• These fish live in small groups inside anemones with which they form a symbiotic relationship where the fish eat the leftovers of anemones and anemones have their decaying tentacles eaten (therefore increasing their chance of survival)

• These fish lay a thousand eggs at a time and all of these can survive. These eggs are laid only in a full moon and they hatch after dusk. The eggs are guarded by the male all the time.

• Because of their stripes and bouncing movements, these fish look like clowns hence the given common name.

• One amazing trivia about clownfish is that they can change their sex. They are all born as males and when the female clownfish dies, the most dominant of all the males in the group changes its sex into female.

• Here’s another clownfish facts you might not know. These fish are known to be aggressive in spite of its portrayal in the movie.

• Clownfish normally inhabit the Indian and Pacific oceans. They live for 3 to 8 years and grow to 3 to 4 inches.

• Clownfish are omnivores. They eat both algae and scraps from anemones.

• Clownfish can survive in the anemone tentacles because of protective mucus secreted by their skin.

• These fish can survive without anemones in fish tanks.

• Pacu fish description

Pacu fish have large eyes and flat, round bodies with an arched back. They grow up to 12-24 inches but some specimens have been known to grow up to 30 inches and weigh over 50 lbs. In an aquarium setting, the pacu’s growth rate is stunted and it does not grow as large as in open spaces. These fish live up to 15 years or more.

• Facts about Pacu fish diet

The diet of the pacu consists mainly of insects, snails, small fish and decaying vegetation. In the aquarium, the pacu can be fed with flakes, pellets and frozen vegetables.

• Species of Pacu fish

The pacu comes in two varieties: the red pacu and the black pacu or the tambaqui. Pacu fish are bred commercially due to their tolerance to low oxygen levels and they don’t require any special diets. The black pacu is favored due to its strong resistance against diseases and it is consumed widely by humans. Pacu fish are considered to be one of the best tropical delicacies.

• Pacu fish interesting behavior

Pacu fish enjoy the company of other fish when they are still juveniles and tend to prefer solitude when they reach maturity.

Interesting Kissing Gourami Description

• The fish occurs in two natural colors; pink or flesh-colored. An artificially bred genetic mix is the green kissing gourami, also known as the ‘green kisser’. These breeds were once classified into one species but they have been reclassified into two. The green kisser (Helostoma temminckii) has dark borders on its dorsal and anal fins. The traditional breeds are classified under the Helostoma rudolfi species.

• The features of both sexes of the species do not differ. They have the same oval shape and thick, fleshy lips. Behind the lips are rows of fine, sharp teeth which they use to graze on algae. Another characteristic of these fish is their labyrinth organ which helps them to breathe under conditions with limited oxygen by taking oxygen from the air.

• Normally, these fish cannot take enough oxygen from the water around them and they must take gulps of air to satisfy their oxygen needs. Therefore, these fish need to have access to the surface of the water.

Facts about Kissing Gourami Habitat

These fish are found in areas with heavy vegetation. They rely on water plants to give shelter to their eggs and as places for courtship and breeding.

Kissing Gourami Breeding

Spawning occurs with an elaborate dance of circling, nudging, beating of tails and kissing. After they spawn, remove the parents as they may eat their own young.

Tiger sharks derive their name from the vertical stripes found mostly on the juveniles. The lines fade as they get older.  They are large and blunt-nosed. They can reach a length as long as 20 to 25 feet (6 – 7.5 meters) and weigh more than 1,900 pounds (900 kilograms)

Having a very sharp sense of sight and smell, and since they find almost anything edible, they make savvy scavengers. Their sharp and highly serrated teeth with mighty jaws allow them to crack the hard shells of clams and other shelled sea animals.

In some written facts about tiger sharks, Captured tiger sharks have revealed stomach contents of large and poisonous sea animals such as stingrays and sea snakes, and even inorganic objects such as license plates and vehicle tires!

Natural habitat of tiger sharks is tropical and sub-tropical waters across the world.

They are harvested in abundance for their fins, skin and flesh which are a delicacy in the far eastern countries. Their livers are used to produce vitamin oil since it is rich in Vitamin A. The repopulation rates are very slow therefore they are vulnerable in the fishing industry. They are considered an endangered species of fish.

Discus Fish Description

• These tropical fish are natives to the warm and calm basins of the Amazon River. They live in the shades of the trees, amongst the roots near the river banks. Their stripes are suited for camouflage in the said environment, breaking their outline and confusing potential predators.

• The water in their natural habitat is slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5-7) with the hardness of soft to medium. When kept as aquarium fish, the temperature must be 79-88 degrees Fahrenheit. These fish do not stay in one layer of the aquarium and prefer to swim at all levels.

• Discus fish require a lot of specific requirements for living conditions inside the aquarium.

• These fish normally have a 2.5-inch length but they can grow up to 6 to 8 inches. These measurements must be taken into consideration when constructing an aquarium. The population of fish in the tank must also be considered. The water used for the tank must be free from chloramines and chlorine.

Facts about discus fish diet

The young of these fish feed heavily but as they mature, 2 to 3 feedings are enough. They prefer to eat live food such as tubifex, brine fish or daphnia; these must be fed at regular intervals.

Breeding

Discus fish reach sexual maturity in 2 – 3 years. As they breed, keep them in the same tank they are in and raise the acidity to 5 – 5.5 pH and elevate the temperature slightly.

Description

Both genders display a dark horizontal stripe, with males having a bright cherry-red color and females a dull orange color. Males are larger with a slender body, while females are rounder.

Habitat

Cherry barbs naturally inhabit the tropical waters in Sri Lanka. They are benthopelagic species which are typically found in shallow and slow flowing waters, shaded by plenty of vegetation.

Cherry Barb as Pet: facts about cherry barb you should know before getting one.

• A tank with a minimum size of 75 liters or 20 gallons is required if it’s kept as domestic pet. This fish should be kept in a school of at least 5.  The natural environment of the barb should be closely mimicked in the aquarium. A strong current is suggested.

• The Cherry barb should be kept with other peaceful fish and predatory fish must be avoided. There is a hierarchy in their school and the male is dominant.

• The average lifespan is 4 years but can reach 7 years. The ideal aquatic temperature is 23 – 27°C (73- 80.5°F). The ideal dH is 5 – 19 and pH 6.5 – 7.5.

Diet

They are omnivorous. They nibble on sturdy plants, which should be used in the aquarium.

Breeding

A separate breeding tank is recommended, since they lay approximately 200 eggs amongst the plant vegetation producing live offspring after two days.

Knife fish fun facts

• Knife fish are usually nocturnal although they tend to be active in the day once in a while. They could swim forwards and backwards with the same relative ease.

• These tropical fish are very flexible and can literally turn in its body length as it changes direction.

• Knife fish have poor eyesight and they rely on their sensitive lateral lines to feel around its surroundings. They usually sneak behind their prey and swallow it whole which doesn’t make it a suitable companion for other small fish.

• These fish are very shy and panicky when changes occur in their environment.

Knife fish care

Keeping a knife fish in an aquarium needs certain requirements. A lot of things should be considered such as their large size, their companions, the acidity of the water and the lighting as well as their hiding place.

Knife fish in artificial fish tank

Due to their large size (10-13 inches), knife fish need to be housed in a large aquarium, which should be around 55 gallons when they are smaller and 300 gallons when they are larger. The pH of the water should be neutral to basic and the hardness should be softer. They need to have a hiding place during the day. These fish tolerate larger fish than themselves but never smaller fish as they can eat smaller fish at any moment.

Description

This fish are known for their serene nature and bright colors. This makes them a popular choice as aquarium pet. Male mollies have a thinner body and longer tailfin than their female counterparts.

Habitat

Mollies live amongst plants in a group of fish also known as a school. They breed rapidly therefore their numbers have to be limited in an artificial fish tank. They have many predators, including birds and reptiles, due to their small stature.

Diet

Mollies feed on both plants and animals, which makes them omnivorous fish. Their diet is comprised of invertebrates including small insects, bloodworms, algae and food particles.

Breeding

The fish give birth to live young, unlike many other tropical fish that lay eggs. They give birth only a few weeks after fertilization occurred and the number of offspring per birth can be as many as 100. Unfortunately, the molly is considered an endangered species of fish.

Its name is probably derived from its long chin barbel. Its body is slender in shape and laterally compressed, with a dark brown color with two white bands at the start and centre of the dorsal and anal fins.

Its mechanism for finding food is interesting, since it hunts for worms and fish during the night using its electric sensory receptors.

More fascinating facts about Elephantnose fish is that an electric discharge can be detected in the water during mating. The electric receptors are situated on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body. At the base of its tail, there is an electric organ which emits a low electric current.

Additional Elephantnose fish trivia

• It is said that this tropical fish possesses an excellent hearing ability.

• The fish can grow up to 14 inches (35cm) long.

• It is speculated that the fish spawn during the rainy season, but there is little information regarding the sexual reproduction process of the fish. It is known for its aggressiveness during mating season and territorial nature.

• This fish seemingly choose to swim in slow currents in large rivers. This fish swim in large schools because it is a very social fish and swims at the bottom of the water.

• It is not an endangered species of fish.

The Flame Tetra fish is also known as the Fire Tetra or Von Rio Tetra. This tropical fish were first named by Meyers in 1924. Learn more information about flame tetra fish as you read on.

Description

• The front of its body is mostly silver and gradually turns red towards the back, particularly at the base of the fins. Behind the gills are two black stripes and have a blue eye ring.

• The maximum size for the fish is 1.5 inches or 4cm.

• The male’s anal fin is blood red, while a lighter shade or occasionally yellow fin is observed with the female.

Habitat

Flame tetra fish naturally inhabit the coastal rivers of eastern Brazil in the region of Rio de Janeiro.

Diet

The fish are resilient and breed readily. The fish are omnivorous and eat live food or flake food. They eat worms, small crustaceans and plants.

Behaviors

If they are bothered, they become anxious and turn pale. It is for this reason that in pet shops they are less noticed and therefore less popular.

Facts about Flame Tetra fish you should know before getting one as pet.

• It is important to have friendly tank mates and to provide them with a serene environment. They only become active once the aquarium is calm and they feel confident enough. They require a school of at least six fish and must be accompanied by other small fish.

• They swim in all areas of the aquarium. Water conditions best suited are Dgh 10°, pH 6.5 to 7.0 and temperatures between 26 – 28°C.

They are not endangered species of fish and are readily available.