Aquarium and Fish Care: Scalar

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2018-11-15

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.

English: Harlequin rasbora, Trigonostigma hete...

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.

Abhishek Agarwal

EzineArticles

2018-07-10

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!

Chintamani Abhyankar

EzineArticles

2017-11-22

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.