If you like fish and want to start your own aquarium, the Devil fish should be on your list yes or yes. Said fish is a great acquisition for your aquarium, because with it brings a very large number of benefits. And better yet, very simple care. You may know it by other names, such as catfish, old lady of the water, glass sucker, place or plecostomus.
Unfortunately, many hobbyists only use Devilfish to get rid of algae in their aquarium. Many think that algae are their only food. This is a mistake, because the algae do not feed it enough and it needs a diet to stay healthy. Like any fish, it has its needs, which many people decide to ignore and this results in an early death.
To avoid this, you must inform yourself about the Devil fish and all the care it needs. For this reason, today we are going to talk about it so that you have no doubts about this fabulous fish.
Characteristics of the Devil Fish
First of all, you should know that the scientific name of the Devil fish is Hypostasesplecostomus, and it is native to South America and Central America. It is a fish of rivers and lakes, and its natural habitat consists of shallow and sandy waters. Its distribution is in the Amazon basin, mostly in the Orinoco River.
Despite this, the Devil fish is also found in some rivers in Mexico. It is an invasive species in this country and in fact represents a threat to a large number of endemic species.
Some of its characteristics vary between the wild state and captivity. For example, while in the wild it can reach 50 centimeters, in captivity it commonly only reaches 30 centimeters. It does not have scales; instead, it uses bony layers to protect itself from predators.
Also, its life expectancy is 15 years, but with proper care it can even approach 30. Their coloration can vary, but not very widely. As a general rule, it is brown with darker spots, or completely black.
The Devil fish is a nocturnal fish. He won’t be interacting much during the day, so you should feed him at night. In the wild, it usually feeds mostly on algae and small crustaceans. Below we tell you how you can feed it in captivity.
It is extremely peaceful and may not even pay attention to the other fish in the tank. Of course, this will be as long as they are of different species. It can become very territorial with fish of the same species.
Regarding reproduction as living beings. Not possible in captive state. At least, to date, it has not been achieved. This is perhaps due to the fact that they tend to be aggressive among themselves for territorial reasons; apart from the fact that sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced. In any case, they lay their eggs among the rocks and are guarded by both the male and the female.
Instructions
Although you can get Devil Fish for sale, you may want to catch them yourself. If so, let us explain how and where you can do it.
The Devil fish is present from Costa Rica to Uruguay, although there are greater numbers in Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana. If you want to see it, your reference points will be rivers or lakes with sandy or gravel bottoms and shallow depths. In fact, you can see it in any freshwater environment. This is because he is not very fussy about the condition of the water.
It is best to find out about places in your area that host the Devil fish. Once you proceed to fish it, keep in mind that it is a fish that swims on the bottom. Apart from this, it has a considerable amount of spines (on its fins, back and sides) so you must be careful when handling it. Likewise, its spines and three needles (located on the dorsal fin and on both ventral fins) are capable of breaking webs. Carry a strong net.
Its needles produce wounds that hurt a lot and in some cases even represent a threat due to the toxins it contains. Be very careful when handling it and never touch it with your bare hands.
In case you don’t want to catch it yourself, don’t worry, Devil fish can be found in stores. In recent years, it has become more commercial due to its ability to maintain aquarium hygiene. Thanks to this, it should not be too difficult for you to get them if you live in an area close to the habitat of the fish (for example, Central or South America). Otherwise, your search may be more difficult.
You can start your search in stores specializing in the sale of fish. It is not very common that you find it in ordinary pet stores. In case you have no luck, you can do an online search and broaden your horizons. Look for it by its scientific name, Hypostases Plecostomus
Choosing a pet fish
The fish, contrary to popular belief, are much more than part of the decoration. Although they don’t make as much noise as dogs or cats and don’t display their discomfort as blatantly, they are still worthy of attention. If you want to have a fish as a pet, you must realize that they are just as important as any other animal.
That said, we will leave you with a series of tips so that you can decide which species of fish is best for you as a pet. You must take into account your tastes, your time and your disposition.
- Take into account the space available. Some fish need more room to swim than others. Therefore, you must take into account the size of the fish tank that you can buy for it. If you have a large fish tank, the Devil Fish can be a great option. If, on the other hand, you have a smaller fish tank, a classic goldfish can fit perfectly in it.
- In addition, you must take into account its size. The fish you see in pet stores are babies and therefore small, but they grow quickly . Find out how much it will grow to know if you can have it in your fish tank.
- When buying it, look at your health. Pay attention to their colors. Very pale or whitish colors indicate poor health. The same indicates scales, black spots and fins rolled, split or with protuberances.
- Take into account the time you are willing to give it. All fish need attention, but some less than others. If you are a very busy person, discard very demanding fish. Keep in mind that having a fish means giving it food about twice a day, washing the fish tank a couple of times a month, among other things. Beta fish, goldfish, or dancers do not need much care.
- Avoid very low prices. Compare prices between fish of similar species. If there is an alarmingly low price, this may be a sign of poor health or mistreatment. Do not succumb to the temptation of a bargain, because you could be disappointed later.
In this way, you will be able to choose a fish that suits your lifestyle and taste. Remember to give them the time and attention they need, otherwise they will die and it will be very sad. A fish as a pet will teach you to have responsibilities and apart from that they will look very nice in your house
What do you need
Devil fish have a few needs when it comes to aquarium conditioning. Although it is not very demanding in terms of water conditions, attention should be given to other needs.
First of all, it is a fish that grows fast and in abundance. Sometimes it can be up to half a meter long, so even though it is small at the time of purchase, it needs room to swim. An aquarium of 300 to 400 liters of capacity is necessary for your comfort. Likewise, plants are very important, as they provide the fish with a tool to protect itself from light. Remember that it is a nocturnal fish and light can disturb it.
The best choice of substrate is coarse gravel . The Devil fish is large, so if you choose to have an ornament you should make sure it is strong. Otherwise, the fish will easily drag them. The same will happen with the vegetation.
If possible, put a log in the aquarium. Through them the fish obtains a substance called cellulose. This substance will favor your digestive system and keep you happy and healthy.
Finally, keep in mind that although the Devil Fish is a very peaceful fish, it can become very territorial with its own kind. This will cause him to become aggressive with others. Keep that in mind if you want to have more than a single Devil fish in your tank.
A common misconception is that Devilfish only feed on algae and food debris in the aquarium . In fact, a Devil fish can wipe out an algae infestation in a single night. After this, it will run out of food and die.
To ensure that he enjoys a good diet, you can give him lettuce, cabbage or spinach. You must boil them beforehand and tie them to a rock so that they sink to the bottom and the fish can eat them. You can also use commercial preparations rich in algae and vitamins.
Tips
After having read everything that can be known about the Devil fish, you should intuit that it is a great option for your aquarium. However, here we make a summary so that you can see it more clearly and encourage yourself to obtain one.
Perhaps the best part about the Devil fish is that it helps you when it comes to cleaning your aquarium. Well earned, it has the name in some areas of ” glass cleaner“. Our fish tends to eat food residues in the aquarium, and apart from that, it kills algae pests in a jiffy . With the Devil fish, the cleaning of our aquarium will last longer.
In addition to this, it is ideal for community aquariums because it does not usually pay attention to other fish species. It is very peaceful and will not disturb other fish as long as they are not of the same species.
In addition, its diet is simple , and it does not require special water care, since it is not very demanding. This, however, does not mean that you should neglect it. On the contrary, it deserves the attention you give each and every one of your fish.
