Small fishes cardinals are quite popular with aquarians, these individuals received the name because of existence of red color in coloring. It is the only species of fishes who can quietly maintain temperature differences. Before bringing cardinals, it is necessary to study features of maintenance and leaving.
Description of fish of the cardinal
Cardinals are mobile small fishes of the small size (length is up to four centimeters). The cardinal's body extended and narrow, slightly flattened from sides. Brown sides, the back dark with a greenish outflow, and a paunch has a silvery color. On sides the golden reflective strip is located, at young fishes it has a turquoise shade. Branchiate fins of bright lemon color with a black fringing, an anal fin red with transparent corners. In the basis of a tail the black spot is located.
Keeping of cardinals
Keeping of fishes of cardinals is possible even for beginners of aquarians. It is only necessary to remember that it is gregarious fish therefore it is necessary to hold them not less than ten pieces, samochka have to prevail (no more than two-three males on pack). The shape of an aquarium has to be rectangular and extended, not less than sixty centimeters in length as fishes cardinals high-speed, they need the place for various maneuvers. Capacity of an aquarium can be small, 30-40 liters.
Optimum water temperature for keeping of these small fishes 20-23os, acidity can fluctuate within 6.5-7 rn. Cardinals are extremely exacting to purity of water therefore it is recommended to change once a week the third part from total amount. It is important not to allow at the same time sharp temperature differences of water, otherwise cardinals can get sick with a fungal disease. Aeration of water and use of the filter are desirable. Small fishes prefer bright lighting, put an aquarium to the place with natural and good light, it is possible to use artificial illumination in the evening. Magnificent and dense vegetation in an aquarium is preferable, leave a part of space for maneuvering of small fishes. Cardinals prefer the following plant species: a fern, a lyudvigiya, elodeya, mirofillum, limnofit. As soil it is possible to use sand and pebble. You keep small fishes in the aquarium closed by a cover.
Food and cultivation
Cardinals are unpretentious in food, are almost omnivorous. They with the great pleasure eat a tinned, dry and live feed: small crank, trubochnik, water flea, koretra. If to feed small fishes with live sterns, then cardinals develop much quicker, their coloring becomes brighter. Cultivation of cardinals does not represent special complexity, small fishes can breed in an aquarium and a nerestovika. For this purpose fill nerestovik with water (up to twenty liters), place several bushes of plants, couple of small fishes, the spray there. Within two weeks you feed fishes with a live forage. Females in day postpone thirty berries. With the advent of whitebaits move manufacturing small fishes to other aquarium, and in a nerestovika bring up whitebaits. Starting forage: the pounded egg yolk, a korovratka, naupliya of a Cyclops, live dust, infusorians. Cardinals are very peaceful, they well get on with small fishes of similar temperament, the small sizes: neon, guppy, fiery barbusa, danio rerio. Life expectancy of small fishes of cardinals makes about two years.