Fish Facts: What you need to know about skate fish?

• The skate has no stinger, unlike other members of the ray family. It is flat and is shaped like a kite with two wings. People only eat the wings of the skate.

• Skates come from Taiwan, USA, and the Caribbean, but they are consumed in Germany, Spain, Japan and the USA.

• These marine fish have to be processed well after capture because they are prone to smell of ammonia. This is because Skate fish get rid of excess urea through their skin.

• Skates are found near the floor of the ocean, where they spend most of their times.

• Only a few, such as the manta ray and the devil ray spend time away from the bottom of the ocean.

• Scientists believe that the color of the rays helps to serve as a camouflage, which blends with the floor of the ocean.

• One interesting trivia about Skates is the way they identify family members. Apparently, Skates use electricity to recognize each other.

• Manta rays are scary to anglers because they are so big. Chevrolet even created a Stingray inspired sports car in 1958.

• Sometimes, when provoked or scared, Rays attack people with their barbs or stings.

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.

The origins of this marine fish are in the Indo Pacific strip, the Red Sea and the Sea of Cortez in the Eastern Pacific ocean. Hawkfish could also be Dwarf Hawkfish, Black Sided hawkfish and other interesting fish species. These fish are prone to attack other fish, particularly smaller types of fish.

More Fish Facts: Owners enjoy having the Longnose Hawkfish because:

1. They are colorful, usually to a white background and red pattern.

2. Longnose Hawkfish grows up to 5 inches.

3. They have big jaws and pointed teeth.

4. Longnose Hawkfish are aggressive very defensive of their territory.

5. Females breed by releasing eggs that are swept off by the current, and less than a month later, the eggs hatched. When it comes to breeding, the Longnose Hawkfish unique because they can change sex from one sex to another.

6. Longnose Hawkfish are carnivores

7. These marine fish spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank.

• Killerwhale is also known as Orca, Blackfish or Seawolf. They look like a barrel.

• Second to humans, the Killerwhale is the most widely distributed mammal in the planet. They can adapt themselves to different seas and oceans.

• The Arctic, Antarctic and colder regions have the highest population of them. They are difficult to spot because of their black and white coloration, which is a perfect camouflage, enabling them to capture prey from land and sea.

• Killer Whales are huge, from 5.8 to 6.7 meters and weighing 3.6 – 5.4 kg. Killer whales move in groups, led by a mother figure. Generally, they pray on about 30 species of fish in order to survive. They use sound to navigate and to communicate underwater and are highly intelligent. The image of the Killer Whale is one that evokes fear in many people’s minds.

More Fish facts: What you need to know about Killer Whales:

1. They have a very good sense of hearing.
2. They can see very well, both from inside and outside the water.
3. Further, they cannot smell.
4. The killer whale has powerful jaws and strong teeth, which it can use to destroy other whales and other species

Basic Facts about Silver Dollar

Characteristics: Silver dollars are generally characterized by their disk-like body, short fins and luminous silver color. They are also known to be peaceful and sociable freshwater fish, but they can be prevailing predator within their environment.

Habitat: Silver dollars are known to have originated from Tapajas River basin. They are found inhabiting in tropical and well-vegetated rivers.

Diet: Silver dollars are omnivores in nature. They primarily feed on weeds, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates such as spiders, worms and insects.

More Silver Dollar Facts for Kids

• Silver dollars are known to live and search for food in groups called as “shoals”.

• Some species of reptiles, larges fish and birds are the predominant predators of silver dollar fish.

• The size of silver dollar fish ranges from 5 centimeter to 14 centimeter.

• Silver dollar can live around 2 to 10 years. Its optimum ph level is around 5 to 7.

• Full grown female silver dollar can lay up to 2,000 eggs. They usually breed in soft, warm water.

• When silver dollar is kept as aquarium fish, it is advisable not to keep them together with smaller species of fish. It is believed that silver dollars live happily in aquarium along with large fish like catfish and Oscar fish.

Basic Facts about Guppy Fish

Characteristics: Guppies are characterized by their colorful fins and body. They are also one of the few species of fish that breed to live young.

Habitat: Guppy fish can be found inhabiting in Amazon River basin. It has about 300 varied species spread all over the freshwaters of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Barbados and Netherlands Antilles.

Diet: Guppies are omnivores in nature. They primarily feed on brine shrimp, algae and small species of fish.

Lifespan: Since they are generally small-sized, guppies have numerous predators within their natural habitat including large fish, birds and mammals, making them live only around 2 to 4 years.

More Facts about Guppy fish for Kids

• The size of Guppy fish ranges from 4 centimeter to 7.6 centimeter. Its optimum ph level is around 5.0 to 7.0.

• You can easily determine whether the guppy fish is male or female. The male guppy’s tail is longer with fewer markings while its female counterpart has shorter, patterned fin tail. Male guppy fish is also smaller than female guppy.

• Guppy fish is also known as millionfish because of its ability to give birth to millions of offspring (baby guppies) within shorter period of time. Full grown female guppy fish can give birth to 100 fries (baby guppy) at a time. After it hatched its fries, it is ready to get pregnant over again.

• Fish are known to have been on Earth for over 450 million years.

• There are more than 25,000 recognized fish species on Earth and more than 15,000 fish species are yet to be discovered.

• The total number of fish species is greater than the total number of reptiles, birds, mammals and amphibians species combined.

• Although the Earth has less than 1% freshwater, around 40% of fish species are freshwater-dwelling fish.

• While some species of fish can create sounds by rasping their teeth, some like catfish can create sounds through swim bladder filled with air.

• Many fish facts acknowledge the capability of fish species to fly, climb in the rock, skip in the water surface and glide.

• It is known that the biggest fish on Earth is the Great whale shark, measuring around 50 feet long.

• On the other hand, Philippine goby is considered as the smallest fish. A full-grown goby can measure less than 1/3 inch.

• Just like birds and mammals, fish also suffer from stress and feel pain.