Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus)

Arctic Grayling (Thymallus Harstad) is not common in the popular aquarium fish as a fishing rod but beautiful. The fish came from the northern part of the earth, has many names such as American Grayling, Bluefish, Back's Grayling, Sailfin Arctic Grayling, Arctic Trout, Tittimeg and Poison Bleu.

This fish is spreading in Alaska ranging from Peace and Stikine rivers in the north and south of the Flathead River. Besides scattered in Alaska, the fish is also scattered on the north side of the earth such as Canada, North America and Siberia, including the Mississippi River downstream. Arctic grayling habitat is generally clear waters, rocky and cold temperature. Increasingly clear waters, the quality of the fish is getting better. These fish are very sensitive to air pollutants. Even on the lower Mississippi River, these fish are included in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Biological research center in arizona, USFWS requires that fish are designated as protected animals. Arctic grayling live in different water bodies both in the elementary, middle and near the surface of the river. These fish will also choose a different river for survival, such as for spawning, and spent the winter hunting. But when the habitat comfortable, some individuals will choose to settle even though the habitat is small or lake waters.

 

Arctic grayling is a beautiful fish with elongated cylindrical body with an attractive color combination. His body is gray silvery colourfull with the very dark upper body. Belly lighter colored fish with bluish white. Small spots of black bodies scattered on both sides of the front. The unique part of this fish is the dorsal fin that resembles a screen with many flecks of purple, blue and red. Dorsal fin often has a width exceeding the width of the body of the fish itself. Pectoral fin filled with colored stripes pink and orange artificial. As a family of Salmon, Arctic grayling have fine scales large enough and the center line (literal line) that ran along his body. in addition, small-mouthed fish with neat rows of teeth in both jaws. The average body length can reach 12-17 inch fish with a body weight of 1-3 pounds. But the record size fish ever get is 76 cm (30 inches) with a weight of 3.8 Kg. The fish is also known as the Alaskan grayling can reach 18 years of age. The fish is usually attraktif by Eskimos and Indians more often used as food for their dogs than their own.

 TAXONOMY

Kingdom   : Animalia
phylum      : Chordata
Class         : Actinopterygii
order         : Salmoniformes
Family       : Salmonidae
genus         : Thymallus
species      : Thymallus Arcticus 

Arctic grayling is a fish special cold water. They are omnivores and eat in their natural habitat groups of invertebrates, crustaceans, insects and food are the most important thing is the eggs of other fish. Fresh salmon eggs are commonly eaten eggs. Immature fish will usually eat zooplankton and insect larvae. When hungry fish will begin to hunt both below and above the water surface. Adult fish will change the nature of a piscovora by eating other fish that are smaller. In fact, sometimes the fish will eat small mammals and fish carcasses. Because they are rarely maintained, then feeding while following the recommended maintenance habits in nature.

that it has a high economic value, is the consumption of fish and fish fishing is quite popular. In fishing, water clarity is very important factor in the chances of obtaining fish. Water that is cloudy or clear lack of will minimize opportunities. In the winter, fish will dive in deeper waters because fish has a high tolerance for low dissolved oxygen. Even Arctic grayling can live in rivers of ice that not all the fish will survive. In the spring, the fish will be effective as well as salmon that migrate upstream to the area or region of origin to spawn. In migrating fish would cover the distance from 60 miles to over 100 miles. The fish will reach the age of sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age and usually measuring 11-12 inches. At the time ready to spawn, the fish will occupy shallow stream with bare sand. The males, which have a wider dorsal fin and attractive color will be more territorial and attractive female fish with a dorsal fin.  

Male dorsal fin will also be used to clamp the female fish when they were both issued semen and eggs. Once the spawn is complete, which is not the type of parent fish keepers will leave the egg that has been mixed with sand. Although fish do not dig to the nest, but the high energy during mating making materials thrown sand and cover the zygote (fertilized egg). Measuring 3 mm zygote will develop into an embryo and hatch after 2-3 weeks. All the embryos were hatched dipasir will stay until all the yolk is absorbed. Tillers fish 12-18 mm in length will form swarms and flocking on the riverbank.

Arctic grayling have been found in the aquarium, because it was hard maintained. The main difficulty in the maintenance of the water is very cold temperature <15 ° C and the migratory habits of fish.