For millions of years, our planet has been inhabited by a large variety of fish. Their habitat became numerous lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Since ancient times, both river and sea inhabitants of the underwater kingdom have served as a source of food for people, rich in a huge amount of useful substances, such as various amino acids, protein and various vitamins. Fish farming products are widely used in the production of medicines and nutritional fertilizers for agriculture, as well as raw materials in light industry.
Features of river inhabitants
We all know that fishing on rivers is an exciting and varied activity. Therefore, any fisherman, before starting to equip fishing gear, must accurately answer the question of what kind of fish are found in the river. And, of course, every amateur fisherman should know the physiological characteristics of the object of hunting:
Depending on the nature of the food taken, river fish can be classified as:
- predatory;
- herbivores;
- omnivores.
River predators
Predatory individuals feed on other fish, some can eat animals or birds. Largemouth species swallow so much prey at one time that it is enough for several days of active life, but smallmouth fish need to hunt constantly, since their prey is small.
The most common predatory river fish in Russian waters. The maximum dimensions of pike reach up to 1.5 m with a weight of up to 30-35 kg, but specimens are known weighing up to 60 kg and longer than human height. The average life expectancy is up to 25 years, although there are individuals with a maximum age of 35 years.
The fish is very strong, tireless and agile thanks to its slippery cylindrical body. It is shaped like an underwater torpedo with a long, flattened head and a huge mouth filled with many sharp teeth.
Pike is so predatory that sometimes it even attacks its own relatives. True, it prefers carp fish for food: crucian carp, bleak, roach, rudd. But he treats spiny species (perch, ruff) with great caution; even if he catches such a fish, he does not immediately swallow it, but holds it in his mouth until it stops moving. During the hunt, it misses very rarely, but if attempts are unsuccessful, it returns to ambush and awaits other prey.
The spotted body color of the pike allows it to camouflage perfectly among the vegetation of the reservoir. In rivers it lives in places that are not very deep, with weak currents and grassy banks.
Pike meat contains little fat and is therefore considered dietary. It contains a lot of protein, which is easily absorbed by the human body.
spiny perch
This predatory fish, like pike, is widespread in the waters of Russia and almost all European countries. It has a laterally compressed body, which has a peculiar hump with dark stripes. The tail fin and eyes are highlighted with an orange tint. The color of the perch depends entirely on the transparency of the water. Individuals living in a dark environment with a muddy bottom have a more saturated color than fish living in light water.
The fish is quite large in size; there is evidence that perch can reach a weight of up to five kilograms and a length of up to half a meter. The average life expectancy is about 17 years.
In terms of extraordinary gluttony and predatory greed, it is not inferior to the pike. Having swallowed one fish, it can immediately continue hunting for another. There are cases when a caught perch had several fry in its stomach. It feeds on any fish of suitable size, and is active both in summer and winter.
Prefers to stay at depth, but not at the very bottom. During a hunt, it easily lunges at prey located in the upper layers of the reservoir.
The largest predator is catfish
This is the largest fish living in rivers. Its body length can reach five meters, and its weight can be over 300 kg. According to scientists, such specimens are 80-100 years old. In most cases, the color is brown with a brownish-green tint, and the belly is white. The color change can be almost light yellow depending on where it lives.
Catfish are considered an active nocturnal predator, which during the day prefers to lie down in snags or holes.
The diet of this large predator is very varied. Easily eats frogs, shellfish or large fish. Sometimes geese, ducks, water rats and other animals and birds can end up in the mouth of a catfish.
The meat of this inhabitant of the river depths contains some bones and fat. It is very nutritious and beneficial for the human body.
A predator reaching a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to 10 kg. Pike perch can be found in the clear water of large rivers and lakes. Life expectancy is up to 15 years. It is a relative of the perch and has the same vertical stripes on both sides.
An adult tries to stay near stones at depth or in holes, but young animals, on the contrary, prefer shallow sections of rivers. At the beginning of life, the fry primarily feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish of other fish.
Pike perch actively hunts for prey, while trying to avoid areas with thickets where it itself can become food for pike. However, his location is very unstable. Where pike perch was caught well the day before, you may not find it the next day.
Among freshwater fish, burbot is the only representative of the cod family. It is sharply distinguished from other fish by its unique body shape. The body is strongly elongated and compressed on the sides, especially in the tail. The head is flattened, similar to a catfish. The back is grayish-green in color and has dark stripes and spots, but the belly is whitish.
Burbot is an insatiable and extremely greedy predator whose diet includes insect larvae, frogs, mollusks and small fish. Sometimes, when an adult is opened, a large number of small perches, minnows or ruffs are found in the stomach. Despite its sluggish and lazy appearance, it swims deftly and quickly. At the same time, it is especially active in winter, when other fish are more sleepy and motionless.
Burbot can reach a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to five kilograms, although there are also specimens weighing up to 24 kg. Life expectancy is quite high - up to 22 years.
There are also smaller predatory fish, such as:
- Bersh is very similar to pike perch, however, it reaches a size of up to 50 cm.
- Chop - found less frequently, in the Danube or Dnieper rivers.
- Ruff is a widespread fish, often called thorn by fishermen, because it has sharp, spiny fins.
Herbivorous fish
This type includes fish that spend most of their time searching for plant food and various river plankton. Various types of algae grow in reservoirs and rivers, especially in warm summers, which are an excellent haven for various mollusks and crustaceans. They are the perfect treat for herbivorous fish.
Common fish - crucian carp
It is the most common fish in almost all reservoirs and rivers of Russia. The fish is quite unpretentious; it prefers shallow sections of the river, warmed by the rays of the sun and overgrown with vegetation of all kinds. Weakly responds to lack of oxygen and water quality in its habitat. In the winter season, crucian carp is capable of freezing into ice and not even dying.
It belongs to the family of carp fish, in appearance it is very similar to carp, but does not have antennae. Weighs approximately 0.5 kg. It feeds mainly on zooplankton, various aquatic plants, worms and larvae.
There are silver and gold carp. It is most active in the warm season.
Carp and its species
It belongs to the family of carp fish and is the most desired prey for fishermen in central Russia. There are individuals of quite large size, weighing up to 10 kg. According to scientists, life expectancy can reach 100 years.
There are the following types of carp:
- mirror;
- scaly;
- naked;
- frame carp and others.
All these representatives differ from each other in the shape of the body, the type of scales and habits. It can feed on bread crumbs, undercooked potatoes or cake.
The fish is very strong, so experienced fishermen often fish for it, using reliable and powerful gear.
Main types of carp
Bream and its use in cooking
This schooling, inconspicuous fish often lives in places with calm currents and muddy bottoms. Life expectancy is up to 20 years, but bream growth is very slow. Only by the age of ten is he able to gain weight up to 4 kg.
It feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, insect larvae, worms and algae. The coloring of bream is predominantly dark silver. Spawns at water temperatures of 13 degrees.
The meat of this fish is characterized by excellent taste. It is consumed boiled, salted, fried, dried or smoked.
Small representative - roach
This fish is found in almost all rivers and lakes. It leads a gregarious lifestyle and prefers to hide from predators in quiet sections of rivers overgrown with grass and algae.
In appearance it is very similar to the rudd. The color of the body depends on the composition of the water in its habitat. The fish is small in size (15-20 cm), but there were also specimens up to half a meter in length and weighing up to two kilograms.
Roach spawns at a temperature of plus ten degrees, and after this period it is especially active. The best time to catch this fish is considered to be early morning or late evening.
Of course, within the framework of one article, it is very difficult to describe all representatives of the aquatic world. There are also a huge number of species of river fish:
- The rudd is a beautiful fish that looks like a roach.
- The silver bream is a distant relative of the bream, silver in color with reddish fins.
- Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but is also found in the Caspian Sea basin.
- Tench is a royal fish with excellent taste characteristics.
- Chub is a freshwater fish that is found exclusively in rivers with fast currents.
- Bleak is a ubiquitous fish, known to almost every angler.
Other types of river fish
Unfortunately, many river systems are negatively affected by the unfavorable environmental situation, which is caused by various emissions from industrial enterprises and factories. The inhabitants of many rivers and reservoirs become victims of this human attitude towards the environment.
The list of predatory fish includes many species. They feed on other species of fish, sometimes even birds and some other animals. All specimens - from small aquarium fish to huge sea monsters - are distinguished by their bloodthirstiness and excessive gluttony. Most often they have quite sharp teeth and large mouths. Predators have good ingenuity and intelligence.
There are many predator fish
Marine species
This is the environment where most of the killers live. These include the following types:
- moray eels;
- barracudas;
- garfish;
- tuna;
- bonito;
- bluefish;
- croakers;
- laurels;
- rock perches;
- galleys;
- different types of cod;
- catfish;
- pink salmon;
- eelpout;
- brown greenlings;
- glosses;
- sturgeon;
- sturgeon;
- flounder;
- Lichia;
- whiting;
- whips.
Pike grows up to 1.5 m. The 11-meter-long white shark is the most dangerous carnivorous sea creature for humans. Among 250 varieties, 29 representatives are officially recognized as aggressive. Tiger, hammerhead, mako, katran, gray and spotted scyllium - with sizes of about two meters, they are no less dangerous. All representatives of sharks have not only sharp teeth, but also prickly spines on their hard skin. Because of them, blows are just as dangerous as bites. Although the whale shark is much larger than others (body length is up to 15 meters), it is quite safe for humans, because it feeds on plankton.
The abilities of these fish are unique. Thanks to the inner ear, which “hears” low-frequency sounds, they can detect water vibrations at a distance of up to 200 meters - within this range, a shark will easily detect a swimming person. The sense of smell is even better developed. This predator can sense a drop of blood at a distance of up to four kilometers. Vision is ten times better than human vision. During a hunt, fish accelerates to 50 km per hour.
Moray eels prefer coral reefs, underwater caves and algae. Large individuals grow 3 meters in length and 30 centimeters in thickness. Because of its lightning speed and strong grip, scuba divers compare it to a bulldog. The body, somewhat reminiscent of a snake, is an excellent advantage in camouflage. Moray eel prefers victims that are larger than itself. It uses its tail to hold its prey and tear it to pieces. Many divers die from this. Poor eyesight is compensated by excellent sense of smell.
Barracudas (sphyrenes) resemble huge three-meter pikes in their shape. The mouth looks terrifying due to the protruding lower jaw. Thanks to good vision, the fish quickly reacts to any bright objects and water fluctuations. Large individuals prefer to hunt alone, while small ones gather in schools. Barracuda is not selective in food, it easily feeds on poisonous fish - because of this, its meat is toxic and is not used in cooking. The greatest danger for a diver is the possibility of losing a leg or receiving intractable wounds. Sometimes the attacks of the sephirens are attributed to sharks.
A three-meter swordfish weighs approximately 400-450 kg. On the upper jaw there is a growth of one and a half meters, strongly reminiscent of the bladed weapon of the same name. The shape of a fish is associated with a torpedo. The impact force of this bone (4 tons) is amazing - it is enough to pierce 40 cm of oak or 2.5 cm of metal. Due to the lack of scales and streamlined shape, it accelerates to 130 kilometers per hour. It even feeds on sharks.
The white shark is the most dangerous to humans The monkfish was so named because of its terrifying appearance. The two-meter body weighs approximately 20 kg. The mouth is wide and resembles a crescent, while the eyes are set close. It lures prey with the help of a long outgrowth of the dorsal fin, reminiscent of a fishing rod. This explains the origin of the second name - European anglerfish.
Tuna is a schooling predator of Atlantic waters. Although the carcass does not exceed 4 meters, it weighs almost half a ton. It accelerates to 90 km/h and can maintain this speed for a long time thanks to its spindle-shaped body. Loves mackerel and sardines. Red tuna meat is widely used in gastronomy. The French call it sea veal.
Freshwater predators
There are no fewer predatory freshwater fish. They live in rivers and lakes and actively eat sick individuals. Fishermen know river fish well, because they are often used in cooking. Winter and summer fishing on lakes is more common among amateurs.
River inhabitants
The following species live in rivers:
- chubs;
- asps;
- catfish;
- pike;
- burbot;
- sterlet;
- grayling;
- bershi;
- acne;
- Arctic omuls;
- lumpfish.
The chub is beautiful with its dark green back, orange fins, slightly golden sides and a dark border along the scales. It prefers small crayfish, young of other species and larvae.
A number of predators live in rivers
The asp loves to quickly jump out of the water and quickly fall on its prey. Often the prey is simply petrified by a blow from the tail and body. He usually catches bleak, since it lives almost at the surface of the water. Asp varieties are found in large reservoirs and rivers.
Catfish is the largest predator, which has no scales. With a length of five meters, its weight reaches almost half a ton. The fish spends the day in the pits of reservoirs in the European part of Russia, and at night it goes out hunting. It catches not only mollusks and other small freshwater inhabitants, but also birds. Catching a catfish is quite difficult due to its strength and intelligence.
The pike is so bloodthirsty that it even preys on its relatives. Loves rudd, roach and crucian carp, tries to avoid ruffs and perches because of their spines. Before swallowing, it waits for the moment when the caught victim stops moving. Can eat mice, frogs and birds.
Pike perch lives only in clean rivers and can live in sea waters. Due to its small throat, it feeds only on small fish. Avoids vegetation because it is afraid of being caught by pike.
Walleyes can weigh up to 15 kg.
The body of the burbot is compressed and somewhat resembles the body of a catfish; there are antennae on the chin. The belly is whitish, the rest of the body is grayish-green with spots. Does not disdain ruffs and perches, which are more voracious than pike.
Lake waters
Many river species also live in lakes. These include the following names of predatory fish:
- trout;
- whitefish;
- Baikal omuls;
- perch;
- rotans;
- alpine char;
- ruffs;
- sculpins;
- lines;
- amii.
Most of the trout are on Lakes Onega and Lake Ladoga. These elongated and slightly flattened schooling fish grow up to a meter in length. The color varies depending on the habitat, usually the body is covered with dark spots, and the mouth has an orange stripe. Fishermen call it a pestle. The rainbow variety is actively bred in fish farms for commercial purposes. In the wild, the predator prefers depth and feels comfortable 100 meters from the surface. Always tries to hide between rocks or occupy other uneven terrain. It eats beetles, invertebrates, small fish and insect larvae.
Whitefish live in the cool water of deep lakes in Siberia and Karelia. Even the weight of a large individual does not exceed one and a half kilograms: the body is elongated and compressed, the scales and eyes are large, and the mouth and head are small. The diet includes mollusks, larvae, and crustaceans.
The color of this fish depends on its habitat
The Baikal omul loves junctions with large rivers due to the fact that their water is rich in oxygen. The fish is schooling and small, an elongated body with small silver scales does not weigh more than 800 grams, the back is brownish-green. Record large individuals can be twice the size of normal ones.
The body of the perch is oval, the sides are compressed. It feeds on small relatives and some larger fish, preferring caviar and juveniles. Insatiable, never stops hunting.
Ruffs live almost everywhere. They are very unpretentious and live in flocks. Painted dark green.
Aquarium fish
Not all types of predatory fish living in an aquarium behave aggressively. They can coexist peacefully with others, which is why they do not seem dangerous to their neighbors. However, when buying a fish for an aquarium, you need to know exactly its species. The need for live feeding, the amount of organic waste and the maximum heat difference depend on it. This is the only way to properly feed the fish, install the necessary cleaning systems and water temperature. After all, any violation will lead to aggressive behavior. It is better for aquarium lovers not to know what kind of fish they are at this moment - smaller or sick individuals will quickly suffer.
The most popular aquarium predator fish include:
- red-bellied piranhas;
- polypterus;
- whitenesox;
- tiger perches;
- Livingston cichlids;
- toad fish;
- biars;
- leaf fish;
- Aravans;
- trachirs;
- frog catfish;
- Dimidochromis.
You can keep the predators described above in an aquarium
The convex jaw and row of sharp teeth scare off some, but attract other aquarium fish lovers. Thanks to its large tail, the red-bellied piranha accelerates quickly and can use it when fighting prey or relatives. The fish is beautiful with its steel-gray body with a granular structure, as well as a bright red belly. It is recommended to keep a flock of 10-20 individuals in an aquarium. So the stronger will receive the best pieces, and the sick will be eaten by their relatives. This strict hierarchy avoids the death of the population as a whole. You can feed them insects, mussels, worms, live fish and shrimp.
Polypterus looks dangerous and somewhat resembles a small crocodile. The acne-like body, no more than 50 centimeters long, is painted pale green. It urgently needs access to air, but is unpretentious in maintenance. Eats pieces of meat, worms and shellfish.
Belonesox is not afraid of even large fish, which is why it is sometimes called a miniature pike. There are small black spots on its gray-brown sides. You need to feed live small fish. A well-fed whitefish does not kill prey until the next meal.
The golden tiger perch with black stripes grows up to half a meter and is shaped like an arrowhead. The long dorsal fin together with the tail provide good speed for hunting. The diet should include worms, bloodworms and shrimp.
The Livingston Cichlid is a master of ambush hunting. She knows how to pretend to be dead and can wait for prey for a very long time. Despite the bright color of the predator with yellow, blue and silver spots and a body length of 25 centimeters, the prey does not expect an attack. In the aquarium it feeds on pieces of shrimp, worms and fish. Overfeeding is strictly prohibited.
This fish pretends to be dead while hunting
The toadfish has a very large head and large growths on its body. Due to its shape and camouflage color, it resembles a stone and easily hides at the bottom of a reservoir. In an aquarium it prefers to be kept alone and loves pollock and shrimp.
The leaf fish is another genius at camouflage. Its body is no longer than 10 centimeters, its scales are yellowish-brown. Can simulate the drift of a leaf in water. Eats up to two fish daily.
Biara is a serious predator, which can only be kept in large aquariums. An individual can grow up to 80 centimeters in length. Wing-like pelvic fins and a large mouth with sharp teeth are excellent hunting aids. You can only feed live fish.
The vampire tetra reaches a length of 45 cm in the wild, and 30 cm when kept by humans. The fins on the belly look like wings and allow them to rapidly accelerate. They swim with their heads slightly down. They can eat pieces of meat.
Each fish has its own peculiarity
Aravana is one of the oldest species. The fins on the elongated body (80 cm) resemble a fan and provide good acceleration for hunting and the ability to jump. The mouth is directed upward, which helps to capture prey from the surface. Eats shrimp and worms in the aquarium.
Tetra wolf, or trachira, is an Amazon legend. The body is powerful, the mouth and teeth are large. When a specialist leaves, it can grow up to half a meter. It is not necessary to feed live food. Usually inaccessible to amateurs.
The frog catfish has a massive head and a wide mouth. Distinctive external features: dark body with a white belly, a pair of short antennae above and below the mouth. It can grow up to 25 centimeters and happily eats white fish.
Dimidochromis is colored predominantly in shades of blue, but has orange stripes on its fins. Prefers small prey. Live food can be combined with shellfish.
Any body of water needs predators. They play the role of an orderly, eliminating excess trash fish.
In this video you will learn about the most predatory fish:
Aquarium fish are the best choice for modern people, who can spend only minimal time caring for and maintaining their pets. According to Feng Shui, decorative fish in a beautiful aquarium have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relieve stress and attract good luck. In this article, we will learn how to properly maintain and care for aquarium fish, which marine creatures are best to keep, and which peaceful fish should not be placed with predatory ones.
Peaceful
Peaceful inhabitants of aquariums are the most common and popular fish and - they do not require specific nutrition with food fish, but are quite content with dry food. It is believed that fish of a peaceful nature contribute best to the state of harmony and mental balance of the owner and have a positive effect on children. This type of aquarium fish is unpretentious in keeping and is suitable for beginner aquarists.
Tetra
This aquatic animal belongs to the characin family, whose representatives love to live in the clean waters of forest streams and lakes, which are well saturated with oxygen. In their natural habitat (by the way, this species is most common in Central and South America), these fish live in small families - therefore, you need to place at least a few individuals of this species in your home aquarium. Otherwise, a lonely tetra will begin to show aggressiveness towards other fish - not allowing them to come close to it, and even attacking.
Tetra has the following main varieties:
- Golden (golden)- characteristic color with a golden tint and a lateral green line on the abdomen. In its natural environment, the fish has a bright golden color, but at home its color fades somewhat and becomes greenish. The length of an adult reaches 3-5 cm.
- Copper (Hasemania)- males of this breed have a beautiful copper color of scales (their lateral line is silver-gray). The tips of the fins and the bottom of the abdomen are usually white or milky in color.
- Background Rio- the smallest fish of the tetra species (up to 4 cm). The head and chest are painted in a silvery iridescent color, which acquires a red tint closer to the end of the body. There are 3 vertical stripes on the side.
- Royal- the fish rightfully received such a noble name - it is the largest species of tetra (up to 6-7 cm). The abdomen is yellow, with an olive tint, the horizontal stripe is rich, dark, as if dividing the body in half. The fins are translucent and slightly pointed.
To feed tetras, they use special dry food, which is sold in pet stores. Also, these fish are very fond of plants such as (tropical herbaceous plant) and ludwigia - these plants grow well in aquariums. It is noteworthy that it is impossible to overfeed such fish - thanks to their natural activity and constant movement, they do not gain excess weight.
Did you know? To prevent vitamin deficiency, fish such as tetras, guppies and barbs are fed the ground yolk of a boiled chicken egg - from it the fish receive vitamins of groups A, B, as well as iron and manganese.
Danio
Danio- one of the most playful and agile aquarium fish. This resident of reservoirs comes from South Asia - in its natural environment, this fish prefers shallow rivers with rather dense vegetation. Its appearance resembles a spindle - its body is elongated and painted with horizontal stripes. Because of this, zebrafish received the nickname “ladies' stockings.” Bright sunlight reflects the magnificent color of the scales, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.
Upturned lips with thin antennae allow the fish to absorb food located on the very surface of the water. Danio has a strong body, it is unpretentious and easily adapts to the environment. For a comfortable existence, this species needs dense vegetation in the aquarium - there they can find shelter and a comfortable place for future offspring.
Rerio- one of the varieties of zebrafish. This fish is silver in color with bright blue stripes and can grow up to 7 cm in length. The pearl danio has a very beautiful scale color - pearlescent with a bluish tint, and the stripes on the body are orange.
Danio dangila is the largest representative of this species - a mature individual can grow up to 9 cm. The optimal temperature for keeping Danio should not be lower than 22-25°C in the summer months, and 18-22°C in the winter.
Important! Due to the fact that the zebrafish is a very fast fish, constantly on the move, it is necessary to select an aquarium of the correct dimensions for it - it should be slightly elongated and have a volume of at least 70 liters.
Ternetia
This inhabitant of freshwater reservoirs comes from America. It has a characteristic appearance, which allows it not to be confused with other fish - a flattened body resembling a diamond. The fins are also unusual - the dorsal fin is narrow, located clearly in the center of the back, the anal fin is wide, it starts from the abdomen and is shaped like a fan. The caudal fin, in turn, is a small fatty process.
These fish have an interesting color. The main color is dark, can vary from dark brown to gray, and there are dark stripes on the sides (usually 3 of them). It is noteworthy that all varieties of thorns have a dark color, but 3 bright types have been artificially bred: Gold, Pink and Caramel. Such fish were created by injecting certain dye injections into their bodies.
Such colorful species are very popular among aquarists - bright thorns look impressive against the backdrop of clear water. Ternetias have a peaceful character, so they get along with almost all peaceful fish - with the exception of very small breeds.
With its wide fins it will constantly touch small fish, which can lead to conflict. The best neighbors for thorns will be guppies and barbs - such fish can get along well in the same aquarium.
Barbus
Native to Africa, there are about 15 varieties in the wild. They belong to the order Cyprinidae. These representatives are always active, moving in flocks, but can sometimes show aggression when they feel threatened. Adults reach 5-6 cm in length, their body is slightly elongated (oval-shaped). It is noteworthy that the females of this breed have a fuller abdomen - therefore they can always be distinguished from males.
The color of barbs has a wide gradation - red-pearl (Olegolepis), red-ruby (Ruby barbs), green (Green barbs). The latter are the largest representatives of this species - their length under good conditions can reach 10 cm in length.
Important conditions for comfortable keeping of barbs are:
- aquarium volume - at least 70 liters;
- maintaining a flock of barbs - at least 7 individuals;
- temperature - 20-25°C, also good saturation of water with oxygen;
- plants - algae, plants with hard leaves.
Gourami
These individuals belong to the labyrinthine species and live in East Asia. These agile and nimble fish can be small, up to 4 cm, or large, up to 13 cm. The body is flat, oval in shape. A characteristic feature is the pelvic fins in the form of antennae, which have a length equal to the size of the body. With these antennae, gourami probe everything around - therefore they can harm very small fish, and too large fish can injure these thin fins of gourami.
It has 4 main types, which differ in their color: Silver, Spotted, Marbled and Blue. All breeds have a bright iridescent color.
Conditions for proper maintenance of gourami:
- aquarium volume - up to 25 liters;
- water level - average (no more than 30 cm);
- temperature - 24-27°C;
- bright lighting for at least 12 hours;
- clean, constantly changed water.
Did you know? Sometimes you can notice that the bright color of aquarium fish has turned pale - this is often the cause of poor physical and emotional condition, and a feeling of discomfort in the fish.
Neon
This small, fast and nimble fish (its length does not exceed 4-5 cm) comes from Brazil. This species lives exclusively in soft, clean water, not contaminated with the remains of plants and food. The fish got its name because of the characteristic bright stripe along the entire length of the back, usually blue or light blue. The background color of the body itself can be different: red, blue, gray, pearlescent.
Neon- the most unpretentious fish. For comfortable keeping of fish, it is enough to use soft water filtered with peat. The optimal temperature for neons is 20-25°C. The presence of aquarium algae is a must - these small fish hide in them from potential threats. The size of the aquarium can be small - neon will get along well in a small space.
The fish are also very unpretentious in feeding - they eat both combined food and bread crumbs. However, do not forget that this fish is small - therefore, it is impossible to feed it with large amounts of food, much less large pieces.
Cichlid
One of the most common fish that is found on almost all continents. They are used not only as decorative household items, but also as a craft. They are representatives of the order Perciformes.
Cichlids- very beautiful fish, they have a fairly large, massive size. In aquarium specimens, the body is high, slightly flattened on the sides, and a large fin is located in the center of the back. The color is always bright - yellow, greenish, blue. The eyes are large, bulging, the mouth is large, with slightly swollen lips. Cichlids are very popular among aquarists - due to their visual attractiveness, majesty, unpretentiousness and longevity - in captivity, these fish can live up to 25 years.
Among all the subspecies of cichlids, there are both peaceful fish and predators - for example, Cichla temensis is one of the largest predators of cichlids. Its length can reach 1 meter. All aquarium cichlids are divided into 2 large categories- large fish (angelfish, acara) and small species. It is noteworthy that keeping small individuals is more troublesome than large ones.
Due to its large size, the volume of the container for keeping a cichlid should be at least 25 liters. The optimal temperature for them is 20-25°C. Such fish can live for a long time in stale water contaminated with food debris - they do not require frequent cleaning or changing the water. In their food preferences, fish are also omnivorous - they eat dry food, ice cream, and canned food.
Cichlids are fish that have a unique memory: for example, they are able to recognize the owner and can even learn to take food from his hands. However, these fish are wary of new inhabitants of the aquarium: if you add too fast, aggressive fish to them, a conflict is inevitable.
Predators
Predatory aquarium fish differ from their peaceful counterparts in that they eat raw meat. However, their name - predators - does not mean that such fish disdain vegetation. Pure predatory fish, as such, do not exist in the aquarium environment. However, all predatory fish are quite aggressive and do not get along well with all fish - so it is important to know which predators can be housed with each other and which ones absolutely cannot.
Tropheus
Tropheus- very beautiful fish that were taken from Africa and introduced into aquariums around the world. However, not every aquarist can boast of such a fish in his collection. Firstly, the cost of 1 individual tropheus can reach $200. Also, this fish is very demanding in terms of housing and feeding conditions. So, the optimal volume of an aquarium for this fish should be at least 170 liters - not everyone can buy such a large house for fish. In addition, this fish is a schooling fish, so you need to keep at least 2-3 individuals - accordingly, the volume of the aquarium should increase. Tropheus are comfortable in water that is heated to 26°C.
The appearance of tropheus is quite characteristic. All subspecies of tropheus are quite large - up to 15 cm in length. The gradation of color is very wide - there are both fish of light iridescent shades and deep dark colors. It has a large body, large fins, and a convex mouth.
The diet of tropheus should be quite varied - in addition to dry combined food, the diet must contain spinach, cyclops, algae, and artemia meat. It is important to clean the aquarium from food debris in a timely manner - dirty water is unacceptable for tropheus.
It is best to keep Tropheus separately from other fish - however, Tropheus are very good friends with individuals of Tanganyika cichlids and bull cichlids - all these fish have a similar behavior and feeding habits.
Important! You should not overfeed tropheus - excessive food can stagnate in the stomach and contribute to fish disease.
Pseudotropheus
This is a bright African fish that has an aggressive character. In aquarium conditions it can grow up to 15 cm. The color of females and males is strikingly different - the male is bright orange, but the female has blue scales. These fish are very warlike and often attack small fish (they especially conflict with guppies) - therefore they cannot be placed in a common aquarium. Pseudotropheus can only get along with cichlids.
For Pseudotropheus, water quality is very important, in which it lives: the water should not contain ammonia and other harmful substances, and the temperature should reach 25°C. The volume of the aquarium must be at least 200 liters.
This fish is an omnivore: it eats algae, dry food, and brine shrimp meat well. It is better not to plant plants in an aquarium with pseudotropheus: they will quickly gnaw the plants or even tear them out by the roots.
Astronotus
One of the cichlid species is a fairly large fish that lives in the Amazon. Its size can reach 35 cm in length, so this fish is unsuitable for small aquariums. They are very aggressive - they can only be kept separately, one pair, in an aquarium of at least 200 liters in volume. Also, these predators have the habit of rebuilding their home to suit themselves - therefore, everything that is planted, built and placed in the aquarium will be dug up, bitten or broken.
Despite this aggressive type of behavior, these fish look attractive in appearance - they have a wide range of colors: blue, white, orange, green, etc.
Astronotus is a rather voracious fish. And although you only need to feed her once a day, the amount of food should be considerable. Astronotus readily eat both combined dry or frozen food, as well as moths, earthworms, small fish, and tadpoles. Under comfortable conditions, Astronotus can live up to 10 years.
Piranha
This fish does not need a detailed introduction - almost everyone knows about the aggressiveness of this predator. Its razor-sharp teeth can seriously injure, and its strong jaws can easily bite through human bone. Despite such alarming indicators, recently there are more and more people wanting to keep such fish as a pet. It is noteworthy that in an aquarium environment, piranhas lose their carnivorous and predatory qualities - but do not lose their aggressiveness.
It is best to keep them in a school of 4-5 individuals, separately from all other fish- however, this does not mean that piranhas will live peacefully next to each other. Not at all - there are quite frequent cases when they attack each other.
Large individuals can grow up to 30-40 cm - so you need to take care of a large aquarium for them, at least 200 liters. The basis of piranha nutrition is small and medium-sized fish (to maintain the instinct, it is necessary to introduce live fish), mollusks, worms, and tadpoles. When keeping such fish at home, you must not lose vigilance, especially during feeding: in a fit of aggression, the fish can attack the owner.
Did you know? The name piranha was given to the fish by the ancient Indians: translated from the Indian “pira” means “fish”, and “ranya” means “saw”.
Bryzgun
This unique fish from the ray-finned order lives in India, Australia, and the Philippines. These aquarium predator fish got their name from their ability to shoot a stream of water from their mouths, knocking down insects, which they subsequently eat. The length of such a shot can reach 2-3 meters, despite the small body size - only 5-7 cm in length. The body is slightly flattened and elongated, the color is cold shades with dark spots: gray, blue, steel.
For comfortable living conditions for the splasher, The water level in the aquarium should be a few centimeters below the edge of the aquarium (this will allow them not to lose their shooting skills). Splashers are omnivorous - they can be fed both food and live spiders, moths, worms, and small fish.
It is best to house the splashers separately from the rest - these predators will simply eat small fish. It is most comfortable for the mudfish to live in flocks of 5-6 individuals.
Auratus
This fish of the Cichlid family is found in African lakes. She is particularly aggressive and hostile towards all fish that are similar to her in appearance, size and type of behavior. It is not suitable for keeping in general aquariums: it chases small fish, attacks slow-moving catfish and eats the eggs of females.
This fish reaches 10 cm in length - its body is flat and elongated. The color of males is darker, brown, while that of females is golden yellow. Auratus are distinguished by longevity - under good conditions they can live up to 25 years. The water must be saturated with oxygen, have a fairly hard composition, reach at least 28°C, and be changed weekly. Live food is preferable - be it worms, small fish or shellfish.
Important! You cannot put several males and females of auratus in one aquarium - the males will fight, and only one, the strongest, will survive. Therefore, it is permissible to plant only one male on several females.
Arowana
This fish is very popular in Asia - it is believed to bring good luck, and therefore many keep it as a talisman. The arowana is sometimes called the “dragon fish” due to the characteristic structure of its tail, which resembles a crown. The body is elongated and can reach 100 cm in length. The color has noble shades: gold, purple, red. It is noteworthy that the arowana has no teeth - it swallows food.
In its diet, this predator prefers small fish, insects, small crayfish, and mollusks. This fish shows aggression towards any type of fish, so it is always kept separately from the rest (it is capable of attacking even its own relatives, like piranhas).
It is believed that its intelligence is well developed - it can remember and recognize its owner even after a long period of time.
Did you know? The red arowana is an endangered species, so their population is controlled and trapping is allowed in minimal quantities. In this regard, in Asia, everyone who keeps such fish in their home collection has a special certificate with permission.
Due to its size, such fish require an aquarium with a volume of at least 220 liters. The water temperature should reach 26°C and be updated every 2 weeks.
Thus, we looked at what types of fish there are, how predatory fish differ from peaceful ones, what determines their names, and what are the optimal living conditions for each species. Following these recommendations for proper care and maintenance will help you easily grow any type of fish at home.
Freshwater predators
Pike
In the reservoirs of Russia and Belarus, pike is widespread. But not everyone knows what size it can reach. Pike are sometimes taller than human height and weigh up to 60 kg. The maximum size of pike is 1.5 m, weight is 30-35 kg. She reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2-4 years. The lifespan of this fish is interpreted in different ways. The age limit for pike is 33. It is so predatory that it attacks everything, even its relatives. Pike is very strong, agile and tireless. There are cases when a pike attacked another pike, almost the same size as itself. Sometimes you can observe how a female pike in an artificial pond (spawning pond), after the completion of the “marriage ceremony” (spawning) and the birth of offspring, immediately “deals” with her “beloved”, especially since the males planted for spawning can be significantly smaller in size than females. However, for all its greed, the pike shows a certain pickiness. She prefers carp fish, bleak, roach, rudd, and crucian carp. He is very wary of spiny fish; ruff and perch. If a pike catches such a fish, it does not swallow it immediately, but holds it in its teeth until it stops moving.
Pike grows very quickly. In pond farms, pike fry, planted in ponds for joint cultivation with carp, with a sufficient amount of food in the form of trash fish, reach a weight of 350-400 g and 30-40 cm in length in one summer. In terms of growth rate, it occupies one of the first places among lake fish species spawning in spring. However, pike is not limited to just fish. It eats frogs and attacks ducks and other waterfowl. Pike does not disdain water rats, mice, shrews, squirrels and other small animals that swim across the pond. No wonder it is called the “thunderstorm” of the reservoir. Sometimes there is an opinion that pike, as a predator, causes great harm to fish stocks. This view is based on an incorrect assessment of the importance of any predator in nature in general and pike in particular, on exaggerated concepts of the number of fish it destroys. Pike is a regulator of the fish population: by eating small things of little value, sick and weak fish, it thereby enables larger and healthier fish to grow faster and produce healthier offspring. Pike is not a schooling fish. Both in rivers and lakes it stays in places with a moderate current, not very deep, grassy, snags near the banks. Pike is a completely sedentary fish and only in the spring, before spawning, does it rise up the river, and by winter it goes into the pools. She eats a lot, but digests food very slowly.
The color of the pike's body camouflages it well among overgrown vegetation. The pike usually attacks its prey from an ambush with a swift but short throw. However, she very rarely misses. Having missed, it usually does not repeat the attack, but returns to ambush to wait for another victim. The pike most often grabs its prey crosswise, but always swallows it from the head, unfolding it in its mouth with the movement of its jaws. Moreover, he does this on the move, without stopping in place after the throw. Catching it with self-catching gear is based on this habit.
Zander
Pike perch is a large predatory fish, reaching a length of up to 1 m or more, weighing up to 10, and some specimens up to 20 kg. It is found mainly in large rivers and lakes connected to them. Pike perch lives up to 15 years. Sexual maturity occurs at 4-5 years. Pike-perch fish can be called both sea and freshwater fish, since it is seen in large quantities both in the Azov, Aral, Black and Caspian seas, as well as in large lakes and rivers. Closer to the northern regions of Russia, as well as in the west and southwest of Europe, pike perch is rarely found or not found at all. This fish is found in reservoirs with clean water. Every year a certain group of lakes is stocked with young pike perch. Pike perch is a warm water fish. Grows best at a temperature of 15-18°. Does not tolerate lack of oxygen well. Under favorable conditions, its young grow quickly.
Within 2 years, pike perch can reach a weight of 1 kg or more. By nature of nutrition, pike perch is a carnivorous fish. During the first period, its juveniles feed mainly on zooplankton and partly on insect larvae and fish fry; later they switch to feeding on small fish, and in our conditions - bleak, verkhovka, small roach, etc. The pike perch is not able to capture large fish due to its small size. the size of the mouth and pharynx. Pike perch lives at different depths, depending on the location of its main food and temperature conditions during certain periods of the year. Unlike pike, it actively hunts for its prey and avoids areas with thickets, since here it itself can become food for the pike. It spawns at a temperature of about 15° in April - June, depending on the climatic conditions of the area. Pike perch is a schooling fish. It lives in deep snags, littered holes, quarries, ditches, old river beds, etc. However, the habitat of pike perch is not permanent. Where it was caught well the day before, it may not be there the next day. The catch of pike perch in reservoirs sometimes exceeds 400 c per year.
Burbot
Burbot is the only representative of the cod family that lives in fresh water. Burbot has a peculiar body shape, sharply different from other fish. It has a flattened head, the body towards the tail part on the sides is strongly compressed and elongated. The skin is dense, protected by delicate, small scales. It has two dorsal fins: the first is short, the second is long, the anal fin is of the same length. Burbot has a grayish-green back color with dark spots and stripes. The belly is sharply defined and has a whitish tint. The body is slippery; the burbot has one barbel on its chin. The way of life of burbot is also peculiar. He does not like sunlight, dozes during the day, and goes hunting at night. Burbot is an extremely greedy and insatiable predator. It eats other fish more than pike. Has a circumpolar distribution. Typically found in rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean. On the territory of Russia, burbot is distributed everywhere in reservoirs of the Arctic and temperate zones, in the basins of the Baltic, White, Black and Caspian seas and in the basins of all Siberian rivers from the Ob to Anadyr along their entire length. Burbot reaches a length of 1 m and a weight of up to 5 kg, although there are individual individuals weighing up to 24 kg. In our reservoirs, the weight of burbot reaches from 1 to 2 kg. Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 years. Very prolific. There are females that lay up to 3 million eggs. Spawns in January, when reservoirs are covered with a thick layer of ice. Burbot lives up to 22 years. Loves cold, clean water and is extremely susceptible to its pollution. In the summer months, when the water gets very hot, it goes into deep pools, dark places, and hides in holes, under snags, and stones. Becomes inactive. In hot weather, burbot does not feed. If a parking spot is discovered at this time, it can easily be caught with your hands. Burbot is a bottom-dwelling fish and, despite its lazy and sluggish appearance, swims very quickly and deftly. Adult burbot feeds on fish: most of all minnows, ruffes and small perches, and does not neglect its own young. Sometimes, during autopsy, over 40 perch weighing 3-5 g were found in the stomach of a burbot weighing up to 1.2 kg. Burbot produces especially severe devastation in winter, when its appetite increases, and other fish are more sleepy and lethargic than in summer, in recent years. years is less common in catches.
Perch
Perch is a typical representative of lakes and rivers. Like pike, it is most widely distributed in the reservoirs of Russia and Belarus. The average lifespan of a perch is 17 years. Sexual maturity occurs at 4-5 years. There is evidence that perch reaches a size of up to half a meter and a weight of 2 to 5 kg. In its predatory greed, perch is not inferior to pike. Unusually gluttonous. If there is a rich prey in front of him, he, having barely swallowed one fish, immediately after it swallows the second, etc., so that often the caught fry, not fitting in his stomach, stick out of his mouth. The perch sits in ambush for a long time, from where it rushes at prey or chases small fish. Perch will eat any fish, as long as it is the right size. Perches do not give mercy to their own offspring. They do not stop feeding either in autumn or winter. The favorite food of perch is the caviar of valuable fish species. In winter, when reservoirs are covered with a thick layer of ice, perch does not stop its predatory lifestyle, destroying baby fish. It is especially voracious after spawning. Spawns shortly after pike. At this time, a good time begins for fishing enthusiasts. Perch prefers cool water and does not like to swim near the surface of the water, but when schools of small fish appear there, which it hunts, it immediately rises from the depths. However, he does not live at the very bottom, but stays not far from it. The perch swims actively during the day, and after sunset it stops moving and seems to doze off. Doesn't handle heat very well. At this time, he hides in shady places or plants, and then continues hunting.
Som
Catfish is one of the largest freshwater predatory fish. Reaches sizes up to 5 m in length, and sometimes weighs over 300 kg. Such giants, scientists believe, are usually 80-100 years old. Catfish does not disdain anything when it comes to nutrition. Eats mollusks, frogs, even large fish. Ducks, geese, water rats and other birds and animals that swim in the catfish’s habitat often end up in the catfish’s mouth. Catfish spawn in spring or early summer, in clean and quiet water on “nests”. The female uses her pectoral fins to dig a nest in the ground in the form of a hole, into which she lays eggs. The number of eggs reaches 130 thousand. Females lay eggs at the age of 4-5 years at a water temperature of 18-20°. Catfish are among the caring parents. After spawning, the fertilized eggs are protected in “nests”. In the fall, catfish go to winter, often lying down in pits in quite large groups, burying their heads in the silt. Catfish are caught with hooks, cast nets, and fishing traps. Catfish is a strong fish. Experienced fishermen say: if you catch a catfish on a fishing rod, it’s not so easy to pull it out. Fighting him at the very beginning promises many surprises. It happens that it is not the fisherman who catches the catfish, but the catfish that leads the fisherman along with the boat. Feeling the resistance of the tackle, he tries to overcome it with a rapid movement in a straight line. There is no point in holding him back at this moment. You should release 20-30 cm of line, sometimes more, avoiding fighting at a short distance. The further the predator goes from the shore, the more tired it becomes and the more realistic the angler’s chances of winning. In the process of fishing, the catfish gets tired and lies on the bottom. Then it's easy to take.
Catfish meat is tasty, contains a lot of fat and few bones. Catfish can be bred in special ponds where there is a lot of low-value fish. By eating it, it grows relatively quickly. Catfish live in deep-sea reservoirs, whirlpools, near dams near old mills, and in snags.
Chub
Chub, one of the most beautiful fish in our reservoirs. When we say “ours,” we mean the reservoirs of the Lipetsk region, although this is probably true for the entire central zone of Russia. Here is what, for example, Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev writes about him - a description of the chub: “...The chub is very beautiful. Its back is dark green, almost black, its sides are silver with a yellowish tint, the edges of individual scales are shaded by a shiny dark border consisting of black dots; the pectoral fins are orange, the pelvic and anal fins have a reddish tint, and the dorsal and especially tail feathers are dark blue, sometimes somewhat sparkling; the eyes are comparatively very large, shiny, with a brownish-green spot on top. In general, a large chub comes closest to an ide, but is much longer, thicker and broad-browed than the latter...”
Chubs have dark dorsal and caudal fins with black edging along the edges. Most likely this is due to the characteristics of the habitat, so in some other rivers the colors and appearance may differ slightly from the above. “In rivers”, because it is in small rivers and in the upper reaches of large rivers, where there is an abundance of rifts and springs with cold water, that it is most numerous: here it is easier for it to withstand food competition with other predators, there is an abundance of food both from the sky and from bottom in the form of all kinds of larvae, crustaceans and grass, and in addition there is also a huge amount of juvenile fish, which he eats with pleasure.
Ocean and sea predators
Shark
Among large predatory fish, the most famous are sharks, 20 families of which include about 250 species. About 50 of their species are clearly and potentially dangerous to humans; attacks from 29 species have been documented. It is practically difficult to distinguish predatory species from non-predatory ones. Therefore, you should be wary of any shark 1-2 m long or more, with the exception of the largest (up to 10-15 m long) whale shark that feeds on plankton.
The most dangerous to humans are the great white shark, or “man-eating shark,” which has a length of up to 11 m, the tiger shark, the mako shark and the Australian shark. Hammerhead sharks also attack humans; their heads have two large projections on the sides, with eyes located on the outer edges of them. There are no life-threatening sharks in Russian territorial waters, with the exception of the Sea of Japan, where they can be found in the summer. In the Black Sea there are 2 species of small sharks: the katran ("sea dog", "spiny shark") up to 1-1.5 m long and the small (up to 1 m) spotted scyllium shark. These sharks can bite only accidentally due to careless behavior of the diver. The katran, bending its body in an arc, can quickly inflict a cut and a prick with a thorny thorn. These wounds are very painful and take a long time to heal.
Large sharks inflict the most severe wounds, which in 50-80% of cases lead to the death of the victim from bleeding and shock. The compression force of a shark's jaws reaches 18 tf. With a few bites, a shark can dismember a person's body into pieces. The tough skin of a shark can damage soft wetsuits or wetsuits and cause severe skin abrasions. A shark can detect the vibrations in the water of a noisily swimming person up to 200 m away, long before it smells blood. Shark attacks are most common in tropical and subtropical waters between 3 and 4 p.m.
Moray
Moray eels are also dangerous, reaching a length of 3 m with a body thickness of 30 cm. They hide in underwater caves, crevices, thickets of vegetation and corals. If a person suddenly appears near the shelter of a moray eel or injures it, then it can inflict deep painful wounds with its teeth. Cases of death of divers who were unable to free their hand from the death grip of a moray eel are described. It is widely believed that when a moray eel bites, it introduces poison into the wound. However, the toxicity of moray eels has not been reliably established, and most researchers consider them non-poisonous.
Electric fish
Some fish can give an electric shock to humans. These include the electric catfish, electric eel and several species of electric fox rays, which are widespread in tropical and temperate oceans. Found in the Black, Japanese and Barents Seas. They live in shallow waters and spend most of their time at the bottom, burying themselves in the sand. Electric eels and stingrays are capable of producing electrical discharges with voltages ranging from 8 to 350 V or more. When touching a large electric stingray, the current discharge can be so strong that it knocks a person off his feet and causes severe weakness, dizziness, and disturbances in cardiac activity and breathing. The current of an electric eel is quite weak (usually fractions of an ampere), but sometimes short current discharges with a frequency of up to 300 pulses per second and a power of 1 kW (500V2 A) are possible. Providing first aid and treating lesions by predatory fish is carried out according to the general rules of surgical treatment of wounds. Measures are taken to stop the bleeding, anti-shock therapy is carried out, tetanus toxoid is administered, and antibiotics are prescribed. The victim must be hospitalized as soon as possible.
In case of electric shock, the patient needs rest; anti-shock treatment is carried out according to indications. Recovery is usually uneventful. Preventing injuries from predatory and dangerous fish involves taking precautions when diving in areas where dangerous marine animals live. Divers must be instructed about the possibility of the appearance of these animals, safety measures and the protective equipment used (repellents, emitters of various designs, shelter pavilions, available protective equipment, etc.). Descents must be carried out by a group of divers of at least two people, one of whom is a belayer and watches for the appearance of predators. Divers should wear waterproof clothing, as it has been observed that a shark is much less likely to attack a clothed person than a naked one. Diving equipment must be painted in a single dark color. Close to the divers there should be a shelter-gazebo with the door pre-opened and secured. At the launch site there should be a boat with a safety diver and a crew for all-round observation of the water surface and scaring off sea predators. During diving operations in areas where dangerous marine animals live, it is strictly prohibited to throw food waste overboard.
Other marine predators
No less dangerous than a shark is the swordfish, which has a length of up to 4.5 m and is armed with a hard bone sword. Large barracudas, the length of which reaches 2-3 m, swim quickly and can suddenly and rapidly attack, inflicting serious, intractable wounds on a person with their sharp large teeth. Barracudas are sensitive to brightly colored objects and movement of water. The sailfish can seriously injure a person with a blow from a sword that secretes mucus. An ulcer forms at the site of the lesion, prone to suppuration.
Human behavior when encountering a marine predator
Divers must move underwater calmly and smoothly, exercise attention and caution, avoid contact with unfamiliar representatives of marine fauna, and inspect narrow areas only with a pole or probe. If predators appear, the diver must immediately report to the director of the descent, cut the bag of repellent and go into the refuge shelter or go upstairs, using a diving knife, if necessary, to protect against the predator. In the absence of a refuge shelter, divers must rise simultaneously “back to back,” repelling predators with improvised means. In some cases, the shark was driven away by hitting it on the nose, eyes or gills. When in an area where sharks may appear, a diver should get out of the water if he receives even a minor scratch. Diving work in areas inhabited by dangerous marine animals is prohibited:
- at night without the use of special shelters or underwater houses;
- in places where networks are installed and sampled, sewage water outlets, waste water from meat and fish processing plants and other food enterprises;
- in the presence of bleeding wounds and abrasions on the diver’s body;
- when large marine predators appear;
- immediately after underwater blasting in the area.
Now it's the predators' turn. I bring to your attention a brief overview of popular types of predators. A lot of fishermen give their preference to predators. Well, let's get started.
In all its appearance it resembles a torpedo capable of overtaking a victim at high speed. A strong fish, it feeds not only on small fish, but also on everything that comes to hand. There have been cases where both water mice and small muskrats were found in the pike’s stomach. The length can reach over 1.5 meters and weigh 30-35 kg. Its color completely depends on the environment; if there is a lot of greenery around, then the pike takes on a more greenish color. This allows her to remain unnoticed by the rest of the fish. Pike spawns at 3-5 degrees around the same time when the ice on the rivers begins to melt. It is readily caught both with a worm and with all possible wobblers, spinners and, of course, with live bait.
Zander. The pike's younger brother. The relatively small size of its mouth does not allow it to hunt large fish. Therefore, pike perch most often feed on small fish, frogs and small crustaceans. It is well caught using wobblers, spinners, and live bait. Very rarely stands in one place constantly moving in search of food. Reaches a size of one meter and weighs 15-20 kg. Loves running water and plenty of oxygen. Spawns in warm water of 12-15 degrees. Has gastronomic value.
(aka sailor, aka sailor.) Like pike, it is very common in the post-Soviet space. Perch reaches relatively small sizes, about 0.5 meters long and weighing up to 5 kg. Like all predators, it feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It does not disdain the fish and its own kind; it can easily snack on smaller fish. Lives both in rivers and lakes with clean water. It continues to lead an active life even under ice, which is why it has earned popularity among winter fishing enthusiasts. Spawning takes place after the ice melts at a temperature of 7-8 degrees.
Burbot. It feels good in cold water, so it spawns in the winter from December to February. At the first frost it shows good activity and shows an excellent bite. Just like perch and pike, they can eat smaller fish of their own species. Reaches a size of just over a meter and weighs up to 7 kg. Distributed in northern latitudes.
. This can be said to be a dinosaur among river freshwater fish, it can reach over 5 meters and weigh 300-350 kg. The catfish reaches this size by the age of 90-100 years. Spawning occurs in warm water. The catfish menu includes everything from small fish to ducks. Basically, the catfish spends its entire life at the bottom in search of food. In winter, they rest in pits more often in small groups. They do not feed in winter. Catfish is a strong fish, which is why it has earned the love of fishermen. Those fishermen who were lucky enough to catch a catfish never forget these moments of fighting with a catfish.
Ruff. The schooling fish is not large in size. An adult ruff barely reaches 10-15 centimeters in length. Loves quiet backwaters with a soft bottom and little vegetation. It feeds on insect larvae and can eat the eggs of other fish species, almost completely exterminating this species in the reservoir. Doesn't disdain young animals either.
That's the whole story of the famous river predators. Write your comments, critics and wishes, I will be glad for any opinion and healthy criticism. That's all for now.