Recently, the neon iris has become one of the most popular aquarium fish. Suitable lighting allows this resident of the underwater world to flash bright blue and blue hues. It is for the sake of such an unusual effect that many aquarists give birth to neon irises. Under natural conditions, these fish inhabit the waters of the Mamberamo River, which is located in Indonesia and communicates with the Pacific Ocean. Neon irises were brought to Europe only in the 1990s, after which they became frequent inhabitants of home aquariums. The size of the fish in such conditions reaches about five centimeters.
Description of the neon iris
This fish has a small flattened head and fairly large eyes. On its back there is a characteristic high hump, which is more pronounced in males. The dorsal and anal fins are usually paired. In females, one can observe a full abdomen, while in males it is flattened on both sides. Neon rainbow fish in its color practically does not stand out, because on its body there are no stripes or spots. However, a close acquaintance reveals the true beauty of this underwater inhabitant: when light enters, each scale explodes with bright colors, and a dark edging further enhances this radiant effect. During the movement, the body of the fish either goes out or flashes again, only yellowish-red fins remain unchanged.
It should be noted that neither the time of day, nor the spawning period, nor the emotional state of the fish affect the brightness of the color. The neon iris, with all its unpretentious appearance, is very attractive. She spends most of her time in the middle water layers, does not pinch plants and does not dig in the ground, which makes its content very simple and unpretentious.
Rules for keeping neon irises
For a comfortable fish life, it is recommended to select an aquarium at least 45 centimeters in length, since neon irises prefer to swim horizontally. Water should be preliminarily upheld, since too hard water can cause deterioration of the well-being of the fish, and even their death. The temperature in the aquarium should be about 24 degrees, although in nature the neon iris can withstand higher values, however, it is better to avoid such adverse conditions.
It should be noted that this fish is very calm and peaceful. It looks most impressive in an aquarium with dark fine soil and densely planted with various plants, among which it is necessary to build a kind of islands for more free swimming. There are no special requirements for the choice of underwater flora. In addition, the neon iris is easily exposed to bacterial diseases, therefore it is imperative to comply with quarantine measures, for example, timely remove the fungal deposits that appear on the fish’s head with methylene blue with added salt.
Fish farming
The neon iris reaches the stages of puberty at the age of 8-9 months. For fish farming, you should purchase a separate small aquarium, the water level in which should not exceed 35 centimeters. Small-leaved plants are placed in the tank, as well as provide uninterrupted illumination and aeration. Manufacturers choose the most well-fed and brightly colored fish of both sexes. Until spawning, they should be kept separately and intensely fed, often changing the water and raising its temperature to 28 degrees.
After transplanting fish into the spawning grounds, active throwing of eggs lasts up to three days, after which the production of offspring does not occur so intensely. At a time, the female is able to sweep up to 500-600 eggs, which have a sticky thread and settle on the leaves of plants. After spawning, the parents are returned to the large aquarium, and the dead caviar, which has acquired a white color, is removed. In a week, the first larvae should appear, and after a couple of days later fry will form from them, which should be fed with ciliates and crustaceans. Their unusual neon color, the fry of the neon iris are acquired in a month and a half.
Fry for fry
For feeding the appeared offspring are suitable:
- Artemia
- microworms;
- egg yolk;
- microencapsulated feed;
- lyophilized liver;
- sliced accessories;
- pipe maker.
Adult Feeding
Neon iris, the photo of which cannot fully convey all the sophistication and beauty of this fish, is quite unpretentious in nutrition. She well perceives dry, frozen and live food, and also loves to feast on small bloodworms, insects, tubule and various crustaceans. It should be noted that it is often dangerous to give dry food to fish, as this can provoke serious diseases that will ultimately lead to death.
Compatible with other fish
Neon irises get along well with many other aquarium fish. They do not offend or persecute anyone, but it is still advisable to abstain from the neighborhood with very small individuals in order to prevent their eating. A company of aquarium fish such as barbs, angelfish, catfish, discus, cockerel and gourami is perfect for iris. The life expectancy of neon irises at home can reach five years, which is a lot for such an inhabitant of the water element.