Fact Sheet: ORANDA GOLDFISH

(Original title: Oranda Goldfish Care Guide)

An orange oranda (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Basic Oranda Goldfish Care Facts:

Oranda Goldfish are characterized by the bubble-like growth on their head. This fascinating growth is called a "wen". Oranda goldfish's wen can grow to be very large. For larger Oranda, this can lead to some sight impairment as well as swimming issues. These fish can be very awkward swimmers and this problem increases as the wen grows, making the Oranda goldfish more and more top-heavy.

Tank Requirements:

Oranda goldfish can grow to be 8-12" in length. These fish's egg-shaped bodies also take up a lot of space in an aquarium. Because of this size, it is recommended that in order to provide adequate Oranda Goldfish Care you should have a tank of at least 20-30 gallons. This tank should be larger if you are housing more than one fish.

Another important part of Oranda goldfish care is water aeration. Goldfish, in general, tend to be oxygen hogs. To keep your fish happy and healthy it is best to have a tank with good surface area exposed to air. This, matched with a quality filter, can help make sure the water is moving enough and the oxygen content in the water remains high. If you see your fish tends to hang around the top of the water this could be a sign of oxygen deprivation. The best solution is to increase the water movement at the surface of the water or add an air pump that can use bubbles to increase oxygen content.

Tanks for this fish should also provide adequate filtration. While the Oranda is a hardy goldfish good for beginners - it can also be a very messy fish. It is recommended to keep a filter that runs 10x the aquarium volume per hour. This is especially necessary if you are housing multiple fish in one tank.

Tankmates:

Because this fish is beautiful, wen can make it very top-heavy, it is a very awkward and slow swimmer for a fish. To give the best Oranda goldfish care possible it is best to abstain from housing this goldfish with faster, more agile fish. It is also advisable to keep aquarium decorations that are smooth and avoid any sharp edges that an Oranda could cut itself on. Like all goldfish, the Oranda does not make a suitable tank mate for tropical fish because of the differences in size, preferred temperature and diet.

Breeding Oranda:

Oranda goldfish are egg layers. They will find a suitable place in the tank to lay their eggs and the male will fertilize them. Once the eggs are laid the goldfish's parenting duties are over. If you are hoping to raise some of the fries you will want to have a second tank to move the parents to after the eggs are fertilized as they will eat their own eggs!

If you are trying to breed Oranda you will need to know the sex of the fish. This can be very difficult to decipher as both sexes are very similar. In most cases, female Oranda will be larger than males - but the only way to tell is by watching them mate or venting the fish. A good LFS might be able to vent the fish at the time of purchase.

While Oranda goldfish care is pretty simple, it should be taken seriously. These beautiful fish can live to be over 20 years old!

By Jonathan Lebowski -Article Source: EzineArticles

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Dwarf Gourami IRIDOVIRUS

Gourami (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

General Hardiness

Over forty years ago I first kept and bred Dwarf Gouramis. At that time they could reasonably be described as a hardy fish. Unfortunately the ones we get nowadays have lost much of this hardiness. This loss of hardiness seems to have been caused by several different things.

They have been selectively bred, producing a number of different colour variations. It is likely that many of these are inbred, and suffer from the lack of vigour frequently caused by inbreeding.

Most of the Dwarf Gouramis bred in places like Singapore will have been kept in controlled conditions and individuals which would have died out quickly in the wild will have survived and often been used for breeding. Related to this is that in captivity fast growth would have been selected for, and particularly fast growth under the near forcing diets fed to commercially bred fish. The fast-growing fish are often not as hardy as wild ones.

Disease

Related to the lack of hardiness in many commercially bred Dwarf gouramis is the fact that many of them are diseased. They are susceptible to normal aquarium fish diseases, but one is of particular concern. This is the Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus.

This disease kills the Dwarf Gouramis slowly, sometimes taking as long as a year to kill them. The symptoms include wasting of the fish and there is little doubt that before this disease was identified, fish tuberculosis was blamed for some of the deaths from this virus. This virus may have become a problem because of the extensive inbreeding of this fish in Singapore.

Many virus diseases are specific to a single species, and it is frequently reported that only Dwarf Gouramis can get the Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus. However, there are also many conflicting reports.

One study by a team led by Professor Richard Whittington of the University of Sydney, Australia found a 99.95% genetic similarity between the Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus and a virus outbreak in 2003 that killed farmed Murray Cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii. A test showed that Murray Cod can be infected with the Dwarf Gourami Iridovirus, and had 90% mortality.

There is fear that the Mosquitofish (Gambusia species) can act as a carrier for this virus and aid its spread through wild fish populations. This virus has also been reported as affecting swordtails.

One of the problems with these reports is that there are many types of fish Iridoviruses. Some of them will kill or make the fish ill while others seem to have no bad effects on the fish. To really find out what is happening would take a major research effort.

Several internet articles say that 22% of Dwarf Gouramis coming out of Singapore have this virus. This figure is actually based on a study of Dwarf Gouramis in Australian retail aquarium shops. The study found that 22% of these fish were infected with this virus. All the tested fish had been imported from Singapore. The fairly reasonable jump was made to state that 22% of the Dwarf Gouramis coming out of Singapore were infected.

Of course, all the tested fish would have been through quarantine and any fish showing signs of the disease would have been destroyed. If any batch of fish had a lot of diseased specimens the whole batch would have been destroyed. If an importer loses a whole batch of fish he has lost a lot of money and would look for another supplier.

At least one normally reputable internet site says that most of the fish coming out of Singapore are infected is a very worrying figure, but it certainly is not "most".

Government Action Needed Now!

The trade-in ornamental fish is a major part of Singapore's trade. If there is a problem this serious with Singapore's fish, it needs to be fixed.

Some years ago, a large ornamental fish farm in Australia had a serious problem with fish disease. With government help, they systematically eradicated the disease. This fish farm now has an extremely good reputation for the quality of their fish. Unfortunately, they do not breed Dwarf Gouramis.

The government of Singapore needs to recognise that there is a serious problem and to solve it before Singapore's export trade in fish is ruined.

By Steve Challis - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Some Secrets with the DISCUS FISH

Photo by Lee Nachtigal

Definitely one of the more attractive and popular freshwater fishes, the discus fish has been a mainstay in many aquariums all around the globe. Although the fish commands a high price, many people have sought its presence because of its beautiful patterns and color, and they are virtually easy to keep. If you have always wanted a discus fish but are afraid that you might just waste them, then here are a couple of discus fish secrets which will allow you to not only keep them healthy but also keep them happy inside your freshwater aquarium.

Discus fish secrets are not really old age secrets that only a few know. Many of these secrets are open secrets and can be easily learned from a multitude of sources. There are many books that can share these secrets with you and this is due to the rising popularity of the discus fish as an aquarium pet. Some people may find keeping discus fish very difficult while some find it easy, but it’s all about discovering these secrets which spell the difference, and one of the biggest secrets is the environment in which the discus fish lives in.

First off, you need to know that the discus fish has a shy character. You should equip your aquarium with different corals or coral-like ornaments that the discus fish can hide in or at least have some privacy. If these are not available, you can buy some potted plants. These are also good places where the fish can spawn. You should also keep your tank in a quiet area in your home away from the noise so as not to startle the fish. Failure to do so will stress out the fish and can cause anxiety which can lead to their early demise.

Speaking of the tank, because the discus fish is quite large as compared to others, you should have a large enough tank to hold them. A 20 to 27-gallon aquarium would do fine. This way, you can have enough space to hold your discus fish and your aquarium ornaments and if you breeding them, future space for their spawn.

Another well-known secret in raising discus fish is providing them with a good diet. A good diet must be a varied diet, which can include some blood worms, beef heart, tetra pieces, and some frozen or fresh brine shrimp. Remember not to overfeed them and to clean any leftover food. If left inside the tank, the food can turn the water and sicken the discus fish.

And with any fish, the water is the most important. This is their habitat; it should be kept clean at all times. With the discus fish, being that they originate from the Amazon River where there is a warm climate, the water inside your tank should simulate the temperature which is around 25-30 degrees Celsius. Anywhere in the middle would just be perfect. You should also monitor the acidic level of the water kept at a pH level of 6 to 6.5.

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GOLD-FINNED BARB - Puntius sachsii

Gold-finned Barb - Puntius sachsii

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Why Would Anyone Lick a BUFO ALVARIUS TOAD?

Sonoran Desert Toad (Bufo alvarius) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you have ever heard of the Psychedelic Toad or about people licking toads to get high, it is most likely they were talking about Bufo Alvarius. Also called the Sonoran Desert toad and the Colorado River toad, Bufo Alvarius is unique because of its venom. These large toads have glands that produce a milky white venom that is composed of as much as fifteen percent the alkaloid 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MEO-DMT). This is a powerful hallucinogen, the mind-altering effects of which were discovered in the late 1950s. 5-MEO-DMT is the active ingredient of hallucinogens used traditionally by several South American tribes.

The fact that a toad secretes a substance that can alter the human mind may lead to speculation about the "Frog Prince" fairy tale. In this folk legend, a woman finds a frog in the wild, kisses it, and it turns into a handsome prince. Could this ancient tale actually be based on fact? After all, if someone were to lick not a frog but the right kind of a toad, perhaps she might experience hallucinations that made her imagine the amphibian was transforming into a handsome prince. This theory is merely speculation, of course. In reality, licking the venom of toads or any other animal may be highly dangerous and is certainly not recommended.

Albert Most, the author of "Bufo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert" does not discuss the licking of toad venom in his text. Rather, his information involves drying and then smoking the toad venom in order to achieve what he calls "almost overwhelming psychedelic effects." These effects are evidently not unlike those generated by LSD, in which hallucinations, visual illusions and distortions of the perception occur. The episode is relatively short, however, perhaps as little as fifteen minutes, after which, Most writes, "There is no hangover or harmful effect."

It has been reported that Bufo Alvarius toads have been an element in the rituals of native shamans for hundreds of years. Returning to ancient European folklore, witches are often associated with toads. Toads supposedly give warts to people, and witches were frequently portrayed with large warts. In our more enlightened age, it is now known that so-called witches were more likewise women, possessing useful knowledge about medicinal herbs and plants. Could it be that these wise women were also aware of the powerful effects of toad venom?

Literature published by the California State Department of Fish and Game states that the problem of people trying to become intoxicated from licking the skin of toads or smoking dried toad venom is sufficiently extensive that laws against toad licking have been passed by some states, and that toad venom is currently classified as a controlled substance.

By Robert Scheer - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Bring the CLOWN LOACH's Natural Habitat Into Your Aquarium!

Chromobotia macracanthus syn. Botia macracanthus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Clown loach fish are only found in Indonesia (specifically on Borneo and Sumatra). They live in murky backwater rivers where the water may be moving swiftly or standing still. The waters are densely vegetated and there is plenty of food for the feisty bottom-feeding clown loaches. They are omnivorous and often enjoy eating crustaceans in the area or nibble on plants in the water. Borneo and Sumatra both straddle the equator so the temperature is quite high for most of the year. 

The temperature of the waters that the clown loach lives in hovers around 74-85 degrees Fahrenheit (23-29 degrees Celsius). They live in large groups and densely populate the river beds. It is in the clown loaches nature to hide and they love hiding in spaces that they can barely fit into or dig themselves into the river bed with only their head sticking out.

How can you use this basic information in designing a comfortable aquarium for clown loaches to live in?

First and foremost, the clowns love to have places to hide and plenty of vegetation. You can build little caves with rocks or buy cave objects at the store. You can use old plastic piping, or that old model car you use to play with when you were younger. You can use pretty much anything to make a hiding place for a clown loach, but you want to make sure that there are no sharp edges. Since they enjoy squeezing into areas that are probably too small for them to be squeezing into you don't want them to get caught on sharp edges and injure themselves. 

As for the vegetation, pretty much anything will do, but if you want to go all out you can use plants that grow in Borneo's or Sumatra's rivers; for example, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Pista stratiotes, or Nuphar japonicum. The older the clowns become the more they like to nibble on vegetation, so stick to the fast-growing and robust species of plants.

Clown loaches sometimes dig themselves into the substrate of an aquarium, so make sure there is nothing sharp in the substrate since it may do them harm. It is also a good idea to create a current in the aquarium that the clown loaches can swim against. They are fast swimmers and they can grow to be quite large (up to 12 inches or 30 centimeters). That being said, you may have to upgrade to a larger aquarium. For full-grown clown loaches, a 125 gallon (540 Litre) tank is recommended. This is one of the reasons that buying a clown loach is a long-term commitment. They can live to be more than 10 years old!

After the setup and organization of the clownfish tank, there is still the problem of water quality. They are very sensitive to the water quality and they become sick much more easily than most other aquarium fish. Their natural waters have a pH that tends to be acidic (pH = 5-7) and water hardness between 7 and 12. After achieving those properties in your tank and keeping the water temperature between about 74-85F (23-28C) your clown loaches should be pretty happy.

Don't forget that clown loaches get lonely really easily and when they're lonely they get stressed, their growth may stunt, their colors may fade (don't confuse this is with the 'graying out' of their colors with age) and they may die young. So, always keep your clowns in a group of at least 5 and they should be as happy as peas in a pod.

The process of analyzing a fish's natural habitat and then trying to mimic it in an aquarium is known as biotyping. It is an idea that is recommended by many aquarists.

By Bjorn Allpas - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Five Ways to Help Your AQUARIUM PLANT Survive

Bacopa monnieri

Live aquarium plants can be a beautiful addition to an aquarium, whether you have it stocked with fish or not. But many aquarium owners who have trouble keeping their plants alive finally give up populate their aquarium with artificial plants. But keeping your plants alive and healthy is not really that difficult if you know what they like and need. Here are some of the main reasons that aquarium plants end up dying or not thriving well.

Failing to provide enough light for your plant. Light is extremely important for a plant. You can provide a plant with buckets of food and nutrients, but if you don't give it enough light, it won't last long. Now these days, most of the tanks that you find will come with a light attached to the tank top. Alternatively, it will come with pre-drilled holes that have been set up to allow you to install a light relatively easily. Lacking that, many acrylic tanks will let you drill your own holes so that you can install the lighting yourself. On the other hand, another absolutely acceptable choice is to simply place your aquarium on the south side of your apartment or house, near a window where it will be sure to get plenty of light.

Failure to secure the plant roots. If your plant has been doing well for a while and all of a sudden the leaves begin to turn brown and fall off, it may be a simple matter of the roots having come loose. Roots often come loose in aquariums, especially if you have rowdy fish that love to dig. In this case, simply replant or reposition the plant making sure that the roots are well covered and secure. If the plant is new, however, the browning leaves may simply be the plant adjusting to its new home. Most plants experience "environmental shock" when being transplanted from one place to a brand new place. Simply give it time to adjust and it should be fine.

Plant crowding. Plants need room to grow. In a crowded aquarium, you have too many plants fighting for too few resources. Give your plants plenty of room to grow by providing it with a large enough aquarium to accommodate it's future growth spurts. If it starts to get a bit unwieldy, it also helps to trim it every once in a while to control it's growth.

The wrong plant in the wrong environment. Plants are living things. And like all living things they do better in some environments than in others. You may have fallen in love with the most perfect, beautiful tropical plant to your eyes. But, if you live in the northern part of Alaska, chances are your plant is not going to survive. Many times the cause of a dying plant can be traced directly back to it not being right for the environment it has been moved to.

Many times the fault lies with the purchasing. Not all animal stores or fish stores are set up to deal with plants. To most of them, plants are just a sideline. One red flag is the number of plants that the store has for sale. If they have just a few types of plants and rather small stock, odds are that they aren't very knowledgeable about the types of plants that you may need. If any of the plants that a store has are yellowing or brown, or if the plants seem to be loosely planted and not well cared for, it's probably best to look elsewhere. The last thing that you want to do is to introduce a diseased plant into your aquarium.

Jim F. Johnson - Article Directory: Article Dashboard

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