Saucy Pet

Posts Tagged ‘fish tank’

Now that you’ve bought you nice new fish tank, you’re probably chomping at the bit to start filling it with your fish of choice. But you’re likely to bump into problems if you are not sure of exactly what kind of fish you’re looking for. Instead of buying your fish based only on it’s coloring and appearance, you’ll have decide based on a few more criteria.

Before you set out for the pet shop, one of the more useful things you can do is to do a bit of research before going to the store. The research should focus on determining exactly which kinds of fish species are best suited to your tank size, the quantity of fish that your aquarium will comfortably hold, without overcrowding, the species of fish that can safely live amongst each other in peace, and a number of additional conditions. But you may also find it useful to be aware of what some may consider a somewhat inconsequential fact about fish. Their scientific names of the fish you are thinking of buying.

Fish have two names – 1) the name they are called by the people in the area where they are found which is called a common name. 2) The name by which they are called by experts in the field – their scientific name. A fish’s scientific name is the name given to them by the scientific community. With a few exceptions, the scientific name is universal and standardized. This helps to avoid confusion when going into a pet store to buy your favorite fish.

A perfect example is the Corydoras species, one of the most popular fish chosen by newcomers. Corydoras are hardy and effortless to care for. In addition they are readily available and not too hard to find. The Corydoras, when kept in a community pool, are also proficient at breeding. There are various species of Corydoras including Bronze cory with the scientific name of Corydoras adlofoi, Skunk cory with the scientific name of Corydoras arcuatuas,  Spotted cory with the scientific name of Corydoras ambiacus, and many more. By giving the shop keeper the fish’s scientific name, you can be sure that you’re getting the fish that you intend.

The majority of pet shops will exhibit their aquarium fish by their common names. Also, to assist recognition, some will also display the corresponding scientific name beneath the common name. A further problem with common names is that because they are imprecise, many times different but similar looking species will be given the identical common name by folks in the surrounding area which can lead to confusion.  Adding even more to the confusion is that common names for the same fish can vary by country and region.

Scientific names are normally Latin based and hard to pronounce, one more reason why you rarely hear these names used. A fish’s common name is usually the only one you need to know when shopping for your aquarium fish. But, while the common name is usually the more colorful name for a fish, if you want to be 100% sure that you get the right fish – use it’s scientific name.

A tropical aquarium can be a beautiful accessory for your home that is both good-looking and beneficial. It will be a source of enjoyment to family and visitors and both children and adults will be captivated and entertained. For beginners setting up a tropical fish tank aquarium for the first time we’ve put together some tips to assist you to make the most of your new aquarium and to keep it in good condition and looking attractive.

Study the species of fish you will be putting in your aquarium before you go to buy your fish. Make sure you know how large the fish will grow and how many can be safely housed in your tank when they are mature. An overstocked tank will not be a healthy tank! Next look into the fish that can be kept together. A tank that contains various fish species that live peacefully together is known as a community tank. Several fish, for example rosy barbs and tiger barbs, may well be fine when they are very young but mature into aggressive bullies. There are many fish that can be put into a community tank including Neon Tetra, Rainbowfish, Hatchetfish, Molly, Harlequin Rasbora, Leopard Catfish, Opaline Gourami, Platy, Head Tail Light Tetra, Guppy, Pearl Gourami, Penguin Fish, Horseface Loach, Lyretail and loads more.

Now that your aquarium is filled with fish here are a few tips to make it easier to maintain it:

* Never overfeed – Decaying food left in the fish tank will give off noxious chemicals and hurt your fish. Only put in as much food as the fish can eat completely in approximately 3 minutes, twice a day. Fish are meant to be hungry nearly all of the time and if they don’t come up to to the top of the aquarium when you open the lid to feed them you are giving them too much!

* Twice a month partially change the water. Wipe the glass every week using an algae scraper and occasionally take out rocks, ornaments and synthetic plants to remove any algae. Don’t exchange all the water or clean the filter, ornaments, rocks, plants etc all together same time. This will remove all the helpful microorganisms that you worked so hard to encourage in the first place and cause stress to the fish as the ammonia levels increase.

* When necessary, top up with water that is free of chlorine. If you do not want to use chemicals to de chlorinate the water, leave a covered pail of tap water for 2 days to let the chlorine to disperse

* For newly purchased fish or fish that appear sick you should set up a small quarantine tank. Place any newly purchased fish into the quarantine tank for no less than 7 days to avoid introducing diseases and parasites into your main fish tank.

* Continue to test the water for pH, ammonia and nitrite levels two or three times a week to notice any problems before suffering is caused to your fish. If ammonia or nitrite levels increase a partial water change often corrects things without resorting to any chemicals.

Finally have fun and think about going to a local club. Talking with other tropical fish enthusiasts is a good way to find out more about your new hobby.