Moonlight fish
Moonlight fish is an important species of tropical fish, it is as small and delicate as the peacock fish, colorful and endearing. The moonlight fish is 4 to 6 cm long, and its adaptability and reproduction ability are very strong. It is characterized by its ability to hybridize with swordtail fish and breed new species. Common moonlight fish species are: red moonlight fish, blue moonlight fish, redfin golden moonlight fish, goldhead moonlight fish, double-fin moonlight fish, sailfin moonlight fish, goldhead sailfin moonlight fish and so on.
Chinese scientific name
Nickname
Spotted swordtail, full fish, crescent fish
binomial nomenclature
Xiphophorus maculatus
world
animal kingdom
door
Chordata
subphylum
Vertebrate subphylum
class
Ray-finned fish
eye
Medaka order
section
Medaka family
genus
Genus Lycaena
seed
Distribution area
Mexico, Guatemala and other river basins
Suitable water temperature
18~24℃
Suitable pH
7.4-8.0
Morphological characteristics
Adult males are 5–6 cm long and females can reach 8–9 cm. The body is short and flattened, and the abdomen is slightly rounded. In natural waters, its original species had a body color of brown and black, with sporadic blue spots on the side of the body and half-moon-shaped black markings on the tail stalk.
Moonlight fish is small and exquisite, with many colors, and is very popular with people.
Among them, the whole body is all red is red moonlight, the whole body is blue, only the head is golden yellow is the golden head blue moonlight, the abdomen is red and the tail fin is black tail red moonlight, the body surface is white jade and inlaid with red, yellow, blue and other color spots are three-color moonlight, and the dorsal fin is tall and tall is the high fin moonlight.
Introduction to habits
Moonlight fish is also relatively adaptable to the environment and temperature, can adapt to the water temperature of 18-28 ° C, the most suitable growth temperature of 22-26 ° C, such as a precious species, the water temperature is 25-26 ° C.
Prefer neutral and weak alkaline water quality, hydrogen ion concentration 39.81-100nmol/L (PH7-7.4).
When the moon fish are found to be weak and sluggish in swimming, add some salt to the water (add 1-2 small spoons of salt per 10 liters of water).
Moonlight fish are not picky eaters. Gentle temperament, quiet love, swimming and foraging are very elegant. The male is 4 to 5 cm long and the female is 5 to 6 cm long. Species include red moonlight fish, blue moonlight fish, gold-headed blue moonlight fish, black-tailed moonlight fish, red-tailed moonlight fish and so on. The propagation water temperature is 25~26°C. During breeding, the males gradually darken and brighten, and the fins evolve into vas deferens. The female has an enlarged abdomen and a lighter body color than the male.
Alias crescent fish, full fish, broad-tailed 68 fish. Spindle-shaped, small head and large eyes, pointed snout, rounded thorax and abdomen, gradually flattened near the tail, broad caudal stalk, arc-shaped caudal fin, dorsal fin located in the middle of the body is located behind, the outer edge is rounded. Moonlight fish can be hybridized with swordtail fish, and the common hybrid varieties are red moonlight, blue moonlight, yellow moonlight, black-tailed yellow moonlight, black-tailed red moonlight, flower moonlight, golden-headed moonlight, sail-wing moonlight and other varieties. Moonlight fish are susceptible to mutation, and stable species should not be polycultured with swordtail fish or other moonlight fish. This fish prefers neutral alkaline hard water, pH7-7. 4, water temperature 22-26 °C, at 0. It grows well in 5% to 1% brine. Omnivorous, docile temperament. Sexual maturity at 5-6 months of age. If the female is found to have an enlarged abdomen and a large dark spot near the anus, it is a sign of imminent labor. Mature females and males in the same tank reproduce on their own. The suitable water temperature for breeding is about 26 °C, the hardness is about 9 to 10 degrees, and 1 female can produce 30-40 fry.
Classification of varieties
It can cross with swordtail fish, and after artificial selection, it has produced many different colors in body color and fin color, which is very beautiful. There are red moon fish, blue moon fish (silver blue), yellow moon fish (orange yellow), black tail yellow moon fish, black tail red moon fish, flower moon fish, goldhead moon fish, and a harp type moon fish, new qi, and so on. These new flower-colored moonfish that have been stabilized should not be polycultured with swordtail fish and should not be rebred with the original species, so as to avoid undesirable mutations or ancestors.
Red Moonlight Fish
The most common species of moonlight fish can certainly be seen in aquarium shops. Surprisingly, many of the original species of moonlight fish have this red color. Like the female in the picture, the body is round and cute.
Sunset moonlight fish
Named for its body color as beautiful as the sunset, this species is one of the common moonlight fish species. Due to the glowing body color, it is particularly conspicuous in the aquatic water aquarium. If you let this fish swim in groups, you can add to the charm of the aquarium.
Golden sunset moonlight fish
With its pale colours, this variety is a very attractive sunset moonlight fish golden type, which is more eye-catching in the dark-hued aquatic grass set aquarium. At first glance, it may seem delicate, but it is actually kept like other moonlight fish.
High-finned red moonlight fish
This is a species that modifies the dorsal fin of the red moonlight fish to a high-fin type. The large dorsal fin gives a sense of elegance and is more present than the Red Moonlight Fish. When purchasing it is best to choose individuals with beautiful dorsal fins.
Needletail Red Moonlight Fish
This species is a species that modifies the tail fin of the red moonlight fish into a pintail type. Although it does not have the presence of the high-fin red moonlight fish, it is also a slender and attractive species. Try to avoid mixing it with fin-nibbling fish.
Blue Moonlight Fish
The representative species of blue moonlight fish is the moonlight fish that gives people the most natural feeling. This moonlight fish also gives people a cool feeling, and the brakes are cute. Unfortunately, because its popularity is overwhelmed by the colorful species, there are not many opportunities to see this fish.
Blue pepper high-fin moonlight fish
This species is a pepper-shaped blue moonfish, and it is a high-fin species, and the rounded body is very cute, and the large dorsal fin that does not match the body shape is really interesting. There are not many opportunities to see this variety.
Blackfin Red Moonlight Fish
Species with black fins like this are called black fins, which are the black fin species of the Red Moonlight Fish. The individual fins give an elegant impression due to their black color, and they are raised as easily as other moonlight fish such as red moonlight fish.
Blackfin Red Sun Moonlight Fish
This fish is a black-finned species of the red sun moonlight fish and is a very common moonlight fish. The bright body color contrasts strongly with the black fins and is very attractive inside the aquarium. When purchasing, it is preferable to select individuals whose fins appear bright black.
Helmet moonlight fish
The breed got its name from the fact that the whole body has colors except the head, and it looks like it is wearing a steel helmet. At first glance it may give a rustic feel, but if you look closely, you'll see that the black part is shiny and beautiful like metal.
Mint Mickey Mouse Moonlight Fish
The pattern of the fish's tail fin is jokingly called Mickey Mouse, which is very popular, especially among small children. When purchasing, it is best to choose individuals with a clear tail fin pattern.
Feeding management
How to distinguish between male and female
Moonlight fish, Mary fish, swordtail fish and other oviparous medaka are the same way to distinguish male and female, that is, to see the fin. The smaller one is the male fish, and the larger one below is the female, the male fish's fin has evolved into a tailfly, which is pointed, and the female's fin is fan-shaped.
reproduction
Moonlight fish are mild. Easy to feed. The breeding water temperature is 24-27 degrees Celsius, and the water temperature for the mature propagation of gonads in 5-6 months is 26 ° C, and the water hardness is about 9 degrees.
The female has a pronounced fetal spot on her abdomen before giving birth, giving birth to 20-50 litters at a time, once a month. Mature females and males in the same tank reproduce on their own. Male and female fish have the same beautiful body color, not easy to distinguish, the main difference is in the fin, the male's fin evolved into a sperm vas deflection; the female belly is expanded, near the anus is a sign of labor.
Feeding characteristics
Mild temperament, easy to raise. Feeding water temperature to 22-28 ° C is the best, extreme water temperature can not be lower than 16 ° C, like weak alkaline water quality, the pH of water to maintain about 7.4, replace the new water can add a little salt. The bait is mainly live water fleas, but some chopped spinach or lettuce leaves can also be fed. In order to maintain the quality of this variety, multiple varieties should not be polycultured in an aquarium.
Arrangement of aquariums
Use caution
1． The glass edge needs to be polished with a grinding wheel, otherwise it is easy to cut hands.
2． Both the glass and the glass contact surface should have glue.
3． It can be used after more than 2 days and nights of standing, and after inspection, it has not leaked.
Bottom sand
Generally, river gravel (larger particles) is used to supplement below, the middle layer is laid with a layer of base fertilizer, as fertilizer for aquatic weeds, and the upper layer is laid with a layer of silicon sand (quartz stone gravel), which can also be all silicon sand for convenience, which needs to be purchased at the aquarium store. Bottom sand should be noted:
1． If you raise salty, hard-water fish such as cichlids in Lake Malawi in Africa, coral sand should be laid, but aquatic weeds are difficult to grow.
2． The thickness of the sand layer and the specifications of the cylinder should be coordinated, generally 4-10cm thick, it is best to have ups and downs, there are changes, often the back end is thicker, which is convenient for planting large background aquatic weeds.
Install the device
After the sand is laid, it can be irrigated, the irrigation should be slow, to prevent the base fertilizer from being lifted, the lighting tube (you can use the special aquatic grass lamp, you can also use the fluorescent lamp), the water quality filter, the punch pump (if the fish density is not high, you can not use it), the temperature control heating rod are set up.
Moonlight fish aquarium installation equipment should pay attention to:
1． The lamp can be installed above the water surface in the cylinder, or it can be hung from the ceiling and suspended above the cylinder, and the gorgeous lighting equipment itself is a good decoration.
2． The use of the heating rod should be strictly in accordance with the instructions to avoid accidents.
3, in the case of conditions, you can buy CO2 diffuser and CO2 cylinder, if you maintain about 8 hours of light every day, will make your aquatic grass grow more vigorously.
Plant aquatic weeds
Generally after a week of irrigation planting aquatic weeds, aquatic weeds from the aquarium store after purchasing from the pot, cut off rotten roots and rotten leaves, inserted into the bottom sand, the first landscaping, do not expect to be designed very scientific and artistic, can follow the following principles:
1． Aquatic plants should not be evenly distributed as grown vegetables.
2． Generally, low aquatic weeds are used for the foreground and higher aquatic weeds are used for the background.
3． There should be a primary and secondary color, such as green as the main color, green aquatic grass and black with sunken wood dotted in between, preferably with large-leaf plants and small-leaf plants.
4． You should start with aquatic grasses that are easy to survive and inexpensive, such as Spillan, centipede grass, and can also be planted with local aquatic grasses such as snapdragon, bitter grass, etc.