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Golden leopard or haplochromis venustus is a common species of aquarium cichlids. Their place of origin is considered to be the African lake of Malawi.
The males have an unusually bright color. On their golden yellow background are chaotic specks of dark olive color, which disappear as they grow older. They have a bright blue head and yellow fins on the side of the tail, and the tail itself is grayish-green. All other fins are blue. Larger representatives, whose size is more than 10 centimeters, have dark stripes that extend from the mouth to the dorsal fins; in females they are more pronounced. Females and young animals look rather faded and gray in comparison with males. The body of females is characterized by a light beige color with large brown spots scattered across it.
Description
These are small-sized fish that belong to the species of cichlids, have interesting external data and have catchy colors, which are their main distinguishing feature.
The fish has a flat body and a high back. It is slightly yellowish in color, with a greater or lesser degree of pigment intensity. Large dark green spots are their hallmark. It is thanks to them that the golden leopards got their name. Another pedigree feature is dark stripes, which are raised up in the corners of the mouth and continue in the eye area. Males have sharper stripes than female fish.
Male fish are distinguished by a mouth of blue shades. The fins on the back of them are dark in color and convex in shape, have a golden border. The fins on the tail are most often gray or gray-green, have a bright yellow-orange border. The colors of male leopards at adulthood are fundamentally different. The areas of the head and back of the head turn blue, and the spots on the body become less bright or disappear completely.
Golden stripes in the forehead extend to the dorsal fin. The size of mature leopards in the natural environment can be from 22 centimeters. In an aquarium, the body of representatives of this breed of fish rarely reaches 15 centimeters.
How do they live in natural conditions?
The only place on the planet where golden leopards live in natural conditions is the African lake of Malawi. They live in coastal areas and never swim to a depth of more than 12 meters. They are found in sandy areas and on rocky shores. Despite their small size, they are predators.
Gold leopards have a very original way of hunting. They are waiting for their victim on the cliffs, pretending to be inanimate. If a naive fish is found nearby, they will quickly attack it. Such a hunt is called an "ambush."
These fish live in small schools of several individuals. The head of the family is always a male, the rest of the pack are females who are participants in family relationships.
Content Features
The complexity of the content of gold leopards is qualified by specialists at an average level. They are not too capricious in food, but require conditions that are as close as possible to natural ones.
Aquarium
Taking into account the size of these fish and the fact that they live preferably in packs, it is necessary to understand that a small aquarium will not work. It is desirable that it was more than 200 liters. Experienced aquarists are inclined to the species content of fish of this breed in order to reduce the risk of aggressive actions of cichlids in relation to other inhabitants in the aquarium, especially during spawning.
Landscaping
There must be shelters in the aquarium so that if necessary, fish can hide in them. Their functions can be performed by slides, grottoes, caves. You need to install them in an amount not less than the fish in the aquarium. This approach will minimize the risk of conflict between its inhabitants.
Bottom arrangement
The bottom is best lined with coarse sand, mostly river or fine gravel. In the case of using gravel, it is necessary that it be run-in, since fish of this breed are happy to dig into it. In addition, for this reason, it is necessary to securely fix the aquarium decorations.
From vegetation, preference should be given to algae, which have a strong root system and large species.
Water parameters
An important condition is to maintain a suitable temperature at around 26 degrees. Neutral pH level - about 8 units. It is also important to adhere to an acceptable level of alkali - from 8 to 20.
To maintain optimal conditions, it is necessary to use high-quality filters and to siphon the soil. This should be done at least once every 7 days. Every week, replace one third of the water in the tank with fresh water. In good and comfortable conditions, gold leopards live long enough, about 8 years.
Nutrition
Golden leopards are predators. Therefore, for their nutrition, it is worth giving preference to frozen and live food. They like fish meat, shrimp, earthworms, as well as snails and even crab sticks. Often they require plant nutrition, which can be algae growing in the aquarium. Periodically, they can be fed with special nutrition.
These fish are fed several times a week. The remaining food must be removed from the aquarium so as not to contaminate the water with decomposition products. In this case, food residues emit toxic substances, which are very dangerous for fish.
Cohabitation with other fish
Gold leopards are not very suitable for breeding in common aquariums. If there is no other way but to settle other fish with them. New neighbors must necessarily belong to cichlids or be large and have a peaceful disposition, otherwise there is a risk that a new resident of the aquarium may suffer.
Breeding Features
To speed up spawning, you should increase the temperature in the aquarium by a couple of degrees. Representatives of males themselves choose places for masonry, and, basically, they prefer flat surfaces that are well cleaned. The eggs move into the female mouth, where they are fertilized and incubated for 14-21 days. During the first week after the birth, the babies are under the strict supervision of females, and, if necessary, take refuge again in her mouth.
After 7-10 days, the fry themselves move inside the aquariums. During this period, it is possible and even desirable to move them from their parents to another environment. You can use live or frozen food from Artemia nauplii or Cyclops to feed the fry.
Video: aquarium fish gold leopard
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