Honeycomb catfish
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Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps | ||||||||||||
| ( Kner , 1854) |
The pterygoplichthys gibbiceps also sail signs Wels ( Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps also Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps or ancistrus gibbiceps ) is a middle and upper Amazon Basin and in the Orinoco beheimateter catfish of the genus Pterygoplichthys .
features
The fish can reach a body length of up to 50 cm. Its body is covered by 28 to 30 bone shields arranged in rows. The color is brown with numerous black spots that are smaller on the head and arranged in rows on the fins. The very large dorsal fin has a leading spine and 12 to 13 soft rays . The anal fin has four soft rays after the single sting ray.
Way of life
Honeycomb shield catfish are crepuscular and nocturnal animals that live in small schools. Their natural food consists of algae and growth, wood or cellulose, and protein is by no means spurned. In the wild, these fish follow swarms of piranha and eat carrion with their rasp mouth. Despite their imposing size, they are extremely peaceful even towards much smaller fish species.
The honeycomb sign catfish can grow to over 50 cm, but many animals remain significantly smaller at around 40 cm. According to the guideline of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food on species-appropriate keeping conditions for ornamental fish, a honeycomb shield catfish needs 7.5 liters of water per centimeter of fish as a habitat, which, depending on the final size, corresponds to aquariums with a capacity of 300 to 375 liters as a minimum requirement, which, however, actually is clearly too little, as otherwise the fish cannot turn at all in the tank. A tank size of 1200 liters or more is recommended, especially if it is kept in company. In the trade, these animals are often sold with a few centimeters, but grow very quickly in the first few years. In the aquarium the animals can live well over 20 years if they are well looked after.
Since the animals, especially the males, can show territorial behavior within the group and act aggressively with one another, they are often kept as individual fish, contrary to their nature as schooling fish, even in large aquariums. Honeycomb shield catfish can easily be kept together with small fish. Only during feeding can other bottom fish be displaced. Therefore, the feed should be given separately and the possibility of retreat should be considered.
Reproduction and breeding
The animals lay about 120 light yellow 3 mm eggs in a cave, which are guarded by the male. The young swim free four days after hatching. There is a high mortality rate in young animals up to a size of about five centimeters. The reasons for this are not yet known.
Honeycomb shield catfish have already been reproduced in captivity. As documented in a Dutch journal in 1980, spawning was initiated by a complete water change. It is beneficial for breeding to provide cave-like hiding places. In breeding farms, pipes are used in ponds to provide suitable hiding places for the fish. Due to the expected size of adult animals and the resulting low demand, however, it is critical to consider whether offspring is desirable.
Sexual characteristics
Compared to the females, the males have a larger dorsal fin and a wider and longer head. In the case of sexually mature specimens, the sex can also be determined based on the body proportions. It is also possible to differentiate on the basis of the sex papilla.
swell
- Günther Sterba : The world's freshwater fish. 2nd Edition. Urania, Leipzig / Jena / Berlin 1990, ISBN 3-332-00109-4 .
- Hans A. Baensch , Rüdiger Riehl: Aquariums Atlas. Volume 1, Mergus Verlag, Melle 1997, ISBN 3-88244-101-1 .
- Honeycomb sign catfish on Fishbase.org (English)
