Nature Lover

Cichlid Fish

2012-01-08T04:57:00.000-08:00

About the fish 

Cichlids are fishes of larg family which include alot of species at least 1300 spices the family called cichlidae , around 1600 spices of Cichlids was found in Africa and in Africa and the South America they are the most fresh water popular fishes .

Description

Cichlids have variety of body shapes with sizes from 2.5 cm to 1 meter long compressed and ovate also the family include known fishes as angle fish oscars and discus .

Behavior

Cichlids is one of the school fishes with colors variety and u will enjoy watching it swimming .

Temperature 

in habitat the fish lives in warm lakes with temp rate 29 C - 40 C

Tank Size

for adults fishes u need 90 litter Tank ( 25 Gallons )

Diet 

Cichlids feed on alga and plants small animals and invertebrates

Pygmy Catfish

2011-09-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

About the Fish

Pygmy Catfish or Corydoras Pygmaeus one of the fresh water fishes it was found in south America .

Description

its small fish grows to reach 2.1 cm and females are larger than males .

Behavior

its one of the peaceful fishes its prefer to live in groups of 4 or 5 members or more , as most of the cat fishes they swim at the lower part of the tank but they are mid water swimmers as well .

Temperature and PH

the fish prefer temperature 22 to 26 C and PH lvl 6 - 8

Tank Size

with small size fish like Pygmy catfish small tanks or large tanks will be good for such small fish but not smaller than 25 litter tanks .

Diet

the fish eat plants and insects and worms and crustaceans .

molly fish

2011-09-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

About the Fish

molly fish or (poecilia sphenops) is one of the popular fresh water aquarium fish its also good for beginners coz it easy to care for . molly fish in wild lives in marine and fresh water and the fish origin is Mexico

Description

in wild life u can find mollies with silver and black but there is many others types like golder molly and balloon molly and sail fin molly and Yucatan molly , molly grows up to reach 15 cm , Mollie's males have long dorsal fins while female have short one also females rounded anal fins unlike males which the have normal fin

Behavior

mollies are peaceful fishes they are mid water swimmers except black molly fish some times the act aggressive to other fishes and the best tank mates are sword tail fish or platy fish .

Temperature 

the fish prefer temperature from 18 - 27 C

Tank Size 

for small size molly like Yucatan or sail fin molly 35 litter tanks and larger for other types you should get larger tank ( for adult fishes )

Diet

Mollies are omnivorous so they will feeds on vegetables like alga and live foods like blood worms or brine shrimps

Emperor tetra

2011-09-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

About The fish

Emperor Tetra or (Nematobrycon palmeri) its one of the Colombian fishes which can be found in streams and rivers of western Colombia

Description

The fish Got yellow and black horizontal wide lines with purple glow on the fins and tail if the aquarium is well lighted you will see the yellow dominate but if the aquarium is low lighted the purple will be more apparent . males Emperor Tetras have three pronged tail with the center black part extending beyond the rest of the tail while in the female the center black part only reaches as far as the clear part of the tail.and the fish grow to 7.5cm

Behavior

unlink most of the Tetras,Emperor Tetra is not school fish it lives as pairs or singles

Temperature and PH

the fish prefer temperature of 23-27 C and PH of 6.5, a hardness of 50–100 mg

Tank Size

The Fish need 30 litter Tank size well planted

diet

The Emperor Tetra is an omnivore so good flake or pelleted fish food is a good basis for its diet also frozen blood worms and Daphnia

Zebra Fish

2011-07-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

About The Fish

zebrafish or Danio rerio one of the fresh water fishes the fish belong to minnow family (Cyprinidae) zebrafish is native to the streams of the southeastern Himalayan region,including the countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, It commonly inhabits streams, canals, ditches, ponds, and slow-moving to stagnant water bodies, including rice fields.

 Description 

The fish is name come from the five uniform, pigmented, horizontal blue stripes on the side of the body, all of which extend to the end of the caudal fin.Males are torpedo shaped and have gold stripes between the blue stripes females have a larger whitish belly and have silver stripes instead of gold.The zebrafish can grow to 6.4 centimetres (2.5 in)Life-span in captivity is around 2–3 years .

Behavior

zebra fish is good fish for beginners its playful fish like to kept in groups of 6 members or more and its generally peacful fish.

Temperature

the temperature should be between 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Tank 

the fish should be kept in tank of 15 gallons or more

Diet 

zebra fish is omnivorous in wild they feed on zooplankton , insects and insect larvae, and phytoplankton also worms and small crustaceans and they eat flakes and tubifex worms

Pleco Fish

2011-07-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

About The Fish

Pleco fish (Hypostomus plecostomus) also known as sucker fish or common algea sucker they suck algae all over the tank , they are one of the popular fresh water aquariums fishes and you can find this fish in south America they are omnivorous (meat and plants eater) but they feed on plants the most and peaceful fish.

Description

the Plecostomus the name come from its folded mouth which is making the fish able to stick on the tank sids and suck the algae there is many kinds of this fish with diffrent looking like albino and zebra and clown and whiteseam pleco fish ,the fish can grow to reach 60 cm . this fish can survive in cold water tanks like goldfish.

Behavior

the fish is Peacful and stay all the time cleaning the tank from algea they will hide under stones or decoration when they feel they are in danger .

Temperature and Ph

they prefer temperature between 70 to 85°F ( 21-29 °C) and Ph 6 - 8

Tank 

according the size of the fish you need 40 gallons tank minimum

Diet 

Pelco are not picky fish the eat any thing they find also food left from another fish or algea and algea wafers

Gold Fish

2011-07-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

About The Fish

The goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) is a freshwater fish It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish.

the goldfish is a domesticated version of a less colorful Fish which is the carp (Carassius auratus) native to east Asia. It was first domesticated in China more than a thousand years ago Goldfish has many colors and body shapes u can find colors like white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black

Description

the Fish has many kinds with different looking but they share the colors full looking and the long fins and here is some pics will show you different kinds of this popular fish also goldfish have life span in captivity extend to 10 years or more .

Bubble Eye

Black Moor

Common goldfish

Fantail

Comet

Celestial Eye

Pearlscale

Oranda

Lionhead

Ryukin

Behavior

gold fish have learning Abilities and they have very sharp visual allows them to notice the different between individual humans and the fish is very friendly towards each others or any other fish also the fish almost eat any thing and you can notice that your goldfish will come to the water surface and asks for food and start to move around in the tank and which is sweet behavior and that make it one of the most beloved fishes.

Temperature

Goldfish known as cool water fish it can live in unheated aquariums but not less than 10 °C (50 °F) it could lead the fish to its death and
also not higher than 30 °C (86 °F)

Tank

Goldfish grown fast when you care about the feeding

so you need minimum 20 gallon tank to raise

a goldfish and u cam simply calculate this by simple

Equation (1cm fish need 2 liter = 0.53 gallon)

which giving free space for swimming . and you dont

have to add live plants to your tank coz the fish will eat it .

Diet

Goldfish feed on wide varieties of foods they don't stop feeding as long as they can find the food lol ,they can eat insects - plants - blood worms

Kissing Gourami

2011-07-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

About The Fish

Kissing gouramis(Helostoma temminckii)are large tropical freshwater fish These fish originate from Thailand to IndonesiaThey are highly commercial food fish which are farmed in their native

Description

Typical of gourami, the body is deep and strongly compressed laterally The foremost rays of the jugular pelvic fins are also slightly elongated. The pectoral fins are large, rounded, and low-slung. The caudal fin is rounded to concave. The lateral line is divided in two, with the posterior portion starting below the end of the other; there are a total of 43–48 scales running the line's length and The most distinctive feature of the kissing gourami is its mouth the lips are lined with horny teeth. There are two colour morphs encountered greens, which have lengthwise lateral stripes and opaque, dark brown fins and pink, which have a rose to orangy pink body and silvery scales, with transparent pinkish fins . the fish maximum length between 20 to 30 cm (7.87 - 11.81 inches).

Behavior

Shallow, slow-moving, and thickly vegetated backwaters are the kissing gourami's natural habitat. They are midwater omnivores kissing behavior is the most amzing thing about the fish , the fish kissing each other or the plantes or object around in the aquarium the kissing gourami's are territorial fish some are tolerant towards fish of similar size, but others will bully, chase and torment causing significant stress on tank mates also males kisser will challange each other .

Temperature and PH

the temperature should be between 22–28 °C (72–82 °F) and the PH between 6.8–8.5 with water hardness between 5–30°dGH

Tank Size

the reqiured tank should be 50 gallons planted tank and larger for adult fishes

Diet

Kissing gouramis are omnivores fish and in nature they feed on a wide range of foods, including benthic algae, zooplankton, phytoplankton and aquatic plants. They are midwater fishes so they search for food at midwater, but will also eat insects at the water surface.

Moonlight Gourami

2011-07-22T03:16:00.002-07:00

About The Fish 

Moonlight gourami (Trichogaster microlepis) is one of the Osphronemidae family . It also called the moonbeam gourami its peaceful, attractive fish and so a popular as aquarium fish.The moonlight gourami is native to the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam and Chao Phraya basins

Description

the fish is silvery colored with a slightly greenish hue similar to the soft glow of moonlight. The fish also have sloped head which is make it special from other gourami . The males can be identified by the orange to red coloration of the pelvic fins, as well as the long dorsal fins which ends in a point. In females, the pelvic fins are colorless to yellow, and the dorsal fins are shorter and rounder. During spawning, in males, and the fish can reach 13 cm (5 inches) .

Behavior

The moonlight gourami is social and peaceful fish , but u may see that males attack other fishes of the same species. the moonlight gourami could be a shy fish that regularly hides behind vegetation.

Temperature and PH

the fish prefer it between 26–30°C (79–86°F). with Ph 6.0–7.0 . and water hardness 2–25 dGH

Tank Size 

Minimum tank size requirement for the Gourami's is 20 gallons heavey planted tank with clear water .

Diet

moonlight gourami eats insects, crustaceans, and zooplankton also will accept flakes, frozen and live foods

Silver Shark

2011-07-21T05:40:00.002-07:00

About The Fish 

Balantiocheilos melanopterus, also known as the tricolor shark silver shark or shark minnow is one of Cyprinidae family and is one of the two species in the genus Balantiocheilos. is commonly called a shark because of its torpedo shaped body and large fins.

Description

its silver body fish with black margins on their dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins.They have big eyes to see better to catch their prey. its growing to reach 12 inches max but need long time to reach this .

Behavior

Bala shark is peaceful and good companions to many other types of tropical fish also they are jumpers fishes so u need to cover your tank to prevent the fish from hurting it self and calling this fhish a shark is just coz it looks like one with fins body shape no more . also they love to be kept in groups .

Temperature and PH 

water temperature should be from 22–28°C (72–82°F) and the PH should be 6.0–8.0 and water hardness 5.0–12.0 dGH.this fish has the ability to accept temp and Ph changes .

Tank 

the fish need 80 gallons or larger tanks to provide swimming areas . adults should be kept in larger tanks like 120 gallons or more .

Diet

Silver Shark Prefer Live foods like brine shrimps - blood worms they also feed on flakes

Rainbow Shark

2011-07-20T09:42:00.002-07:00

About The Fish

The rainbow shark( Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) is a popular freshwater community-tank aquarium fish of the Cyprinidae  family. It is also variously known as the ruby shark red-fin shark  red-finned shark rainbow sharkminnow green fringelip labeo whitefin  shark and whitetail sharkminnow Rainbow sharks are species native to the basins of Mekong Chao Phraya Xe Bangfai and Maeklong in Thailand in Southeast Asia. They are also found in Indonesia

Description

Rainbow sharks have elongated dark-black and greenish bodies. They also  can be light orange body wise with dark red fins.They also come in an  albino variety which has a white body and bright orange fins.  The abdominal area is flat. The fins possess red  to orange coloration. The linear area from the gill cover the eye  and the mouth has a characteristic brief stripe. Compared to females  male rainbow sharks have thinner bodies with black lines along the  tailfins. Males also have brighter coloration also They can grow up to  6 inches long about 15 cm they have average life span ranging from 4 to 6  years and like most of the sharks they get bigger and live longer in larg swimming areas .

Behavior

Rainbow sharks prefer tank bottom also they are the aquarium surface cleaners.  they consume leftover fishfood. males keep thier territory  and they are aggressive to their own species. If kept with their own kind or  relatives This  fighting behavior involves head and tail butting and also biting.  A large rainbow shark will continuously chase a smaller rainbow shark  until the smaller one dies especially in confined environments like  aquaria 

Tank

Grown Rainbow Sharks need 55 gllons Tank with plantes and places for the younger fishes to hide from the adult one to aviod attacking 

Temperature and PH 

 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F) is the right temperature and with PH range (6.5 to 7.0 ) and water hardness  2 to 15 dH 

Dite 

when its about food rainbow shark do not mind they eat wafers and flakes they also eat live foods like zooplankton and Tubifex worms 

Oscar Fish

2011-07-18T05:52:00.002-07:00

About the Fish

Astronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus are often found for sale as a food fish in the local markets. The fish can also be found in other areas including China, Australia, and the United States. Although its slow growth limits its potential for aquaculture, it is considered a popular aquarium fish

Description 

A. ocellatus have been reported to grow to about 45 centimetres (18 in) in length and 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lb) in weight. The wild caught forms of the species are typically darkly coloured with orange ringed-spots or ocelli on the caudal peduncle and on the dorsal fin. It has been suggested that these ocelli function to limit fin-nipping by piranha (Serrasalmus spp.) which co-occur with A. ocellatus in its natural environment. The species is also able to rapidly alter its colouration, a trait which facilitates ritualised territorial and combat behaviours amongst conspecifics.Juvenile A. ocellatus have a different colouration from adults and are striped with white and orange wavy bands and have spotted heads.

Behavior 

Oscars are not very aggressive. Although they can kill other fishes, terrorizing their tank mates is surely not on their agenda. Nevertheless avoid fishes that would easily fit into the mouth of an Oscar. Some real Oscar fish tankmates are Bala Shark, Silver Dollar and Jack Dempsey fish.

Temperature 

The species is limited in its distribution by its intolerance of cooler water temperatures, the lower lethal limit for the species is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F)

Tank Size 

Fish do not do well if they are kept in poor conditions. If you are planning to keep Oscars then you really must provide them with an aquarium that is set up specifically to cater for their requirements. We always recommend going for the absolute largest tank you can afford, 55 gallons is about the minimum size aquarium if you want to keep one adult Oscar. 75 gallonstank is recommend.

Diet

Captive oscars may be fed prepared fish food designed for large carnivorous fish, crayfish, worms, and insects such as flies or grasshoppers.Then even eat small mice, crickets are also good live food. Since these fish are found in the wild, fruit can also be used as a type of food. Just about anything that fell into the water would be eaten by Oscars. These fish basically eat anything. Live feeder fish can be given, but fish such as goldfish and rosy red feeder minnows should not be fed. They are typically kept in filthy conditions within the pet store, and will spread disease to oscars

Neon Tetra Fish

2011-07-17T03:17:00.002-07:00

About the Fish 

The neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater or clearwater streams in southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of the SolimõesIt is not found in the whitewater rivers of Andean origin. Its bright colouring makes the fish visible to conspecifics in the dark blackwater streams, and is also the main reason for its popularity among tropical fish hobbyists.

Descroption

The neon tetra has a light-blue back over a silver-white abdomen. The fish is characterized by an iridescent blue horizontal stripe along each side of the fish from its nose to the base of the adipose fin, and an iridescent red stripe that begins at the middle of the body and extends posteriorly to the base of the caudal fin. Most, if not all, will develop an olive green sheen lining their backs. The fish is completely transparent (including fins) except for these markings. During the night, the blue and red become silver as the fish rests—it reactivates once it becomes active in the morning. It grows to approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) in overall length. Sexual dimorphism is slight, the female having a slightly larger belly, and a bent iridescent stripe rather than the male's straight stripe.

Behavior 

They tend to be timid and, because of their small size, should not be kept with large or aggressive fish who may bully or simply eat them. Fish that mix well in an aquarium are other types of tetras, such as the rummy-nose tetra, cardinal tetra, and glowlight tetra, and other community fish that live well in an ideal tetra water condition. Mid-level feeders, they are best kept in schools of six or more, for the shoaling effect when they move around the tank. They shoal naturally in the wild and are thus happier, more brightly colored, and more active when kept as a shoal as opposed to singly. Their colour and the iridescent stripe may become dim at night, and can be virtually invisible after a period of darkness. The color may also fade during a period of stress, such as human intervention into the tank

Temperature and PH 

the ideal temperature is 21–27 °C (70–81 °F) to resemble their native Amazon environment. pH of 6.0–7.8 and KH of 1.0–2.0. However, they will die if traumatized by dramatic changes to their environment

Tank 

Neons are best kept in a densely planted tank with subdued light, Neon tetras are considered easy to keep in a community aquarium that is at least 60 cm (24 inches)

Diet

Neon tetras are omnivores and will accept most flake foods, if sufficiently small, but should also have some small foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, which can be stuck to the side of the aquarium, and micro pellet food to supplement their diet. A tropical sinking pellet is ideal as most brands of these include natural color enhancers that bring out the color in neon tetras. Some frozen foods including frozen blood worms add variety to their diet.

Black Wido fish (Black tetra)

2011-07-16T15:02:00.002-07:00

About The Fish

The black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) also known as the black skirt tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra or black widow tetra is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) (which includes all tetras, including the piranha), of order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia

Description

the black tetra has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from light at the nose to near black at the tail. Two prominent black vertical bars appear just posterior of the gills.The fish Growing to about 6 cm (2.5 in) total length

Tanks Size

Black tetras Tanks should be 15 gallons and planted

Behavior

It is a schooling fish, and requires at least 6 in a group, but they can also make do with 3-4 tetras per aquarium Although not generally aggressive towards other species, avoid slow moving, long finned fish like male Betta splendens with this fish. Black tetras can be violent amongst themselves, with weaker fishes sometimes chased and nipped by their superiors.

Temperature and PH

It will live in warm water (78 degrees F or 26 degrees C), but, coming partly from the Paraquay section of the Rio Paraguay south of the tropic of Capricorn, it will also take slightly cooler water than some tropical fish, and is sometimes kept in unheated aquariums in rooms that do not get cold. This fish, like most tetras, needs soft, acid water, pH 6.5-6.8, with plenty of plants, although it is one of the more adaptable tetras, and is suitable for a community aquarium with a neutral pH, and a temperature of about 24 degrees C ( 75 Degrees F)

Diet

he black tetra is an omnivore and will eat nearly anything it can fit into its mouth, but care must be taken to ensure that all members of the school receive adequate food. If the food is too large, the tetra will lose interest and leave it to sink and decay, so the size of the food particles must be appropriate. It is best to keep a school of 6 black tetras in a medium tank. The Black Tetra will benefit from the occasional feeding with live foods like daphnia and mosquito larvae, and from frozen foods like blood worms.

Silver Dollar Fish

2011-07-15T11:34:00.002-07:00

About The Fish

Silver dollar is a common name given to a number of species of Metynnis, a tropical fish belonging to the Characidae family which is closely related to piranha and pacu. Originating in the Tapajós River basin in South America

Description

round-shaped silver fish with slight red-tinged anal fin is mostly found in tanks kept by fish-keeping hobbyists. It will grow to a maximum length of 14 centimeters (5.5 inches).

Behavior

The silver dollar is a peaceful schooling species that spends most of its time in the mid- to upper-level of the water. Its maximum lifespan is more than 10 years. A chin-layer, the adult fish will spawn around 2,000 eggs. This breeding occurs in soft, warm water in low light. The silver dollar is listed as semi-aggressive but it is very mellow like the pacu. These fish can be kept in community tanks with fish that can't fit in their mouths, so don't put a full-grown silver dollar with neon tetras and guppies. These fish can also be kept with larger fish like oscars, pikes, and larger catfish when full grown.

PH And Temperature

Silver dollars natively live in a tropical climate in the sides of weedy rivers. They prefer water with a pH of 5–7, a water hardness of up to 15 dGH, and an ideal temperature range of 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

Tank Size

Silver Dollars Grows fast so they like larg spaces to swimm so tanks with 20 gallon or larger would be better

Diet

Their diet is almost exclusively vegetarian and in captivity they will often eat all the plants in a tank. They will also eat worms and small insects.

Guppy Fish

2011-07-13T03:17:00.002-07:00

About the Fish 

Robert John Lechmere Guppy discovered this tiny fish in Trinidad in 1866, and the fish was named Girardinus guppii in his honour by Albert Günther later that year. However, the fish had previously been described in America. Although Girardinus guppii is now considered a junior synonym of Poecilia reticulata, the common name "guppy" still remains.

Over time guppies have been given a variety of taxonomic names, although Poecilia reticulata is the name currently considered to be valid

Guppies are native to Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

However, guppies have been introduced to many different countries on  all continents, except Antarctica. Sometimes this has occurred  accidentally, but most often as a means of mosquito control, the hope being that the guppies would eat the mosquito larvae slowing down the spread of malaria. In many cases, these guppies have had a negative impact on native fish faunas.

Description 

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata), also known as the millionfish, is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species in the world. It is a small member of the Poeciliidae  family (females 4–6 centimetres (1.6–2.4 in) long, males 2.5–3.5  centimetres (1.0–1.4 in) long) and like all other members of the family,  is live-bearing. females are grey in body colour, males have splashes, spots, or stripes that can be any of a wide variety of colors.

Behavior 

Guppy is very social fish and peace full to all other kind of fishes

Guppy Tanks

The guppy prefers a hard water aquarium  with a temperature between 25.5 and 27.8 °C (78 and 82 °F) and salt  levels equivalent to 1 tablespoon per 5 US gallons (19 l; 4.2 imp gal). They can withstand levels of salinity up to 150% that of normal seawater,  which has led to them being occasionally included in marine tropical  community tanks, as well as in freshwater tropical tanks. Guppies are  generally peaceful, though nipping behaviour is sometimes exhibited  between male guppies or towards other top swimmers like platys and swordtails and occasionally other fish with prominent fins such as angelfish. Its most famous characteristic is its propensity for breeding, and it can breed in both fresh water and marine aquariums.Well-planted tanks that offer a lot of barriers to adult guppies will shelter the young quite well

Reproduction and temperature

Guppies are highly prolific livebearers. The gestation period  of a guppy is 21–30 days, with an average of 28 days, varying according  to water temperature. Males possess a modified tubular anal fin called a  gonopodium located directly behind the ventral fin which is flexed forward and used as a delivery mechanism for one or more balls of spermatozoa.  The male will approach a female and will flex his gonopodium forward  before thrusting it into her and ejecting these balls. After the female  guppy is inseminated, a dark area near the anus, known as the gravid spot,  will enlarge and darken. Just before birth, the eyes of fry may be seen  through the translucent skin in this area of the female's body. When  birth occurs, individual offspring are dropped in sequence over the  course of an hour or so.

Guppies prefer water temperatures of about 26 °C (79 °F) for reproduction. The female guppy has drops of between 2–50 fry  at a time, typically ranging between 5 and 30. After giving birth, the  female is ready for conception again within only a few hours. Guppies  have the ability to store sperm up to a year, so the females can give  birth many times without depending on the presence of a male. From the  moment of birth, each fry is fully capable of swimming, eating, and  avoiding danger. If not kept separate, the older, mature guppies will  eat the fry so the use of a breeder box, net breeder, or a separate  20–40 litres (4–9 imp gal; 5–11 US gal) tank is recommended. Live plants  may be used as hiding places for the fry.

Dite 

A continuous supply of live food, such as Daphnia, will keep adult fish full and may spare the fry when they are born.

Asian Arowana

2011-07-12T06:32:00.002-07:00

About The Fish 

The Asian arowana comprises several varieties of freshwater fish in the genus Scleropages. Some sources differentiate these varieties into multiple species, while others consider the different strains to belong to a single species, Scleropages formosus. They have several other common names, including Asian bonytongue, dragon fish, and a number of names specific to different varieties.

Native to Southeast Asia, Asian arowanas inhabit blackwater rivers, slow-moving waters flowing through forested swamps and wetlands. Adults feed on other fish, while juveniles feed on insects.

These popular aquarium fish have special cultural significance in areas influenced by Chinese culture. The name dragon fish stems from their resemblance to the Chinese dragon. This popularity has had both positive and negative effects on their status as endangered species.

taxonomy

Like all members of Osteoglossidae, Asian arowanas are highly adapted to fresh water  and are incapable of surviving in the ocean. Therefore, their spread  throughout the islands of southeast Asia suggests they diverged from  other osteoglossids before the continental breakup  was complete. Genetic studies have confirmed this hypothesis, showing  that their ancestor of the Asian arowanas diverged from the ancestor of  the Australian arowanas, S. jardinii and S. leichardti, about 140 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous period. This divergence took place in the eastern margin of Gondwanaland, with the ancestors of Asian arowanas carried on the Indian subcontinent or smaller landmasses into Asia. The morphological similarity of all Scleropages species shows that little evolutionary change has taken place recently for these ancient fish

The first description of these species was published between 1839 and 1844 (1844 is the date commonly cited) by German naturalists Salomon Müller and Hermann Schlegel, under the name Osteoglossum formosum, although later this species was placed in Scleropage

s with the name S. formosus.

Colours 

Several distinct, naturally occurring colour varieties are  recognised, each found in a specific geographic region. They include the  following:

The green is the most common variety, found in Indonesia (Kalimantan and Sumatra), Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
The silver Asian (not to be confused with the silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) is considered part of the green variety by some. It has two subvarieties, the "grey tail silver" or "Pinoh arowana," and the "yellow tail silver," each found in a different part of the island of Borneo in Indonesia.
The red-tailed golden is found in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
The gold crossback, blue Malayan, or Bukit Merah blue is native to the state of Pahang and the Bukit Merah area in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.
The red, super red, blood red, or chili red is known only from the upper part of the Kapuas River and nearby lakes in western Borneo, Indonesia.

Description 

Asian arowanas grow up to 90 cm (35 in) total length. Like all Scleropages, Asian arowanas have long bodies; large, elongate pectoral fins; dorsal and anal fins located far back on the body; and a much larger caudal fin than that of their South American relative, the silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. The mouth is oblique with a very wide gape. The prominent lower jaw has two barbels at its tip. The gill rakers  are stout. Asian arowanas bear teeth on many bones of the mouth,  including the jaws, vomer, palatines, pterygoids, parasphenoid, and  tongue.

Asian arowana scales are large, cycloid, and, in some varieties, metallic coloured, with a distinctive mosaic pattern of raised ribs.  The lateral scales are arranged in horizontal rows numbered from the  most ventral (first level) to the most dorsal (fifth level), with dorsal  scales designated the sixth level.

Asian arowanas are distinguished from Australian congenerics S. jardinii and S. leichardti by having fewer (21-26) lateral line scales (versus 32-36 for the Australian species), longer pectoral and pelvic fins, and a longer anterior snout.

Green arowanas are dark green on the back, silvery or golden green on  its sides, and silvery or whitish on its ventral surface, with dark  greenish or bluish patches visible through the lateral scales. In mature  fish, the top of the eye and the head behind the eye are bright  emerald.

Both grey-tailed and yellow-tailed silver Asian arowanas are dark  grey on the back and silver on the sides, with dark ring patches on the  lateral scales and a silvery or whitish belly. In yellow-tailed  specimens, the fin membranes are yellowish with dark grey rays. In  grey-tailed specimens, the fins are uniform dark grey.

  Red-tailed golden arowana. Although the scales are golden, the anal and caudal fins are reddish-brown.
 

Mature red-tailed golden arowanas have brilliant metallic gold lateral scales, gill covers,  bellies, and pectoral and pelvic fin membranes, although the back is  dark. In juveniles the areas destined to develop golden colour start out  metallic silver. The anal fin and the bottom portion of the caudal fin  are light brown to dark red.

Mature gold crossback arowanas are distinguished from the red-tailed  golden arowanas by having metallic gold crossing the back completely.  This variety also lacks the reddish fins of the red-tailed golden.

In mature super red arowanas, the gill covers, lateral scales, and  fin membranes of these fishes are metallic red, with the exact hue  varying from gold-tinged to deep red. The back is dark brown. In  juveniles, the darker the dorsal colouration, the deeper the red will be  on maturity.

Behavior 

Asian arowanas are paternal mouthbrooders. They are slow to reach sexual maturity and difficult to breed in captivity; successful spawnings typically take place in large outdoor ponds rather than in aquaria.

Tank and Temperature

Because they can grow up to 90 centimetres (35 inches) long, Asian arowanas require a large aquarium. They are territorial and may be kept with other Scleropages only in a very large aquarium, provided all fish are of similar size. Like other arowanas, they need a tight-fitting cover to prevent jumping. The water should be well-filtered, soft, and slightly acidic, and maintained at a temperature of 24–30° C (75–86° F). 

Diet

Asian arowanas are carnivorous and should be fed a high-quality diet of meaty food, such as shrimp and crickets.  They are surface feeders and prefer to take food in the upper parts of  the water column. Aquarists recommend live foods and meaty prepared  foods. Examples of appropriate live foods include scorpions, centipedes, mealworms, crickets, shrimps, feeder fish, small frogs, and earthworms. Prepared foods include prawns (shrimp), lean pork, frozen fish food, and pelleted food.

Betta Fish

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About the Fish

  

 The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) also known as the betta The name of the genus is derived from ikan bettah, taken from a local dialect of Malay. The wild ancestors of this fish are native to the rice paddies of Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Cambodia

description

Betta splendens usually grow to an overall length of about 5 cm , though some varieties reach 5-8 inches in length Although known for their brilliant colors and large, flowing fins, the natural coloration of Betta splendens is a dull green and brown, and the fins of wild specimens are relatively short. However, brilliantly colored and longer finned varieties have been developed through selectivity breeding

This species lives approximately 2–5 years in captivity, generally between 3-4, rarely 5–6 years

The fish is a member of the Gourami family

Diet

Siamese fighting fish have upturned mouths and are primarily carnivorous surface feeders, although some vegetable matter may be eaten. In the wild, they feed on zooplankton including crustaceans and the larvae of mosquitoes and other insects, such as flies, crickets, or grasshoppers Fish who feed on a wide range of foods live longer, have richer colors, and heal fin damage more quickly. Typically, commercial betta pellets are a combination of mashed shrimp meal, wheat flour, fish meal, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and vitamins. These fish will also eat live or frozen bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp or daphnia

Tail shapes

    Veiltail (non-symmetrical tail, only two     rays)
    Crowntail (highly frilled or jagged rays, extended spiny rays,also called fringetail)
    Combtail (less extended version of the crown tail, derivedfrom breeding crown and veil tails)
    Boxtyzard (full moon shape with red flairs)
    Half-moon (large tail fin that forms a 180-degree or larger circle segment)
    Short-finned fighting style (sometimes called "plakat")
    Double-tail (the tail fin is split into two lobes and the dorsal fin is significantly elongated)
    Delta tail (tail span is less than half-moon with sharp edges)
    Fantail (a rounded delta tail)
    Halfsun (Combtail with anal fin going 180 degrees,like halfmoon)

Rosetail (halfmoon with so much finnage that it overlaps and looks like a rose)

Behavior

Males and females flare or puff out their gill covers in order to appear more impressive, either to intimidate other rivals or as an act of courtship. Other reasons for flaring their gills is that they are startled by movement or change of scene in their environment. Both sexes will display horizontal bars (unless they are too light a color for this to show) if stressed or frightened; however, such a color change, common in females of any age, is very rare in mature males. Females often flare their gills at other females, especially when setting up a pecking order. Flirting fish behave similarly, with vertical instead of horizontal stripes indicating a willingness and readiness to breed (females only). In fact king Bettas flare their fins and gills as a sign of aggression or flirting with other fish. Bettas sometimes require a place to hide, even in the absence of threats. They may set up a territory centered on a plant or rocky alcove, sometimes becoming highly possessive of it and aggressive toward trespassing rivals.

On average, males are more aggressive. The aggression of this fish has been studied by ethologists and comparative psychologists. Siamese fighting fish will even respond aggressively to their own reflections in a mirror; use of a mirror avoids the risk of physical damage inherent in actual conflict, although it can lead to stress in some individuals. Like other fish, the fighter may respond to the presence of humans and become trained to respond to feeding cues (such as a hand placed over the water's surface). They are quite curious and will watch humans going about their business nearby. When plant leaves reach the surface, they are useful for males to base their bubble nests on.Ethical issues are still debated with the growing activity of pitting males together. Audience bet on the fishes while the bettas savagely attack each other. It is advised to isolate males from one another to avoid such aggression.

Tanks

Bettas can survive in a small container for periods of time, for optimum health and vigor larger tanks should be considered. A commonly accepted tank volume is 2.5 gallons, or 9.6 liters.

Tank mates

In captivity, male B. splendens are best housed alone since, as their name implies, they will aggressively attack and kill (or be killed by) another male in their territory. Putting female and male specimens together is not recommended either (except for breeding, in which the female should be removed immediately after the process) as they will often still attack each other. Female bettas can be kept together in groups of three in larger tanks with hiding places for the less-aggressive females. Male bettas have been successfully housed in large community tanks with other fish that have similar tropical temperature and water quality requirements. Bettas might harass and nip at other species that are colorful or have long, flowing fins, and may be nipped at by aggressive tank mates. Careful research should be carried out before selecting tank mates

Tiger Barb

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About The Fish

The tiger barb or Sumatra barb, is a species of tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Puntius genus of the minnow family. The natural geographic range reportedly extends throughout the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, with unsubstantiated sightings reported in Cambodia. Tiger barbs are also found in many other parts of Asia, and with little reliable collection data over long periods of time, definite conclusions about their natural geographic range versus established introductions are difficult. Tiger barbs may sometimes be confused with Puntius anchisporus, which are similar in appearance.

Description

The tiger barb can grow to about 7 centimeters long (2.75 in) and 3 centimeters wide,(1.18 in) although they are often smaller when kept in captivity. Native fish are silver to brownish yellow with four vertical black stripes and red fins and snout. The green tiger barb is the same size and has the same nature as the normal barb but has a green body. The green 'tiger barb is often called the moss green tiger barb. People vary considerably in how green it looks to them. To some people it looks nearly black. Albino barbs are a light yellow with four stripes just barely visible.

Temperature and PH lvl

tiger barbs prefers water with a 6.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5–19 dGH, and a temperature range of 77 - 82 °F or 25 - 27.8°C.
Its discovery in swamp lakes that are subject to great changes in water level suggests a wide tolerance to water quality fluctuations. Its average lifespan is 6 years. 

Behavior

The tiger barb is an active schooling fish that is usually kept in groups of five or more. They are often aggressive in numbers less than 5 and are known fin nippers. If you only keep two in a tank, one will eventually chase the other fish. Semi-aggressive fish form a pecking order in the pack which they may extend to other fish, giving them a reputation for nipping at the fins of other fish, especially if they are wounded or injured. They are thus not recommended for tanks with slower, more peaceful fishes such as bettas, gouramis, angelfish and others with long flowing fins. They do however work well with many fast moving fish such as danios, platys and most catfish. When in large enough groups, however, they tend to spend most of their time chasing each other and leave other species of fish alone. They do well primarily at the water's mid-level. One of the best tankmates for the tiger barb is a clown loach, which will school with the tiger barbs and act as they do, and the tigers act as the loaches do. Tiger barb do best in soft, slightly acidic water. The tank should be well-lit with ample vegetation, about two-thirds of the tank space. These barbs are omnivorous and will consume processed foods such as flakes and crisps as well as live foods. 

Discus Fish

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About the Fish

Discus are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia

Appearance

Like cichlids from the genus Pterophyllum, all Symphonists species have a laterally compressed body shape. In contrast to Pterophyllum, however, extended finnage is absent giving Symphonists a more rounded shape. It is this body shape from which their common name, "discus", is derived. The sides of the fish are frequently patterned in shades of green, red, brown, and blue. The height and length of the grown fish are both about 20–25 cm (8–10 in)

Behavior

The discus is a social fish and lives in large groups in their native waters, and has a very advanced social behaviour they are one of the few real schooling cichlids. Remember to keep this in mind when starting care for discus always purchase a group of animals. They need the social interaction to develop their character to its best potential.

Tank size

  its recommend that you host the Discus  in a tank no smaller than 120cm X 40cm X 50cm.               
Discus Aquarium Fish do better in deep tanks and the more water the tank holds the more stable the water conditions tend to be. For a breeding tank a 48cm X 30cm X 30cm tank may be used which is adequate for its purpose.

PH lvl

Here is what the recommended pH is:
Display            6.5 – 7.5
Breeding           5.5 – 6.5
Growing On         6.8 – 7.5

Temperature

Display          27.5 to 29°C
Breeding         30 to 33°C
Growing On       29 to 31°C

Diet

Discus Aquarium Fish should be fed a varied, vitamin and protein rich diet. This is why it is important to feed them different foods and not just stick to one

Arowana Fish

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Water Falls

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Lovly Snow

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Betta Fish

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Piranha Fish

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About the Fish

A piranha is a member of family Characidae in
 order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes. They are known for their sharp teeth and a voracious appetite for meat.
Piranhas belong to the subfamily Serrasalminae, which also includes closely related omnivorou fish such as pacus Traditionally, only the four genera Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis and Serrasalmus are considered to be true piranhas, due to their specialized teeth. However, a recent analysis showed that, if the piranha group is to be monophyletic, it should be restricted to Serrasalmus, Pygocentrus and part of Pristobrycon, or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopristis, Catoprion, and Pristobrycon striolatus. Pygopristis was found to be more closely related to Catoprion than the other three piranha genera

Description

Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to 10.25 inches), although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 inches) in length
Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus and Pygopristis are most easily recognized by their unique dentition. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking and used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed and blade-like. There is minor variation in the number of cusps; in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. The exception is Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. In the scale-eating Catoprion, the shape of their teeth is markedly different and the premaxillary teeth are in two rows, as in most other serrasalmines

Realtionship with Human

Piranha teeth are often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous population. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is caught on a hook or line it may be attacked by other (free) piranhas.
Piranhas are commonly consumed by subsistence fishermen and often sold for food in local markets In recent decades dried specimens have been marketed as tourist souvenirs. Piranhas occasionally bite and sometimes injure bathers and swimmers. A piranha bite is considered more an act of carelessness than that of misfortune, but piranhas are a considerable nuisance to commercial and sport fishers because they steal bait, mutilate catch, damage nets and other gear, and may bite when handled.
Several piranha species appear in the aquarium trade. Piranhas can be bought as pets in some areas, but they are illegal in many parts of the United States.
The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as babies, often no larger than a thumbnail. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the weaker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups. It is not rare to find individuals with one eye missing due to a previous attack. Piranhas are likely to become cannibalistic on others in their group if underfed.There are various myths about piranhas such as how they can dilacerate a human body or cattle in seconds. These myths refer specifically to Serrasalmus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. A recurrent myth is that they can be attracted by blood and are exclusive carnivores. A Brazilian myth called "piranha cattle" states that they sweep the rivers at high speed and attack the first of the cattle entering the water allowing the rest of the group to traverse the river. These myths were dismissed through research by Helder Queiroz and Anne Magurran and published on Biology Letters. Nevertheless, a study in Suriname found that piranhas may occasionally attack humans, particularly when water levels are low. Attacks on humans are usually reported around docks where fish are frequently gutted, and entrails are commonly thrown into the water