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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FISH FAMILIES

The iris (Melanotaeniidae)

Recently, rainbow-lovers are spreading more and more in aquariums. These fish, while young, are quite ordinary, and the inherent beauty of the coloring reveals quite late - but for a long time. The family of the Irradiator is divided into approximately five genera, and among them there are very famous: Pseudomugil , Popondetta , Iriatherina , Glossolepis and melanotenia . They are found exclusively in the warm regions of Australia, New Guinea and some of the adjacent islands. After studying the water bodies in these places, I found that these fish live mostly in very soft and more or less acidic water (and often very acidic). Hence, one can not take seriously the recommendations in the reference literature on salt additives. The living space of these fish has not yet been fully investigated, especially on the western side of the island of New Guinea. Therefore, now that this part of the island has become part of Indonesia, we can expect the discovery of new species.

Glossolepis incisus , a salmon-red iris, occurs from the west of New Guinea, where it lives mainly in Lake Sentani, reaches 13 - 1 5 cm.

Glossolepis incisus

Different kinds of melanotenes have been imported for many years, but recently aquarists often contain such species as M. maccullochi, M. nigrans, as well as subspecies of M. splendida, M. sexiineata - a species that was formerly imported under the generic name Nematocentris. In our days, to this small list, variative M. trifasciata and M. affinis were added. Recently the species M. maylandi was briefly described, but it is not yet imported and, accordingly, does not engage in its reproduction. The most beautiful of the genus Melanotaenia is the rainbow of Boesemani ( M. boesemani). These wonderful fish are now bred in large quantities. Approximately ten years ago, in the Indonesian part of the south of New Guinea, the researchers of Frech / Werner discovered a new species, in connection with which a new genus was described and named accordingly : Iriatherina werneri. At that time no one knew that this species was found not only in the named areas of the large island, but also in a narrow space high in the north of the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.

Rarely beautiful specimen of Melanotaenia trifasciata (young male).

Melanotaenia boesemani, one of the most attractive iris from the far west of the island of New Guinea.

Looking at the high "sailing" fins, many saw the relationship of the genus Telmatherina on the Indonesian island of Celebes (Sulawesi) and the genus Iriatherina. But the Australian specialist Allen (Al i en) with his studies denied the popular opinion. /. Werneri hardly grows in length more than 3-3.5 cm and in the aquarium is a very demanding guest who can not be kept together with other, more enduring fish. And the reproduction of this species is difficult because tiny fry - they can not be seen with the naked eye! - do not take any type of crushed food, that is very legible.

Representatives of different kinds of popondetta (Popondetta) and blue eyes (Pseudomugil) are known to many aquarists interested in iris, and the latter - for a long time. The Pseudomugil signifer, also called the orange- fused blue- eyed, is most often featured in its home country, in Australia, under the name of Southern Blueeye (southern blue eyes), Northe rn B l ueeye (northern blue eyes), Townsville Blueeye (Townsville Blueeye ) etc.

Pseudomugil signifer	Popondetta conniae

One species, formerly known as the " honeyed blue-eyed" (Honey Blueeye) and decorated with amazing fins, was recently described as P. mellis. These small irises reach a length of 3 - 5 cm and have a bifurcated dorsal fin characteristic of the whole family. Such species as ponodetty as simple (P. conniae) and fork-tail (P. furcata), are regularly imported and propagated outside the borders of the homeland. Their coloring and fins are also beautiful and attractive.

The content of iris-makers of all kinds is not complicated. They treat each other peacefully, no special requirements are imposed on different types of feed, although they prefer meat forage (bloodworm, etc.); Water should be moderately stiff or, better, soft. Since in a natural life environment they live in packs, they should be kept in spacious aquariums for 6-8 copies together. For spawning, the aquarium should be smaller, that is, its length can not exceed 60 - 1 00 cm. Spawning water needs a soft (to moderately hard), and pH is also slightly (or moderately) acid, from 6.0 to 6.5 . The iris loves dense vegetation in aquariums. And for the reproduction of plants play a decisive role: the females after turbulent mating games mow eggs in dense foliage. Producers do not pursue hatching larvae or fry. The fry that develops from the larvae are tiny, as was already said in connection with I. Wemeri. Even "live dust" as a food for them is too rough. And if you intend to feed them with infusoria or other small food, then the water level in the aquarium should be greatly reduced, since the fry can not go down for food "to the depth." And it's even better to catch the parents and transplant them into a similar aquarium where they can spawn again. And the young can be left to grow in an aquarium, the type of which is described above.