Squirrel fish | Facts & Information

# Squirrel Fish | Facts & Information

Squirrel Fish | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Squirrel Fish

The squirrel (Neoniphon sammara) is part of the order Beryciformes, family Holocentridae and Genus Neoniphon.

Origin: Indo-Pacific Ocean

Size at maturity: 15 cm

Service Life: 2 - 4 years

Diet: omnivorous

Care: easy to care for

Water: salty

water pH: 8 – 8.5

Temperature: 22-26 gr. Celsius

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Squirrel Fish

Squirrel Fish

The squirrel fish is an interesting and fascinating species, also known by its scientific name Synodontis multipunctatus. It originates from freshwaters in Africa, specifically from Lake Tanganyika, and is renowned for its unique behavior and beautiful appearance.

The squirrel fish is recognized for its elongated body, which can reach up to 10 cm in length. One of the most distinct characteristics of this fish is the presence of small white or yellow spots that extend along its body or near its fins. These spots are responsible for the common name of this fish.

Clear and warm water is the natural habitat of this fish. Lake Tanganyika is an ideal location for squirrel fish, as it is rich in algae and provides enough food for their survival and development. The squirrel fish has evolved to adapt to these conditions and has a unique set of anatomical features that help it survive in this environment.

One of the most interesting aspects about the squirrel fish is its social behavior. These fish are known to form large colonies and live in groups. They are very intelligent creatures and communicate with each other through sounds and gestures. This form of communication is crucial for establishing a social hierarchy and coordinating group activities.

Another fascinating aspect about the squirrel fish is its reproductive behavior. During the breeding season, males compete to attract females and secure their right to reproduce. In this process, males can use specific sounds, called the love song, to attract the attention of females and compete with each other. Afterwards, females lay eggs and males fertilize them. These eggs are then protected by the parents until they develop and hatch.

In terms of diet, the squirrel fish is an omnivorous fish. This means that it feeds on both plants and insects and other small organisms. These fish are capable of adapting to different types of food and changing their diet according to the availability of resources. They are also considered natural water cleaners, as they feed on algae and other organisms that can pollute the water.

Although they have been considered popular pets among aquarium lovers, squirrel fish require a suitable habitat to survive and thrive. An aquarium with adequate dimensions, a powerful filter, and enough space to hide and explore will be necessary to provide them with an optimal environment.

In conclusion, the squirrel fish is a fascinating and beautiful fish that adds charm and vitality to an aquarium. Their unique social behavior, attractive appearance, and adaptability to diverse environments make them ideal fish for pet lovers. It is important to provide a suitable environment for these fish to live healthy and fully develop.

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Animals

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Species

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Languages

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Facts

Origin

It can be found in the natural environment in the Indo-Pacific Ocean among corals and areas with rocks.

The exact reason why it was named Fish-squirrel is not known.

Feeding Over The Squirrel

Even though it is not a large fish it is a renowned predator. He catches and eats almost any fish he can catch and swallow. It is similar to Pike.

It usually comes out in search of food on the inset because it is a nocturnal fish. Besides fish it feeds on various arthropods (invertebrate animals) and crabs.

For those who are grown in aquariums it is good to give them live food.

Appearance Over Squirrel

It is a medium-length fish. The body is covered with beautifully colored hard scales. The dorsal fin is like a serrated wheel and has various color spots that attract attention.

A peculiarity of this fish is the large eyes and horizontal stripes along the body. It is a brightly colored fish that attracts attention due to its light colors.

Currently 6 species of Squirrel fish are known:

Neoniphon argenteus (Clearfin squirrelfish)

Neoniphon aurolineatus (Yellowstriped squirrelfish)

Neoniphon marianus (Longjaw squirrelfish)

Neoniphon opercularis (Lackfin squirrelfish)

Neoniphon pencei (Pence's squirrelfish)

Neoniphon sammara (Sammara squirrelfish)

Behavior Over The Squirrel

Squirrel fish is a nocturnal fish that does not tolerate a lot of light.

The day rests among the rocks or between the cracks between the rocks. One species prefers to live solitary, otherwise all other species tend to gather in larger Shoals, depending on the environment and the availability of food.

The aquarium for this fish must have at least one dark place where it can hide. The more specimens in the aquarium, the larger this place should be. They somehow have the character of a cat, they are predators, but they also scare or intimidate easily.

At least part of the bottom of the aquarium and part of the sides must be made of rocks to mimic the natural environment. In the rest if you choose to put sandy substrate it is better that it be a little higher.

Tolerates other species of fish.

Breeding Over Squirrel

Studying the squirrel !

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Squirrel fish | Facts & InformationSquirrel Fish | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Squirrel Fish