e Fish File

29 Crazy and Unique Fish Tanks

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Serious fish enthusiasts are constantly thinking up more elaborate and ridiculous ways in which to manifest their passion -- or obsession -- with the beautiful and serene creatures they adore.
Here are 29 pictures of crazy, ridiculous aquariums and a whole lot of fish who don't know what the heck is going on.

The Fish Highway must be really confusing for those little guys.

Guys in a Tank Watching Guys in a Tank

Fishy Car Smells Fishy

Water Changes Must Be a Pain!

This self-cleaning tank comes with a garden that filters the water while providing sufficient oxygen for your fishy friends.

Fish bowl purse looks cool, but no one likes soggy money and makeup, especially not the fish.

Fish and Bird Haven

The best ever use for an old computer.

A Tacky Toilet Fish Tank

How would you feel if giant jets of water poured down on your head without actually touching you? Kind of scared? Kind of confused? Kind of like a superhero?

Telephone Fish Tank

Fish Tank Coffee Table

Don't worry, the gumballs aren't real.

The machine's direction is determined by a sensor, which directs it whichever way the fish swims.

iPond is a speaker and unreasonably small fish tank.

The Deepest Show on Television These Days

The tank above was only designed to imitate the design of a television set, but the one below is the real thing.

Mini Aquarium.

Fish can be couch potatoes too.

A Very Scientific Looking Tank

Shark Tunnel

That fish has a life expectancy of about five minutes.

Aquadome in Germany.

Artsy Fish Tank

"I have explored the possibility of a genetic modification which enables children
to absorb higher levels of oxygen, thus enhancing concentration, focus and calmness as well as improving athletic ability and improving general health."

Saltwater Aquarium Guide

2011-03-31T06:29:00.001-08:00

Saltwater aquariums should generally contain fewer fish than fresh water tanks, because the species tend to grow bigger in size. Marine species may be bred in a captive environment, or caught in the wild. Captive bred species are easier to care for and usually hardier than caught species. It generates a great amount of stress for a fish to be captured in the wild and then introduced into an aquarium environment.

It is often difficult for them to figure out how to eat. Whenever possible, purchase your fish from a retailer that deals only with breeders or from the breeders themselves. There are five different types of saltwater aquariums.

The first type of saltwater aquarium is the fish only aquarium. This is probably the easiest to care for of the five types, simply because you are only dealing with one type of species. Amongst the saltwater fish there are both tropical and coldwater types. They can’t be kept together for obvious reasons. The water temperatures vary greatly.
Tropical fish are usually brighter in color, and therefore more appealing to aquarium lovers than the fish available in the cold water variety. Most people are somewhat familiar with a few tropical fish such as the Clownfish or the Angel fish. However, few people have heard of such cold water varieties as, the Shanny or the Tompot Blenny.

The second type of saltwater aquarium is the invertebrate only aquarium. These types of aquariums usually consist of shrimp, prawn, hermit crabs and perhaps even starfish or sea cucumbers. The third type is the fish and invertebrate saltwater aquarium. These are more difficult to maintain than either of the two categories separately. Certain invertebrates feed on certain fish, and the reverse is also true.

Therefore, it is important to research the species carefully to ensure that you do not put predator and prey together in the same aquarium. Diseases can also spread more rapidly and are more difficult to prevent and cure in aquariums containing both invertebrates and fish species.
The next type of saltwater aquarium is the coral reef aquarium. Reef aquariums can be tricky to maintain and must be thoroughly researched before attempted. The last category of saltwater aquariums is the specialty aquarium.
An example of a specialty aquarium would be an aquarium full of seahorses. Seahorses should not be kept with any other type of fish or marine life, because they are timid and slow eaters. Their food source could easily be taken away by other tank mates. Seahorses prefer to swim vertically rather than horizontally, and should be placed in a tall tank.

An octopus and a shark or a ray are other examples of fish that require special needs and would fall into the category of specialty aquarium.

Regardless of which type of saltwater aquarium is chosen, research is highly recommended before purchasing any marine life. Make sure you are willing to make the commitment required to care for a saltwater aquarium.

Saltwater fish aquariums

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Saltwater fish aquariums are beautiful environments that bring the depths of the ocean into your family room or office. When you compare saltwater versus freshwater fish aquariums you notice immediately that, in general, saltwater aquariums have fewer fish than their freshwater counterparts. This is because saltwater fish tend to grow bigger than freshwater fish.
There are five different types of saltwater fish aquariums:
Fish only aquariums – This type of aquariums contain only fish, no other type of marine life is present. Within the classification of saltwater fish, there are two types: tropical and cold water. Tropical fish tend to be more colorful, and this is the reason why you see more saltwater aquariums featuring tropical fish.
Invertebrate only aquariums – This type of aquariums consist of invertebrate creatures only, no other type of fish is present.
Invertebrate and fish aquariums – This is a combination of the previous two aquariums. These types of aquariums are more difficult to maintain because some fish will feed on invertebrates, and some invertebrates will feed on fish.
Coral reef aquarium – These types of aquariums are very beautiful, but also very difficult to maintain.
Specialty aquarium – These types of aquariums will specialize in one type of sea life.
Critical Saltwater Aquarium Advice For Keeping Successful Saltwater Fish Aquariums
Executive Summary About Fish Aquariums By Darin Sewell
Many new owners of saltwater fish aquariums get to anxious and often add new fish much to fast.
Leave Your Tank Alone
A common habit among people keeping new saltwater fish aquariums is to constantly mess with the tank and maybe even constantly rearrange the decorations in the tank to get that just right look. So resist the urge and you will have a better marine aquarium with healthier fish.
Stick With Easy Fish
Some good saltwater aquarium advice for keepers of new marine aquariums is to try and stick with the easier and more hardy marine species. A good saltwater aquarium guide should be able to help you with a list of suitable beginner fish for new saltwater fish aquariums. Choose each fish carefully and research their behavior and needs.
Some Tips to Keep in Mind If You’re Planning to Give Fish Aquariums to Your Kids
Executive Summary About Fish Aquariums By Christopher Mendoza
Most of us had their first experience of fish aquariums as a child. Having your fishes die one at a time is traumatic for a child, so if you’re planning to give fish aquariums as a gift then you had better provide your child or teenager with the information they need to be successful.
Because you’re buying a fish aquarium to a child, chances are you’re going for a small tank. Small tanks are not suitable for beginners. Don’t go smaller than 10 gallons and make sure you populate your tank with small, hardy fish such as guppies and platys.
Most kids would want brightly colored decorations which unfortunately, can cause stress in the fishes. Now, the biggest challenge of aquarium keeping is choosing the right inhabitants. Most people want to have as many fish in the tank as possible. Expert fish keepers say that you should never buy fish the same day as the tank. Also, aging the tank will ensure that water in the tank is stable and that everything (from the heater to filter) are functioning properly.
If you want to ensure success in keeping fish aquariums, you should educate your kids about aquarium maintenance and overfeeding. Aquarium maintenance includes changing water in the tank at regular periods.

Breeding

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Unlike with most fish, fertilization in Guppies is internal. A female Guppy can have more than one lot of babies from one mating, so the mating could have happened a considerable time before birth. The gestation period of Guppies averages about 28 days.
The Guppy produces fewer babies in each litter than most fish, but the babies are bigger in relation to the fish’s adult size than most fish babies. Most strains of Guppy eat their own babies, as well as the babies of other fish.
Most types of other fish will eat Guppy babies (White Cloud Mountain Minnows might not) so in a community tank the babies have a very dangerous life. “Guppy traps’ or similar arrangements are often used to separate the female and save the babies. The baby fish will eat the baby daphnia and grow well.
Raising Baby Guppies
Baby Guppies are able to eat normal fish food of small sizes. I use Daphnia screened through a coarse aquarium net so only the smaller daphnia are given the babies, although the larger Daphnia will not harm the baby fish and will breed in the tank.
Guppy Hybrids

In some cases interspecific hybrids between Guppies and Mollies occur. Guppy-Molly hybrids are fairly drab in colour.
Hybrids can also occur between Guppies and the Endler’s Livebearer. Guppy-Endler’s Live Bearer crosses are colourful.
How to Breed Guppies
Executive Summary About Guppies by Steve Clarkson
Guppies are renowned for there prolific breeding habits. They are livebearers which means the female gives birth to live fry instead of producing eggs. This article will give you the basics on how to breed guppies.
Guppies thrive in aquariums that have a temperature between 75 -80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended that when starting to breed guppies, you have at least 2 females and one male. This will stop a solitary female being chased around all the time when the breeding process starts.
When the male is ready to breed a fin called the gonopodium will become erect, this fin will inject the sperm into the female. The female should be moved to a separate birthing tank where she can give birth to the fry. Females can be attacked by the males whilst giving birth.
When all the fry have been born ( anywhere from 5 -30) the female should be removed as they have a tendency to eat the fry. Don’t be surprised if your female guppy gets pregnant again very soon after birth.

Discus Fish from Amoazon River

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Discus fish are wild fish species living waters of the river Amazon. Just like other types of freshwater fish, Discus fish can also be used as pets and became ornamental fish that are kept in the Aquarium. We have many kinds of fish Discus variety of colors produced from crosses with other colors. The collectors of
ornamental fish species and still keep looking for the latest color of Discus fish crosses or mutations.

Number of requests and discus fish enthusiasts in different countries, especially Asia which still continues to seek new types, causing the fish cultivation is a major industry in Asia which has a lucrative income
prospects.

Several new types of discus fish are still being hunted by collectors of ornamental fish in Asia, namely: Red Malrboro, Pearl Pigeon, Gold Diamond, Angel Blue Diamond, Red Ribbon, Red Pigeon, Snake Skin, and Marlboro.

The Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster

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Some may say ‘freaky’ looking; I personally think it’s the most adorable sea animal ever! And sadly enough, I discovered it because their status on earth is ‘seriously threatened with extinction’ due to water pollution and destruction to its environment. Want a visual to help teach children about water preservation and helping our environment? Get ready…this creature is seriously cute.
Picture from Treehugger site:

There are several pictures on the Treehugger article about these animals and they look like they’re smiling in every shot! Their official name is the Axolotl salamander, otherwise known as the Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster. The Axolotl has been listed endangered on the annual list from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but researchers now say it could disappear within 5 years. Millions once existed in lakes where Mexico City was built, but between draining lakes to create city growth and with pumping waste-water into waterways, things have changed for this animal.
According to the Yahoo News/Associated Press:
“If the axolotl disappears, it would not only be a great loss to biodiversity but to Mexican culture, and would reflect the degeneration of a once-great lake system,” says Luis Zambrano, a biologist at the Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM. The number of axolotls (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) in the wild is not known. But the population has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year, according to a survey by Zambrano’s scientists using casting nets.
When I showed the pictures of the Axolotl to my children they shrieked and thought it looked like an alien, but at least it got their attention. I think it’s adorable and thought it might remind us what cute little creatures are affected by our decisions with habitat destruction and water pollution. Show this to your children and see what they think.

The Fishtank Blender

2011-03-31T05:25:00.000-08:00

Is the blending power of your blender not as good as it used to be?
Has your blender stopped working altogether?
Did you get three blenders as wedding gifts?
Then your in luck.
Hear is a very eye catching fish tank that will get your house guests talking.
There are some considerations that make a blender a good candidate for making a fish tank. First you need to make sure there is a good viewing area with the glass so you can see the fish. The more water that can fit inside, the better for the fish. If you do not have a blender and want to buy one for this project make sure you consider these factors.

Fish Pedicures

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Want to know more about fish pedicures? Here are some common questions, and answers:What kind of fish are used?
The fish used in fish pedicures are called Doctor fish or Garra Rufa and they feast on dead skin, which is why they enjoy giving pedicures. Your feet are like a big buffet for the Doctor fish.

Does it hurt?
No. Since the fish don't have teeth, they can not puncture the live skin, and because of that there is no pain. But, the treatment does tickle quite a bit, but it's not uncomfortable. In fact, in countries where fish pedicures are popular, people often soak in a full bath full of the fish.How long should my feet soak in the bath?
Treatments range anywhere form 15 minutes, to one hour, it's totally up to the person, and of course it's up to how much the fish have to feed on. Most spas to a 15 to 30 minute treatment, then follow up with a foot massage and scrub and can finish off a pedicure with nail trimming and toe polishing, just like any other pedicure.

What will my feet be like after the fish pedicure?
They'll be smooth and free of dead skin or calluses. The Doctor fish bite off all of the dead skin, leaving your skin renewed and soft.Where can I get one?
Unfortunately fish pedicures are not common in the U.S., quite yet. There is one spa that has been well publicized in Virginia, but other than that, we are not aware of any other spas in the country. Since this is a new treatment, it will take time for it's popularity to spread. The treatment however is very common in Asian countries and in Turkey, where the fish originate. So if you live, or visit an area where these pedicures are common, go out and enjoy one.

Fish Controlled Robot

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We have all seen the roach robot, well not fish also have a chance to control a robot!

Seth Weiner’s art project is a vehicle called Terranaut. This interesting vessel is driven by the motions of a parrot cichlid in a fish bowl. A camera mounted above the tank tracks the fish’s movement and relays that information to a computer, which then drives the robot in the direction the fish was traveling. With this contraption the fish is capable of exploring land in a way never before possible. It’s one small step for fish, one giant leap for fish-kind or something.

Flying Fish

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A streamlined torpedo shape helps flying fish generate enough speed to break the water’s surface, and large, wing-like pectoral fins help get them airborne.
Flying fish can be seen jumping out of warm ocean waters worldwide. Their streamlined torpedo shape helps them gather enough underwater speed to break the surface, and their large, wing-like pectoral fins get them airborne.
Flying fish are thought to have evolved this remarkable gliding ability to escape predators, of which they have many. Their pursuers include mackerel, tuna, swordfish, marlin, and other larger fish. For their sustenance, flying fish feed on a variety of foods, including plankton.
There are about 40 known species of flying fish. Beyond their useful pectoral fins, all have unevenly forked tails, with the lower lobe longer than the upper lobe. Many species have enlarged pelvic fins as well and are known as four-winged flying fish.
The process of taking flight, or gliding, begins by gaining great velocity underwater, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) per hour. Angling upward, the four-winged flying fish breaks the surface and begins to taxi by rapidly beating its tail while it is still beneath the surface. It then takes to the air, sometimes reaching heights over 4 feet (1.2 meters) and gliding long distances, up to 655 feet (200 meters). Once it nears the surface again, it can flap its tail and taxi without fully returning to the water. Capable of continuing its flight in such a manner, flying fish have been recorded stretching out their flights with consecutive glides spanning distances up to 1,312 feet (400 meters).
Flying fish are attracted to light, like a number of sea creatures, and fishermen take advantage of this with substantial results. Canoes, filled with enough water to sustain fish, but not enough to allow them to propel themselves out, are affixed with a luring light at night to capture flying fish by the dozens. There is currently no protection status on these animals.

Smallest Fish Lives In Acid

2011-03-30T00:24:00.000-08:00

"This is one of the strangest fish that I've seen in my whole career", said Ralf Britz, zoologist at the Natural History Museum. No wonder—it's the smallest fish ever discovered. Measuring 7.9mm long and a member of the Carp family, Paedocypris progenetica is the world's tiniest vertebrate.
Found living in a forest swamp on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the minute creature lives in conditions previously thought to be uninhabitable due to high acidity levels of up to pH3. This is 100 times more acidic than rainwater. Remarkably, further research has indicated that many more species have made homes there.
Fish experts Maurice Kottelat of Switzerland and Tan Heok Hui from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research in Singapore were working with colleagues from Indonesia and with Kai-Erik Witte from the Max Planck Institute in Germany when they stumbled upon the fish. Their paper states, "Paedocypris has many 'larval' features typically associated with paedomorphic fish (e.g. narrow frontals that leave the brain unprotected dorsally by bone and a precaudal larval-fin-fold) but, uniquely among fishes, males also possess highly modified pelvic fins with hypertrophied muscles and a keratinised pad in front of the pelvic girdle, which, we hypothesize, function together as a clasping or holding device, thereby suggesting an unusual reproductive mode."
Paedocypris progenetica has a reduced head skeleton leaving its brain unprotected by bone and has the appearance of larvae, as though it has not been fully matured. It was a fortunate find in 1997 amongst Indonesian peat swamps, which had been damaged by forest fires, increased logging, agriculture and urbanisation. It is possible that species similar to this tiny fish have already been lost and the future of its survival is still not definite due to their very survival now being dependant on highly acidic conditions. Although they can survive through extreme drought due to their small size, having sought refuge in the last puddles of the swamp, they are now threatened by continual and widespread forest destruction and drainage of the peat swamps for palm oil plantations.
Paedocypris sustain their small bodies by feeding on plankton at the bottom of pools. The fish have few adult characteristics in order to maintain a reduced size. The females have just enough room to carry a few eggs and the males have very little bony protection over the brain. The males have a tiny clasp underneath their bodies that may help them fertilise eggs individually.
The previous record for smallest vertebrate was held by an 8mm-species of Indo Pacific goby. The UK's smallest fish is the marine Guillet's goby, Lebetus guilleti , reaching 24 mm in length.

Office Fish Tank

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Are your fish getting a little lazy on you? Well then, it’s high time that you give them the gift of work with this Computer Office Fish Tank.
This hilarious fish tank comes complete with a computer desk, computer, lamp, pen holder & keyboard. You can put those lazy fish to work & run their office from the outside! I love it. Two fishy thumbs up.

Bathroom Fishtank

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Bathroom Fishtanks are weird…and probably makes the fish dreadfully depressed. (and die soon)

Fish Overpass

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By Evan Ackerman
When commuting fish need to get from home to work, their options are generally somewhat limited in a captive environment. This fish pipeline connects two fish tanks over a respectable distance (looks to be several tens of feet), allowing fish to travel from one tank, up and over the floor of a coffee shop, into the other tank. According to some of the comments in the article, the coffee shop in question is the now defunct Liquid Potion Lounge in Evanston, IL. One observer says: “They would often go up the tubes, but they’d rarely make it all the way to the other fish tank. I remember it being days before I finally saw a fish make it all the way across. Looked really cool though.” So, how does it work? From what I can tell, air gets pumped out of the top of the pipeline, drawing water up out of the tanks until the pipeline is full. Vacuum pressure then keeps the water from draining out. More pics of fish in the pipeline, after the jump.

Fighting Fish Plakat Thai

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Long fin fighting fish from Tropical fish book printed in 1954(Tropical fish, Lucile Quarry Mann, Sentinel Books Publishing, Inc. New York, 1954, p. 38

The long fin fighting fish draw by Thai artist (Loung Masayachitrakarn), and a picture of fighting fish from the western side. The similarity of these two pictures is, both are the veil tail and has big body trunk but the fins not so long as we can see the veil tail today. Both pictures can represent how the long fin look like when it is in the beginning of development.
From the picture and my memory when I was 5 years old (45 years ago), I am sure that the body size of fighting fish at that time was bigger but the fin was shorter when compared to the long fin of this day (2008), may be that time the fin is not development fully.
The unique form of co-working relationship is that, animal is moves along with the breeders/players. The process of expansion is simply following to the social infrastructure. Cannel and boat is the most convenience route for transportation in which the players moving from one place to another place. At that time the settlements of people are on the both sides of the cannel and river.

This picture show the people watching fighting fish in an earthenware pot in Thai word call
” Mor”. So fighting fish call “Plakat Mor” or fighting fish in earthenware pot. The two men touch theirs’ hand showing the challenged bets were accepted. One can notice also from the cloth they were dressing that they belonging to the peasant society. Most of the peasant class were uneducated they can not read and write. This is one of the most difficult tasks in writing fighting fish history. Thai proverb “land lord play fighting cock, slave play fighting fish” (ขุนนางเล่นไก่ ขี้ข้าเล่นปลา”), gave very clear picture of who play the fighter.

Koi fish Japan

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Kohaku

ko-hah-coo
Kohaku are white Koi with red markings. Ideally the red markings should have a good depth of color with a uniform shade, the edges of the red should be well defined. The white should be pure white and free from blemishes. As a general guide, the red markings should cover around half of the koi.

Sanke

san-key
The Sanke is a three colored koi with red and black markings on a white background. the depth of the colors are important, with a pure white background and uniform red plus black markings. There should be no black markings on the head, looking similar to the Kohaku. The body should have large red markings complimented by an even distribution of smaller black patches. Black stripes can often be seen in the pectoral fins and tail.

Showa

sho-wa
The Showa is a three colored Koi with black, red and white markings. It is similar to the Sanke except that the black areas are much larger, covering a large area of the body, including the head. There is normally a solid area of black at the base of the pectoral fins and some black stripes on the tail.

Bekko

bay-co
The Bekko are white , red or yellow Koi that have a distinctive set of black markings over the body. The white based Koi are known as Shiro Bekko (illustrated), the red based are Aka Bekko and the yellow are Ki Bekko. The head of the Bekko should be free of black markings and the base colour the same as the body. The black markings should be balanced patches along the body of the Koi. A Bekkos' fins can have black, similar to the Sanke

Utsurimono
The Utsurimono is similar to the Bekko Koi, with white, red or yellow colors plus black markings. The main difference is that the Utsuri are black koi with white, red or yellow markings. The Shiro Utsuri is black with white markings, Hi Utsuri (illustrated) black with red and the Ki Utsuri black with yellow. The black should wrap around the body, whereas the black is above the lateral line on the Bekko. Also the black markings should extend from the head to tail.

Kumonryu

come-on-ree-you

Black koi with white along the shoulder, dorsal area and along the sides above the lateral line. Unstable pattern

Asagi

as-ah-gee
The Asagi lack the bright coloration of other koi varieties, being mainly gray/blue above the lateral line and red/orange below. Good examples have a delicate pattern of colored scales running symmetrically along the back of the Koi. The scales should be regular over the body, the lighter edges being of equal length on all scales. Normally the light grey/blue pectoral fins have an orange marking at their base.

Shusui The Shusui has basically the same colors as the Asagi. The head is blue/gray with red on the jaws, below the lateral line and on the fins. The scales along the lateral and dorsal lines are a darker blue than the rest of the Koi. Due the lack of scale detail on the back of the Shusui compared to the Asagi, the skin often appears as pale blue.

Koromo The Koromo has the basic pattern of the Kohaku, but due to cross- breeding with the Asagi has a well defined scale pattern within the red areas.

Koi Colors

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As the year passes by koi fish or Japanese carp has been loved and treasure by its owner. The main reason is that this type of fish has magnificent color patterns that provide satisfaction to them. Japanese took a great deal of complacency in discerningly breeding koi fish to produce gorgeous array of colors we see nowadays.

Koi fish has different colors. You can easily determine its health condition through its colors. The red koi fish must be brilliant red and the black fish must be deep black. If the black koi turns to dull black or have gray spots or scales on its body it indicates that the fish is not in good health. Same with the white koi, if its color is not as white as snow then we can say that the fish is not in good condition. The color of the Koi fish serves as a sign of healthiness. The health status of koi fish mainly depends in the water condition. So if you have unclean water your koi fish turns its dazzling color to dull. Having an understanding in the color of koi fish, gives you an idea of choosing the healthy one if it happen that you’ll buy in the pet shop. On the other hand, it will give you an idea that you are giving the best care for your koi.
Some of the Koi fish colors that we commonly see are black, blue, cream, red, white and yellow. To describe the colors and characteristics of the koi fish, Japanese use exact terms and classify it into different groups. The most popular group is Gosanke which includes variety of koi such as Taisho Sanshoki, Showa Sanshoki and kohaku. Taisho Sanshoki is also known as Taisho Sanke or Sanke. These are white koi with red and black markings. Same with Sanke, another group of koi is Showa Sanshoki, which is white, red and black in color. The only difference is that Showa koi is principally black with white and red markings. Kohaku, then again is the type of koi which is white in color that had a red marking. Other type of koi has its own variety of colors like Ogon koi it has even color without any marking on its body.
Enhancing the color of the koi fish by giving enough diet is necessary to keep them healthy. Some of the foods that you may give to your koi fish are blue-green algae also known as Spirulina, marigold, plankton, and shrimp. Aside from that you can also give freeze-dried or frozen foods like daphnia and brine shrimp that have color-enhancing ingredients that is primarily need by your koi fish. It is rich in Carotenoid tincture that is the major pigment of the Koi fish.

Mini Fish Tank

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Angelfish

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French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)

French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, is one of the larger species cataloged in the family Pomacanthidae. This species inhabits multiple regions of the marine waters. Their native habitat extends from Florida to Brazil throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and in the eastern Atlantic along the shorelines of Ascension Island and St. Paul's Rock.

General Description

Although they share a common body shape, adults and juveniles look distinctively different. Juveniles are predominantly black with evenly spaced yellow vertical striping that begins at the snout and ends at the base of their tail fin. Their coloration is much brighter than that of an adult. Adults have bluish gray faces followed by a thick black vertical band. The scales on their bodies are black with outer edges rimmed in golden yellow. The coloration on adults will continue to grow duller as they mature.

This is a fast and agile predator. Their bodies are tall and narrow. Their narrow width allows them to easily maneuver in and around coal formations to hunt or avoid being hunted. They row their pectoral fins as a means of locomotion. They have elongated dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The combination of the two makes them quick and highly maneuverable.

Care Level

This species should be kept only by saltwater aquarists with and intermediate skill levels and above. These fish can grow to an adult length of up to 16 inches long and almost as tall. A minimum tank size of 100 gallons is recommended. They are fast growers. These are anything but angels. This fish's temperament is rated semi-aggressive. However, given its rapid growing rate and adult size there is a high probability that it will become the dominant fish in your aquarium. They are not suitable for marine reef aquariums. They are omnivores with big appetites and will readily consume your live ornamental species, plant and animal alike. They are intolerant of their own species and will exhibit a high degree of territorial behavior in the confines of an aquarium. They should be kept as a single fish or a spawning pair only. They require very clean water or they may become ill. Despite all the negative attributes these exotic beauties are quite popular among serious saltwater enthusiasts. And they are one of the hardiest and easy to maintain among the larger species of angelfish. They can live in excess of 15 years.

Dietary Requirements

The dietary habits of adults and juvenile are also different. Juveniles are cleaning fish. They regularly setup cleaning stations ingesting the parasitic infestation of fish such as snappers, moray eels and surgeonfish. Adults abandon this practice in favor of sponges, algae, sea fans and urochordates. In their natural environment sponges constitute 70% of an adult's caloric intake.

Getting angelfish to feed in captivity doesn't usually present a problem. They will quickly learn to eat pellets, frozen and dried food. Make sure to include a good mix of algae and sponge in their diets. Algae sheets and specially formulated food for marine angel fish will help keep them healthy and maintain their coloration. An abundance of living rock is also advisable.

Breeding Habits

This is a monogamous fish. In the wild a couple will vigorously defend their territory against intruders and other angelfish pairs. French angelfish do spawn in captivity although not commonly.

If you enjoyed this lens find out more about popular Saltwater & Marine Reef Aquarium Fish.

The Newest Saltwater Aquarium Hobby

The latest trend among Saltwater Tank enthusiasts is raising pet jellyfish. Jellyfish require a specially designed Jellyfish Aquarium Fish Tank in order to survive. Jellyfish aquariums are easier to maintain than a traditional saltwater tank. Moon Jellies are the most popular jellyfish among home aquarists both for heir exotic beauty and their ease of care. They have become so popular that two US based websites are now tank raising them to meet the growing demand. Find out more aboutMoon Jellies and other Pet Jellyfish. Moon Jellyfish are by far the most popular and readily available pet jellyfish for home aquarium use. Jellyfish are some of the most interesting creatures in the aquatic kingdom. You can find loads of interesting tidbits on these exotic pets at Jellyfish Facts.

Feeding Goldfish

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One of the most important aspect of feeding goldfish is to know how much food to give it. Its constant grazing behavior often tricks owners to overfeeding them, which is a sure call for the fish falling ill. Here is more information on what and how to feed a goldfish.
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Hire a Freelancer   Choose from 000's of rated freelancers. Free job posts! Goldfish belongs to the carp family that were domesticated quite early by human beings. Not only are they colorful but their popularity as aquarium fish stems from the fact that they have impressive associative learning abilities. Goldfish also display keen social learning skills. Goldfish are coldwater fish. Hence, these do not require temperature of water in the aquarium to be regulated. Despite this, it is important to know that these fishes are generally sensitive to drastic or frequent change in water temperature. Goldfish can also be kept in ponds and if that is where a fish owner wants to keep his pets, then he should go for the hardier varieties like common goldfish, comet, wakin, and shubunkin goldfish, that adapt well to the temperature changes with seasons in pond water. Of the various aspects of goldfish care we will deal with one, which is feeding goldfish.
Important Aspects of Feeding Goldfish
Here are some common aspects and questions that every goldfish owner wants to know about feeding goldfish:
What to Feed a Goldfish?
Goldfish are omnivores and so one has lot of options about what to feed his pet. However, as compared to food for other fish, goldfish food should have lower protein and higher carbohydrates content. Goldfish food is commercially available in the form of flakes or pellets. Food forms that float are the best option, as that would enable one to remove excess food from the fish tank. However, to add variety one could also feed mashed peas (with skin removed) and blanched leaves of vegetables to their pet goldfish. Live and frozen foods can also be fed. However, it is best to get live food for goldfish available in pet shops, as those caught from the wild may carry parasites and organisms that cause goldfish diseases. Brine shrimp and spirulina are good for the digestive system of goldfish.
How Much to Feed a Goldfish?
Goldfish have an impressive appetite. You might notice that they gobble up all the food almost every time they are added to the fish tank. However, don't be fooled by this display of hunger as most first time fish enthusiasts are. Goldfish pollute the water in the tank frequently. If they are overfed, this leads to further dirtying of water due to increase in the amount of waste that they excrete. However, more importantly, an overfed goldfish is sure to fall sick. As a general rule, a goldfish should be fed only as much as it can eat within the first two minutes. Anything more than that is being overfed.
How Often to Feed a Goldfish?
Another question that goldfish owners want to know is how often do you feed goldfish. The answer to this question is that a goldfish should not be fed more than twice a day. However, while feeding goldfish in winter, one needs to bring the frequency of feeding down to once everyday. This is because, with drop in temperature of water, the metabolism of these fishes also drop. Hence, the amount of diet should be reduced so that goldfish do not run the risk of being overfed. For proper goldfish care the amount and frequency of feeding is just as important as what the goldfish is being fed.
Feeding Goldfish While on Vacation
It's the time of the year that you have been desperately waiting for to go out on a vacation! But how to care for your pet goldfish while you are away on vacation? The most important aspect of goldfish care while the owner is on a vacation is feeding it. If you are going out for four days or less, then your fish could do without being fed during this time. However, if it is five days or more that you are going to be away, then it is better to make arrangements for feeding your goldfish. Get someone to feed your pet every fourth day. You might have explained the amount of food that your fish has to be fed, but you can never be sure that your fish is not being overfed! Many goldfish owners come back from their vacation to hear the shocking news that their pet died...due to overfeeding! You definitely don't want that for yourself, do you? So just pack food for your goldfish in small plastic baggies with dates that they have to be fed, written on them. Another option available is to use food blocks called vacation blocks or banquet blocks. These are blocks of plaster of Paris with fish food in them. As the plaster of Paris slowly dissolves bits of fish food are exposed that fish can nibble on. Read more on interestting facts about goldfish.
Having correct information about feeding goldfish is one the most important goldfish care tips. However, before I end this article, I would reiterate that don't get too excited about the constant grazing behavior that your goldfish displays. Clean water and restraining from overfeeding your goldfish are crucial for its health!

Discus Fish

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The Discus is known as the "King of the Aquarium". Perhaps the most beautiful of all tropical fish, the Discus is also one of the more difficult tropical fish to keep and is not recommended for beginners. They require excellent water conditions, frequent water changes and higher water temperatures than most other tropical fish. Most successful keepers house them in a species only tank because of the high water temperature requirement.
There are many color varieties to choose from with many more being introduced all the time. If you are interested in this fish, be prepared to spend some jack on this one of a kind tropical fish. If you're on the market to buy Discus, there are many online websites that specifically sell Discus. Shop around and get recommendations from others for good places to buy them. Many fishkeepers will only get the best available foods for this fish. Vitamin enriched flakes and live, frozen and freeze dried foods can be given.
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Freshwater Fish Species Profile and Care Information
Scientific Name : Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Common Names : Many, due to color patterns: Cobalt Discus, Blue Discus, Blue Faced, Blue-Head, Red Thunder, Blue Red Turquoise, Marlboro Red, Pigeon Blood, Green, Brown, Snake Skin, Spotted Strawberry, the list goes on and on and on.
Discus Care Level : Moderate to Difficult, needs frequent partial water changes to keep water parameters at optimum levels.
Size : Up to 6 inches (15 cm)
pH : 5 - 7
Temperature : 80°F - 86°F (27°C - 30°C)
Water Hardness : 1° to 8° dH,
Life span : If well cared for, they can live for 10 years or more.
Origin / Habitat : Amazon River
Temperament / Behavior : Very peaceful most of the time. They may become territorial when they pair off to breed.
Discus Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Breeding them can be very difficult because of the pristine water conditions that they require.
Tank Size : 30 gallon minimum, prefer tall aquariums
Compatible Tank Mates : It is usually best to keep them in a species only tank because of their water requirements. The Cardinal tetra and Corydoras, Cory Cat are sometimes kept in tanks with them and make good tank mates.
Discus Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease - Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment
Diet / Fish Food : Prefer live foods but you may need to supplement with foods enriched with vitamins. Try to vary their diet for optimum health. There are foods made specifically for Discus.
Tank Region : Middle
Gender : The genital papilla is pointed in males, and rounded in females. You have to observe them when they are spawning.