• 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.

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.

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.

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.

They come in huge variety – over 25,000 identified species. There are more species of fish than of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined. Scientists still think they may yet identify 15,000 more species.

Even though 60% of fish species live in the sea, 99.99% of the earth’s water is seawater, this means that 40% of all fish species live in less than .01% of the earth’s water.

Fascinating Fish Facts: What you need to know?

• Not all fish are hopeless outside water! For example, the spotted climbing perch not only absorbs water from the air, but can also crawl on land using its fins.

• Not all types of fish have an air bladder, which enables them to stay afloat. The shark is one fish that has to keep swimming or stay on the ocean floor.

• Another amazing fish facts is that it turns out flying is not unique to birds. Some fish can fly.

• Fish can find their way even in unclear, murky water. They use a special sense organ known as the lateral line.

• The great whale shark – the biggest of all the fish – can be as long as fifty feet!

• The Philippine Goby grows to a maximum length of 1/3 of an inch – making it the smallest types of fish.

• Fish are capable of sensing pain and stress.

• Tropical fish from South America, Africa, Central America and Asia are very popular among Americans as pets.

Parrotfish Description

The characteristic feature of this tropical fish is the beak which is bird-like; formed by the fusion of the teeth along the jaws. The fish use their beak (which is strong enough to leave scars on the corals) to bite and scrape off the algae and the softer parts of the coral and then grinding the food with plate-like structures inside their throats.

Size and Colors of Parrotfish

Parrotfish can grow up to 1.2 meters in length (4 feet) and they can weigh up to 20 kilograms (45 pounds), and some can even grow larger. Their colors vary, with the males differing significantly from the females, and the young from the adults. The colors of a parrot fish range from yellow, green, blue, and other colors, with different colors in each stage of life.

Parrotfish Behavior

Here’s one amazing trivia about parrotfish. Did you know that Parrotfish can change their gender, which is a bizarre characteristic of this species? This means that a female parrot fish may have been a male in the past or is going to change into a male in the future. When a bicolor female transforms into a male, the secondary male colors are uniquely colorful. As a matter of fact, males that transformed from females may be the most colorful specimens of the species. Parrotfish have very distinct life stages; so distinct that parrot fish of the same species have been mistakenly classified as another species.

Diet and Habitat

The herbivorous parrotfish can be found among the coral reefs, feeding on algae. They have very strong beaks capable of actually biting off chunks of the hard coral. Other species can secrete mucous sacs at night and emerge from the sac in the morning.

Distribution and Species of Parrotfish

Parrotfish are edible but play no great economic importance as a group. The surf parrot or the rivulated parrot (Callyodon fasciatus) inhabits the Indo-Pacific region. It can grow to a length of 46 centimeters (18 inches) or more. The males of the species are colored green, orange or red and the females yellow or blue. The rainbow parrot fish in the Atlantic Ocean can grow to 90 centimeters. Its color ranges from green to bright orange with a blue beak. Another Atlantic species is the queen parrot which grows up to 50 centimeters, with the males colored blue with pigmentations of red, orange and green but reddish or purplish sporting a white stripe if female.

Facts about Arapaima Behavior and Habitat

These fish inhabit swampy waters with low oxygen concentrations. Because of this environment, the fish has developed a unique breathing system. It has a lung-like lining inside its throat which enables the fish to take in gulps of air from the surface. The air ‘breathed’ in acts as a necessary supplementary source of oxygen for the fish. Unfortunately, this behavior of gulping in air makes the Arapaima very vulnerable to fishermen. The gulp can be heard and the fishermen follow the sound towards the fish. The fish is then speared or caught with large nets.

Arapaima Meat

The flesh of this fish is considered to be a very delicious delicacy and many tourists and natives alike seek it in South America.

Arapaima Fun Facts

These fish grow very fast and are very good swimmers, capable of leaping out of the water to catch birds on the low-hanging branches of the trees nearby. This tropical freshwater fish is not advisable to keep as a pet because of their size. However, they are good things to view in a public aquarium.

Distribution

The exact population of Aparaima in the wild is currently unknown due to the elusiveness of the fish.