How to Keep Bitterling? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions
Catching fish and feeling for shrimp exists in the childhood memories of many adults. A kind of flat, brightly colored fish in the sunlight in small streams is even more a scene in those memories. Only after growing up did we learn that it is the bitterling, now a kind of native ornamental fish. Below, the editor will introduce to everyone how to keep bitterling?
1. Mixed keeping
A single Chinese bitterling placed into a fish tank will feel lonely and frightened, dashing about wildly, but in groups they are much bolder and can swim patrols back and forth. They are gentle in temperament and can be kept mixed with all kinds of fish.
2. Water temperature
When keeping them, pay attention that the water temperature is not too hot; the suitable water temperature is 14-28°C, and it is best not to exceed 30 degrees. They are not picky about water quality.
3. Feed
Bitterling eat almost anything: algae, bread crumbs, earthworms and so on, they will all eat, so what they eat need not be too particular, but be careful not to feed too much at once.
4. Breeding
Bitterling breeding is rather interesting; bitterling and freshwater mussels can be called beloved relatives and close friends, and the two sides serve as foster mothers for each other's offspring. So if the fish you keep are to breed, you also need to keep a freshwater mussel in the fish tank.
Bitterling are a type of beautiful and lively small cyprinid fish, widely distributed across Eurasia except for the tropical regions of the Oriental realm.
Because of their brilliant coloration and unique breeding habits, they are loved by many fish enthusiasts. There are many kinds of bitterling, among which the ones most suitable for tank keeping are mainly the genus Rhodeus and the genus Tanakia; they are rich in color, moderate in body size, and strong in adapting to new environments, while the genus Acheilognathus is mainly silvery white, relatively plain in color, with adults somewhat larger in body size and strong in wild nature, suitable for keeping by advanced hobbyists.