Aquatics

Keeping tropical fish

There are many different species of tropical fish, tropical fish are found naturally only in warm water of at least 65 degrees. They are found in warm countries like Florida and the Middle east, these are the major commercial breeding areas. As a beginner you will need to gain some experience with easy to look after and readily available fish. There are many different types to consider.

Choosing a Dealer

You will need to find a good dealer, there are good and bad one’s. First of all find a dealer and go and see them, pick a quiet time, maybe early in the morning in the week. Talk to the staff with specialist fish knowledge, explaining how you would like to set up your aquarium. Be careful that they don't just want your money and sell you tank, equipment and fish and then there is a marked lack of Interest. Take your custom elsewhere. But if you find a good dealer it is worth maintaining good will. Visit whenever possible. As you pursue your new hobby you may need extra knowledge. You will never learn all there is to learn about tropical fish and aquariums.

Planning your Aquarium

Creating a successful aquarium is not simply a matter of filling a glass tank and adding fish. First you must decide were you are going to but the tank and what type of tank you would like, there are hexagonal, rectangular and corner tanks and tanks with cabinets too. Also the size is another factor to think about remember that you will need at least 5ins (12.5 cms) to make room for the lid. You should also make sure you put the tank within sensible distance of an electric point. The quantity of fish an aquarium can take as a general guideline you should allow 10 square inches (64sq cms) of surfaces area per (2.5cms) of fish. The weight of the aquarium must also be taken in to account, a gallon of water weighs 4.55kgs or 10lbs so 228 litre aquarium can way around quarter of a ton. Plus what types of fish you would like.

Choosing your fish

There are a huge variety of fish available, and as a beginner faced with all these choices it is just not possible because they may not all be suitable for the aquarium. Some may not be compatible with others. Some will attack one another and some my need different water temperature and conditions.

Buying your Aquatic fish

First of all it is essential to find out about each individual species before purchasing them, to see if they are compatible with your aquarium, here’s a few examples of fish that you may buy.

Fish Identification

Anabantids or labyrinth fish

Also known as bubble nest builders, a large group of tropical fish found in Africa and Asia.
Size's range from 1inch to 30ins (2.5 to 75cm) their diet: most can eat dried foods but all like live and frozen foods, especially when breeding some species build nests of bubbles on the surface. Some produce floating eggs and some protect their eggs in their mouths. Problems that arise are with some species who have long fins and are prone to nipping by other fish. Some species like the fighting fish can be very aggressive and when males are put together they will fight to the death. The males should be taken away from the females after spawning.

Dwarf gourami	Paradise fish

Aquatic fish Opaline gourami	Fighting fish- male	Siamese fighting fish –female

Cat fish

These are very diverse species of fish found in salt water as well as fresh water, but are found manly in tropical fresh water. All catfish have “whiskers” which is were their name comes from. They have sensitive taste organs to find food. These fish have thick skin not scales or bony plates, they are bottom dwellers and many are nocturnal. Their sizes are 1inch to 8 feet (2.5cms, there diet: is variable they are regarded as scavengers which make do with any food left by other fish, but need nourishment with a correct diet. Breeding is regarded as difficult, egg layers some fish practice parental care of eggs and at least one species is a cuckoo which substitutes its eggs for those of mouth brooding cichlids while they are spawning. You must be careful handling these fish, they can become injured when miss handled in the net so take care and handle them with care.

Bristleenose catfish	Silver hatchet
Plecostomus catfish	Whiptail catfish

Characins

This large group of fish are from Africa and central America some are shoaling species, which is 6 or more they include hatchetfish, pencilfish and tetras, headstanders and piranhas. There water conditions require harder alkaline and excellent water quality.

Head and tail light tetra	Neon tetra
penguin tetra	x-ray tetra
Zebra danio	Reswordtail (male)
Green sailfin molly (male)	Tiger barb
green swordtail (male)	yellowwagtail platy (female)
Guppy (male)	Black lyretail molly (female)

Filters and water conditions

Filtration is an important element for good water quality. There are various types of aquarium filters,

under gravel. This consists of a perforated plastic plate on the tank bottom.

Box, external. A rectangular plastic box with a number of chambers that hangs on the out side of the tank and may be electric or air powered.

Box, internal. A small plastic container, triangular or an upright cylinder, with an air pump on the top of the plastic container.

Canister, external. An upright cylindrical with filter media topped by an electric pump. The water is passed through the media and returned though the plastic pipe.

Water conditions.

Test kits. Are available for measuring levels of the following in the aquarium
Ammonia, Copper. Hardness. Nitrate. Carbon Dioxide. Chlorine. Nitrite. PH.

Ion exchange unit. These utilise ion exchange resins to chemically alter some water parameters,

Heaters.

Heaters are immersed in to the water and are made of glass.

Lighting.

Fluorescent lighting. consisting of one or more fluorescent tubes. Which are inside the hood of the tank.

Pendant lamps. and spot lamps, are also available but require that the tank be operated without a hood.

Foods.

Dry foods. – flake, granules, and pellets.

Frozen- foods. bloodworms, glass worms, brine shrimps and daphnia. Dried tubifex.

Live foods. Live brine shrimps, live bloodworm.

Feeding how much and how often. When feeding your fish you should not over feed them, feeding will vary from species to species. In general you should feed them small amounts two to three times a day rather than one large one once a day.

Décor

The fish do need décor some where to hide. with out décor the fish will become stressed. Before adding your décor you should check for diseases before adding them to an aquarium (i.e. cork bark, rocks. River wood).

Trading as creature comfort aquatics we have a purpose built shop that specializes in the sale of tropical fish. These range from exotic breeds to cold water. We also sell all products associated with tropical fish, i.e. pumps, filters, heaters, gravel etc. To complete set-ups for the instant start up.
Price varies but below high street levels.