How to distinguish female barbs from males
Experts are able to distinguish males from females by the color of the dorsal fin, the size of the fish and its behavior. But in any case, this is not a trivial task. Females have a larger and rounder belly, and they themselves are larger than males. But to be completely sure, it is better to spawn a small flock rather than a couple of fish.
Preparing for spawning
Preparation for spawning begins with the separation of females from males for a couple of weeks in a spawning aquarium. Fish should be fed primarily with live food, but herbal supplements are also welcome. If you have not made a mistake in determining the sex, then by the end of the second week the females’ tummy will increase significantly, and the anus may protrude. If such females are not spawned, this will lead to illness and even death.
The spawning aquarium should not be very large, 20-30 liters is enough. Take a third of the water from the barbs' permanent aquarium and add soft and sour (ph6.0) fresh water. Turn on a good, bright light. It is advisable to use aeration before the start of spawning, but then all equipment should be turned off. Only very weak aeration can be left. The temperature is raised 2-3 degrees above normal. Nets, mosses and even washcloths are used as daytime shelter =). The main thing is that producers cannot get their own caviar, otherwise it will be instantly eaten.
Behavior and character
Aquarium “tigers” prefer a gregarious lifestyle, so it is recommended to keep them in numbers of at least 5-7 individuals. These fish are among the peace-loving ones, but it is necessary to take into account their very lively temperament.
In order to avoid the obsessive attention of barbs to other fish, it is recommended to keep them in groups. In this case, their attention is attracted by their fellow tribesmen, and a clear hierarchy is established in the pack. In attempts to change the existing way of life, most of the waking period is spent, aimed at releasing the accumulated energy.
The neighbors for Sumatrans are identical to the neighbors of any other species of barbs.
If you follow simple rules for selecting aquarium inhabitants, you can add the following fish to Sumatranus:
- guppy;
- platies;
- neons;
- swordtails;
- speckled catfish;
- zebrafish;
- thorns;
- tetra.
The following types are not compatible:
- oranda, veiltail and other goldfish;
- lalius, cockerels and other labyrinths;
If there is a lack of food, barbs show a significant degree of aggression towards other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Spawning of Sumatran barbs
Lovers are united in the evening so that by morning they will have spawned. It is believed that if this does not happen within a couple of days, the fish are seated. There was probably an error in choosing the male and he should be replaced. Or maybe you even cross females with females?
