Aquarium Care for the Freshwater GUPPY

Guppies are perhaps the most popular type of freshwater fish to keep in an aquarium.  Luckily, they are fairly easy to keep as well.  Guppies are hardy fish that can adjust easily to minor fluctuations in water quality.  However, don't allow these fluctuations to become common practice, as they do cause some stress to the fish.  The water temperature in an aquarium for guppies should be kept between seventy two and eighty two degrees. The P.H. level should be kept between 7.0 and 8.2.  As you can see these specifications are much more forgiving than those for certain tropical or marine fish. 

Guppies mature quickly and usually only grow to be about one and a half to two inches long.  There small bodies and feathery fan like tails add a lot of interest to the tank.  They are just fun to watch.

English: Pregnant guppy at about 26 days, named Betta, in author's aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As with any type of aquarium, there are three basic components to caring for the fish.  Diet is very important. Guppies should be fed very small amounts as often as three times a day.  Guppies will eat just about anything, but their main diet should consist of frozen or flake foods.  This should be especially regarded when there are baby guppies in the tank, because guppies will eat their young.  The next most important feature to caring for any fish is appropriate water regulation.  The specific temperatures are listed above, but it is also important to make frequent water changes. Usually every one to two weeks, depending on need.  If the water starts to smell or become cloudy, this is a good indication that it is time to change the water.  If water changes are made gradually, meaning change approximately one third of the tank at a time, then there is little disruption made to the fish.

Last on the list for keeping fish healthy, is to keep them happy.  Try to recreate their natural environment.  It is recommended to keep a variety of plants in the aquarium for guppies to seek refuge.  There should be about one to two inches of substrate in the bottom of the tank.  Colored rock or dead crushed coral make a nice addition to the aquarium, and may help to make the fish feel more at home.  

A few varieties of guppies are the Fantail, Flagtail, Spadetail, Deltatail and the Roundtail.  The names of all of these different types of guppies focus on the tails because they are so remarkable and unique.  The tail itself is usually about one third of the size of the whole fish.  It is possible to mix guppies with other varieties of fish. However be careful when mixing because, guppies are targeted as easy prey due to those fancy tails.  Guppies breed very quickly, usually about every three to four weeks.  They will interbreed amongst themselves, so the aquarium could very quickly become filled with many different varieties of color.  It is very feasible to have an attractive aquarium without having any other fish at all.  If you don't want the species to interbreed, simply keep them in separate tanks.          

Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums was established in 1924. Known simply as AZA, the organization is not for profit. It is dedicated to ensuring all of the animals at the various zoos & aquariums have the very best elements in place. They have strict guidelines for the way these animals are to be cared for. They offer their accreditation only to those locations that continually strive to follow or exceed those guidelines. 

Fishes in Aquarium (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This type of accreditation is very important. People that visit zoos and aquariums are very interested in the efforts for wildlife conservation. They won’t frequent a place that doesn’t uphold the very best of standards. Not having such an accreditation can prevent a zoo or aquarium from getting the animals they want. This can result in lower attendance too because they don’t have the main attractions that appeal to large audiences.

The AZA is also very involved in educational programs that promote the well being of animals. They like to make people of all ages more aware of the impact that animals have on our own lives. They want them to be aware of how their own actions can be a positive or negative impact on such animals. This is why so many zoos and aquariums allow schools to bring in bus loads of children for field trips on a regular basis. The images of what is taking place and the educational materials can be planted into their young minds for them to carry with them as they become adults.

AZA takes any complaints from employees and guests at zoos & aquariums very seriously. They will take the time to look into such issues and explore the options for effectively resolving them. They will also randomly send representatives out to the various zoos & aquariums to make sure they are indeed doing thing correctly.

AZA continues to develop and implement better ways to house the animals at zoos & aquariums. They want to give them the best environment to live in that is reflective of their own. They also want to ensure people are able to get a good view of these animals. Safety is a very important part of making sure both people and animals can enjoy the atmosphere at a zoo &  aquarium.

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All About BUMBLEBEE CICHLIDS

The bumblebee cichlids are fresh water fish from the cichlid family. Their scientific name is Pseudotropheus crabro. They are also known as the hornet cichlid. These fishes are basically cave fish, since they live in large caves. Their pH preferences is mid while they are found in areas between the temperatures of 24°C to that of 26°C.

The fishes in this specie have a barred "bumblebee" pattern on their bodies which makes them specifically attractive to children. Their bodies are elongated and have yellow and black bars spawn all over their bodies.

Pseudotropheus Crabro Mâle (dominant) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When they are younger, the bumblebee cichlids are brightly colored and start to darken when they grow older.

One thing about the bumblebee cichlids fish is that they are very aggressive and should not be placed with other kinds of fishes in a community tank. During breeding, the males turn into an almost total black color.

The bumblebee cichlids change color very rapidly. For the females, they change their color to a black murky black.

The fish generally feed on parasites found on other fishes such as the bagrus cat fish. At times the bumblebee cichlids will prey on the eggs of the bagrus cat fish. Due to their fast color change ability, the bumblebee cichlids take up a dark brown color when preying on the eggs.

In normal circumstances, the bumblebee cichlids males will harass the female or other less aggressive males. They may even go to the extent of killing them. To remedy this, it is a good idea to place a few more females in the fish tank as well. One male bumblebee should be placed in a group of around six other females. This encourages spawning.

To determine the gender of the fish, pay specific attention to the color as well as the size. Male cichlids will usually display a larger frame than the females. On their bodies, they have a bluer coloring. The females on the other hand have a more pronounced yellow and gold.

Although very easy to breed, these kinds of fish should be watched carefully. When the males darken in color, their behaviors change and they create their own special territory in the tank. The male bumblebee cichlids then welcome one female at a time and circle and dance around.

The female lays the eggs and the male will sperm them. She then takes the eggs and the sperms into her mouth. The female then incubates the eggs in her mouth up to 21 days.

Female bumblebee cichlids usually eat the eggs while under stress. This may be caused by the male when he harasses her. The best remedy for this is to switch the female to a different tank. Here, she will incubate the eggs and hatch them, after which she will release them into the tank.

If this is not possible, design your tank in a way that it has more rocks. This will greatly help the females when they are in the incubation period. They will need a place to hide from the male bumblebee cichlids.

By Pauly Freeman Want to know more about bumblee-cichlids ? Then check out www.CichlidsSite.com [http://www.cichlidssite.com/] for the latest info on caring for, breeding and raising big beautiful cichlids. Article Source: EzineArticles

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GLOWLIGHT TETRAS Are Not Easy to Breed As They Are Not Known for Parental Care

Glowlight tetras fish is a nice-looking species with bright colors. As they are not very expensive and are available easily, they are picked up both by beginners as well as experienced fish-keepers.

Innovative breeders have recently developed number colorful varieties for this fish to choose from. As they do not require elaborate maintenance, keeping them is an enjoyable experience. However if you want to breed them, there are some specific things which you should keep in mind.

Tetra Glowlight Hemigrammus erythrozonus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Breeding Glowlight tetras fish is considered moderately difficult by the fish-keepers. First of all, it is difficult to find out their sex because apparently there are no signs. You can take the help of a pet store while in bringing them home so that you can buy them in proportion of two to three females per male.

In the open nature, they can double their population in 15 months. However, their natural environment is difficult to replicate, the breeding becomes harder. In addition, Glowlight tetras fish are not famous for providing parental care to the young ones, so you have to look after the eggs as well as the fry.

When they are fully grown up and ready for spawning, you should shift them in the same proportion to a separate tank which you may call in breeding tank. Before that, you should feed them for at least 4 to 5 weeks very good food including live food. The breeding tank should be well decorated with live as well as artificial plants and there should be very low light in the tank. The temperature of the tank should be in the range of 78-84° F and the hardness of the water should be moderate.

Usually, the experienced breeders will keep males and females separately before bringing them together in the breeding tank. Once they are brought together, the pair will swim upside down and finally the female will start releasing the eggs. The fish will spawn on the leaves of the plant and there will be around 150 to 175 eggs at one time.

Some eggs will stick to the leaves of the plant while the others will fall down to the bottom of the tank. You should set up a spawning grate or glass beat at the bottom to take care of the eggs.

Once the spawning is over, you should immediately remove the adults from the breeding tank, otherwise they can eat the eggs. The hatching will take one or two days. The new ones will start swimming within about four days. You should feed them some special food like crushed flakes or baby brine shrimp.

The young ones are very delicate and if you are not keeping them in well-conditioned aquarium, they will not survive.

During their growth period, the water of the breeding tank should be absolutely clean and well treated. You should change the water frequently. Never change the entire water, but replace about 25 per cent of the water at one time. During their growth, there should be low lighting in the tank. You can increase the lighting gradually as they grow. They will develop the famous yellow stripe on their body in two to three weeks.

The fry will finally grow in about 4 to 6 weeks and then once they are adults, you can shift them safely to the main aquarium.

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

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Different Types of SALTWATER AQUARIUMS

Saltwater aquariums should generally contain fewer fish than fresh water tanks, because the species tend to grow bigger in size. Marine species may be bred in a captive environment, or caught in the wild. Captive bred species are easier to care for and usually hardier than caught species. It generates a great amount of stress for a fish to be captured in the wild and then introduced into an aquarium environment. It is often difficult for them to figure out how to eat. Whenever possible, purchase your fish from a retailer that deals only with breeders or from the breeders themselves.  There are five different types of saltwater aquariums. 

Mandarinfish in aquarium-Muséum Liège (Belgium) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The first type of saltwater aquarium is the fish only aquarium. This is probably the easiest to care for of the five types, simply because you are only dealing with one type of species. Amongst the saltwater fish there are both tropical and coldwater types. They can't be kept together for obvious reasons. The water temperatures vary greatly. Tropical fish are usually brighter in color, and therefore more appealing to aquarium lovers than the fish available in the cold water variety. Most people are somewhat familiar with a few tropical fish such as the Clownfish or the Angel fish. However, few people have heard of such cold water varieties as, the Shanny or the Tompot Blenny.

The second type of saltwater aquarium is the invertebrate only aquarium. These types of aquariums usually consist of shrimp, prawn, hermit crabs and perhaps even starfish or sea cucumbers. The third type is the fish and invertebrate saltwater aquarium. These are more difficult to maintain than either of the two categories separately. Certain invertebrates feed on certain fish, and the reverse is also true. Therefore, it is important to research the species carefully to ensure that you do not put predator and prey together in the same aquarium. Diseases can also spread more rapidly and are more difficult to prevent and cure in aquariums containing both invertebrates and fish species.

The next type of saltwater aquarium is the coral reef aquarium. Reef aquariums can be tricky to maintain and must be thoroughly researched before attempted. The last category of saltwater aquariums is the specialty aquarium. An example of a specialty aquarium would be an aquarium full of sea horses. Sea horses should not be kept with any other type of fish or marine life, because they are timid and slow eaters. Their food source could easily be taken away by other tank mates. Seahorses prefer to swim vertically rather than horizontally, and should be placed in a tall tank.  An octopus and a shark or a ray are other examples of fish that require special needs and would fall into the category of specialty aquarium.  

Regardless of which type of saltwater aquarium is chosen, research is highly recommended before purchasing any marine life. Make sure you are willing to make the commitment required to care for a saltwater aquarium.

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FLOWERHORN Fish - A Hybrid Cichlid of South American Origins

One of the more unusual cichlid varieties is the flowerhorn. It is actually not a recognized species due to its hybrid origins. The actual parent species remains a mystery because the original breeder has not made the origins public. It is widely believed however that South American cichlids were used in it's creation.

The flowerhorn is an unusual looking species that can grow a large nuchal hump on it's forehead. Coloration can vary as many variations have been created using selective breeding. Red patterns with scattered black scales are typical of the fish frequently seen. Other types such as the red flame flowerhorn have large yellow areas at the dorsal end of the fish's body. The black scales are sometimes arranged into bands as seen in the red general flowerhorn.

Tanking (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Flowerhorns have the potential to grow quite large. 40 cm can be expected from a mature specimen. For this reason a large aquarium of 4 feet and upward is recommended. Due to their potential for aggression they are often kept alone or with other flowerhorns in such fish tanks. If your aim is to keep more than one fish it is advised to select the tank mates while young. By doing so they can become accustomed to one another and show less aggression once mature. Suitable fish to keep with flowerhorns are red devils and other large South American cichlids. Such species will be better suited to defend themselves than smaller varieties.

These fish should be cared for in the same way that other South American cichlids are. A high protein cichlid pellet can be fed though there are also foods produced specifically for flowerhorns. Water should pH should be kept in the vicinity of neutral using a test kit and adjustment additives.

As large cichlids have a tendency to rearrange their surroundings care should be taken in decorating the tank. Aquarium plants can not be used because thy will soon be uprooted and damaged n the process. Large stones and resin ornaments are suitable but heavy rocks should not have any gravel beneath them. This will ensure the object is not undermined and toppled onto the digging fish.

While these behaviors can be tiresome for the aquarium owner it is quite stimulating for the fish. To further amuse your flowerhorns additional objects can be offered from time to time. If you have several tanks the ornaments can be periodically switched around.

By Andrew Fuller Andrew Fuller spends much of his free time writing about aquarium related topics on a range of websites. He believes in free information for fish keepers who want to learn about their pass time. You may find buy flowerhorns online to be a useful resource from aquarium fish shop Article Source: EzineArticles

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Aquarium Care for SAND SHARKS

Sand sharks are viewed as the most timid and least aggressive of the shark species.  Sand sharks are usually smaller in size than other sharks and move fairly slowly. These sharks are found all over the Atlantic Ocean, and are the most common type of shark.  Although these sharks would seem to be the perfect aquarium kept fish, because of their smaller size, they are not.  They still grow to reach an average length of about five feet, and can weigh as much as three hundred pounds.  

Sand Sharks at Bethany Beach, Delaware. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is really too large to keep in a home aquarium. The population of these sharks has dwindled in recent years, due to fishing activities. Therefore they are being considered for the endangered species list.  It would be irresponsible to attempt to house one of these creatures, unless fully educated on their care needs.  

Sand sharks adapt the best of all sharks to a captive environment.  The types of aquariums that house these very large fish are usually public state supported aquariums. These facilities have the resources to build large enough tanks to house the sharks.  Sand sharks can be kept in a tank with other large fish.  The sharks are usually fed three to four times a week to discourage them from eating tank mates.  For the most part this works well, although, every so often some of the fish seem to disappear. When housing sharks, care should be taken to ensure there is adequate space for swimming.  Sharks by nature cruise the open waters.  When visiting a public aquarium, notice sand sharks tend to be constantly moving, while some of the other fish just hang out in the tank.

A good alternative for a sand shark in a home aquarium is the catfish shark.   Although labeled as a shark because of their dorsal fins, these creatures are much smaller. They usually grow to be about a foot long.  They will still need a larger tank with plenty of space, because they too will have a cruising nature.  These fish, like true sharks will eat just about anything that will fit in their mouths.  Therefore be careful not to house it with smaller fish. The catfish shark should be kept in a tank with brackish water.  Brackish water is more difficult to maintain because it is a mixture of both salt and freshwater.  In the wild these fish live in areas where ocean waters meet streams or rivers.  The Albemarle Sound is an example of brackish water.

The same general type of equipment is required for brackish water and saltwater aquariums as fresh water.  It is a good idea to upgrade filters and heaters, however, because saltwater and brackish water fish are more sensitive to water irregularities.  Sharks are accustomed to a darker environment, so it is not necessary to have a lot of lighting. Sand sharks have the same basic care requirements as most other fish.  They need, and adequate food source, regulated water and an environment that would be similar to their natural habitat.