A simple but still attractive black phantom aquarium fish has long attracted the attention of aquarists of all ranks and experience. Which is not surprising - it is relatively easy to take care of her, she is sick relatively rarely. And the unusual appearance allows a flock of such fish to become a decoration of any aquarium. Therefore, to learn about it a little more will be useful to any supporter of such a hobby.
Where did the fish come from?
The birthplace of the phantom, or black ornatus, is South America. It is there that this amazing fish lives in the numerous tributaries of the Amazon River. They usually do not enter the huge and dangerous river itself, preferring to stay in small lakes and streams connected to it.
The habitat covers part of Brazil, as well as some areas of Bolivia. They do not like fast flowing water, preferring lakes or hardly flowing streams. Therefore, even freshly caught fish feel great in the aquarium without going through a long and complicated acclimatization procedure.
The phantom was first discovered in the distant 1915. But as an aquarium fish they began to use much later - closer to the end of the twentieth century.
Appearance
Black ornatus (phantom) can not boast of significant size. Its length reaches at best 5-5.5 centimeters. The body is rather high and slightly flattened from the sides - a form characteristic of most fish of the haracin family.
At the first glance, a high dorsal fin catches your eye. The caudal is quite ordinary - two-bladed. The color is dominated by a dark gray tone, sometimes reaching blackness. Only the abdomen is lighter. On the sides there are spots of an arbitrary shape of black color - they are surrounded by a thin purple border, which makes the fish very unusual and attractive. Alas, showing the appearance of a phantom fish black photos will not be able to convey all its splendor.
The dorsal and caudal fins are black, and the pectoral and anal fins are transparent, sometimes with a dark border.
At a young age, the fins of some breeds have reddish tones, which gives them special beauty.
It was this color that became the reason for obtaining such an unusual name. With poor lighting, the fish are almost invisible - they merge with the water. But the purple fringing of black spots on the backs is visible very well - it seems that only these sickles swim in the aquarium.
How to care
In general, the phantom is black - the aquarium fish is completely unpretentious. Many diseases that pose a mortal danger to other aquatic inhabitants seem to bypass it. In addition, the phantom quickly adapts to changed conditions, so moving from one aquarium to another transfers easily, as if not noticing it. Its peaceful nature allows it to be kept with many other fish species. Therefore, it is a good choice for beginner aquarists.
The phantom is a school of flocks. He feels best at being surrounded by his own kind. So it makes sense to immediately get a flock of 5-6, and better - 10-12 individuals.
Perfect for a medium aquarium - from 50 to 100 liters. Given the characteristics of the reservoirs in which the phantom lives in nature, you can not only densely plant the tank with plants, but also decorate it with snags, shelters made of stones - of course, not forgetting to process it accordingly. But at the same time, the fish is quite active. Therefore, you shouldn’t be too zealous - leave enough space for swimming.
A suitable range of water temperature is quite wide - from 20 to 28 degrees. Therefore, they feel great both in summer and in winter. The main thing is not to forget to regularly change the water (about 20% of the total volume per week).
Choosing the right food
In the stern phantom black is not too whimsical. It can perfectly manage for many months and even years with dry food - gammarus, daphnia, as well as a mixture enriched with vitamins. But still, if possible, you should often add live or frozen food to his diet - bloodworm, tubule, artemia and others. In this case, the fish will grow faster, their size will be larger, and their well-being will improve significantly.
In the wild, they also feed on some types of filamentous algae, small crustaceans and even fallen into the water and began to rot fruits. Alas, it is simply impossible to completely recreate the natural conditions of life in an aquarium.
How to determine the sex of the fish
But with the determination of the sex of the phantom, black can cause serious problems for a novice aquarist. The fact is that at a young age to distinguish a male from a female is generally almost impossible. And in adulthood you need to take a closer look so as not to be mistaken.
The main difference is the dorsal fin. In males, it is longer, often slightly curved. Females are content with a short fin. But they have a red color in their coloring - the fins often have just such a shade. And in males black or dark gray prevails. However, looking closely at a flock of healthy individuals, determining where the "boy" and where the "girl" will be quite simple.
Breeding
Phantom black multiplies in pairs - that is, you need to select one male and one female. It is best to take the strongest, largest and most beautiful. Previously they are planted in different aquariums - for about a week or 10 days.
Having planted manufacturers in a general aquarium of 7-10 liters, do not expect an immediate result. He will appear in no less than two to three days. By this time courtship games will begin. The male swims around the female, spreading its fins. The same, responding to courtship, briefly pressed against his abdomen, throwing from 8 to 12 eggs. This procedure is repeated several times. Young females can sweep up to 50 eggs, and adult, strong, reaching the peak of development - up to 150.
Take care of the offspring
When a male spills milk with large amber-colored caviar, adult fish can be deposited. The aquarium should be darkened and low aeration should be included. Do not forget to first remove the unfertilized caviar - it will turn white after a few hours, and then it will begin to decompose and can harm healthy eggs.
After 30-36 hours, fry will appear. The best food for them is small rotifers and ciliates. Also do not forget to provide them with a large amount of algae. Watch for cleanliness - although the black phantom perfectly resists diseases, this does not apply to fry. Remove food debris from the bottom to prevent an epidemic.
By day 10, Artemia nauplii can be added to the diet. Up to 30 days, fry should be protected from direct sunlight. At the age of 40 days, they are transplanted into a common aquarium, but make sure that it is sufficiently shaded and contains a large amount of algae, in which young animals can hide from other fish. Phantoms themselves usually do not pose a danger to them, but other fish can offend them.
What kind of fish you can keep
The black phantom has many important advantages. The fish, whose contents are so simple, also get along well with many other species of aquarium inhabitants. The main thing is to ensure that among them there are not too aggressive fish.
A good choice would be thorns, neons or minors. Phantoms usually also get along well with zebrafish. To keep order in the aquarium, you can instill catfish - most of their representatives are not aggressive or excessive mobility.
Conclusion
Now you know everything you need about the features of this breed. You can provide them with proper nutrition and comfortable living conditions. And also easily get healthy, strong offspring.