In wildlife, you can find a real abundance of a variety of creatures, characterized by bizarre forms. One of these is the toad fish - a striking representative of the fauna. Let's get to know him better.
Description
Toad fish is one of the marine inhabitants, you can meet it in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, where it lives at the bottom, buried in silt or sand.
The distinctive features of this unusual creation of nature are as follows:
- The size of the elongated body is up to 30 cm.
- The chest and head are massive, against their background the small tail and fins look even more miniature.
- The lower lip is unusual: it has a kind of leathery fringe on it, which gives the toadfish its picturesqueness.
- Deep-set eyes small, blue or reddish tint.
- Big mouth.
- Color yellowish-gray with a brown tint and bizarre spots of various shapes.
- Scalesmissing.
- Fins covered with poisonous spikes.
- On the gills you can observe sharp spines, which are also poisonous.
- The average weight can reach two kilograms.
They differ not only in their unusual appearance, but also in their voice. Due to frequent muscle contractions, fish manage to make sounds resembling a drum roll, whistle, moan, grunt or buzz. Signals are most often given to other members of the species, letting them know that the place already has an owner. However, sharp and loud sounds are heard by a person and cannot be called pleasant.
Even more interesting and unusual is the three-spined toad fish batrachomoeus trispinosus, living in the waters of the Pacific Ocean in hot latitudes. Her whole body is covered with bizarre growths, which is why this creature seems frankly ugly to some.
Lifestyle
In nature, prefers to live at the bottom of shallow water near the coast. It leads a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, during the day it hides in secluded grottoes. Interestingly, these amazing fish often choose abandoned mollusk shells or canned food jars that have fallen to the bottom as their home. In nature, this amazing marine creature uses worms, crabs, and fry as food. Due to its camouflage coloration, the fish completely merges with the seabed. Sitting motionless, she patiently waits for a careless fish, after which she deftly grabs it. When it is not possible to get food, this creature can regale itself andvegetation.
Reproduction
Reproduction is quite interesting: fish create strong pairs and are monogamous. They take good care of the offspring: both parents will be at the clutch, protecting it, until the fry appear. And after that, they do not immediately leave the kids, but stay with them for some time.
They are slow and move extremely reluctantly. They do not have commercial value, but they have been used as an exotic decoration for aquariums.
Home maintenance
Toad fish in the aquarium will become a real decoration and pride of the aquarist, as it is distinguished by its peaceful disposition and unpretentiousness. But in order for her to feel comfortable, it is necessary to purchase a fairly impressive capacity - for one individual, at least 250 liters will be required. The optimum water temperature is approximately 25°C. It is recommended to use slightly s alty or even fresh water, it all depends on the conditions in which the acquired individual used to live.
These creatures quickly get used to being kept in captivity and even begin to recognize the owner. They should be fed with a variety of meat food: small fish, shrimp, squid meat are suitable. If desired and with patience, you can teach an unusual pet to take food directly from your hands. It is recommended to feed your pet no more than 1-2 times a week. The content of such an unusual creature will not cause problems, the main thing is to choose enough large fish as neighbors so that they do not become food for the underwater toad. Howeverbreeding in captivity is not to be expected, as long as there are no known cases of the appearance of offspring in fish kept in aquariums.
It is very important to remember that toad fish is a poisonous creature, its secret is similar to scorpion venom: not fatal, but very painful and can cause allergies. Therefore, if you accidentally prick yourself on a thorn or thorn, you should take an allergy remedy and treat the wound with a hot compress - under the influence of high temperature, the toxin will be destroyed.
Toad fish in a marine aquarium looks very beautiful and unusual, but the main thing is to remember to be careful and take proper care of it.
