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Pseudotrophheus lombardo has the Latin name Pseudotropheus lombardoi. This is a very beautiful aquarium fish, which refers to cichlids. In nature, lives in Lake Malawi. Specialists attribute it to the species of aggressive fish called mbuna.
Inhabited in the wild, such a fish can grow up to 13 cm. When kept in an aquarium, it can have an even larger size. The peculiarity of the pseudotrophyus is that the male outwardly differs significantly from the female. Looking at them, you can decide that these are fish belonging to two different species.
The male of this species has an orange color. On his back there are dim dark streaks. The female is painted in a bright shade of blue. The stripes on the back are more pronounced. This feature distinguishes representatives of the species from other mbuna fish, in which males are blue and females are colored in orange.
Pseudotrophaeus pawnshop is one of the most aggressive cichlids originating from Africa. Therefore, it is recommended to start these fish for those who have experience in keeping aquarium pets.
They are particularly militant. This is characteristic not only of adults, but also of fry, which can kill a small guppy. In this regard, they can’t live in a common aquarium. They can coexist only with other cichlids.
Living in nature
Food for representatives of this species is algae, which grow on stones, as well as plankton.
In nature, pseudotrophaeus pawnshop can reach 12–13 cm. When kept in an aquarium, they grow to large sizes. They live up to 10 years.
Content Issues
To get representatives of this species is recommended for those who have good experience in keeping the aquarium. The main difficulty is that with other fish, except for the rest of the cichlids, they simply cannot be settled. Because of their aggressiveness, they can simply kill their small neighbors. In addition, it is important for these cichlids to maintain all water parameters at a level that is comfortable for them. Water should be clean, free of nitrates and ammonia.
Feeding
These fish are omnivorous. Their main food in nature is algae, which grow on stones. With an aquarium content, they can be fed not only live, but also artificial feed. Basically, they should eat plant foods. For example, it can be spirulina and various vegetables.
Content
If you want to keep cichlids in the aquarium, it is important to consider their space requirement. For one male and two to three females, it is necessary to purchase an aquarium with a volume of 200 liters or more. If you want other cichlids to live in addition to the pseudotrophaeus pawnshop, there should be even more aquariums. In their natural habitat, alkaline water has a high level of rigidity. Therefore, it may not be kept with all fish, even if they are large. In addition, such conditions are not suitable for all algae. Water temperature should be high enough - 24-28 degrees. The pH should be between 7.8 and 8.6. If water in your region has other parameters, you will have to change its characteristics artificially.Some aquarists mix soil with egg shells. As a soil it is best to choose sand.
These fish love to delve into the sand. If you plant plants, they will dig them out, as well as tear off the leaves. Therefore, when keeping pawnshop plants in the aquarium is better not to plant. If you still want plants in the aquarium, then you should give preference to hard varieties like anubias. The advantage of sand as soil in an aquarium is that it is not difficult to siphon it. This procedure should usually be carried out as often as possible. Otherwise, harmful substances will accumulate, to which the pawnshop is very sensitive. An external filter must be powerful. Water should be changed every week.
It is important that there are decor elements in the aquarium that can serve as a shelter for the fish. Put caves, snags, rocks there. But you need to install the elements so that they fall when digging the soil with fish.
Compatibility
The ideal content for these cichlids is a combination of several females and a male. The aquarium for them should be very spacious. This is due to the fact that the male will behave aggressively towards his neighbors. He will attack even those fish that look like him in appearance. They cannot coexist with other fish. Pseudotrophaeus pawnshop does not even get along with all cichlids. For example, peaceful labidochromis yellowis should not be hooked on them.
Gender differences
Breeding
Propagation of fish of this species has an interesting feature. As soon as the female laid eggs, she immediately collects it in her mouth. It is there that fertilization takes place. The male pseudotrophus has anal spots on the anal fin, which the female takes for caviar. This is a kind of "trick of nature." The female is trying to peck them. In this way, the male is stimulated. It releases milk that enters the female’s mouth, where the roe is.
In the aquarium, the male digs a hole that will serve as a nest. When a female has fertilized eggs in her mouth, she hides in a shelter. At this time, the female stops eating. The eggs are usually around 50. The female carries them for about 21 days. When fry are born, they can eat on their own. You can feed them Daphnia or Artemia. In order for the fry to survive among other fish, it is necessary to provide them with enough places for shelter.
Video: aquarium fish pseudotrophaeus lombardo
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