Actually the name "parrot" does not apply to any one type of fish. Under it may hide very different bright and colorful fish. Yes, not only fish, but a real fish. For example, parrot tropical fish that live in the coral reefs, reach two meters long. And in the forest rivers and freshwater lakes of Central Africa live small fish-parrots. That these fish and the Central African resettled in our aquariums, about them and it.

Portrait sketch

Aquarium parrots belong to the order Perciformes and family of cichlids. This is a fairly large aquarium fish. Parrot reaches desyatisantimetrovyh length. Its elongated and flat on the sides of the body is painted in yellow-brown or blue-gray color. Back in his dark, and on each side (from the tail to the mouth) wide strip is black. Colours of the abdomen, most likely, and owe their name, these fish - a parrot "pestreet" is below. His abdomen seemed to be highlighted with colored spotlights: bright red in the middle, pearl-green closer to the head and at the tail bluish.

The males differ from the females not so much the size as the characteristic markings on the tail - a few dark spots, which sometimes merge. And his tail and dorsal fin sometimes bordered with gold stripe top and rear fins always pointed.

Features of behavior

And some interesting features of the behavior of the fish, in general, it is peaceful, while the case does not concern procreation. During spawning, it becomes very aggressive (and therefore breeding parrot fish presents some difficulty). Another interesting and respect for the territorial integrity males. He creates his personal territory and vigilantly from all its guards. The only exception he makes for his girlfriend, which is allowed to be present in its territory. By the way, the aquarium fish are monogamous, they form permanent couples, and live mainly in the lower and middle layer of water.

No less interesting behave aquarium fish, parrots and during spawning. First, a pair of parrots is preparing a place for the future offspring: a female cleans the walls of the shelter, and the male vigilantly protected areas. Having prepared the house (where they live) to spawn, the female partner demonstrates its multi-colored belly, telling about the readiness for the sacrament, and lures him into the house where the spawn. It is interesting to watch and to see how the parents "graze" their flock left on walk fry. If one of them decides to fight back from the pack, you will immediately be caught by one of the parents, and I will plant in place.

Features of content

The content of parrot fish does not present any difficulty. But there are nuances. Given the territorial nature of the behavior of these fish, they do not recommend to include other species (this complicates their breeding). While dwelling in the lower layers of the water, they can live peacefully with "verhoplavayuschimi" neighbors. Nevertheless, I advise aquarists keep parrots in pairs, which developed during the schooling fry habitat. And they say, and that several pairs of the same litter (brothers and sisters) may coexist in the same territory.

To keep the number of pairs required tank volume of sixty liters. It is also necessary to equip the habitat of caves and caverns, which should be located at a distance from each other and from the place where you are going to feed their fish. What should be covered? Yes, plenty, but less than the couples themselves. In addition to the caves at the bottom of the aquarium, it is desirable to set the driftwood and rocks, as well as "ensure" sclerophyllous thickets of seaweed. And remember that coexist peacefully aquarium parrot fish can only if its own territory each pair.

Acceptable "quality" water aquarium parrots: the temperature of 24-26 ° C, pH 6.5-7.5 with PN and stiffness dH 6-15 °. Besides the water have to be filtered and updated weekly on the thirty per cent. As for feeding, the food is unpretentious parrot fish. Feed can be any live and dry food with herbal supplements. A breeding these fish is not complicated, subject to the rules of the territorial independence.

"Other", or Red Parrot

Unusual aquarium fish red parrot - is artificially bred hybrid of different types of tsihlazom. He kind of looks unusual: lower lip strongly curved, the head is visually separated from the trunk, and behind the head rises hump. By the way, scientists have linked such exotic appearance with physiological disturbances. Red parrot fish grows up to twenty-five centimeters in length and has a bright fiery red, orange or yellow. Incidentally, to maintain the brightness of the color feed these fish with the recommended food additives carotene.

Like any interspecific hybrids, red parrot can not procreate (but instinctively trying to do so), and breeding of this fish naturally impossible. However, such breeding feint at the hands of those aquarists who do not welcome the reproduction of fish in your aquarium.

The content of the red parrot is quite simple. Feed it can be dry and live food, but you can not overfeed. No matter how much food you have not poured, gluttonous red parrot eat it anyway, so all the uneaten food from the aquarium should be clean. The optimum size of the aquarium for the content of red parrot - from two hundred liters, the best neighbors - catfish, barbs, Labe and South American cichlids. With the right content, these hybrids live up to ten summer. But in general, red parrot - unpretentious and peaceful fish, different endurance and good health. All kinds of fish disease parrots him uneasy, and even if he suddenly zaneduzhit, treatment usually is successful.

The conclusion, or the myth of the "mini"

If you offer to buy a parrot in the version "mini" that do not fall into this trap! No aquarium parrots "mini" (their withdrawal has not yet started). Mini - a fiction, a myth! Disguised version of the "mini" you offer special form chernopolosoy tsihlazomy (chernopolosika), who painted a fish-parrot. And grow these "mini" to the size of a conventional chernopolosika and no less aggressive, and live as much as they should, and feed it under the Rules. So be careful!

Good winter shaggy and fluffy! Its coat - warm and natural. But what about those who are at the whim of Nature or breeders such clothing are not allowed? Or he has, but so small that even his own coat in cold weather does not help? Then, to help their pets we come: dress up, warmed, insulated as we can. Someone gets ready clothing for pets, "Merzlyakov," and someone sew or knit her own hands. And if crafts for you not empty, there is a good excuse to make his skillful hands to rescue merznuschih legs, backs and tummies - Knitting for Dogs.

The fact that many small breeds really freezing on the street. And haired dogs of large breeds (Dobermans, boxers, bull terriers and even dogs) can easily freeze on the walk. And if your four-legged darling of already in old age, any size, any "quality" hair do not matter, he will still suffer from the cold in the cold and the damp in the rain. But there is a solution. You know how to knit or crochet Knitting? Excellent! Then, knitting his hands on the dogs you can do it in a jiffy! At "one" are measures taken at the expense of "two" knit clothes. Began?

Take measurements for a dog clothes

If the clothes for your dog, we do not want to tie the "as received", and as expected, the approach this professionally. We arm measuring tape, pencil on paper, to catch the model and get down to business. The dog was put on a flat surface (floor, table) and explain to her that it must be correct: evenly on all four limbs, with your back straight and head erect, and the front legs also keep in parallel. Once the dog is imbued with the importance of the moment and take the right position, we proceed to Tonnage Measurement.

Removing measurements, keep centimeter tape is snug but not tight-fitting, and make the following measurements:

1. Height at the withers - height from the floor to the highest part of the back.
2. Back length - the distance from the withers to the base of the tail.
3. Bust measure, holding measuring tape over the shoulder and armpit.
4. Waist (back, abdomen).
5. The width of the chest - the distance between the underarm forepaws.
6. The height of the front feet (from the armpits to the floor).
7. The height of the hind legs (from the inner part of the thigh to the floor).
8. The length of the trunk under the belly (from front to rear paws).
9. The length of the hind legs (from the floor to the base of the tail).

Measurements for caps:

1. The distance between the ears (from ear to ear across the top of the head).
2. Horizontal head circumference (in the nose and neck, below the ears).
3. Vertical head circumference (in temechko under the chin).

  Knit blanket

This is the easiest option knitting dogs. Blankets - Clothing universal. It is suitable for small breeds, and of larger pets. It is believed that the blankets are especially convenient for sleek and active dogs: they are well heated, but do not hold down movement. Assign blanket can be like needles or crochet, and special pattern for it is not required.

Basis blankets - Triangle (scarf). It is suitable for any kind of simple knitted (Shawl, hosiery), a dense web of columns without nakida. If you knit this pattern knitting clothes, start at the corner and knit, adding loops on the sides. For those who crochet, it might make sense to start knitting the opposite side gussets - up to the corner. However, knit as you feel comfortable, important that the length of blankets from the corner to the base was slightly greater than the length of the back of the dog. The central corner "headscarf" vyvyazhite loop that will cling to the tail. That's it - the most simple blanket ready.

Putting it on the dog, put the dog back on the blanket, thread the tail loop blankets, scarves and two end cross onto the chest and attach to the sides (so it is convenient to fix the blanket for dogs of small breeds). Or you can make a loop and sew on buttons, or use the usual Velcro. "Extra" edge wrap scarves around the neck like a collar.

Knit sophisticated clothes

Blankets - the easiest, but not the only model clothes for dogs. Assign your own hands and you can jacket and overalls, and a sweater. The preferred knit things like needles, starting from the neck, and then - on the pattern. This pattern largely universal. Contact me by her only three items, you will get a ready basis for a jacket or sweater and overalls.

After all, the dog comfortable sewing knitting? You can easily adjust the size and shape of parts simple subtraction and addition of loops, as well as just nadvyazat missing trousers and sleeves knit in a circle. For example, for the vests need to link all three parts and sew them, leaving free the armhole to the neck and front paws. For sweater - type of aerial loops and armholes vyvyazat "sleeve." And if you decide to tie their own hands jumpsuit, then proceed as follows.

1. Tie the details of the pattern.
2. Sew them, leaving free the armholes, neck, place the tail (and under the tail), and for boys - and under the belly.
3. Type of armholes air loops and tie the leg to the front paws.
4. Tie a piece of cloth that closes the stomach from the bottom (between the hind legs), and sew it to the costume.
5. From the resulting armholes and enter the air loop and tie the hind leg.

Crochet dog of this pattern is equally simple and crochet, and knitting - it all depends on what you are able to work.

Knit cap

Assign a cap with his hands easier than "serious" piece of clothing. And for many small breeds are not just decoration, but really necessary accessory. For example, the Mexican hairless Chinese Crested dog or without a cap in the cold can easily catch a cold. So try to start to replenish their wardrobe is a favorite of the headdress.

To link the cap to the spokes, we collect the number of loops of calculating the volume of the head. Start knitting from the muzzle to the neck in a circle. Dovyazav to the base of the ears, divide the knitting into two parts: the front and the occipital. Knit the front of the cap, closing the loop of the hole under the ears. By linking the desired height (up to the beginning of the crown), the transfer of the open loop to a secondary thread. Also, knit and back. Then all of the open loop to collect needles and continue knitting in a circle, gradually diminishing the loop on the top. Top hats do rounded and decorate pompom or brush.

For small breeds can be attributed hat with ears. If you are knitting needles, you try to knit it as well as the previous model, but then out of the holes for the ears type air loops and tie "cheholchiki ear." If you crochet, knit the two parts by type pants two halves, where the "leg" - the ears. And then the related items just sew or crochet connect.

So knitting for dogs can be not only fun and "honing skills." Related clothes with their hands will protect them from the cold, and therefore cold. What can please the mistress of more than good health and a good mood beloved dog?