AQUARIUM ORNAMENT

Aquarium ornaments aren't there to add any benefits to the fish, they are just for you to add some decoration in the tank. You can have all sorts of ornaments, big or small, traditional or caricature, simple or even complicated. There are thousands of different ornaments that you can buy in stores or you can even make your own. However ornaments are not for all fish, some fish don't like them, I know for a fact Oscars don't take well to any type of ornament or even plant. Some fish do need them though, basically to hide or live in and keep away from bigger fish.

Photo by osseous

Traditional ornaments are ornaments like castles and ships, they provide security for smaller fish from the bigger ones, they also provide a place to stay and play, yes fish do play! Fish ornaments are available in pet and fish stores. They tend to range from very low to very high prices. You can of course get more detailed ornaments that aren't shaped to be anything except for like branches with weeds on them. Some fish need their ornaments to resemble their natural home, for example lots of plants and branches in the tank.

If you have amphibians in your tank they often like a waterfall ornament with a bathing pool at the bottom of it so that they can bath in it. Amphibians need a lot of greenery in their tank as this resembles their home and therefore you should try to make sure that you fill you tank full of it! Aquarium ornaments are easy to come across and they don't take much effort to put in the tank.

You should always try to keep the ornaments like the animals natural habitat unless it is a fish that couldn't care less, like goldfish for example. Goldfish are very easy to keep and you can decorate their tank with all sorts of funny ornaments. With smaller fish you can try to decorate their tanks with funky ornaments but I always feel that the traditional ones are better!

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Introduction to the MALAWI CICHLID

Lake Malawi, The 3rd biggest lake that is in Africa and the 8th biggest in the world is home to several species of fish more than anywhere else in the world today. The Malawi Cichlids are some of the most beautiful fish on the planet. They are known to be of a huge array of wonderful colours and have become quite popular for fish collectors.

The lake is known to be rocky and with very little vegetation. Near the edge of the lake though is sandier and with less rocks and the water is more open there. It is there that you can find a different habitat. The two habitats of Cichlids that are different are the ones that dwell on or around the rocks and the ones that are considered to be non rock dwellers.

If you are a fish keeper and are considering on getting some of the Cichlids for your aquarium you must be sure to know which group to choose as it is known that the rock dwellers and the non rock dwellers cannot live among each other quite well. Also it is believed that neither of them can survive with any other kinds of fish.

Once you make your decision on which you will prefer to have then next you will need to organize the aquarium. If it is the rock dwellers then of course you will need plenty of rocks and also small caves or places for them to explore and hide.

As for the non rock dwellers you shall need to prepare a sandier environment with the water is more open for them. Just scatter a few rocks around at the bottom of the tank; they will not need any caves or places to hide.

Be sure to remember what it is like for them to be in their habitat they like to be in water where the temperature is around 24-26 degrees Celsius or 76-79 degrees Fahrenheit. It is very important to replicate this inside of the tank. Also you shall need to keep the tank away from any heaters and out of any direct sun light.

By Craig Wrightson If you would like to learn more about Malawi Cichlids and their environment, visit my site African Cichlid Success - NEW eBOOK! Get Instant Access! Learn everything you need to know about setting up and maintaining a perfect Cichlid Tank including the unbelievably simple secrets the professional breeders use on caring, feeding, breeding and diseases! Article Source: EzineArticles

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The Easiest Way to Setup a SALTWATER AQUARIUM: Part One

Establishing the Basic Needs of the Tank

Everyone has admired the large saltwater aquariums that can be found in the offices of most dentists, physicians, cosmetologists and marine enthusiasts but have believed them to be far too much work to bring into their own homes. Fortunately, this is not the case. While the process of establishing a saltwater aquarium can be a costly one, in terms of manual labor there is a very simple method which almost guarantees success.

Corals.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Step 1: Assemble and prepare the equipment. During packaging and production the aquarium and all of its corresponding parts have almost certainly been exposed to various pollutants, such as dust and chemicals, which will be very harmful to the fish if it is allowed free reign in the aquarium. Prior to use every piece of the aquarium should be washed with hot, fresh water and cleansed with a soft piece of cloth to prevent scratching. 

Step 2: Place all of the components in the tank WITHOUT adding any of the decorative features. Then fill the tank to the fill line (which may or may not be already marked on the aquarium-2 to 3 inches from the top is generally adequate to prevent major spillover when the tank is cleaned or the fish fed) with saltwater (if you have chosen to make your own saltwater solution read below for instructions). Turn the tank on and allow it to run for 24 hours to ensure that all components are fully functional.

**Making Your Own Saltwater**

Ocean water is the natural habitat of all saltwater marine animals and, consequently, the best water source for any saltwater aquarium. If ocean water is not available, however, and the owner of a saltwater aquarium does not wish to purchase a pre-made saltwater solution it is possible to make saltwater. It is important to use a sea salt mixture that is free of impurities rather than table salt when creating saltwater in order to reproduce the natural environment as accurately as possible. These mixes can be purchased from any store that specializes in the sale of tropical fish.

Step 3: Landscape your aquarium. Organic substances are not only more aesthetically pleasing than their plastic counterparts, they provide a more pleasing environment for the fish as well. Keeping in mind that fish generally use what humans consider to be decorations as shelter when in the wild it is important to consider the types of fish which will be inhabiting the tank prior to choosing its decoration.

Step 4: Start the 30 day cycling process, during which the ammonia should be tested regularly. This can be done with or without fish in the tank.

Following these simple steps will allow the amateur marine enthusiast to place aside their fears and enjoy the benefits of a happy, healthy aquarium in the privacy of their own home.

Related articles

How to Create and Care for a CORAL AQUARIUM
(aquarium-and-fish-care.blogspot.com)

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Breeding TETRA FISH

Breeding South American Tetras

There are several hundred species of tetra. Not all of them breed in the same way. A few of them that have different breeding patterns are: the Splashing Tetra which actually lays its eggs out of the water, the Rummy nose tetra which can be made permanently sterile by calcium ions in the water, the Glass Bloodfin tetra which likes harder water than most South American tetras, and the Emperor Tetra which is not a strongly schooling fish. As well as these, the tetras vary enormously in their ease of breeding, and particularly in the necessity of exactly the right sort of water.

Emperor tetra Nematobrycon palmeri  

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, despite these differences between the different species there are some things common to most of the South American Tetras.

The tetras, in general, are egg scatterers. All the tetras I know have external fertilisation so both males and females will need to be in the spawning tank together. They need very soft acidic water. The temperature varies with the different species, but mostly they will be stimulated to breed by a small rise in the water temperature.

A breeding tank set up for tetras will be scrupulously clean. Although in nature, the fish will lay their eggs over plants, many people prefer to use a synthetic spawning medium because it is easier to clean. For breeding, many of the tetras require water that is not only extremely soft, but also very low in total dissolved salts.

Although not all tetras will eat their own eggs the great majority will; sometimes in surprisingly large numbers in the wild. Tetras in general are also cannibalistic to their own babies. Because of these two things it is normal to remove the parents after spawning.

Tetras do not usually produce babies in community aquariums, but I have known several cases where they have done this. Naturally, they have been easily bred ones like the Black Widow Tetra.

By Steve Challis Steve Challis has articles on a diverse range of subjects at http://www.bettatrading.com.au including Fish Fact Sheets at http://www.bettatrading.com.au/Fish-Fact-Sheets-Index.php. Article Source: EzineArticles

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SEAHORSE - Hippocampus

Seahorse - Hippocampus

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How to Keep the COURT JESTER GOBY in Your Fish Tank

Court Jester Goby (Koumansetta rainfordi -  Syn: Amblygobius rainfordi), is also commonly known as Rainford's Goby or Old Glory Goby. The court Jester Goby is one of the best choices of species for starting salt-water aquarists. Its body is colored green and blue, and has horizontal orange stripes that run along its entire body. It has a timid and peaceful temperament that makes it a perfect addition to either reef or fish-only aquarium.

Photo - Meerwasserwiki

This type of fish grows to about 2.5 inches in length, and is not a threat to any invertebrate inhabitants in the tank. Being a meek fish, it would appreciate several hiding spaces found within poly coral colonies.

Initially, Court Jester Gobies would be picky eaters and need to be trained on eating prepared food in the tank. Once introduced to the main tank, however, most Court Jester Gobies will graze on the algae that has formed on rocks, and will start eating prepared foods it is given. To keep its color, a diversified diet of mysid shrimp, brine shrimp, or enriched marine food should be given to the fish daily.

As it feeds on shrimps, you may want to opt out of this fish if you prefer to have a cleaning shrimp inside the tank. It does not do well with other aggressive and larger fish, as well as other Court Jester Gobies in the tank. It needs a tank size of at least 10 gallons to roam freely. It propagates by laying eggs, and will readily spawn in captivity. You can by Court Jester Goby for $25 per fish. Quarantine of 2-3 weeks is a must to prevent contamination of your salt-water aquarium.

By BC Hodges BC is a cichlid enthusiast and wants to inform people of the great joy cichlids are to keep. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Cichlids - Proper Care of Your CONVICT CICHLIDS

Keeping cichlids is an exciting hobby. For beginners, it is great to start off by keeping convict cichlid fishes and taking care of them is relatively easy. Convict cichlid fish is very easy to keep and breed in the aquarium. The Convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a type of fish from the family-Cichlidae, native to Central America. These popular aquarium cichlids are also known as the zebra cichlid.

An Amatitlania nigrofasciatus male.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Convict cichlid fish is a hardy species that can easily adapt to almost any water conditions which made them easy to maintain and breed in aquariums. The aquarium for Convict cichlids should be decorated with a few flat stones and rocks and artificial caves for breeding. Plants are not necessary because of most of the plants will be destroyed by the cichlids.

However, if you really want to put some plants, it is better to put some hardier plants such as Amazonian swords plant and java fern to withstand their aggression. Using these plants, it can help to beautify the aquarium and make the cichlids feel more at home. In fact, as long as you avoid putting harmful toxic objects in your aquarium decoration, your fish will make themselves at home.

They accept a very wide temperature range and pH level range as long as it keep relatively stable but is best kept in 20-28C/ 68-82F and pH 6-8. Convict cichlids are unfussy omnivore and eat most types of prepare fish foods such as flake food and pellets. They also eat aquarium plants. By nature, Convict cichlids are aggressive towards other fish. This is more obvious during their breeding period. It is best to keep Convict cichlids in a separate tank for breeding.

In fact, Convict cichlids are one of the easiest fish in the world to breed. They can start spawning as young as 16 weeks of age. It is common to find a pair of Convict cichlids under a flat stone which the male Convict cichlid could have dug a cave under it earlier and they breed there.

Both cichlids parents will guard both the eggs and the fry. As good and protective parents, they can become very aggressive towards other fish that enters their breeding territory. The fry can be feed crushed flake food and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Because of its relativity small size along with ease for keeping and breeding, Convict cichlid fish is a great cichlid for beginners and aquarists who are interested in observing paid bonding and brood care.

In conclusion, keeping and breeding cichlids is a very satisfying and challenging hobby. Thus, it is very important that you know the secrets of taking care of your cichlids.

By Taylor Fox Article Source: EzineArticles

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