The body is elongated, slightly compressed laterally, with a flat abdominal line, up to 17 cm long. Lower mouth, in the form of a suction cup scraper with two pairs of antennae. Colors: body from gray-green to black, tail fin red. Fins in males are red, anal - with a black border. There is an albino form (red eyes and fins).
The males are in conflict, especially with each other. They are kept at the bottom and in the middle layers of water.
Aquarium from 70 liters, planted with plants, with shelters. Lighting is moderate. Aeration, filtration and regular water changes. The water is preferably peaty, the temperature is around 25 ° C, pH 6.5-7.2.
Feed: live ( bloodworms , tubule ), vegetable, dry. They become sexually mature in 1-2 years. Spawning at home requires a spacious spawning (from 120 l) and active aeration. Spawning is usually stimulated by hormonal injections. Temperature around 27 ° C, hardness up to 4 ° dH, pH 6.5. Fertility is up to 5000 eggs. Caviar is incubated in 20-liter vessels with constant aeration. The incubation period is 14-16 hours. After 3-4 days, fry begin to swim and eat. They feed with ciliates, rotifers, algae from the walls of the aquarium, boiled yolk.
