the Skalare or Segelflosser from the Orinoco and Amazon-stream-area belongs to our most popular and most representative ornament-fish.
System One usually distinguishes 3 - 4 types by the current literature: The actual Skalar (Pterophyllum scalare, that gave the name "Skalare" to the whole type), the high Segelflosser (P). altum, and the Dumeril-Skalar (P). dumerilii; in 1963, P still came. leopoldi to it. In our aquariums, P becomes almost exclusive. scalare and its breeding-forms (veils, smoke, Goldskalar) looked after.
Shape Skalare are lateral very strongly compressed and high-re-y fish, this, as the discus-fish, deviates considerably from the typical colorful-perch-shape. The backs -, and the anus-fin is sail-nicely increased and taken off the stomach-fins long. Pterophyllum scalare reaches a height of 26 cm and a length of 15 cm (P). altum somewhat small. Skalare are very typical in the coloring: Four black cross-bandages, that fade according to origin, mood and well-being or become more strongly evident, proceed on silvery reason. The real Pterophyllum altum should carry additionally dark stains on the body-sides, P. dumerilii against it wedge-shaped strips, P. leopoldi only until 22 soft anus-fin-rays.
Way of life Standing waters or quiet water-runs with dense Uferbepflanzung, that offers coverage amply to the animals, are the habitat of the here and there very frequent Skalare. After Ladiges, they also live in Guyana in cliff-hands rivers.
Skalare are open-breeders, that don't tack its eggs in ground-pits or on stones ablaichen but at water-plants, however. The pair-formation often occurs with them; such a pair can stay together on lifetime, approximately 15 years. Both parents-animals guard its brood, who counts 1000 young-fish occasionally, devoting.
Attitude Skalare are very peacefully and therefore excellent for the society-aquarium suitable in contrast to many other colorful-perches. Only during the spawn-time, rough-nesses can occur. they feel in high, spacious aquariums with highly rising Bepflanzung the best. The feeding takes place with all the current life and fodder. Skalare are very modest boarders and extremely long-lived. they need quiet shelters in the aquarium between narrow-flaky plants. One should be on guard to socialize it with fishings, that constantly pluck at its fins, Z. B. Then, Sumatra-barbels (Blutsalmler) extremely become Skalare shyly and fearfully.
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