Having a large size, rich interesting history and incredible appearance and habits, polypteruses are rightfully considered one of the most outlandish inhabitants of African waters. However, recently they have gained wide popularity in the circles of aquarium lovers. In this article, we will look at the type of fish - polypterus delgesi, photos of individuals, features and habitat of this prehistoric species that has come down to our times.
History of the species
Polypteruses are one of the oldest fish species. Studies have shown that the first individuals of this type lived on the planet 65 million years ago, at a time when dinosaurs reigned on earth. Modern delgesi polypteruses originate from the rivers and lakes of Africa. It was there that during the Cretaceous period the first representatives of the genus of multifeathers, which include polypteruses, appeared. The name of the species itself literally translates as"Multi-peer", and it is absolutely deserved. Polypterus delgesi has a large number of dorsal fins. Another unusual feature of this fish is its snake-like body, on which large pectoral fins are located. Using them, the polypterus moves in its own unique way.
Description
Polipterus belongs to the genus Multifeathers and has a serpentine appearance. It is a freshwater species and lives in the rivers and lakes of the African continent. It is noteworthy that polypterus delgesi was recently discovered in the rivers of India. These inhabitants of freshwater reservoirs prefer life at the bottom, among dense thickets of vegetation. The oldest remains of this family, found by scientists in Africa, date back over 60 million years ago. This fact is proved by the peculiarity of the structure of the skeleton. It has a primitive structure, and the head has large nostrils. Enthusiasts believe that polypterus delgesi is a miniature copy of a dragon that has survived to this day. There is a theory that these fish can live for a long time in water with low oxygen content. This is due to the special structure of the bladder, which is similar in structure to the lung. Scientists suggest that it was thanks to this feature that such a prehistoric species was able to survive the Ice Age and survive to this day.
The scientific description of polypterus delgesi suggests that the body of this species of fish is covered with diamond-shaped scales and has a dorsal fin characteristic of the genus Polyfin, which begins at the center of the back and ends in the tail. An interesting fact is that for every 18-20vertebrae have 1 fin. The pectoral fins of polypterus have two bones connected by cartilage.
Habitat
In its natural environment, polypterus lives mainly in the Congo River. In addition, representatives of this species were found in various silted waters of lakes and rivers of the Republic of the Congo and the State of the Congo. At the beginning of the 2000s, the species was first introduced to the United States, where aquarium lovers can now easily buy it at any pet store. It is noteworthy that both fish grown in artificially created reservoirs and grown in the natural environment can be sold. Based on numerous comparisons and descriptions of delgesi polypterus, it can be said with accuracy that individuals caught in nature differ from artificially bred ones. Members of this species, born in aquarium conditions, have a duller color than their relatives from the wild.
Food
Before you feed the delgesi polypterus, you should find out what it eats in the wild. This species is predatory, and it is not recommended to plant smaller fish in an aquarium with them. The main diet for him is food with a high protein content. It may consist of earthworms, squid, plankton and shrimps. But before you feed the delgesi polypterus, you need to know the fact that 5 percent of plant food should still be in its diet. Planting an aquarium with algae is not necessary, but vegetable pellets should be added to the daily diet. In addition to frozen food andsubstrate, it is recommended to periodically give this fish live food. For this purpose, fry, bloodworms and small worms are suitable. For adults, feeding twice a week is sufficient. It is noteworthy that the polypterus has poor eyesight, but over time it is able to identify its owner by the silhouette.
Care Requirements
The maintenance of Delgesi polypterus does not burden aquarium fish lovers, as it is not whimsical enough to care for. This is due to its natural vitality. To successfully keep polypterus delgesi in an aquarium and create a comfortable environment for it, you will need an aquarium with a volume of 200 liters or more. The upper part of it should be covered with transparent glass. It needs holes for oxygen to enter. The container is equipped with all kinds of snags, stones and grottoes. Since this type of fish comes from the hottest regions of the planet, it needs a water temperature of 25-30 degrees Celsius for a comfortable life. It is noteworthy that water filtration should be carried out constantly, and its complete change - at least once a week. If all these conditions are met, the contents of Delgesi polypterus will bring only joy to aquarium lovers.
Aquarium maintenance
When equipping the container with the necessary equipment, which will contain polypteruses, you need to take into account the size of the fish. Polypterus delgesi is able to grow in an artificial environment more than 40 centimeters in length. When keeping this type of fish for an aquarium, do notthe height is as important as its area. Polypterus need air for normal breathing and therefore often rise to the surface. Therefore, the walls of the aquarium should not be too high, and the top should not be tightly closed. At the same time, it is important that an air layer remains between the lid or glass that covers the aquarium and the surface of the water. It is noteworthy that a lid should be mandatory, as there are many cases when polypteruses escaped from aquariums, which led to drying out and death of the fish.
Very often, this species of aquarium fish is credited with an aggressive disposition towards relatives. They really can often fight. This is mainly due to food competition. However, as a rule, in such fights, polypteruses do not cause serious harm to each other. Moreover, if individuals of approximately equal sizes are kept in the tank, the number of conflicts will be much less. It should also be noted that polypteruses feed from the bottom surface, so it is better to cover it with soil that is easy to clean. A small layer of sand or fine gravel is perfect for this purpose.
Polypteruses get along excellently with various plants. They do not eat them and do not damage them. However, sometimes large individuals break their way through dense thickets. Therefore, it is better to plant only hard-leaved species of algae or mosses in the aquarium.
Any water filtration system will do. The main requirement is a high degree of biological purification. Polypteruses do not differ in excessive activity and, accordingly, are not so strong. They litter, but the high protein foods they need create a huge amount of fine waste. Without proper cleaning, they will quickly spoil the water.
Polypteruses are nocturnal, so they do not need intense lighting and love twilight. Therefore, it is recommended to install only a couple of bluish spectrum lamps. This is necessary to illuminate the aquarium at night.
Propagation of polypterus delgesi in an artificial environment
This type of fish is very difficult to breed in an aquarium. The bulk of this species sold in pet stores is caught in the wild. Experts say that the secret to successful breeding of this fish in an aquarium lies in the softness of the water and its temperature. When conditions are favourable, the male forms a cup of caudal and anal fins. The female, in turn, lays caviar there, which has a high stickiness. After that, the male swims and scatters eggs over the algae.
When the spawning period comes to an end, the parents must be urgently transplanted into a separate container, as they can eat caviar. A larva appears within 4 days. Her feeding can be started no earlier than a week after the appearance. Microworms and brine shrimp are perfect as food. The breeding process itself occurs mainly from July to the end of September. The couple spend several days together, touching each other and lightly biting their fins.
Sex differencespolypterus
Distinguishing the gender of individuals of this species is quite difficult. However, it is still possible. The male is distinguished by a back fin, shaped like a shoulder blade, while the female has a sharper one. In addition, the male has a narrower head than the female.
Compatibility with other species
These fish should not be kept with large aggressive species such as cichlids and snakeheads. Polypterus will become excellent neighbors with knifefish, large barbs and veil catfish. It is noteworthy that the neighborhood with catfish, which have a mouth opening in the form of a sucker, is highly undesirable. These fish can stick to the body of the polypterus, which can greatly irritate it. Polypterus get along well with large non-aggressive fish species, which they are not able to eat. However, sometimes they can bite them. This usually happens by mistake. The thing is that polypteruses have poor eyesight. Because of this, they rely only on their senses. Polypterus perfectly distinguishes the smell of food in the water. When he smells it, he leaves his hiding place. It will follow the scent until it literally hits the food.
Diseases
Representatives of this species are very disease resistant. Strong scales reliably protect the body from possible wounds in which infection may appear. In addition, it also protects against various parasites. But it is important to take into account that, unlike those grown in artificial reservoirs, wild polypteruses that were caught in the natural environment may be carriers of leeches. In this regard, experts recommend quarantine new fish.
The main enemy of the aquarium polypterus is the wrong content. So, for example, stagnant water leads to ammonia poisoning. This happens when there is insufficient water filtration or its complete absence. In addition to ammonia poisoning, various bacterial infections can occur. One of the most common is monogenea. It is expressed by covering the entire body of the polypterus with small worms. Especially a lot of them appear in the head area. When this happens, the polypterus becomes lethargic and barely eats. It is treated with the help of the medicine "Azipirin".
Conclusion
Polypterus is a unique ancient fish that requires some care and skill. Therefore, it is recommended to keep it, having at least a little experience. It should be noted that a large aquarium is more difficult to maintain, and polypterus may not coexist with every type of aquarium fish.
