The Basics of Aquarium Care, Creating an Indoor Ocean, and Blind Cave Tetras

The Basics of Aquarium Care. With some carefully planned information and advice, a beginner should care for cold freshwater fish to start; but, be aware that it is difficult to maintain them over a long period of time. They require the water temperatures that they have in the wild, and can only truly be enjoyed for a short time throughout the year. On the other hand, setting up a warm saltwater aquarium is a lot easier to maintain than a cold water aquarium because it is easier to heat an aquarium than to cool one! The warm saltwater (tropical) fish are the reason for the growing excitement of home aquariums. Tropical fish are beautiful, comforting, decorative, expensive, easy to raise, and can actually be bred in an aquarium. To setup a freshwater aquarium, it is necessary to purchase accessories than some believe are unnecessary. Some believe that aeration isn't necessary and in some instances can even be harmful. In most cases it is simply for attraction that you will install a pump for aeration. The most important accessories are the heater to maintain the proper water temperature and the light which allows for the growth of aquatic plants. Plants cannot survive in an aquarium without lights. Once again, aquariums (fresh or saltwater) are like cars. You can buy the basics or get the top of the line. For beginners, save your money until you become an experienced aquarist. To start, we need a few basic items. * An aquarium * Lights with cover * Heater * Pump and filter * Thermometer * Fish (if you can keep the number of fish down, you can probably do without a pump and filter) * Plants The basic care of an aquarium involves the following actions: * Regular feeding * An occasional partial water change. During this time the debris is siphoned off the bottom and the front glass is cleaned. * It may be necessary from time to time to thin out plants A smaller aquarium doesn't necessarily mean it is easier to keep clean. In fact, a smaller aquarium means the water goes bad much faster and requires more frequent cleaning. Your first aquarium should not be less than 10 gallons. Take care when choosing your first aquarium and you will have many years of enjoyment watching your fish interact with their new home! Creating an Indoor Ocean Until recently you had to go to the ocean or a Sea World-type aquarium to watch a baby crab scuttle from under a rock, a starfish, or sea anemone in their natural habitat. In recent years the development of home sea aquariums has become quite popular and you can watch sea horses in your very own home. Half the fun of a home salt water aquarium is being able to answer some of the great questions in life, like: * How do starfish walk? * Do mermaids really ride seahorses? * What do shrimp and crabs eat? * Where is a crab's mouth? These are questions that we (and children) can find the answers to when we have the opportunity to observe a marine aquarium, everyday. Creating an exotic tropical aquarium should not be intimidating or confusing, if you make an advanced plan by following a good quality book on saltwater aquariums. Remember, setting up a saltwater aquarium is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. The plan should be well thought out and carefully executed (time and money) to get the setup correct.. It can be an extremely exciting adventure to choose the decorations and fish for your little piece of the ocean and just as disappointing when your rush to setup an ill conceived plan. No reliable pet shop owner would suggest that a person go out and purchase a saltwater aquarium or in the same manner suggest that a beginner start a fresh water aquarium as a hobby! Do your research and take the time to check out the requirements and total cost of this amazing hobby. A rectangular glass 75 gallon saltwater aquarium can cost around $1,200 just to get started! Start by identifying the kind of fish you would like to keep. Do you want a variety of fish or just one species? Don't make any purchases until you have made all the decisions necessary. Now choose the equipment you will need to buy to meet the needs of those fish. Use the checklist in your book and make the decisions that fit your needs (and your budget), then proceed to set up your tank. Start small within budget, observe, read, implement and grow your tank SLOWLY! Blind Cave Tetras These interesting and completely blind fish were first discovered in the limestone cave systems of the Cueva Chica in Central Mexico back in 1936! Through the years their eyes have all but disappeared and the pigments of their skin have been lost. The shine from their skin actually comes from blood vessels which cause them to appear rosy and some say "naked." Closely related to the Astyanax Fasciatus Mexicanus, these fish have adapted to living in their darkened world quite well. In some instances, the normally pigmented and eyed fish outside the caves have lost their coloring and their eyes have grown smaller the further they move into the caves! The young are born with fully functional eyesight but their eyes atrophy as they grow older. Even with their eyes completely grown closed, adults can see some light and they do not feel comfortable under normal aquarium situations. Dim lighting is necessary for them to be completely happy; therefore, it is not possible to stock them in this tank. Decorating their tank can also be a challenge; but, it need not be boring. Use strange shapes of limestone to create caves and cracks in the decorations that will show attractiveness. Find suitable shaped rocks that will allow you to dim the light even more for these dark cave dwellers by building a ceiling in their tank. While most tropical fish do not thrive when limestone is used in their tanks, these tetras do. Their water should be 15 - 28 degrees centigrade, which is actually very warm for cave creatures! The pH of the water should be 7.5 - 8.0 and be alkaline. This should be easy to establish and maintain by using sandstone with no aquarium plants. Use only a weak bulb to illuminate this tank and place it in a dark corner area of the home. It is exciting but mysterious at night when the house is completely dark!

By: Stephen M. Seabrook

What Do Turtles Eat ?

What do turtles eat? Well, that really depends on the type of turtle you are asking about. Most turtles are carnivorous when they are young, but grow in to omnivores when they mature. Some feed mostly on plants while others, like the snapping turtle, actively hunt small creatures for their food. A turtle's diet depends on what kind of turtle it is, where it lives and what it has access to.If you have an adult turtle as a pet, here are some of the foods you can feed it to keep it healthy:Protein: There are many sources of protein that are safe to feed turtles: small amounts of cooked fish, turkey or chicken are okay; boiled eggs are okay; mealworms, waxworms, earthworms and silkworms are okay; slugs are fine, as are shrimp, snails and crickets. Don't give them raw meat, though because it can contain a lot of fat and could become contaminated by the time the turtle decides to eat it.Vegetables: leafy vegetables are best: grape and fig leaves, red clover, carrot tops, dandelions, lettuce (red and green are okay), turnip greens, water lettuce, duckweed, collards, endive and plantain weed are all okay. Regular vegetables like corn, green beans, beets, carrots, okra, green peas and some squash varieties are also okay.Flowers: some turtles love flowers! Roses, pansies, petunias, lilies, carnations, hibiscus, hyssop, borage, nasturtium and geraniums are all okay as turtle food.Fruit: some turtles also like fruit: kiwi, apple, mango, strawberry, cantaloupe, blackberries, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, blueberries and some citrus fruits are all a fine to feed a turtle.Of course, there are some foods that should never be given to a turtle:Turtles cannot digest milk or dairy products because their stomachs do not carry the enzymes needed for the breaking down of lactose. Feeding dairy products to your turtle is a good way to make sure it gets very sick.It is also a bad idea to feed any sort of canned or processed food to your turtle. These usually have large amounts of salt and preservatives and people don't yet know what these ingredients will do to the digestive system of a turtle.What do turtles eat from their natural habitats? Some turtles have been known to eat poisonous plants that are a part of their natural habitat—they do this as a way to make themselves inedible by predators. Unfortunately, especially in the case of pet turtles, you won't know exactly what kind of plants are a part of its native habitat, so it is best to keep poisonous plants (like poison ivy, rhubarb plants and avocado plants) out of their reach and out of their tanks.What do turtles eat? The turtle's diet depends on what kind of a turtle it is and how old it is. While they are babies, turtles are almost completely carnivorous, though they change into omnivores or even herbivores when they get older (depending on the turtle species). If you are buying a pet turtle from a store, the pet store will likely have food you can feed it.

By: Steven Magill

Aquarium Fish Tank

Aquarium Fish Tank Location Choose an area in your home where you can best enjoy the beauty and serenity of your new Fish tank. Avoid placing your fish tank near windows, heating and cooling ducts. Direct sunlight and temperature changes can negatively affect your aquarium. Overexposure to sunlight can lead to rapid algae growth in and on your fish tank, plants and decorations. Rapid temperature variations are harmful to fish. It is also recommended to avoid areas of high household traffic to prevent accidental contact with your set-up. A conveniently located, grounded electrical receptacle is important for heater, canopy and filtration components. Under no circumstances should any household electrical appliances be placed under or in close proximity to your

By: Aleks Kos

Aquarium Fish Tank

There are many different ways you can set up an aquarium depending on what you would like to keep and what interests you most in the hobby. Accordingly hobbyists tend to put names on the different types of aquariums that can be set up because they have similar general requirements depending on the classification of tank. Saltwater Or Freshwater Aquarium ?In general, for your first complete aquarium, you should probably choose freshwater fish-tank for several reasons.Saltwater fish may be colorful and interesting but maintaining a saltwater tank can be very difficult.Reef tanks are more of a science than a hobby.So, if you are a beginning fish owner, you really may want to think twice about starting out with a saltwater tank.For beginners, freshwater varieties are usually best since they're less expensive and easier to keep alive than saltwater fish.It may take many months for you to become experienced with maintaining a saltwater tank, but, if you’re prepared for a steep learning curve, you may prefer to start with a saltwater fish tank.For a saltwater tank, You will probably use live rock, which is also fairly costly, as a biological filter in the tank, as this makes setting up a saltwater tank easier. Live rock is directly taken from a coral reef with organisms still on or inside the rock. These organisms, such as algae, sponges, worms and urchins are an important part of the nitrogen cycle that allows for waste to be processed into a less toxic form.If you do use live rock as a filtration system, you will also need to buy a protein skimmer. A protein skimmer is used to remove organic waste from a saltwater tank before it breaks down in the water.Setting up a lighting system for a saltwater tank is also more expensive than setting up one for a freshwater fish tank. Poor lighting can cause these live organisms in your saltwater tank to die.Many corals feed using a system called photosynthesis, and the proper lighting is necessary to generate energy and good health. Generally speaking freshwater fish are a lot easier to keep so if this is your first fish aquarium.Dimensions Fish tank surface area is important. This will contribute to providing superior oxygenation and facilitate the creation of an attractive aquatic theme. Height also needs to be considered. Marine and fresh water environments can benefit from taller aquariums, which can provide superior conditions for certain species of fish and plants.Weight Remember that even a modest fish tank of 90cm (3ft) in length, when filled with substrate, rocks and water, can weigh as much as 125kg (275lb). So we may have to dispense with the idea of using the old card table, or a chipboard sideboard, unless we can devise some way of strengthening it with angle iron. What is infinitely better is to purchase or construct a purpose made stand or cabinet which is reinforced with angle iron, or stout wooden supports.The Right Size The size of fish tank is often limited to the space available. In general, select the largest size of aquarium that space, location and budget will allow. This will provide many benefits, such as a more stable aquatic environment, greater choice of fish and plants and an enhanced aesthetic value.

By: Aleks Kos

Breeding Discus Fish

The Discus has been referred to as "The King of the Aquarium", and though keeping and breeding them is certainly still a challenge for the inexperienced, the later can be very rewarding indeed. It is very common that after you have successfully raised Discus Fish for some time, that you would decide to extend your Discus care to breeding these beautiful fish. So let's start with the tank: The most important factor in discus breeding in the water quality, make sure it is soft, acidic and clean. It is recommended that you have a bare bottom tank as it is easier to clean. In the breeding tank itself, you may either have one or two potted plants or just leave them out. Remember that breeding Discus Fish should be kept at 88 degrees to aid the breeding process. It is very important to change the water in your Discus Aquarium Fish tank on a regular basis. In a display tank, I recommend around once or twice a week, but for breeding tanks you should up that rate from twice a week to anything up to once a day for the best results when breeding Discus Fish. Some foods that are good for breeding Discus Fish are white worm, adult brine shrimp and chopped up crab sticks or prawns. Now for the breeding: Sexing Discus Fish can be difficult so start with a number of potential parents but bear in mind that Discus Fish tend to become a bit territorial when breeding, so it is best to breed a well-established pair, or keep a group of young Discus and allow them to pair themselves. The breeding pair will usually clean a vertical spawning site on which the eggs are then laid and fertilised. A breeding pair will lay eggs as often as every week, as many as fifteen times and once the babies are born, breeders can observe one of the most unique traits of this fish: the young feed off the mucus produced on the scales of their parents in particular the secretions of the mother Discus Fish. Therefore it is critical not to separate the mother from her small fry. Finally, through selective breeding a wide variety of body shapes, colors, and patterns can be produced and although Discus Fish may not interact with you like your four-legged friends, they can give you many hours of pleasure and entertainment.
By: Liz Linkwell