Posts Tagged ‘pet care’

Cichlid Aquarium Fish – Common Mistakes

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Keeping tropical aquarium fish can be very satisfying, but sometimes frustrating. In fact, cichlid fish care is very different than keeping most community tank fish.

More and more novice aquarists are taking on the task of learning how to keep African or American cichlids, but most are just unsure of how to take care of these very unique and beautiful aquarium fish.

Cichlid Keeping Mistakes

So what are the most common mistakes that most beginner fish keepers make? One of the most common things that home aquarium fish keepers are guilty of is the mixing of African and American varieties in the same tank.

Pet stores make this error also! It breaks my heart to see these poor tropical fish in pet stores that are improperly kept. Both the Africans and American varieties that are kept together in the same tank are miserable and literally barely living. Their specific water chemistry requirements are very different and they just are not naturally supposed to be in the same environment.

What is another mistake that a lot of tropical fish keepers make?

This is one of the most common errors that even the most experienced aquarist makes. Not making routine water change outs in their aquariums. Regardless of what variety of tropical fish that you have, routine water changes are literally the life of all tropical aquarium fish. Yes, it’s simple and easy, but a very common mistake.

The truth is, novice fish keepers just don’t know how to take care of their aquarium fish much less get them to thrive and even begin to reproduce. PH and other water chemistry requirements are also very important. Take cichlid fish for example. African and American varieties of these unique fish have very different water salinity requirements.

So where can you find out how to avoid making more mistakes when learning how to keep these very unique tropical fish? You need to find a good aquarium fish care guide to make sure that your cichlids stay healthy and happy for years to come.

Visit the Cichlid Aquarium to learn more about how to keep cichlids.

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American Cichlid Tankmates – Finding the Right Tankmates for Cichlids

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Choosing South American Cichlid tank mates is not difficult at all. There are a few things that you need to consider before you make any quick decisions while at your favorite pet store.

The very first thing that you need to think about is the size of your cichlids. You should not pick tankmates that could easily fit in the mouth of your favorite cichlid. That little rule may not work every time, but it is a good start.

Second, choosing tankmates that do not have the same temperament as each other. Juvenile Oscars and Angel Fish are a good example. These two species make great tankmates when they are little. But when those Oscars start to grow, the Angels will loose every battle very quickly.

Now that I have made a few obvious points about choosing South American Cichlid tank mates, let’s get to the point. When I think of South American Cichlid tank mates, I think of catfish. But more specifically I think of the gentle Corydoras. These are absolutely some of my favorite aquarium fish and they make excellent tank buddies for many varieties of Cichlids.

When choosing corys , make sure you consider the size of your Cichlids. If you have a mature Oscar tank, choosing the smaller types of corys is bad idea. Your Oscars will love the snack and vacuum them up like skittles. Choose one of the larger varieties like Corydoras aeneus.

The larger types of corys like the bronze and green varieties, will reach full size at about three inches. So they should make good tankmates for even the larger types of American Cichlids.

But consider this fact when choosing tankmates for cichlids, sometimes Oscars don’t play by the rules. It is best to raise Oscars with corys as tankmates so they get used to having them swim about the bottom of the tank. And make sure that you keep at least five or six corys at a time. They are much happier when they have a few buddies.

See this article for more information about cichlid tank mates. Visit cichlid care to learn how to keep cichlids healthy, colorful and happy.

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Getting To Know Your Betta Fish

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
by Mick Turret

For many individuals, Betta fish will be the initial step to having tropical fish because they are exquisite to look at and more than anything else, simple to take care of. Betta Splendens also referred to as the Siamese Fighting Fish, are ideal for beginners as they do not require much care and most especially, they do not call for much space. This means that you can begin out small and discover as you go before heading out into more exotic or bigger tanks.

In order to keep your betta in good health, the temperature in the fish tank should be kept at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Betta fish also require special food, which comes in either flake or small pellets. Some fish foods even have extra additives that help to increase the color and keep the betta healthy.

You will probably have to change the water in the tank approximately once a week, though with a filter installed that period may be a bit longer. As betta fish do not require large tanks, the process of replacing water does not take too long most of the time.

It is commonly believed that it is a bad idea for betta fish to be kept with other fish or aquatic creatures, but this just isn’t true. However, some attention should be payed to the type of fish you choose to join your betta in its aquarium. Of course, putting a female betta in the fish tank with the male isn’t likely to create an issue. Other secure species include smaller fish that do not have large or colorful tails.

It is important to remember nonetheless that setting a male in the same tank with a female will result in a large number of extra bettas. It is the truth though, that you cannot keep two male bettas together – even placing them in bowls close to each other creates exhibits of hostility.

Just about any ornament can be included in the fish fish tank but bear in mind that you could have to supply crushed rock to keep things like vegetation in position on the floor of your tank. The idea is to supply the fish with a place to play, swim around and secrete themselves if needed.

Betta fish are perfect for anyone who is hoping to begin in tropical fish maintaining as they are simple to look after and do not call for a lot of care. Nor do they call for a big amount of room and can manage without a lot of items that other varieties of tropical fish can’t do without. When thinking of a betta or creating a habitat, consider having additional kinds of smaller fish that that don’t have display signals such as flashy tails.

About the Author:
If you are curious about tropical fish, you will probably be curious about Mick’s guide to buying betta fish tanks and breeding betta fish.

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