THE HOME IN WATER Continues from my earlier topic 30.12. The home (biotope) of the rheophilic cichlids! The cichlid species adapted to rheophilic life style (especially from the Lower Congo River) have some extra morphological and physiological adaptations to survive. Surviving means their normal everyday life. Why to imitate the habitats of the rheophilic cichlid has many aspects to think about. The same aspects concern also the rheophilic loricariids, like the species Lamontichthys ilanero and Pseudolithoxus dumus (L-244) from South America and African catfish species Euchilichthys guentheri from the rapids of the Lower Congo River. I have kept these three species in conditions which resembled as correctly as possible the habitats they are found. One important element in their habitats is the fast and swift oxygen-rich currents. They almost always preferred those areas where the swift oxygen-rich flow was the strongest (around 50>60 cm/second). I was also surprised how easily they could handle the faster water movements without any troubles at all. “Their modified gill structure were eating thousands of oxygen droplets just to maintain the bodys physiological functions.” In general, its very interesting to know where the fishes come from and WHY they live in such habitats. As you know, the rheophilic cichlids have many specialized morphological and physiological adaptations (and a long genetic evolutionary history behind) to cope with oxygen-rich fast moving waters (and complex flow strutures) in harsh physical environments comprising mostly rocky habitats in the Lower Congo River. Its their home. Imitation of these conditions as well as possible in home aquariums is MAINTAINING these adaptations, for the rheophilic species to feel at home In the pic Teleogramma brichardi female under a small rapid from the Lower Congo River in complex flow structures. Kind regards!
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:09:56 +0000
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