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How to Transport Fish

April 19, 2012 By 1 Comment

how to transport fishIf you are moving, you may be looking at your aquarium with speculative eyes. The larger the aquarium, the more difficult it will be to move, and many people simply decide to get rid of the fish instead. While many local aquarium stores will take displaced fish in, you can also look into options for transporting your fish as well. While the task is time consuming, it is entirely possible.

24 hours before the move, stop feeding your fish. While they will not like this, this prevents them from soiling the water in their moving containers.

Start the process by draining some of the water from your fish tank and saving it in gallon jugs. This ensures that the water you use at the new place can be properly acclimated. Lowering the volume of water in the existing tank will also make your fish easier to net. Remove the plants or hides that you have in the tank, wash the plastic and wood and pack them as you would anything else.

Fill water-tight plastic bags with water from the tank and drop your netted fish into them, tying off the top. Do this for every fish that you want to keep. Afterward, place the plastic bags filled with fish into a Styrofoam container. Styrofoam container allow you to moderate the temperature, which in turn keeps your fish much healthier.

At this point, you can drain and dismantle your tank. Many people choose to save the water so that it is easier to acclimatize their fish at the new location. Be careful with your tank, particularly if it is made of glass.

When you transport your fish, make sure that you keep them in the front seat with you, not in the trunk. It is very important that your fish stay in a temperature-controlled environment, not one where the temperatures can fluctuate very quickly.

When you get to your new location, you are ready to set up your tank as it was before. Remember that you should test the new water and that you should always make sure that you know what you are putting your fish into!

If you have only a few fish and a very small tank, you may be able to move the fish in the tank itself. Drain the water by half or one third so that there is less chance of the water splashing out and remove any heavy objects in the tank so that they will not get tipped over and risk injuring your fish. Then, transport the fish in its tank very carefully, ideally sitting on someone’s lap.

If you want to make sure that your fish stay stable in their bags while they are being transported in a Styrofoam box, look for plastic bags filled with air that you can use to keep them sitting still. This is a good way to make sure that your fish do not become bruised on their travels.

If you have decided to make the commitment to transporting your fish to your new location, make sure that you use a method that will not harm them. Plan your transport carefully and you’ll soon be enjoying your fish in your new home!

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Bring More Puff to Your Aquarium with Freshwater Puffer Fish

January 16, 2012 By 3 Comments

Freshwater Puffer Fish Are you planning to keep a freshwater puffer fish in your aquarium? Well, before you buy a puffer, make sure that you know everything about it. This type of fish is not your typical freshwater specimen because it requires extra care and attention.

To get you started, here is a concise guide to freshwater puffer fish and what you need to do to keep it healthy and happy.

Know Your Puffer

A lot of pet shops often mislabel their fish. In fact, some store owners are really not familiar when it comes to puffers. They do not know how to distinguish freshwater varieties from brackish or marine species. It is your responsibility to do the preliminary research. You have to know the different freshwater species of puffer fish including their habitat requirements, diet, behavior, and proper care.

Basically, there are at least 40 species of freshwater puffers. However, only a few of them can be found commercially. To make things simpler, it is advisable to narrow down your options to the common puffer fish available in stores and pet shops.

1. Carinotetraodon Travancoricus

This specie is generally known as the Dwarf puffer fish. In some stores, it is labeled as BB puffer or Pea puffer. As the name implies, it is a small puffer fish that grows to about 22 millimeters or less than one inch. It normally has a yellowish color with spots of green and black.

The Dwarf puffer requires a tank that can filled with at least 10 gallons of water. You can make this puffer fish happy if its tank has a sandy substrate with well designed hiding places such as vegetation or big rocks. Like most puffer fish, the Dwarf can become extremely territorial. However, it can coexist with its own kind and could live peacefully with other tank mates.

Dwarf puffers love to feed on small bits of snails, shrimps, and blood worms. Feeding should be twice a day and adults must be given a regular diet of shelled foods so that their beaks will not grow too big.

2. Monotrete Turgidus

Another cute little puffer fish is the turgidus or commonly known as Brown puffer. This is a very personable fish but it is less active than the Dwarf species. It prefers to lurk and hide at the bottom of the tank and will only show itself when it is feeding time.

The Brown puffer grows to about six inches. Its back is greenish with black spots. The belly side is usually brown to grayish with no remarkable spots. This puffer fish thrives well in a 20-gallon tank with water pH level of about 6.0 at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It prefers sandy or pebbly substrate with lots of vegetation and rocks where it can hide during the day. You have to take note that a Brown puffer is a terrible territorial fish. It is very aggressive and will probably eat other tank mates if given the chance.

You can feed this puffer fish with blood worms, chunks of fish meat, shrimps, and krill. As it grows older, you have to feed it with crab legs, clams, or mollusks.

3. Tetraodon Lineatus

Although the lineatus is rarely kept by hobbyists, you may want to try keeping this kind of puffer fish if you love to face big challenges. This specie is generally known as the Nile puffer or Fahaka. It has distinct yellowish lines on its body and can grow so big that a standard tank may not be enough for it. An adult Fahaka is about 18 inches long so you need a wider tank that can be filled with at least 150 gallons of water.

The Fahaka puffer is endemic to Africa, more specifically in the Nile River and its tributaries. However, you could find this fish in some exotic pet shops. This freshwater puffer fish will look marvelous in your aquarium but remember that it requires extra attention and maintenance.

The Fahaka lineatus is known for its extreme aggressiveness and territorial behavior. It will hunt its tank mates and eat them. You can feed this puffer with crustaceans. It also loves snails, shrimps, fish fillet, blood worms, wrigglers, and feeder insects. To make sure that its beak will not grow too big, you should give your Fahaka a regular diet of crab legs, clams, and other shelled feeds.

Additional Tips When Keeping Freshwater Puffer Fish

As stated earlier, some stores often mislabel their freshwater puffers. So you have to watch out for the Green Spotted Puffer (GSP), a brackish-water fish but commonly labeled as freshwater specie. The GSP has distinct green spots on its body. A full-grown adult is about 6 inches long. Because it thrives in brackish water, it will die if you put it in a freshwater tank. If you already have a GSP, make sure to increase the level of water salinity in your tank.

When introducing your puffer fish to its new environment, make sure that it is properly acclimatized. Keep the fish in its plastic bag and allow it to float in the tank for about 15 to 20 minutes to level the water temperature. If you will not do this, your puffer fish could die from shock.

Lastly, do not induce your puffer fish to inflate itself. This is stressful and hazardous for your fish. A puffer inflates its body as a form of defensive action especially when it feels threatened. This action brings considerable amount of stress to your fish which could be harmful. But don’t worry because almost all puffer fish will inflate themselves if they want to. Fish enthusiasts usually call it “practice puffing” and it is delightful to see. Be sure to keep your digital camera ready so that you can take good photos when your puffer practices its puffing ability.

Keeping freshwater puffer fish is a good hobby. But always remember that you have to take good care of your puffer to keep it healthy and happy. You have to give ample space and clean habitat for your fish. Most importantly, feed your puffer fish with nutritious and delectable seafood.

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What To Look For In Tropical Fish For Sale

January 11, 2012 By 1 Comment

tropical fish for saleWhen you have an aquarium it is a great way to relax, but it can be nearly impossible to relax if you do not have the proper fish in your tank. However, you may be asking what you should be looking for when you are looking at the tropical fish for sale to guarantee they are going to work out properly for your tank. Without knowing about this, it will be easy to pick out a fish which does not do well with your tank and this can lead to your fish either dying off or even worse constantly fighting because they do not get along. Some of the items you need to look at in these fish to ensure you select the proper ones include, how large the fish will get, what kind of temperament the fish have, what type of food they will be eating, the types of water which are required for the fish, and the amount of time you have to spend in caring for the fish. When you have been armed with all of this information it is easy to select the proper one for your needs and know the fish will look great in your tank and you can be happy sitting down to look in the tank watching them swim around.

Size of the Tropical Fish For Sale

Looking at the size of the fish is an important consideration to do make. When you do this, it will allow you to know if the fish will be too large for your tank or not. Without doing this you may buy a fish while it is a baby, but be shocked to see it is growing to a monstrous twenty inch catfish your tank cannot hold. Then you will be expected to either get rid of the fish or purchase a new aquarium to guarantee it will have a great life inside of the tank with your family. When you learn about this prior to getting the fish, though, it will be easy for you to know and anticipate the size of the fish to guarantee you do not exceed the limit your tank can hold.

Temperament The Fish Have

Most of the time the fish will be friendly and want to come to your tank, but you need to research how the fish react around other fish. When you do this, it will allow you to know what kind of behavior you can expect to see. Then you do not have to be  concerned about your fish going after each other or even laying around because this is what they are supposed to do. So you need to find out how active the fish are, but also how well behaved they are to guarantee they will not cause you any type of heartache once you get them into your aquarium full of your older fish.

Types Of Food You Have To Feed

Fish eat regular flake food most of the time, but some fish will require bloodworms, shrimp, algae wafers, or even other little feeder fish. Since this is possible you need to find out for certain what kind of food the fish want to eat before you purchase them. If you do not do this, then you run the risk of getting a fish tank set up and having fish in it who do not like to eat the food you have provided for them. Then you have to make a rapid trip to the pet store to find the proper food to ensure your fish will continue to live.

What Kind Of Water Is Required

You may think water is water, but you need to realize if you have an aquarium different fish like different kinds of water. Now the best way to compare this is you want to have a nice hot shower, but you want your drinking water to be cold. The same can go for fish, except think of the water more as having different minerals and salt content to help them grow bigger and stronger.

Amount Of Time You Have To Spend Caring For Them

Caring for your fish typically does not require a lot of time, but some tanks require a large amount of time for you to take care of them. Since this is possible you need to find out how much time you have to spend caring for the fish to ensure they live properly. Without doing this, you may be shocked to see the fish require quite a bit more in the way of care than what you thought. So you should research the amount of time the fish take before you complete your purchase.

Finding the best fish for your tank can be harder than what you imagined because of all the different fish available for you to select from. This is when you may need to think about certain aspects in the fish to guarantee you select the proper one for your needs while buying the tropical fish for sale. Without looking at this it will be very easy for you to find the wrong fish who constantly fight or even worse out grow your tank within a couple of days of you getting them causing you to have to sell the fish or spend some more hard earned money to buy a new tank. Some of the things you should be looking for in the fish is how large they are supposed to get, what type of temperament they have when they are exposed to the other fish in your tank, what kind of food you need to be feeding to your fish, what types of water you need to have in the tank to ensure your fish live the proper life, and even getting to see how much time you need to spend caring for your fish. When you have all this information it is easy for you to select the proper fish for your tank and know they will not constantly be fighting or outgrowing the tank you have set up.

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African Cichlids Have Many Excellent Features!

December 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

african cichlidsAre you looking for a wonderful breed of fish to add to your aquarium?  African Cichlids are a tropical fresh water species and they are quite popular for use in home tanks today.  Why is this?  They have amazing and brilliant colors, making them a great addition to any underwater habitat!  Not only are they beautiful to look at, they live much longer than most fish suitable for aquariums.  They can live up to eight years with the proper care, and they are fairly easy to maintain as well.  African Cichlids are curious too, and they love to stay active!  Yet, you need a bit of education to make the right choice when at the store, to ensure the best outcome with your new fish.  To help you in this endeavor, let’s examine African Cichlids in more detail below.

Interesting Qualities

African Cichlids are found in many lakes in Africa, the foremost being Lake Victoria, Tanginika and Malawi.  They display a fascinating specialization, and are thought to be the most colorful fish which are freshwater in origin.  These lively fish can have intricate behavior patterns, and can sometimes be aggressive.  This is especially true if they are in a group, and it is best to feed them often if this is the case.  Why is this?  It gives them something else to focus upon, and will keep them otherwise occupied.  How many feedings per day is appropriate?  You can feed African Cichlids up to four times per day if necessary, to keep their fighting at bay.  If they are more docile in nature, you can feed them less often.

The reason this tactic works so well, is that food is sometimes scarce in their natural habitat.  African Cichlids live in large schools in the wild, and they must fight each other for any food which they obtain.  By feeding them often throughout the day, you’ll eliminate this source of conflict, by providing them with an abundant food source.

Another way to reduce their aggressive tendencies, is to buy fish that are nearly the same size.  With this type of approach, no fish will feel that they have a clear advantage over the others, and more peaceful interaction will develop naturally.  If you buy one African Cichlid which is much bigger than the other fish, they will try to dominate the rest, causing problems in your aquarium.

African Cichlids are usually on the move as well, and will provide you with endless hours of entertainment!  They love to explore their environment, and will be interested in any decorations in your aquarium.  They’ll also be curious about the other fish in your tank as well, and often times they will even dig in the substrate to stay busy.

Experienced Care Needed For African Cichlids

For all of these reasons and more, this species is a great addition to any tank, yet some care should be taken.  They are not really suitable if you’re just starting out, as it can take some research and experience to have the best outcome.  In fact, these fish are part of a large subset which includes about six hundred other species, and each one has its own specific needs!  The variations can run the gamut from small behavior differences, to special food requirements.  As you can see, you shouldn’t buy these fish if you haven’t prepared to care for them beforehand.

Other potential issues to be aware of, are their breeding habits as well.  If you want to produce offspring, you should be aware that African Cichlids can be hard to mate.  Incompatibility is a common problem, and these fish can often get into fights instead of breeding.  It is best to add one fish at a time, to ensure the most harmonious atmosphere possible.  This will also help you to balance the nitrogen levels in your tank as well, keeping it well below the danger zone.

However, once successful mating takes place, African Cichlids are wonderful parents!  They will keep their young safe and well cared for, and they stay around even after the eggs have hatched.  This is in contrast to some other species, which leave their eggs to fend for themselves.  In fact, African Cichlids have even been known to care for one another’s eggs when in the wild, displaying remarkably strong social behavior.

Other Considerations

While there may be some variation in their needs, all African Cichlids require a large tank to do well.  Also, water which is quite basic on the pH scale is best for them, and will give them conditions which most closely mimic those found in their natural habitat.  If you are at a loss for how to do this, add some crushed coral to your aquarium, which will work to promote a base environment.

Also, there are now hybrid species available, which cross African Cichlids with other varieties of fish.  While these may be interesting, and boast unique characteristics, there are several drawbacks as well.  They may not be as resilient as fish with a pure genetic strain, meaning they may be harder to care for.  Also, their behavior may be a bit more erratic, as you don’t know which species traits they will display most dominantly.

Conclusion

Though African Cichlids can require some extra measures of care, they are well worth the effort!  If you are a novice when it comes to aquariums, you should wait until you have more experience.  Yet, if you have some knowledge in this area, these fish are a wonderful addition for your tank!  With their high energy and curious nature, they’ll always give you something to watch with interest.  They may hide behind your decorations, or even burrow into the sand or gravel at the bottom of the aquarium.  If you have any problems with aggressive behavior, just remember to feed them often.  With this simple strategy in mind, you can often eliminate any issues with ease, and go back to having a peaceable tank in no time at all.

With their brilliant colors, African Cichlids will add new hues and tones to your aquatic environment as well.  They have a reputation for being intelligent, and they can be quite loyal as well.  If they do have little ones, they make excellent parents too.  So, for all of these reasons, you are sure to love this species of fish, and will enjoy having them in your tank for many years to come!

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Tropical Fish Videos

December 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

The other day I was looking around on Youtube for some interesting tropical fish videos. The selection below are the ones that stood out the most to me.

The first one in the small collection of tropical fish videos is about food and water temperature:

The second video talks about how to decide on the perfect tropical fish tank:

The last video is about choosing the right fish for your aquarium

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Discus Fish: How To Care For And Breed This Beautiful Species!

December 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

Discus FishAre you interested in raising discus fish and want to know how to get started?  This breed of fish is popular today, and many people have chosen to include them in their home aquariums.  If you’d like to add them to your tank as well, there are a few things you’ll need to know.  The first is how to care for them in general, to ensure they stay healthy.  Second, we’ll look at what to do if they do contract an illness.  Finally, you’ll probably want to breed more discus fish in the future, to further populate your tank.  Let’s take a deeper look at each one of these topics in more detail below.

General Care Instructions

The discus fish has its origins in the Amazon River, and their name refers to their flat bodies, which resemble a saucer or disc.  They boast a wonderful array of beautiful colors and hues, and this exotic species is a terrific addition to any aquarium!  In fact, they’ve remained one of the most sought after fish for nearly a century, and you will have no trouble locating ones to purchase.  However, they can be tricky to care for and there are several pointers you need to know, so you are successful in your efforts.

First off, it is important for them to have adequate space, which means having a tank big enough to handle their needs.  How much do they require?  The rule of thumb when it comes to discus fish, is to provide at least 10 gallons for each full-size adult you have in your tank.  Also, it is interesting to note they often fare better, when you have several together in the same aquarium.  How many should you include in your tank?  Between 5-7 discus fish is optimum, and you’ll see the best results when you have a number which is within this range.  As you are probably realizing now, this means you’ll need a minimum of 50-70 gallons of water in your fish tank, which is a fairly large amount.

Once you have a large enough space to house your new fish, you’ll then need to concentrate on the water conditions.  As with most fish, it is a good idea to clean the tank each week.  In terms of the correct water temperature, the general consensus is that between 82-86 degrees Fahrenheit is best.  This will keep them comfortably warm, and this most closely mimics their natural environment.  You can tell if your tank is too cold, if the discus fish move around only sluggishly.  Also, the ph level of the water should remain within a tight range as well, somewhere around 6.0-7.0 on the scale.  This is a bit acidic, which is what discus fish prefer.  Finally, it is important to keep the nitrogen levels of your tank low, and this will help them to thrive in their new surroundings!

A side not is needed here – discus fish don’t do well with aggressive species, so don’t include these in your tank!  This will cause them a high amount of stress, and will shorten their average lifespan.  What types of fish are the best?  First and foremost, they prefer other discus fish and then other laid back species.  Yet, try to get breeds which are close to them in size, otherwise the discus may think they are food!  Also, fish which eat algae are not a good fit and they may cause them harm.

Correcting Problems Which Arise

Now that we’ve examine how to create the perfect conditions for your discus to thrive, let’s look at some common problems and illnesses.  If the colors of the discus begin to fade after you put them in their new home, this can indicate they are unhappy.  In this case, they can often stop eating, and if this continues you will have an issue.  Another sign of high stress is white and stringy feces in the water, which indicates they are becoming sick.  How can you correct these problems?  These can be fixed simply by increasing the temperature, and raising the thermostat a few degrees can work wonders!

If adjusting the temperature has no beneficial effect, be sure to examine the other breeds of fish in the tank.  As mentioned before, aggressive fish cause discus stress, so these should be removed.  However, you may still have an issue after you’ve used both of these strategies.  A third thing to look for is a worm infestation, as discus fish are susceptible to this type of condition.  If this is present, medicine can easily correct the problem, and you simply include it in with their food until it clears up.

Breeding Discus Fish

At this point you should have a happy and thriving community of discus fish in your tank!  You may be interesting in breeding them as well, to fill up your aquarium even more.  How should you go about doing this?  Obviously, healthy fish breed better, so the above instructions should be followed.  That being said, discus fish can be picky when it comes to finding a mate, and they are aware if they are related.  This means you may have to purchase separate stock at a different store.

Then you’ll need to provide a suitable environment, which means having an air filter installed as well.  Also, you should feed them different types of food, to give them the most well-rounded nutrition possible.  Once discus fish mate, they remain partners for life.  The female can produce as many as 400 eggs, which the male will then fertilize.  You can actually encourage spawning to take place, by raising the temperature of the water or feeding them more often.

If you are lucky enough to have newly hatched eggs, the water will be filled with baby fish called “fry.”  You need to change the water frequently at this stage, to keep the fry healthy.  What should you feed them?  The fry like to eat baby brine shrimp, and this will keep them growing at a steady pace.  In about 1-1.5 months, they will be capable of caring for themselves, and you will have successfully bred your first batch of discus fish!

Conclusion

So, now you know all about the care, maintenance and breeding of discus fish.  The above information will give you everything you need to get started raising discus fish of your own.  This beautiful and exotic species is well worth the extra effort, and your tank will never look better!  So, why not buy a few today and add them to your next aquarium?

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Top 3 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Mystery Snails

December 5, 2011 By 2 Comments

Mystery SnailsMystery snails (Pomacea bridgesi) have quickly become a staple in the aquarium hobby because of their large size and striking coloration. However, despite their growing popularity, many aquarists still don’t know how to keep them alive – and unfortunately, most pet stores don’t know enough to educate them, either.

Here are the top three mistakes that most people make with their first Mystery snails:

  • They don’t feed them. One of biggest contributors to premature Mystery snail death in the aquarium is a lack of the right food! In other words, most newly purchased snails end up starving because most aquarists initially acquire a snail as a form of algae control. Unfortunately, the algae covering your tank is sufficient enough to sustain an adult snail for the long term – in fact, may not even be a type of algae that they eat in the first place. In order to keep your Mystery snail alive and thriving, you will have to offer it a regular, varied diet that consists of things like shelled peas, spinach leaves, kale and quality algae wafers.
  • They keep them with incompatible fish. Another contributor to early death in aquarium raised Mystery snails boils down to compatibility issues. Often, aquarists try to keep their snails with too many other algae eating fish, aggressive tankmates, or with fish that eat snails. Sometimes, otherwise peaceful aquarium fish will mercilessly pick at the tentacles and other exposed flesh of the snail, which results in a slow death from the stress – and sometimes the injuries themselves. Additionally, if you try to keep an adult Mystery snail with too many other algae eating tankmates, the competition for the soft green algae in the tank will be so high that eventually some of them will start dying from starvation.
  • They don’t leave a gap for oxygen. Mystery snails are a species of air breathing mollusk – in addition to gills, they also have a special apparatus that allows them to breathe air from the surface of the water. If you don’t allow enough of a gap between the surface of the water and the top of your fish tank, you will continually lose your snails.

In addition being a colorful aquarium resident, the Mystery snail is also a great addition to a freshwater puffer’s diet! To learn more about breeding snails for food, check out the Freshwater Pufferfish website. Although they aren’t a suitable size for smaller puffers, Mystery snails make the perfect sized crunchy meal for medium and large species.

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How To Choose Plants Compatible With Betta Fish

November 30, 2011 By 5 Comments

betta fish Betta fish are a species of hardy, elegant and easy to care for freshwater fish. They have a labyrinth organ that acts as a set of lungs allowing the fish to breathe air at the surface, as well as a set of gills for filtering air through water. The aggressive males can only be kept alone; gill displays shown by them are beautiful but they are also a warning of their hostility to other males. Most betta lovers keep the male betta, whose long flowing fins and bright colors are much prettier than the short finned, mutely colored female. Females flare their fins as well, but they lack the flowing elegance of the male. Because of the solitary nature of the male betta, a great deal of creativity can go into decorating his tank. Some people will place a clear plastic divider in the middle of a tank and put a betta on each side of it. The resulting displays between the two males is quite beautiful behind the safety of the divider.

Bettas in the wild are not as beautiful as those loved by the betta collector. They resemble the females moreso than the well known males who are bred for their beautiful fins and markings. Betta fish are found in the rice paddies of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia and do not require much room; they do not roam as other fish do. Because of this, they do can do quite well in smaller bowls in a warm room of the house.

One popular betta fish display involves an aquatic plant placed on top of the water in a display called a betta vase. This isn’t without its problems because the plant could die and poison the water. Because of this, be sure the plant you are using is truly aquatic; some pet stores will try to sell terrestrial plants for the vases. When the leaves of these plants remain submerged in water, they will die and become toxic. The betta will not eat the roots of the plant as some believe, so he still must be fed, and the roots will not clean the water so the bowl still must be cleaned. Popular plants for a betta vase are the chinese evergreen, peace lilly, ludwigia, annubias nani and various types of philodendron. Great care must be excercised that the plant does not become large enough to keep the betta from being able to grab a bit of air at the surface or keep him from getting to his food; the upturned mouth of a betta makes him a surface feeder. It has been suggested that putting some straws through the plant can help the betta receive a good supply of air. Male bettas form bubble nests at the surface of the water, and will attach these nests to the floating plants. A betta vase is a beautiful display, and can be maintained with a sharp eye on the health and size of the plant, removing any dead or dying leaves promptly.

Live rooted plants are another option, but they do require a substrate at the bottom of the tank. Live plants provide oxygenation and filtration for the tank. Bettas do not require heat while some tropical aquatic plants do, so be sure to check the compatibility of your plants with your tank set up. Eelgrass is a good selection for the betta tank, as are cripts, water sprites, hygro and java ferns. Vallis, hornwort, foxtail and the amazon sword are also popular for betta tanks. These plants generally do not need excessive lighting, do well at room temperature and do not require circulated water to thrive.

While bettas can be kept at room temperature, their ideal water temperature is 75 to 85 degrees farenheit. It is at these temperatures that the true beauty of the betta can really shine. Adding a heater and mild lighting can expand your choices of plant life for the betta. Be very careful choosing a heater if you are housing a betta in a small tank, as too large a heater can overheat the water very quickly. Creeping jennies, java moss red leaf ludwigia, riccia fluitans, and banana plants are choices popular for betta tanks. Shy by nature, the betta seeks vegetation that it can hide in, around and under, so consider broad leafed plants in his tank. Multiple plants in the tank can be beneficial and creative, but always keep in mind the betta will need room to swim and get to the surface for air.

Artificial plants are a popular choice for the betta fish tank. Obviously these need no heat or light, but maintenance is required to keep algae off of them. Simply rinsing them off when you change the water is sufficient. Artificial plants are usually plastic or silk and come in an endless assortment of colors and styles. There are websites that give instructions on making artificial plants to save money and personalize the tank.Finding a plant that shows off a betta’s color is a great way to add impact to his tank, and when added to a colored background and substrate, the effect can be stunning. While artificial plants cannot die and cause toxicity, they don’t provide oxygen as a living plant does. Choosing a small, low powered aerator stone is a good way to ensure the betta is getting enough oxygen in his water. An artificial plant should still be chosen with the reticent nature of the betta in mind, and broad leafed plants are preferrable.

You can house your betta fish with other tropical fish such a gouramis and mollies. He will do well with peaceful community fish, but keep an eye out for any bullying. Some fish species cannot resist nibbling on the betta’s long fins, so plants are very important if he is in a community tank.

Plants in the tank or bowl provide many benefits to the long term health of your betta. With so many plant options, betta tanks can be created to suit any liking.

Filed Under: Betta Splendens, Freshwater Tropical Fish Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How To Breed Diamond Tetra Fish

November 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

diamond tetra The Diamond Tetra fish, better known to aquarium lovers as the Moenkhausia pittieri, is a member of the family Characidae and was originally found living in the Venezuelan Lake Valencia and a few select Venezuelan rivers. Male species of the fish may grow between two to 12 inches, but females are usually smaller. Though not a brightly colored fish, the Diamond Tetra is a silver color with greenish-colored highlights, and it stands out due to its beautiful reflective scales. In baby Diamond Tetras, the shimmering effect of its scales hasn’t developed yet, but it will become evident as it ages.

Aquarium Environment

In terms of aquarium environment, the Moenkhausia pittieri should always be part of a school with a minimum of six fish. These should include others of their own species, and fish of others species should be around the same size. Within this school, one male will always be the dominant one. This male tolerates the others, but is always in control. Diamond Tetras have an ideal pH range of 6.6 to 7.0 and temperature preference of 74-82 degrees Fahrenheit (26-28 degrees Celsius), and if kept outside of this range, might take on a different appearance. Also, these fish like having lots of plants in their aquarium, and are luckily not very picky when it comes to feeding time. Moenkhaussia pittieri will love you for offering living food, but can eat anything from flakes to frozen food. Having learned a bit about this type of fish and its basic requirements, steps towards breeding it can now be taken.

Breeding Diamond Tetra Fish

The most difficult process of breeding Diamond Tetra fish is getting the right pairs together. Mature males have longer fins than females, especially when it comes to dorsal fins. Though females will most likely be smaller than the males, females that are ready for breeding often appear to be of a stockier shape. After selection of a pair of Diamond Tetras is complete, they should be seperated and conditioned with good food. During the conditioning phase, they should be fed their preferred live food and also some frozen food. This should last for around 10 days.

While conditioning is going on, a seperate spawning tank should be prepared. It doesn’t have to a very large tank, but needs to include lots of plants, especially those with dense leaves. The conditions in this tank should be similar to the tank that the other Diamond Tetras live in, though at first, there should be no light in the spawning tank. Soft water should always be used over hard water. Gravel is not required, but some netting should be included towards the bottom of the tank. It should be far down enough to give the breeding pair enough space to swim. The holes in the netting also need to be large enough for the eggs to fall through to the bottom of the tank. The spawning tank should also be placed in a quiet area of the home where there can be no disturbances to the fish.

After the allotted time for conditioning has expired, the selected pair should be placed in the spawning tank in the evening when it is dark, and again, no lights should be used in the vicinity of the tank. In the event that the pair of Diamond Tetras is compatible, spawning might take place immediately upon the fish being placed in the spawning tank or might not take place until a day or two afterwards. Sometimes the lighting that is present in the environment where the tank is situated will help speed up the process. Though the male may spend most of his time following the female, when the time has come for spawning, the female will release the eggs at the same time as the male releases the sperm. The eggs must then become fertilized, in which case it is helpful to have soft water in the tank. The netting is very important here, because Moenkhaussia pittieri tend to eat their eggs, and in order to prevent this, the eggs must fall through the netting, seperating the eggs from their parents. After spawning has taken place, the male and female fish should be removed from the spawning tank and returned to their regular aquarium.

Though the eggs may see movement within 36 hours, it can take up to a week before the baby fish are capable of swimming around their spawning tank. The fry will be very hungry, but in an aquarium with lots of plants, will find things to eat in their first few days. After that, fry food is acceptable, and once they are large enough, appropriately sized live food is good for them. Keeping the spawning tank clean while the fry are developing is very important. Because they grow so quickly during their first few weeks, baby Diamond Tetras soon look like the adults, though smaller. Their coloring will be plain at first, with their breathtaking shimmering scales being fully developed around the time the fish are 9 months old. Once they have reached a size that wont put them in danger, they can be moved into the adut tank and the spawning tank can be utizilized again with a new pair of adult fish.

Breeding Diamond Tetras can be a challenge, mainly because it may take several tries to find a compatible pair of male and female fish. It is important to keep the adult Diamond Tetra environment healthy so as not to adversely impact their well-being and ability to spawn at a later time. Likewise, the spawning tank should be kept clean and the temperature, pH, and softness should be checked regularly. Enough time and resources should be spent on the conditioning portion of the breeding process, as it is of great importance. Keep different types of food, including fry food, on hand at all times, even if you are doubtful that spawning could occur. Within several weeks or months, you will be rewarded in all your efforts as you watch the eggs hatch and can see your fry growing up and gaining those beautiful shimmering scales the Diamond Tetra are known for.

Filed Under: Freshwater Tropical Fish, Tetra Fish Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Guppy Fish – Perfect For The Novice Aquarist

November 21, 2011 By 4 Comments

guppy fishGuppy fish are fantastic for individuals who are just starting out as aquarists. They are considered to be easy going, and non-aggressive in temperament. Most importantly, they are hardy fish and very forgiving to novices who may be first time fish owner.

Guppy Fish Or Poecilia Reticulata

Scientifically known as the Poecilia reticulata, the guppy was first discovered in fresh and salty waters of Central and South America. They quickly garnered the nickname, millionfish, because of their ability to reproduce quickly and in large bunches. Since their discover, the guppy has been introduced to every continent with the exception of Antarctica.

What fascinates many fish enthusiasts is the variety within the guppy breed. Females tend to be larger then their male counterparts at 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. The males are smaller at approximately 1.0 to 1.5 inches, but they tend to be more colorful.

The females are predominately a gray color, although they can have some variations to their color and pattern. Male guppies tend to be brighter and take on colors of red, green, and blue with spots and stripes on their body. These variations make breeding new combination of guppy particularly popular amongst aquarists.

Communal Fish

Guppies are a communal fish, making this an attractive trait to fish lovers. They exist peacefully with other guppies, preferring to be together rather then alone in a tank. Unfortunately, they do not live well with all types of fish, particularly those that are larger and more likely to take nibbles to their tails. Whenever selecting fish to put together with in an aquarium it is imperative to sit down and research if the fish you plan to purchase will interact well or if one may act as a predator to another.

Guppy Fish Supplies

When starting out as a guppy fish owner there are several essential supplies to keep them happy and healthy. The first item is the most obvious, an aquarium. What may not be as obvious is what size aquarium to purchase. A lone guppy should have an aquarium no less then 5 gallons. With a group of guppies a 10 to 20 gallon tank is optimal.

The second and third supplies work together; a heater and a thermometer. Water temperature within the tank should remain around 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit in order to emulate their natural environment. Temperatures cooler or warmer then this may be detrimental to the guppy, often causing them stress.

The fourth supply is equally important to keeping the aquarium similar to their natural environment, and that is a pH indicator. Coming most often from warm, salty waters, guppies prefer living in a pH environment between 6.8 and 7.6. To keep up the salt water levels the best ration is one tablespoon of salt to every five gallons of water. In addition, and air stone helps force oxygen into the water that the fish desperately need.

The environment of the aquarium would not be complete without the fifth supply, which are plants, rocks, and branches. The little nooks and crannies these aquarium decorations provide the guppies with a safe place to rest and hide.

Sixth, an aquarium should have a filter. These come in various forms, and the two most suited for guppies are the large sponge filter and the inside box filter.

Finally, tank gravel, a fish net, and an algae scrubber, are important to maintaining a guppy aquarium.

Fully matured guppies are not to be fed more then twice a day. Overfeeding the fish leads to uneaten food collecting in the water and becoming a pollutant. Tropical fish flakes work well, but live food is more nourishing to guppies. Popular live foods include brine shrimp, fruit flies, algae, and cut up earthworms.

Guppies feeding habits are part of the reason they are introduced into many natural environments. They tend to enjoy eating mosquito larvae. In areas that experience malaria outbreaks, a popular mosquito control method is to bring guppies into their breading grounds. This has had some adverse affects on other fish species in some water systems that compete for other feeding resources. However, it remains as a low cost, effective mosquito elimination method for many parts of the world.

Guppy fish are popular amongst beginning aquarists who are learning how to breed fish. Guppies perform live-birthing rather then laying eggs. Their young are referred to as fry. Pregnant guppies should be transferred to their own aquarium to birth, or have a birthing net in a tank with small holes that the fry are able to swim through, but the mature guppies are unable to penetrate. Once a female guppy gives birth, she should be returned to the other adult guppy population.

The fry should have up to 5 gallons of their own aquarium space. They are able to eat much of the same foods as the mature guppies, and should not be introduced to the adults until they are at least one inch in size, which will take approximately 3 to 4 months. During this period of time, the fry will require 4 to 5 feedings a day.

The gestation period for guppies is relatively short and lasts between three and four weeks. The best way to tell if a guppy is about to give birth is visual and easy to spot. Before birth, the eyes of the fry can be seen through the mother’s translucent skin outstretched on her body. During birth, the fry are dropped from the mother’s body and immediately have survival instincts, as they will swim to a safe spot. The birth process will take roughly an hour and result in between two and fifty fry.

Older guppies will want to eat the fry, including potential their mother. This is why the breading net in a tank is important and allows to the fry to swim through safely after birth to find a safe spot. Separating the female when giving is also important because male guppies will sometimes attack the female when she is giving birth. Immediately after conceiving the fry, the mother should be returned to the mature guppies.

The variety and ease of raising guppy fish makes them fantastic for anyone who is looking to start raising fish.

Filed Under: Featured, Freshwater Tropical Fish, Guppy Fish Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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