apparatus. The fish live from 10 to 15 years.

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Notes

Although it is found living in different waters, it prefers quieter areas with an abundance of aquatic vegetation. This nocturnal predator usually seeks refuge in dimly lit, sheltered corners during the day, going out at night to feed on crustaceans, insects, snails and worms. The African snipe is easy to maintain if some key requirements are met.

First - this fish grows quite large, so a spacious aquarium is a must

Second - the fish must have a choice of shady hiding places, e.g. flower pots on the hips, rocky pits / overhangs and large pieces of hanging roots. The lighting should not be too bright, as these nocturnal fish are sensitive to strong lighting - if the aquarium needs to be brightly lit in some areas, provide plenty of deciduous aquatic plants and floating species to help scatter the light. Nevertheless, there must be dark areas in the tank where the fish can retreat during the day. The base should be made of soft sand so that the fish are not damaged when looking for food and so that the sensitive anal fins do not tear in the sharp pebbles. Adequate filtration, a moderate flow rate, and a consistent maintenance regime that includes regular partial water changes are required, as these fish are sensitive to elevated nitrate and sudden changes in water chemistry. African snipe are generally peaceful with other fish (which are large enough that they cannot eat them), but they are territorial with their species, so they should not be combined with other snipe species. Roommates need to be big enough that they can’t be considered a snack - good companions could be medium-sized mazes, large rainbow fish, African butterflies, Synodontis, and so on. Avoid accommodation with aggressive species and do not try to keep snails or shrimp as you will be left without them.

If treatment is needed, be careful, as these fish, like tapir, are sensitive to medication (always consult the manufacturer before use - some treatments are not safe, while others may require half the dosage).

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