May 30, 2011

Basic Tropical Fish Guide

Keeping gorgeous tropical fish, and capturing a soothing environment in a stylish aquarium, is something many fish lover dreams of. There is just something magical and relaxing about watching vibrant and colorful creatures swim through the clear water, hiding behind plants and strategically placed aquarium decorations.

When starting a tropical fish aquarium, the keen hobbyist has to make an important choice, and decide on the kind of fish he would prefer to keep. Tropical fish are used to warmer climates, yet their natural environment may differ. Some live in saltwater oceans, while others can be found in freshwater rivers.

Compared to ordinary aquarium fish, the tropical ones have a little more character and personality, and more importantly have distinctively brighter colors. Beginners will need to depend on a knowledgeable dealer to help them select healthy, compatible fish that they can afford, but specimens such as the Barb, Siamese Fighting Fish, Guppies, Live-Bearer, Rainbowfish, Firemouth, Zebra Danio, and Red Tail Sharks may certainly be among the many favorites. Just make sure that if you mix and match, these fish get along, as not all of them do.

When keeping tropical fish, you will have to learn about water quality, the specific lighting your specific fish selection requires and what they prefer to eat. Be consistent in your feeding times and do not over-feed them. Food that is not consumed will disintegrate and affect the water quality of the aquarium.

As much as fish need aerated, pristine water and food to survive, they also require an aquatic landscape they can feel at home in too. Aquarium plants are the perfect natural background to your exotic fish, and if planted right, and in proper soil, will make your new pets feel right at home.

Be careful not to buy diseased or unhealthy fish. Diseases will spread quickly in a fish tank, killing your new and already established fish collection. Fish whose dorsal fin is folded down, or have a split fin, may be sick and those swimming upside down may already be dying. Also, remember that scales should be shiny and free of white spots and excessive mucus.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Posted in Tropical Fish Articles (Tags: , , , , , , , , , ) | Comments Off

April 16, 2011

Tropical Fish Guide For Beginner

Keeping tropical fish is a great hobby. It is also needs careful consideration. How do you decide which tropical fish is best for your tank?

There are basically three breeds of tropical fish and believe it or not they are categorized by their temperament.

Social breeds: These fish will get along with other types of fish. Examples of such fish are Danios, Tetras, Guppies, Swordtails, Mollies, and Corydoras.

Semi-social breeds: These fish get along with other fish that are approximately the same size and are not aggressive. Examples are Barbs, Angelfish, and Gouramis.

Aggressive breeds: You do not want to mix these fish with other breeds. Just keep them in pairs with more fish of the same breed. These fish include Male Bettas, Oscars, and Jewelfish.

Good pet stores can always supply you with more detailed information about what kinds of fish you can keep together. Note that all fish that you purchase should have been kept in quarantine for at least two weeks. Fish that are put up for sale before being quarantined are likely to catch infections. The quarantine period is basically meant to relieve fish from whatever stress that they might be suffering.

An important factor while purchasing tropical fish is the color. You should opt for fish with well defined and solid colors. In case the fish has patterns instead of solid color then make sure the pattern does not have any color fading (or gradients).

Aquariums are the next concern and these require a lot of work. The water in an aquarium must always be clean and well aerated. Fish must always be supplied with ample food. In case you add plants they must get sufficient light and nourishment. Algae control is another chore.

For people who are thinking of keeping tropical fish for the first time you need to purchase certain essential items. These are:

* Aquarium, naturally, you need a place to keep the fish.
* The aquarium stand. It is best not to keep the aquarium resting on a solid surface for efficient thermal conduction.
* Aquarium hood. This is to prevent water evaporation and also to keep the fish safe from pets like cats.
* Water filters. These can be chemical, mechanical, or biological.
* Chemical filters. These filters get rid of gases that can accumulate in water as it passed through the carbon filter. While not essential it is still a good idea.
* Lights. Plants in indoor aquariums need a source of light.
* Decorations. While most decorations are up to personal taste there are some things like backgrounds that are a must in order to hide all the wiring in the tank.
* Substrate. The gravel or sand that is usually found at the bottom of most aquariums.
* Plants. Many marine plants are available today. You can purchase live plants (better but they need extra care) or plastic imitations.
* Heater. Remember that tropical fish come from warm climates so they need the water temperature to be slightly higher than room the typical room temperature in cold places.
* Thermometer. This is to check the water temperature.
* Net. For scooping things (including fish) out of the aquarium. Do not use hands or plastic bags.
* Cleaning agents. A scrubber, a brush, a bucket for exclusive aquarium use.
* Food. If you keep fish in a tank then they need to be fed.

Keep these in mind while taking proper care of your tropical fish.

Article Stars: http://articlestars.com

Posted in Tropical Fish Articles (Tags: , , , , , , , , , ) | Comments Off

March 10, 2011

Optimum Feeding Of Fish in Tropical Freshwater Aquariums: Which Type of Food?

Different diets for different species
Feeding freshwater fish a sensible diet that is suited to their species is absolutely crucial. Proper feeding supports a healthy immune system, promotes growth and breeding, improves the appearance of fish and encourages activity. Different species of fish require different diets so it is crucial that you research the eating habits of the fish you intend to have in your tropical freshwater aquariums.

Discovering the right consistency and type of food
The type of diet and food consistency can be judged by considering three divisions of two groups.
The first category is the type of food. Herbivores eat plant-based food only, omnivores eat both plants and animals, and carnivores are meat-eating fish. Most fish fall into this third division.

There are also different levels at which fish feed in aquariums so it is important to present food in a texture suitable for fish which collect food from the top, fish that feed on food which has fallen into the water, and fish that gather food from the bottom of aquariums.

What's on the menu?
All fish require a balanced diet rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Here are a variety of foods you may consider, depending on the nutritional requirements of the fish in your fish tanks.

Herbivore fish need food high in fibre, for instance algae and vegetables. These fish will enjoy spinach, lettuce, nettles, zucchini, carrots, peas and maize. You need to make sure that these vegetables are boiled so they are soft, and broken down into reasonably sized pieces. These foods contain lots of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. I also recommend using Spirulina for herbivores as it provides them with easily edible vegetable protein.

For carnivores and omnivores, a diet rich in protein will be essential. This can be supplied through live food (ensuring it is healthy), home-grown or commercial foods. Thin slices of cooked white meat or raw red meat can be used, live small fish (e.g. feeder goldfish), freeze-dried or live worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, Tubifex, and krill. Meat, brine shrimp and worms are best fed as a delicacy rather than as an everyday food. Tubifex encourages growth and may be used as a conditioning food to get your fish in good condition before reproduction. In my opinion, I suggest krill as a dietary mainstay for carnivorous and omnivorous fish. They are rich in protein and contain amino acids and Omega 3 fatty acids for general health, carotenoids to bring out bright colors in fish, vitamins and minerals which boost the immune system, dietary roughage for better digestion, and energizing carbohydrates. Krill are also low in salt and fat. They are ideal for enabling a sick fish recuperate or to bring an already healthy fish up to optimum fitness for breeding or showing. For predatory carnivores who like to catch moving things, you can dangle non-live food from a fork and lower it into the fish tank in front of the fish, wiggling it around so that it seems it is alive!

Dry foods
There are various types of dry foods such as granules, pills, flakes, grains, pellets and wafers. All of these can be bought in a choice of textures considering the type of fish you would like to feed and the various depths of the water column they live in. The majority of these prepared foods are of a high-quality, intended to supply a balanced diet and are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, so it is essential to add them in the diet. Different formulas can also be used at times such as preparation for breeding or for developing color. It is also very practical being easy to store and doesn't require any preparation. The risk of disease or parasites being brought into aquariums with food is also completely removed.

Bon Appetit!
Variety is the real key to high-quality fish nutrition. Therefore, it is essential to give your fish a variety of different appropriate foods to guarantee they are given a balanced diet for their optimum health and their interest in and enjoyment of food.

Copyright © 2009 Jill Kaestner @ Kaestner Marketing LLC

Article Source: http://www.itempad.com

Article res has been removed due to spammers exploiting this site and stealing itempads pr rank. Link Res will be returned once the database has been purged of bad links probably after the next google update. We do not believe in using nofollow. We are sorry for this temp problem. But once the database has been cleaned all links by writers will have a higher value. We hope you understand and continue to submit your articles. If you would like a permenet link on itempad Please email admin

Posted in Tropical Fish Articles (Tags: , , , , , , , , , ) | Comments Off

« Previous Entries