Homaloptera orthogoniata (Homaloptera orthogoniata) Vaillant, 1902
Khomaloptera orthogoniata, also called the flat-footed patterned, homaloptera orchid or loach-lizard is found in nature and even more rarely in decorative aquariums. This is due to the difficulties of transportation, acclimatization and keeping the fish in captivity.
All species of Homaloptera are very interesting aquarium inhabitants and are often referred to as loaches / breeders “lizards” due to their behavior and appearance.
Habitat: it was previously assumed that they were distributed throughout most of Indochina, but more recent studies have shown that these are endemics for the island of Borneo.
Homaloptera Lizardfish Habitat .
Residents of fast streams and the upper reaches of rivers containing oxygen-rich water, most likely, prefer smaller places.
The bottom, as a rule, consists of gravel, stones, boulders or bedrock, with biofilm formed on them in the form of algae and other microorganisms. Aquatic plants are present only occasionally, but the coastal vegetation is usually well developed.
Description: the body and head of the fish are flattened, the line of the belly is straight. On the lower mouth there are several pairs of antennae. Eyes small, gill cavity and pharynx dilated.
Pharyngeal teeth, which may be eight or more are arranged in one row, there is no millstone. The dorsal and anal fins are small, short and do not have spines.
The abdominal and thoracic on the contrary are large and well developed with a horizontal structure, which is what caused the name of flatfoot.
Freshly-caught H. orthogoniata specimen, Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.
These fins form from the bottom of the body of the fish a kind of sucker, with whose help the homealopter can be kept on the surface of the stones even with a rapid flow of water. The function of the pectoral fins is to create a vacuum in the suction cup. The belly and head without scales, on the rest of the body it is very small.
Due to its unusual structure of the skin and the manner of moving with sharp “jumps”, the fish has been called creep-lizard as if crawling from surface to surface.
Males differ from full females in smaller sizes, elegance and bright colors.
Many records of size up to 120 mm correspond to other types of Homalopter, the maximum size of samples from Borneo is about 95 mm.
Arrangement and parameters of the aquarium: in nature, the fish-lizard lives in fast high-mountain rivers with cool water saturated with oxygen, so the aquarium will need a spacious, better species, and the size of the reservoir should be selected depending on the number of fish. Life in nature is spent in flocks and six or more fish should be acquired for keeping, when kept separately or in small groups, it becomes less active and more fearful.
An aquarium with basic dimensions of 120 * 30 cm or equivalent is required for long-term maintenance.
For decorating the aquarium fit large smooth stones, snags, rounded pebbles. As the basis of the substrate can be either gravel, sand or a mixture of both.
Of these, you can equip grottoes, caves and crevices in the form of shelters. In principle, homalopters do not need plants in principle, as they are not accustomed to nature, but still it is better to have live plants in an aquarium, Thai fern, crinums and anubiasy will do. The latter are especially useful for Homaloptera, apparently they like to rest on their leaves.
In addition, these species will help maintain proper water quality and biological balance.
Basis of nutrition Homaloptera orthogoniata (Homaloptera orthogoniata) are algal fouling appearing on stones and snags, and for development they need very bright lighting.
Water parameters: 20-25.5 ° C, pH 6.0-7.5, dH 4-12.
Good filtration with aeration, organization of the flow and regular replacement of fresh water are needed, in which the content of organic substances and nitrogen compounds must be monitored, the fish are extremely sensitive to them. Most importantly, the water in the aquarium should be clean and well saturated with oxygen.
A similar view of Homaloptera parclitella.
Since this species needs stable water performance and feeds on biofilm / bloom and fouling, they should never be planted in biologically immature aquariums. A tight-fitting lid is necessary, as it can literally climb over the glass.
Ormatopter orthogoniats are quite peaceful and will become ideal neighbors for other loaches, rasbor and other small, peaceful fish.
Nutrition: feeding of loaches can cause difficulties, as the fish are algae-eaters by nature and can be capricious in aquarium conditions, sometimes giving up all types of feed.
In an aquarium, it takes some sinking dry food, but regular feeding of live or frozen daphnia, artemia, bloodworms, etc., are important for maintaining good health. And yet, whenever possible, it is necessary to provide the fish with natural food for them – algal fouling.
The predominance in the diet of animal feed causes obesity.
A similar view of Homaloptera confuzona.
If your Khomalopters are severely weakened, they will initially require a constant, easily accessible source of suitable feeds and a lack of competitors in the feed base.
Reproduction: unfortunately, the cases of breeding Homalopter orthogoniate in captivity is unknown.
Subject to the rules of the content in the aquarium Homaloptera orthogoniata (Homaloptera orthogoniata) can live about 5 years.
H. orthogoniata can be distinguished from relatives by the following unique sequence of signs: the dorsal surface of the body is always with 3 large, saddle marks, the first behind the head, the second covers the base of the dorsal fin and the third between the dorsal and tail fin (usually continuous in the transverse direction); base of dark brown fin tail.