Caucasian scraper

Where they come from

Seven khramulya (Capoeta capoeta) are river fish from the Middle East and Caucasus region - think Turkey, Iran, and nearby drainages. They are built for current: streamlined bodies, tough fins, and that nonstop "I need to graze" attitude you see in a lot of Capoeta.

In the wild they spend a lot of time over rocks and gravel, picking at algae and biofilm. If you set the tank up like a calm planted community, they usually look bored and start redecorating.

Setting up their tank

These are advanced mostly because they get big, they are strong swimmers, and they do best in fast, clean water. Give them room first, then worry about everything else.

• Tank size: I would not bother with anything under 75 gallons for a group. Bigger is genuinely easier with this fish because you can spread out aggression and keep oxygen high.
• Flow and oxygen: aim powerheads or a strong canister return along the length of the tank. They perk up in a tank that feels like a river, not a pond.
• Substrate: sand or smooth small gravel. They nose around a lot, so sharp gravel just beats up mouths and barbels over time.
• Hardscape: rounded rocks, river stones, and driftwood. Make grazing surfaces and break up sight lines so one fish cannot police the whole tank.
• Plants: use tougher plants (Anubias, Java fern) attached to wood/rock, or accept that delicate stems may get bulldozed.

Temperature-wise, they are pretty flexible, but I have had the best long-term results keeping them more on the cool-to-mid side rather than tropical-hot. Stable, well-oxygenated water beats chasing a specific number.

What to feed them

Capoeta are grazers with attitude. If you feed them like pure herbivores, they get skinny. If you feed them like pure carnivores, they get bloated and the tank gets gross. A mixed routine works.

• Staples: quality algae wafers, spirulina flakes/pellets, and sinking herbivore pellets.
• Fresh stuff: blanched zucchini, spinach, green beans, and cucumber (remove leftovers before they rot).
• Protein a couple times a week: frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, or a good community pellet.
• Natural grazing: let some rocks get a bit of algae/biofilm going. They use it all day.

How they behave and who they get along with

They are active, pushy, and surprisingly "social" in a roughhousing way. Expect chasing, sparring, and pecking-order drama, especially as they mature. Most of it is normal as long as nobody is getting pinned in a corner or shredded.

They do better in a group than alone, but the tank needs to be big enough for that to work. In small tanks you get one dominant fish that terrorizes everything.

• Good tankmates: other robust, current-loving fish that can handle themselves (bigger barbs, larger danios, some loaches), and fast midwater fish that do not spook easily.
• Tankmates to avoid: slow long-finned fish, timid community fish, and anything that wants calm water. Also avoid very small bottom dwellers that will get outcompeted for food.
• Territory tricks: use rocks/wood to create "lanes" and visual breaks. A wide open tank makes one fish feel like it owns the whole river.

Breeding tips

Breeding Capoeta capoeta in home aquariums is not common. In the wild they are seasonal spawners tied to changes in flow and temperature, and a lot of successful spawning reports involve pond setups or very large river-style systems.

If you want to try anyway, think like nature: big group, heavy feeding for a few weeks, then a cool water change and increased flow like a spring runoff. Give them clean gravel/rounded pebble areas and lots of oxygen.

Common problems to watch for

• Beat-up mouths and fins: usually from sharp substrate, cramped quarters, or constant fighting. Smooth the layout and give them more room and line-of-sight breaks.
• Bloat and stringy poop: often from too much rich food and not enough veg/fiber. Back off heavy proteins, add greens, and keep water clean.
• Ich and other stress outbreaks: these fish get stressed by warm, low-oxygen water and dirty buildup. Strong surface agitation and consistent maintenance makes a big difference.
• Injuries from jumping: they are powerful and can bolt. A tight lid saves lives.
• Chronic aggression: often a stocking/space issue. Sometimes the fix is adding a couple more in a larger tank, and sometimes the fix is rehoming the bully.