Table of contents:
- Description
- Area
- Dimensions
- Color
- Life span
- Habitat
- Nutrition
- Lifestyle
- Reproduction
- Puberty
- Population size
- Economic value
- Keeping in the aquarium
Video: Killer Whale Mouse (Mystus Mica)
2024 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:30
The killer whale, or the baby killer whale, is found only in our country. Endemic to the Amur basin. Many aspects of the lifestyle and behavior of the species have not been studied. This is the smallest of our killer whales. In aquariums, a very unpretentious species that takes any food. Unfortunately, in the wild, it is a rare species that continues to decline. For keeping in the aquarium it is necessary to purchase at least 5-7 "babies", since these are schooling fish.
Description
The body is naked, without scales, short, rounded. The dorsal and pectoral fins have spines. The anal fin is short. The caudal fin has a deep notch; its lobes are rounded. The head is small, the eyes are large. Antennae are long. The base of the adipose fin is longer than the base of the anal. The jaws and palate have small spiny teeth. Branchial stamens 9-13. Vertebrae 32-34.
Area
Russia is endemic to the Amur basin (Amur and Melgunovka rivers, Khanka and Ommi lakes).
Related article Siamese killer whale (Pseudomystus siamensis)
Dimensions
Length up to 4-5 cm, weight - up to 1.4 grams.
Color
The color is brownish-gray with light and dark strokes. On the head, there are longitudinal stripes from the top of the snout to the occiput.
Juveniles (length 3-4 cm)
Life span
The age limit for the crumb killer whale is unknown.
Habitat
The coastal part of the channel with a weak current with sandy or sandy-silty soils. Recorded in floodplain lakes.
Nutrition
The killer whale feeds on the larvae of caddis flies and pusher mosquitoes, copepods and cladocerans, terrestrial insects, molluscs and detritus.
Lifestyle
Practically unexplored.
Reproduction
Spawning is seasonal, portioned. One female lays up to 500-700 greenish eggs about 1 mm in diameter. The incubation period is 2-3 days. The male builds the nest and guards it.
Puberty
Maturation occurs at the age of 2 years.
Population size
A rare species, the number of which continues to decline, found in Primorye in a limited area.
Economic value
The killer whale mouse is an object of fishing.
Keeping in the aquarium
Sizes: an aquarium with a volume of 50 liters and more.
Water: dH up to 20 °, pH 6.8-7, filtration, aeration, weekly changes up to 20-30% water.
Temperature: 14-24 ° C.
Plants: thickets of living plants.
Decoration: driftwood, stones, clay shards and other decorative elements that create shelters.
Feeding: in aquariums it takes live (mosquito larvae, daphnia, cyclops, oligochaetes) and combined feed (dry food and catfish tablets).
Behavior: Recently captured killer whales prefer to lead a crepuscular or nocturnal lifestyle, but eventually begin to leave their shelters during the day. Since this species is gregarious, it is necessary to immediately buy at least 5-7 individuals. In this case, it will be possible to observe games and "round dances" of frolicking fish. But when kept alone or in pairs, "crumbs" behave more modestly - they hide in thickets and periodically search for food throughout the bottom of the aquarium.
Personality: peaceful.
Water zone: bottom layer of water.
May be kept with: Non-aggressive fish and shrimp.
Related article Squeaky Killer Whale (Tachysurus fulvidraco)
Breeding fish: in aquariums, breeding can only be achieved with hormonal injections. A spawning aquarium with a volume of 40 liters or more is suitable for a couple of fish. Eggs are thrown on aquatic plants or the roots of moisture-loving plants immersed in water. Water parameters: dH 4 °, pH 6.8-7, T 22-24 ° C.
Sex differences: the male is smaller and slender than the female.
Offspring: fry swim for 7 days.
Feeding juveniles: starter food - small zooplankton.
Recommended:
Brazhnikov's Killer Whale (Pelteobagrus Brashnikowi)
Brazhnikov's killer whale, or blue killer whale, or small killer whale is endemic to the Amur River. Inhabits freshwater lakes, oxbows and channels with a quiet current. In the wild, it feeds on various chironomid larvae. Leads a twilight lifestyle
Siamese Killer Whale (Pseudomystus Siamensis)
Endemic to the reservoirs of Southeast Asia - the Siamese killer whale - a pretty cute aquarium fish with a bright color. There is little information available about her life in the wild. For one individual you need an aquarium with a volume of 100 liters or more
Squeaky Killer Whale (Tachysurus Fulvidraco)
The squeaky killer whale is a brightly colored fish that lives in our country. In nature it grows up to 35 cm, in aquariums - no more than 12-15 cm. A fairly common species. Leads a nocturnal schooling lifestyle. Euryphagus. The breeding season is from June to late July
Sea Mouse (Callionymus Pusillus)
The sea mouse, or gudgeon (Sailfin dragonet) keeps on sandy grounds, sometimes at the very edge of the water; scared, quickly disappears, digging into the sand. It feeds on small benthic invertebrates, mainly worms and crustaceans. Body length 10-14 cm
Tengara Mystus (Mystus Tengara)
Mistus tengara, or blue killer whale, or cobalt killer whale, or striped mystus, or inverted catfish (Bagrid catfish) is an outwardly attractive fish from South Asia. Four pairs of mustaches and large eyes give this catfish a rather extravagant look