Content of platydoras in captivity
The conditions of keeping are important for the health of the catfish.One specimen will require an aquarium of at least 120 liters, which must be filled with settled water. For comfortable living, the catfish needs a certain temperature, which I maintain at 23–30 C all year round.
Adult Platydoras is nocturnal photo: Getty Often you should not change the water in an aquarium, it violates the biological balance, and the fish get stressed. It is enough to change 30% of the water from the total volume of the tank once a month. Striped catfish do not tolerate bright light, constantly hiding and burrowing into the substrate, so the light should be muffled. Since the fish are predominantly nocturnal, lamps with yellow or red light are suitable. During the day, Platydoras lives in secluded corners, so snags, shells, earthen vessels and shards should be in the aquarium. The bottom is covered with fine gravel or sand. In feeding, striped catfish is unpretentious, eats everything that it finds at the bottom. But it is better to pick a dry food with a high protein content, and replace 30% of the daily rate with vegetation. For feeding the catfish they use bloodworms, earthworms or tubers. It is preferable to feed in the form of pellets or tablets that settle to the bottom.
Platydoras compatibility with other fish species
Striped catfish get along well with large orpredatory fish, and attacks only when it is disturbed while resting. Thanks to its spines and ability to produce characteristic sounds, it drives away the enemy. In one aquarium with catfish you can keep medium-sized fish:
- barbs;
- Mollies;
- angelfish;
- cichlid
And also other types of catfish, if space allowsand enough food. If there is not one, but several representatives of striped catfish in the aquarium, then be prepared for a fight for territory, but it will not last long. The striped catfish eats fry, eggs, guppies, swordtails and other small fish with great pleasure, so it is better to exclude such a neighborhood. During spawning, the fish are placed separately from the striped catfish. Place a platidoras in the aquarium and many years of interesting observations of its inhabitants are guaranteed to you, but only under the condition of proper care and feeding. Read also:
