Paradise fish Description

The Paradise Fish or Paradise Gourami is very colorful, with colors ranging from black to albino. It has a thick longitudinal body and a forked tailfin, with a longer one for males than females. They are labyrinth fish and the maximum length is 4 inches (10cm) with tails an additional 2 inches. Males have brighter and stronger color patterns with longer and larger fins.

Habitat

They inhabit South East Asia, in streams, rice paddies and ditches. They are popular and not endangered.

Diet

The Paradise fish is an omnivore but prefer meaty food.

Facts about Paradise Fish you should know.

This aquarium fish populate small bodies of water in nature and an aquarium should mimic this environment. They mark their territory, which they defend.  They swim in all regions of the water.

They are hardy and adaptable. Water conditions for this fish is 61-81°F (16-27°C), hardness 5-30 dGH and ph of 5.8-8.0. They need a covered 20 gallon tank, gentle water flow and sturdy plants.

Behavior

Paradise fish behave similar to Bettas but less extreme. It is difficult to select appropriate tank companions due to their aggressive, predatory nature. They mostly prefer to live alone and both genders together work best.

Breeding

They are bubble nest builders, which they’ll strongly defend. The male cares for the spawn until maturity. Fry emerge a few days after spawning. They are readily available.

Description

This aquarium fish is tiny and streamlined. The male’s basic body color is silver but colors vary based on health, diet and environment conditions and have a longer fin and display more intense colors than females. Females are a rich honey color with green tints and translucent fins. The fish grow up to 2 inches (5cm).

Behavior

Their expressive and serene manner accompanied by their striking color, make them a great inhabitant for the aquarium. They are not aggressive. They prefer a well planted tank without harsh lighting and too much open space.

Diet

This fish are omnivorous. They mainly feed on small insects and flake foods.

As Pet – Facts about Threadfin Rainbowfish you should know

Threadfin Rainbowfish swim mostly in the top regions of the water. Water conditions required are; temperature: 73-84°F, hardness: 5 – 19Dgh and pH: 6.0 – 7.5.

They require a school of at least 5 fish. Have a variety of densely placed plants. Bogwood can be used to make the water acidic and swampy. They require 15 gallons of water, with 25 – 50% water changes per week and a tightly closed tank.

Breeding

Acidic and soft water is a prerequisite for breeding. The temperature must be 78°F (26°c). Java moss or a spawning mop must be used to breed. The eggs must be removed as they are laid and the fry fed with liquid fry food or micro-worms.

It has always been a popular fish. They breed easily, although they can become unfriendly towards their cohabitants. This aquarium fish is good for beginners.

This type of barb is the largest of the ‘branded barbs’ which include the Longfin Tiger Barb, Albino Tiger Barb and the Green (‘moss’) Tiger Barb. This barb has a bright yellow to red body with four black stripes.

The colors of the adults tend to fade, but a school of these jovial and striking fish in an aquarium make for a refreshing sight. They are social fish, have a social hierarchy and are best in a school of six to seven fish. They are increasingly aggressive when alone or in a small group, which is characterized by biting the fins of slower fish. When in a school of their own species, they don’t seem to bother other fish.

When kept as pet, the aquarium should have a fine gravel bottom with plants against the sides. They are susceptible to itch and are not endangered.

Tiger Barb Trivia

Bleeker described this fish in 1855. Their natural habitats are Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo. Many are bred in captivity. They are not threatened. When mating they have a bright red snout and can grow up to 3 inches (7 cm) long.

Tiger Barbs are omnivorous.  They should be given high quality flakes, and brine shrimp or blood worms as treats.

Zebra Loach Fast Facts

• Description: At a glance it appears to have many vertical lines, but it actually has a yellow-green body with nine broad dark blue-green bands. The bands have straight, broken or branched white lines. The fins and tail are transparent with brown spots on the tail. The mouth has four pairs of barbels. This aquarium fish grow up to 3 ½ to 4 inches (8-10cm) but usually smaller in an aquarium.

• Behavior: It is a nocturnal fish, but is sociable and will roam out during the day when adapted to its environment. They are best in small groups and prefer their own species, but occasionally become nippy. They are hardy and undemanding fish.

• Diet: Zebra Loach is omnivorous and eats all kinds of foods. They keep snail numbers low by eating them.

• Habitat: Their natural habitat is Mysore in southern India, and they occupy stagnant or slow flowing waters.

Essential Facts about Zebra Loach for Aquarists

They like a tank with plants, open swimming areas and retreats under rocks and wood. Use soft lighting and ensure the gravel or sand have no sharp edges. Plants should be hardy with protected roots.

As social fish, they mingle well with other loaches and non-aggressive tank companions. They should be kept in groups of at least 3 in their own groups. They are chirpy and entertaining.

Leopard Corydoras Fast Facts

• There are over 200 known Corydoras species with over 50 species available, but most are not well known. Most species are similar in appearance with slight variations.

• They are omnivores and feed at the floor of the tank.

• Corydoras catfish are small and peaceful aquarium fish that swim in school. They don’t harm plants and appreciate hiding spaces under rocks, wood and ornaments.

• Their bony armor and spiny fins protect them from predators, but they should not be in the company of other aggressive fish.

• Partial and frequent water changes and live foods get them in spawning mode. Cool water initiates spawning, and a single pair or group spawn together. Females are larger and rounder than males. They don’t have any common diseases.

Essential Facts about Leopard Corydoras for Aquarists

The most common species, Bronze and Albino catfish, can be kept in an unheated tank. Other species require a heated tank. They require a tank with round or fine gravel to prevent damage to their barbels. They should be in schools of four or more. In the aquarium, water requirements are as follows; pH range of 6-8, dH range of 5-20°dGH and temperatures of 72-80°F.

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.

This aquarium fish are sociable but are not as peaceful as the other variants. They can attack smaller fish, are territorial when they become large and have a social hierarchy. Fish which will provoke them should be avoided. Because of their resilience, they are ideal types of aquarium fish for beginners. They process their environment very well.

The Gold Gourami has an elongated and compressed body. They have large and round fins. The ventral fins are very sensitive and thread-like. The color of its body is gold with a deep gold striped pattern on the back. This aquarium fish has a labyrinth organ for direct absorption of oxygen into the bloodstream. They grow up to six inches (15 cm) and breed at 3 inches (7.5cm). The male has a longer and sharper dorsal fin.

The Gold Gourami is omnivorous. The artificial fish tanks for gold gourami require plants that provide sparse and dense plant cover to accommodate dominant and quiet personalities. Approximately 20 to 35 gallons of water is required.

Gold Gourami build bubble nest. For mating, choosing the right pair is very challenging. After spawning, the female should be removed because the male could kill her. The male should then be removed, since he might eat the fry. It’s readily available.

Fire Eel Facts

Description: Fire eel has an elongated body as long as 1 meter (40 inches) with a pointed snout. In captivity it only grows up until 50cm (20inches). It should always be fed live food but must have the space for this.

This aquarium fish has a dark brown pigmentation, but a light brown to grey belly. The red stripes on its body, fades with age. The youth typically have yellow markings which become red as they grow. The intensity of the color depends on the health of the eel.

Behavior: The fire eel is shy and only comes out at night, but can become fond of its owner and eat from his hand. It is peaceful and should be kept with medium sized fish.

Breeding: It is a plant spawning fish and breed at 50 centimeters in captivity. Fry should eat healthy food.

Habitat: Eel live at the bottom of the water and prefers soft water. It prefers water with pH of 7, dH of 10 and temperature of 24-27°C.

Fire Eel as Aquarium Pet

The tank should be large enough, or its colors will fade. The artificial fish tank should have gravel without sharp edges. They bury their bodies in the sand with only their heads protruding.  Use dense aquarium plants with some floating plants, with rocks, roots and wood to create sheltered areas and cover the tank to prevent it jumping out.

The Dwarf Pencilfish is not the most sociable of fish – you may want to be careful about who they share tank with.

These aquarium fish are generally peaceful, but should not share a tank with fish that appear to pose a threat. This will evoke aggression. They can co exist very well with Rasbora, small Catfish and Loaches and Dwarf Cichlids.

Simply put, the Dwarf Pencilfish is beautiful. They tend to remain at the top of the aquarium.

Fish Facts: How to keep Dwarf Pencilfish

1. Always keep six or more, and balance the number of males to females.
2. Try to have the in a quiet place.
3. Do have plenty of foliage since they like to browse plant leaves.
4. They can eat foods like flake, frozen daphnia, bloodworms or wingless fruit flies.
5. They can grow up to 1.4 inches.
6. A 10 gallon tank should be the minimum.
7. Try to have soft water in the gallon.

From the underside of the mouth all the way to the tail, the Firemouth Cichlid has a fiery red color – which inspires its name. The body is a mixture of blue-gray, blue and brown.

Avoid putting Firemouth Cichlid together with other fish species because during spawning, they are aggressive with other species. The red coloration has itself been discovered by scientists to be frightening to other types of fish. When a male Firemouth Cichlid is in the mood for a fight, he inflates his fiery red throat sac and gill covers. It may be a bluff, but it is impressive to other fish.

Fish Facts: What you need to know about Firemouth Cichlid:

1. These aquarium fish like fine sand lining the bottom of the tank as well as plenty of rocks and wood to hide in.
2. They appreciate plants within the tank – as long as the plants do not occupy too much space leaving little space for swimming.
3. Males are more colorful, especially during spawning season.
4. They have a second set of teeth in the throat besides the normal teeth.
5. They exercise their sense of smell by sucking in water and expelling it.
6. They are larger – growing up to 6 inches.
7. For a pair of Firemouth Cichlid, a 20 gallon tank is enough.
8. They are monogamous and remain in two parent families.