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Jaundice – an ornamental fish from Asia. Check her needs

Jaundice is a fish that lives naturally in the regions of India and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, although they live in freshwater, they also do well in those with medium salinity. Most of all, jaundice is found in rivers. However, it also often forages at tributaries, right next to the ocean. It belongs to the cichlid family. Check how to take care of it.

Jaundice – descriptions of the fish

The name largely reveals what the jaundice looks like. These fish are just… yellow. However, these are not all the characteristics.

The appearance of jaundice

Indian jaundice has a yellow to orange flattened body. After reaching sexual maturity, the fish acquire black dots on the back. Jaundice is distinguished by long dorsal and anal fins – they do not differ much in size. They grow up to about 7 cm in length.

Indian jaundice is a species in which there is no clear sexual dimorphism. This means that it is difficult for a novice aquarist to distinguish between female and male. It is only during the mating season that you can see which fish spawn. Then also males have more intense colors, especially when the tank is large and there are more fish in it.

Disposition of jaundice

Jaundice is generally a friendly fish, so many people keep it in a multi-species aquarium. It does not attack smaller fish if it is kept in a sufficiently large group and in a tank adapted to its needs. However, due to the needs related to the salinity of the water, jaundice may not work well in combination with popular species of freshwater aquarium fish.

Sometimes the jaundice is aggressive. This applies primarily to individuals who live in too small a group or singly. In this case, it is necessary to enlarge the herd. The aggression of jaundice is usually directed towards small fish that have long fins. They nibble on it and chase it from one place to another.

It is worth bearing in mind that jaundice is an active fish. Although it swims in the tank rather calmly, it nevertheless appreciates a suitable surface in which it can dig. It can also eat some plants. If you care about the aesthetic appearance of green in the tank, do not opt ​​for soft-leaved plants. Otherwise, the jaundice will consider them his meal.

The reproduction of jaundice

Usually, jaundice reproduces without major problems, even under the care of beginner aquarists. Due to the fact that the jaundice eagerly eat complex roe, it is recommended to separate the adults into a separate reservoir in the form of a spawning ground, or to catch the roe itself. If the fish live in a community aquarium, other fish that can eat the small fry also pose a risk.

They need a temperature of around 28 ° C to reproduce the jaundice. If you recreate natural conditions, you will notice that the female spawns, usually in a prominent place, such as by a glass. Then, after about two days, the fry hatch, and after another 3 – they start to swim. The fry very often attach themselves to adult jaundice to make it easier to feed. With the right conditions and nutrition, the fry are well visible after about 14 days and are approx. 1 cm long.

Jaundice fish and its requirements

It is worth knowing what the needs of jaundice are in order to properly adjust the aquarium to its requirements. In this way, he will live long and in good shape.

The size, accessories and cast of the aquarium

Jaundice needs a reservoir of sufficient size, ideally at least 120 cm long, if kept in a larger group. It feels particularly well in herds of about 8 individuals. The ground should be sandy as these fish like to dig in it. If you choose gravel, it can hurt your stomach with jaundice.

In the aquarium, it is worth preparing a place for various hiding places, especially in the form of caves that can accommodate the yellows. Make sure the vegetation is dense, especially for a multi-species tank. At the same time, remember that jaundices are eager to eat plants with soft leaves. Avoid them or plan to replace them regularly.

The aquarium for jaundice should always be equipped with an efficient filter that ensures the water is clean and oxygenated. It is especially important to avoid plants that cover the water table, which could lead to an increase in nitrate levels. It is also recommended to use two types of fluorescent lamps. One, which is a source of intense light, should be placed in the cover. The second, with a red shade, is placed behind the aquarium. This is how the jaundice is colored beautifully.

Jaundice and water parameters

The water in the aquarium where the jaundice lives must not be acidic. A neutral and slightly alkaline reaction is preferred. A suitable temperature is just over 24 ° C up to 28 ° C. The fish can live in either fresh or brackish water. The latter solution is recommended to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. It is very important to change about 15% of clean, filtered water on a regular basis, preferably once a week.

Fresh water or brackish water?

As a fish, jaundice is friendly, so when selecting other species for a social aquarium, consider the parameters of the water first of all. So, in case your jaundices live in freshwater, choose:

On the other hand, in slightly brackish water, the mussel molluscum moths will work.

Nutrition for jaundice

Jaundice eats all kinds of food. He especially likes living and frozen food. In the case of a ready-made one, it avoids flakes. If he bites plants, you can try to supplement his diet with, for example, spirulina or spinach leaves – as long as they are young, clean, without pesticides.

Jaundice fry require plankton feeding. Some jaundice feed on algae once they have grown a bit. Liquid food is also a good solution.

Jaundice is a decorative fish that works well even in the aquarium of a novice hobbyist. It is relatively easy to maintain, as long as the right conditions are prepared for it. You already know what the jaundice requires and how it can be propagated. Consider if it fits your tank cast.

Photo via Wikipedia, public domain

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