The South American ratfish (beetle catfish) is a very docile and characteristic ornamental fish, and its population is distributed in a large area of South America south of the Olinoco River and north of the La Plata River. Because the ratfish is a small benthic fish with a very limited range of activities, almost every river and tributary in the region has differentiated different species of ratfish.
To sum up, the distribution of ratfish has a certain "bagel" characteristic. That is, the east and west are rich in varieties, the south and north are slightly inferior, and the central Madeira River Basin seems to have only a few species such as Batman rats. However, the underwater conditions in the middle are relatively complex, and there are more sunken logs, which is not conducive to the search for ratfish.
The eastern region belongs to the lower Amazon River, and the water temperature is higher and constant than in the south, north and west. It is the world of all kinds of leopard rats, but they are not distributed in the main roads with large water potential, but inhabit the tributaries.
The southern La Plata river system has a higher geographical latitude and of course lower temperatures. There are space flying squirrels, baby rats, white foxes, big Macs, baby rats, etc., as well as our most common chipmunks. Although the chipmunk is almost distributed in the southernmost part of the ratfish distribution area, the chipmunk is not very afraid of heat, which may be the reason for long-term captivity, and the chipmunk is also more resistant to salt and receives artificial feed than other ratfish. There is also a very common fish tank creature , the scavenger " ( Lower Catfish ) , which also lives in this water system.
In the west, especially in the Ukayari River Basin, there are quite a variety of ratfish, including panda rats, Indian rats, gentleman rats, blue-striped rats, pirate rats and some leopard rats. Although the area is tropical, it is high in altitude and is mostly mountainous, so the water temperature is not high.
There are many famous rats in the north, such as: red-headed rats, bow rats, coffee rats, red sail rats, Ingo rats and so on. The Negro and Japra rivers are almost holy rivers for tropical ornamental fish. The red sail rat, golden spot rat and Surinamese rat produced in the Olinoco River system may also meet another famous ornamental fish --- peacock fish in the region. Although the northern region is close to the equator, the water temperature here is not consistently hot. In fact, this water system is affected by some natural factors, and the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large. Therefore, the rat fish produced here is the same as the south and the west, and it is more resistant to low temperatures.
Below I will list 12 kinds of slightly representative ratfish to analyze the environment in which they are produced:
1, red-headed rat: this rat was very popular in the 90s, and it is also the author's favorite rat, so the strength is a little more. Red-headed rat, native to the waters of San Gabriel in the upper reaches of the Nigro River in Brazil. The Negro Is a larger tributary of the north bank of the middle reaches of the Amazon, which flows into the Amazon near Manaus, and is the only blackwater river among the major tributaries of the Amazon. The basin is hot and rainy and sparsely populated. It is named after the humus of the coastal swamps and the dark waters of the rivers. It originates near Calamar at an altitude of 910 m in Colombia, and its source is called the Guaina River, and in Saldina it is called the Nigro River. It is connected to the Orinoco River via the Casikiara Canal. The annual average flow of the Negro River is 30000m3/s, the average annual runoff depth is 1600mm, and the suspension mass concentration is 0.007kg/m3. The Negro is also sometimes written as the Negro. But it's easy to get confused with the Negro River in Argentina, south of the Río de la Plata, where temperatures are not suitable for tropical fish.
2, space flying squirrel: is a very popular breed recently, there are 3 types. First, it inhabits the cold mountainous area of Rio de Janeiro (where the water quality is quite clean and drinkable); second, it inhabits the drainage pipe sediment area of the suburban city of São Paulo; and third, it inhabits the southern part of São Paulo. Generally speaking, the space flying squirrels produced in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro and the southern part of São Paulo have their own characteristics and are more beautiful. The water quality near São Paulo is turbid, the water temperature is high, and there is human life, and the space flying squirrel in this area is small and has no golden light on the body, but it is easier to keep. The PH value requirement of the space flying squirrel is generally about 6.6. The water temperature of the origin is 20-25 degrees, and the water depth is only 3 or 40 cm. Foreign sources say that the space flying squirrel is the longest surviving species of all known rat fish. However, it is highly doubtful to infer from the expansion process of the production area of ratfish and the possible evolutionary relationship between the genus c and s. Perhaps foreign institutions have some biological clues that have not been made public. But it is not the first time that foreigners have carried out commercial promotions under the guise of science.
3. Violet: Japanese people, including famous people like Hiroyuki Sasaki, love this fish and use it as a mascot in a fish tank. And insist that it can be carefully raised, under artificial conditions to raise its purple. Violet is found in the tributaries of the Madeira river system flowing through Rondolia Oblast, with a sediment content of 0.054 kg/m3 in the suspension of the river, which is also the main secondary kaolin deposit. Although from the looks of it, violet and king leopard are somewhat similar. However, its origin is not connected to the Guabore River, where the king leopard is produced. According to the observation of enthusiasts, there are some other differences between the two in life.
4. King Leopard: Native to South America, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru. Similar in appearance to baby rats, it often inhabits pirate rats in natural waters, making it difficult to catch. It is small, with a rounded mouth, more black spots on the side of the body than pirate rats, black bands through the eyes, and no spots on the dorsal and caudal fins. The variants are White Leopard Mouse Type 2, with different body colors and type 1. Type 1 is silvery grey, while Type 2 is yellowish brown with black dorsal spines and spots on its fins. Living environment: neutral maximum length: 4.5cm, shape classification: hunchback, color classification: gray _ brown, activity area: bottom, feeding difficulty: easy, temperament habits: timid _ mild, suitable temperature: 25 °C±3 °C, acid-base range: 7±0.3 (PH), hardness range: 9±4 (DH), life expectancy: 4
5. Golden pearls: both produced in the boundary river --- Guabore River on the border between Bolivia and Brazil. The river originates in the southwest of the Paneses Mountains in Brazil, also known as the Itenez River, with a total length of 1,800 km, a basin area of 600,000 km2, and an average annual flow of 2,000 m3/s. The water quality is clearer. Among them, the golden pearl rat has long been known as the red-winged pearl rat in China, and it is the most beautiful of several rats that are more likely to be artificially bred.
6. Bow and arrow rat: native to the Papuri River in Colombia and the Kannaboo River in Ecuador. It is said to be distributed in Colombia on the Meta River (a tributary of the Orinoco River). There are also proboscis archers in the same water system. Because the body color difference between individual probosciss and mouse rats is relatively large and the number is rare, there is a view that these proboscis type bow and arrow rats are the result of the hybridization of ordinary bow and arrow rats with other rats and fish, rather than a separate fish.
7, Indian rat: the rat is called the bow and arrow rat in some books, produced in Brazil in the Umaita River, Ecuador's Napo River system, Peru's Pacaya River. The concentration of hanging sand in the water bodies of Indian rats is high, reaching 0.194 kg/m3. The water quality is slightly alkaline, and it can adapt to the pH value of 7.3 when feeding.
8. Panda Rat: Native to the Tributary of the Amazon River near Pukruba in Peru. It is relatively small, but its popularity is high. Recently, due to a large number of artificial breeding, the price has also tended to be cheaper. Although the rat does not pick much water quality, due to inbreeding, the panda rats sold on the market are relatively weak, and if they are not carefully raised, they are more likely to die. However, among the captive panda rats, there are also pure white individuals, the eyes are not red, and the body is unusually white and transparent, which is very worth collecting.
9. White Leopard Rat: Origin in Ecuador, east of the Pastasa River, the Tigre River system and the Lanai River in Peru. It often inhabits pirate rats in their natural environment (although the source says the two species are not together.) Therefore, it may also be a misunderstanding caused by the fish merchant accidentally mixing when hoarding goods). The required phH value is 7.2. The white leopard mouse has a unique fluorescent white color, and its white color will be quite white under the condition of good water quality and health, and the small black spots are all over the body, and there is an indescribable charm when growing.
10, pepper rat: is the earliest known rat fish. In the Wuhan area where the author is located, the chipmunk is the only rat fish that has a stable supply all year round, and it is also the earliest rat fish that the author breeds. Although it is not rare, it is often treated as a garbage fish. However, in the Water System of La Plata in Argentina, where the chipmunk originates, at nearly 30 degrees south latitude, the wildly collected individuals are still relatively beautiful, and the dorsal fin can be extended to a long length, and the color is also bright. Chipmunks have a long lifespan and are very easy to raise, and there have been examples of survival in low temperatures below 10 degrees. If it is treated kindly in breeding, the chipmunk will grow round and rolling, and the obesity will exceed that of other kinds of rat fish, which is very pleasing.
11, coffee rat: very early on there is a breeding of rat fish. The fish was first recorded in 1858 in Trinidad, Brazil. But now it has been found that it is actually spread throughout the water systems of South America, and it is not known whether it is man-made reasons. However, there are still obvious differences in appearance and color of coffee rats distributed everywhere. If the leopard rat is the same, the fish may be divided into more species. Coffee rats prefer neutral, mildly alkaline, and completely salt-free fresh water. Some coffee rats are of origin with turbid water quality and lack of flow. The albino species of various ornamental fish are generally weaker than the original species. But the albino coffee rat is an exception, and the physique is very strong. Even some people think that white rats are the easiest to raise in rat fish, but according to actual observations, the author found that white rats have lower low temperature tolerance than some rat fish species.
12, moonlight rat: the origin is the Mate grosso plateau in Brazil. Moonlight rats are not benthic fish, with a very obvious cross-black spot on the tail stalk, and often swim in groups with a very similar appearance of moonlight lampfish (Serrapinnus kriegi) in native waters, forming a symbiotic relationship, but it is impossible to know who is imitating whom. It is also as small as a lamp fish, and is the most intolerant species of rat fish, so it is necessary to pay attention to whether the food is delicious when raising. The pH value of the water quality in the place of origin has a certain range of changes, which is roughly 6.0-7.4, and the most suitable water temperature is 24-27 degrees