Common Nase (Chondrostoma nasus)

Common Nase Chondrostoma nasus
Name	Common Nase
Name Lat.	Chondrostoma nasus
Family	Minnows
Family lat.	Leuciscidae
Order	Carps
Order lat.	Cypriniformes
Origin	Europe
Habitat	Rivers
Diet	Omnivore
pH	6.5-7.5
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Group
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Egg scatterer
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	10-15 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	30-40 cm
Temperature	4-20 °C
Hardness	5-20 °dH
Aquarium	Ponds
US Units
Size	12"-16"
Temperature	39-68 °F
Hardness	89-356 ppm
Aquarium	Ponds

Distribution and habitat

Nase are widespread throughout Central Europe, except in the Elbe River basin. They are bottom-dwelling fish that live in large schools in fast-flowing, oxygen-rich and clear waters with stony-gravelly bottoms. They are rarely found in stagnant waters, such as lakes or reservoirs

Maintenance

For husbandry requires a suitably large pond.

The pond should be furnished with pond, floating and oxygenating underwater plants (water milfoil, water plant, hornwort, etc.), large river pebbles and a substrate of round-grained gravel, as well as provide plenty of free swimming space with strong currents.

No ammonia, ammonium or nitrite should be detectable in the water, and the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter adapted to the water volume should not be missing.

Diet

They feed on detritus and graze the growth (algae) with the microorganisms living in it from stones with their horny lower lip. The food supply consists mainly of a commercially available sinking special dry food for pond fish (sticks, granules), occasionally supplemented with live or frozen water fleas, mosquito larvae and tubifex as well as vegetable food, such as algae leaves, lettuce, scalded spinach or a dry food with high vegetable content (spirulina).

Only feed as much as will be eaten in a few minutes. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are lively schooling fish that do not show any aggressive or incompatible behavior. At least 5, but preferably much more noses should be kept together. They can be socialized well with other peaceful fish

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.

Reproduction and breeding

No external sexual characteristics are known.

At spawning time between March and May, they migrate upstream in large shoals and spawn over rocky-gravelly bottoms. The eggs, about 1.5 mm in size, adhere to gravel and stones. After spawning, which lasts 3-5 days, the fish return to their territory

They have a life expectancy of 10-15 years

Important

It owes its name to its extremely underslung mouth, which makes the tip of its head look like a nose. The animals have now become rare due to heavy environmental pollution

If they are hibernated in the pond, it is necessary to ensure sufficient depth and oxygen supply (filter, oxygen dispenser, ice free holder).

At temperatures below 8-10 °C, the metabolism of the fish slows down and no more food is accepted; feeding must be stopped accordingly. If the temperature drops further, they hibernate near the bottom. In spring, with rising temperatures, feeding can slowly be resumed. Feeding may also be necessary during prolonged warm periods in winter.

The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. A regular partial water change, according to the pond size is recommended, even if the pollutant load has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the pond

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische; Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF