3 Types Of AQUARIUM FISH - Nature And Habitat Explained

1. Angel Fish

This is a fish bigger than most aquarium varieties. The black Angel which comes from the Amazon basin area belongs to this category. Angelfish are also found in areas such as the Rio Tapajos and Orinoco. These fish feed on smaller live bait in the aquarium. They have a deep well-defined body structure. Their fins differ in color. 

They have small, pouted lips and curved eyes. Some of them have black spots which are quite desirable with collectors of ornamental fish. Angelfish normally live in water temperatures of around 72 Fahrenheit, but the water needs to be warmer at 77 to 86 degrees, for them to start breeding. Keep them in subdued lighting conditions. These fish love the natural wild surroundings, so provide lots of plants in the aquarium to keep them satisfied. You need to keep them away from bright lights, which tend to make them a bit nervous. Angelfish have certain bones in the throat region, so do not get alarmed if you hear a noise when they breed.

2. Harlequin Fish

The Rasbora Heteromorpha is a fish from this category. It is similar to the Cyprinidae family, and it is seen in the eastern Sumatra region, Thailand and Malaysia. It is a very attractive species with a thick body shape. It is colored a silver grey which shimmers when it moves. They normally have a patch of blue or black on the body as well. These fish grow up o about an inch and a half in length and they prefer to live in warm waters since they are from the tropical region. Keep the tank around 75-77 degrees if you house these fish. However, when they are breeding the water should be at a warmer level of say 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the lighting subdued and provide ample room for them to swim around, they are quite active.

All Photos Wikipedia (CC)

3. Scat

These fish belong to the Scatophagus Argus category and is closely related to the Scatophagidae. They are found in the eastern region of India. It is colored a brownish gold tone, with a sprinkle of brown spots all over the body. They are larger than other varieties discussed in this article and can grow to over eleven inches in length. Scats are hexagonal in shape. This fish prefers a well-lit area to live in, and you need to add salt to their water to keep them healthy. 3 or 4 teaspoons of salt in 2 to 3 gallons of water should do just fine. You could add sand into their tank rather than gravel, as well as some good hardy plants to make them feel at home. They enjoy eating the live bait, as well as a little from the plants. Use a good filter in their tank and you need to get ready to often change their water.

By Abhishek Agarwal Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Article Source: EzineArticles

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Welcoming (Freshwater) ANGELFISH Into Aquarium

Freshwater angelfish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are fond of aquarium fish then Angelfish can be a priceless addition to your aquarium. They are beautiful and graceful and can give immense pleasure to the beholder of their beauty. However, before adding angelfish into your freshwater fish tank you must ensure that you are not putting these fish with other fish species which do not get along well with angelfish.

Although apparently, angelfish may appear to be very peaceful and gentle, it is a fact that they can sometimes be quite aggressive as well. Moreover, they also have this tendency to eat smaller fish species present in the tank!

Angelfish are a part of the Cichlid family. They are available in a number of varieties and colors. But being an owner of angelfish you should keep this in mind that they can be a little fragile as well when they are young. But once grown up they are generally hardy. Moreover, it is always good to keep them in groups of six or eight. If you keep two or three only there is a possibility that the bigger ones will bully the little ones. But if they are in a bigger group they tend to behave well.

If you wish to add angelfish to your aquarium fish collection, you will require a big fish tank for it. The best option is 29 gallons or a larger one and if you have a great number of these fish then a much bigger fish tank is advisable. Moreover, ensure that your gravel is at least 1/4" thick. Apart from that you also need to maintain your tank temperature between 70 and 82°F. Another thing that you need to ensure is that your fish tanks are around 24 inches deep. It is essential for the health of your angelfish. They will grow large in deep water and can even grow up to 12 inches.

It is relatively easy to feed angelfish. There is no need to arrange any special food for them. If you give them flakes, it will be enough. The flakes are easily available in any pet store. However, for adding some variety you can also provide some blood worms. It is true that the angelfish are a little aggressive but there are a lot of fish species available who can comfortably live with your angelfish. For example, big Tetras and Silver Dollar live very well with angelfish. Apart from that, you can also select Swordtails Mollies and Platies as well. But do not put Guppies in the same tank as your Angelfish because sometimes the angelfish can eat them. Some other fish that can be kept with angelfish in the aquarium are Gouramis and Clown Loaches and even Bala Sharks.

Angelfish are not very difficult to take care of and they are generally hardy. But sometimes they can fall victim to some other aggressive fish that attack them and injure at their fins. Moreover, your angelfish can also become affected by a common aquarium disease named hole in the head disease. This disease comes in the form of a wound on the head of the fish and this can lead to the death of the fish.

So, if you take proper care of your beautiful angelfish and are careful enough not to put too many fish in your aquarium, you will see that your angelfish live healthy for a long time. But ensure that you regularly care for them and maintain proper fish tank environment. If you do so your angelfish will then definitely live for 10 years!

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is an angelfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding angelfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy angelfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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ANGELFISH Genetics - What is it All About?

Freshwater angelfish, Koi phenotype (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In angelfish genetics, it is also about mutations, when those colorful and vivid patterns are inherited by a certain angel from its angel parents. For us to understand what angelfish genetics is about, it is now written in a standard form which makes it a lot easier to understand and to use as a reference for anyone who wants to start with angelfish pairing. There are now single phenotype genes of angels as well as some multiple gene-phenotype angels. Successful pairing up and breeding is just an outcome of understanding and knowing all the important terms and ways of angelfish genetics well.

Angelfish genetics, also stated that though there are a few solo phenotype gene left these days, there are still hundreds of phenotype genes being paired and breed together to create multiple phenotype genes of angelfish. By learning a lot about genetics, you will be able to understand how to pair up and breed the right species or genus of angels to get the right angel fry. By understanding and acquiring enough details, facts, and knowledge about genetics, anyone can start with their pairing up and angelfish breeding in no time with no problems at all.

Here are some of the angelfish genetics terms:

1. Gene - material in which the inherited traits are transmitted to the new hatchlings.

2. Allele - mutation variations.

3. Dose - designated by the allele.

4. Hybrid - angels traits from two different alleles.

5. Recessive - different alleles

6. Phenotype - physical trait.

7. genotype - written genetic makeup.

8. expressivity - range of phenotype.

These are just some of the genetics being discussed and written down. Anyone who wishes to start pairing up and breeding these beauties should understand and recognize all the terms and definitions about genetic first. Anyone who is interested to begin breeding angelfish, they should get themselves familiar first with angelfish genetics to attain successful angelfish pairing. By pairing up tow different mutation of angelfish, you must be sure that there are no defects or any health problems that your angelfish is experiencing or else the mutation process or genetics will fail.

In genetics, any angels will inherit one or two traits, behavior, characteristic and description from its maternal and paternal genes. When pairing up different angelfish genus and species, you will get a beautiful result just make sure that you will have enough knowledge about pairing the right genes and species in order to have a flourishing result. When we talked about genetics, it explains the type of species or genus an angelfish has. Angelfish genetics also tackles the inherited traits, characteristics, behaviors and description of a certain angelfish from its parent's angelfish.

By William Ousley - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Accessories Needed to Enrich Your AQUARIUM, Filters, and ANGELFISH

Sponges, plastic balls, ceramic tubes and gravel
are all suitable for aquarium filtration
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Accessories Needed to Enrich Your Aquarium.  There are many items on the market to make the maintenance of your aquarium easier!  Some of these include:

* Timers:  Timers aid you in supplying a consistent amount of daily light to your aquarium that is not possible when using a manual system of turning your lights on and off.

* Automatic Feeders:  These are great if you travel; however, they should not be used for daily feeding as you need to spend a little time each day to check on the fish and make sure the aquarium is set up and running properly.

*Ozone Treatments:  Ozone kills bacteria and speeds the breakdown of nitrates and it is a priceless aid for fish breeding. In soft water, the pH can be affected to the point that it can endanger the fish.

*Ultraviolet Radiators or Sterilizers:  These are also reliable in killing bacteria and other water germs without reaching the established bottom bacteria that is necessary for a biological filter system. If your fish suddenly begin shooting and reeling through the water, they may be suffering from nitrite poisoning, a very bad side effect of UV radiators.  If this occurs, the fish must immediately be placed in non-toxic aged aquarium water!

*Carbon Dioxide:   Essential to plant growth in aquariums.  It can be dissolved in the water by carbonation and plants will stagnate without carbon dioxide. Pouring carbonated water into your aquarium is one of the simplest ways of providing carbon dioxide to your plants. However, carbonated water contains salt, either added for flavor or it is naturally present. This is dangerous for your fish.

*Water Softeners:  These may be necessary for most of your decorative tropical fish come from mineral poor waters or soft waters. Most fish can easily survive in hard water, but if you want to breed or raise tropical fish, soft water is a necessity.

There are many other useful accessories for your aquarium from automatic water changes to adhesive films that show a plant design to magnets for cleaning the front glass.  Check with your pet store to see what is available in your area.

Aquarium Filters

Filters remove small particles and debris from the water.  While these small particles are not dangerous to the fish, they do hinder plant growth by filtering the light they need to grow.  In addition, they aid in gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide) and prevent warm patches in the aquarium by circulating the water.

One type of filter for aquariums is a biological filter which includes material such as coarse gravel, basalt splinter, ceramic tubes, and lavalit.  After a few weeks, the materials become covered with bacteria.  However, the bacteria perform an important job in an aquarium in that it decomposes any deposited organic substances (from old fish food, and fish excrement).

What is being described here is bio-mineralization.  The tank byproducts are oxygen, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates which are absorbed by the plants as nutrients.

Certain things must be taken into consideration before selecting a biological filter:

* The ratio of plants to fish to bacteria will never be balanced.

* The best filter can't replace the need for an occasional partial water change.

* The bacteria need oxygen and this is usually acquired by the water that is pouring through the filter. If the filter is turned off for several hours the bacteria will suffocate and die.

* A biological filter should never be turned off for more than 1-2 hours at most.

* In the beginning, you must be careful of the number of fish you stock and the amount of food that is given at feeding time as bacteria are too few to be able to effectively convert the organic waste.

Even with a bacteriological filter, the filter mass needs to be cleaned occasionally. During this cleaning, only the debris is removed by rinsing with cool-to-lukewarm water.  Excessive cleaning will destroy the valuable bacteria, leaving a small amount of the strata uncleaned in the filter will assure that the bacterial cultures will regenerate themselves.

Angelfish

Freshwater angelfish - (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Angelfish are large and very decorative cichlids which are found in the majority of community aquariums.  The wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes make them a beautiful and entertaining addition to our aquariums. The Angelfish is a very undemanding decorative fish that are majestically calm and long-finned.

Angelfish do not eat plants and are available in several varieties:

* Veil fins

* Albino

* Marbles

* Silver

A few rules must be observed when introducing Angelfish to your tank.  Angelfish need well-planted tanks at least 1-meter side length but have no other special needs other than an occasional feeding of live food.   However, if they are combined with smaller fish when they are fully grown they may eat their smaller companion fish.

Angelfish immensely enjoy chasing small Neon's.  The danger is always present and recognizable until the angelfish becomes fully grown and decides his liking for neon food!  Another equally deadly combination with Angelfish is Headstanders.  At some point, Headstanders realize that the skin mucus of the angelfish is very tasty, and they begin to use the angelfish as take-out food! The Headstanders can damage the skin of the angelfish to the point that the angelfish can and will die.

Other than these two species, Angelfish can be easily mixed with other livebearers with an excellent outcome.  A pair of angels that are ready to spawn need their water to be very soft and slightly acidic. It is usually best to keep them in a tank that is highly planted with no companion fish.  Their eggs are laid on a large leaf, root, or a rock, and should be transferred to a different tank to hatch away from their parents because Angelfish are notoriously bad parents and do not properly care for their brood.

Many breeding books give detailed instructions on breeding angelfish and hundreds of other types of fish.

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How to Care for Your Beautiful ANGELFISH

Freshwater Angelfish Pterophyllum leopoldi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is essential for freshwater aquarium hobbyists to know the basics of Angelfish care. Angelfish are very popular and can be a great addition to your tank. Moreover, they are good for breeding as well.

Angelfish are known for their distinctive triangle shape and this is what that has made this fish so popular among fish lovers. Therefore, for the freshwater hobbyists, who have a very limited choice, angelfish are a must have. Angelfish are available various vibrant colors which are a delight for the eyes.

Diet

If you want to keep angelfish in a freshwater tank then giving them flakes will not do your purpose. You must feed them small fry fish as well as mosquito larvae. Again, there are some experts who opine that you should give them live food which will make their food well-balanced.

Again, other experts disagree with this view and suggest that optimum quality flakes are enough.

But, if you are interested in giving your angelfish some variety, you can go for flakes with once in a while diet of live food.

Tank

For your freshwater angelfish, you will need a big tank. Unlike some other freshwater fish, angelfish require a much bigger space. An ideal angelfish tank should be 25 gallons one for two angelfish.

Angelfish can grow up to 6 inches. Moreover, they also like swimming up and down, back and forth. So you will need a deep tank as well. It should be at least 25 inches deep.

For a freshwater tank, aqua plants are very important. The plants help in increasing the beauty of the tank. But apart from that t, ey perform certain other crucial jobs as well. Like, they provide oxygen to the water and also help in cleaning the tank.

Other Fish

There are some freshwater hobbyists who want to keep other fish in the same aquarium with their Angelfish. You can also do it if you want but before selecting you must know which fish do get along with angelfish and which ones do not. This is because angelfish can be quite aggressive and they sometimes have the tendency to eat smaller fish.

Diseases

Like all other fish species angelfish are also prone to diseases. These diseases are the same which affect other species of freshwater fish. The most common disease affecting freshwater angelfish is Ich. It is caused by parasites in the aquarium. If your fish gets it you will see tiny spots in the bodies of your Angelfish. Ich can be cured with proper care.

Angelfish are not only great to have because they are splendid to look at but because it is not very difficult to provide them proper care as well. You just need to know a few important facts about how to care for them and you will have healthy freshwater angelfish.

Some Common and general Tips for Proper Angelfish Care

* If you are treating your angelfish for some disease, do raise the tank temperature as well.

* It is always a good option to keep angelfish alone in a tank so that they do not get diseases from other fish.

* Do not give stress to your angelfish just after their spawning.

* Angelfish can live up to 10 or 12 years. All depends upon your care.

* Angelfish like peaceful and calm atmosphere.

* For breeding successfully you should always separate the fry from the parents because the parents can sometimes eat their own babies.

By Chintamani Abhyankar Chintamani Abhyankar is an angelfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding angelfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy angelfish the natural way. Article Source: EzineArticles

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