Characteristics of Neoceratodus and how to keep it

Neoceratodus is a tropical fish belonging to the family Neoceratodidae of the order Ceratodus and native to the Mary River and Burnett River in Australia. In this article, I would like to explain in detail the characteristics of Neoceratodus and how to keep it.

What is Neoceratodus?

Neoceratodus is a tropical fish in the family Neoceratodidae of the order Keratodus. The Neoceratodus originates from the Mary and Burnett Rivers in the Commonwealth of Australia.Neoceratodus has dorsal, caudal, and tail fins that are connected without any interruption. This makes them appear to be one large fin. Along with coelacanths, Neoceratodus is a member of the lungfish family, which is said to be descended from the age of dinosaurs. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a "living fossil. Neoceratodus is a special type of fish that has gills and lungs at the same time, just like normal fish. Neoceratodus is protected by the Washington Convention, but has been successfully farmed in Australia and is sometimes imported to Japan. Neoceratodus is also sometimes referred to as the "Australian Hagfish" or "Neoceratodus".

How to keep Neoceratodus

The life span of Neoceratodus is approximately 90-100 years. Their body size is also about 90-100 cm. However, both lifespan and body size vary depending on the environment in which they are kept and the food they are fed. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral water, and especially prefer a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Neoceratodus is classified as a tropical fish, so it requires a heater in winter if kept in Japan.

Points to keep in mind when mixing swimmers

Regarding mixed swimming, Neoceratodus is a docile fish. However, if Neokeratodus is mixed with an aggressive species, there is a high possibility that a fight will occur. Therefore, the recommended species to mix with Neoceratodus is a species that swims in low water, such as pleco.Neoceratodus is a carnivore, so if you mix smaller individuals than Neoceratodus, they often recognize them as food and eat them, so be careful about the size of the species you mix.

Points about spawning

Many people who keep Neoceratodus want to breed them. There are few examples of breeding Neoceratodus in Japan, although breeding methods for Neoceratodus are probable in Australia. The breeding season for Neoceratodus is from July to August.In the southern hemisphere, it is winter time. When the male begins to peck the female, it is a sign of courtship behavior. When the sign appears, the female lays and fertilizes her eggs in a shallow area with thick aquatic vegetation. After spawning, the eggs are not protected by the parents.

What to look for when keeping Neoceratodus.

Neoceratodus is a member of the lungfish family, which, along with coelacanths and others, is said to be descended from the time when dinosaurs lived. Therefore, they are able to breathe with oxygen from the air (air-breathing). However, compared to other lungfish such as Protopterus, they are less capable of air-breathing and rely almost entirely on their gills for respiration. Therefore, care must be taken to avoid oxygen deprivation if the oxygen level in the water decreases.Neoceratodus is rarely available to the general public because of its long life span and because it is extremely rare and expensive. Therefore, they are often kept in specialized facilities such as aquariums. However, there are a small number of ordinary people who keep them in captivity. If you are interested in Neoceratodus, we recommend that you take a look at them at an aquarium.