Fish Aquarium Tank

The real apistogramma’s come from southern America, they all
have the same characteristics, like a complex breeding behavior,
as their large relatives, only their size is different. Besides
the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular
dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From
this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis
pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.

Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more
fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period
of time. In my opinion apistogramma’s are not real beginner
species. They are more likely to get diseases if not all the
environmental variables are properly taken care of. They need
soft and acidic water with a low PH value, a PH of 5.5 to 6 is
preferable. They hardly eat dry foods, best is to feed them live
foods or frozen food, like bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito
larvae. Apistogramma species can be kept in a large tropical
community aquarium, but be sure the other fish are not too
small, they can defend their territory very fiercely, and can be
quite aggressive when they are breeding. In my opinion it is
best to keep the apistogramma’s on their own, in a larger
aquarium you could combine two apistogramma variants together,
maybe supplemented with a small group of other fish, like some
livebearers or betta’s. They also can be kept together with
discus or angel fish. I always have a harem of apisto’s in my
discus tanks, just to populate the lower areas of the aquarium
and I really like these small dwarfs with a big attitude.

The cichlids from the Pelvicachromis group are much more
tolerant when it comes to water values and feeding, I do
consider these cichlids a good beginner species. They are
hardened, beautiful colored and eat almost anything. The
Pelvicachromis pulcher is maybe one of the most easy to breed
cichlids as well. If you have an adult couple they will
reproduce, in a community tank, a special species tank or in a
pond, some people like to breed them in their pond during
summer. Actually some of the biggest and nicest colored
Pelvicachromis pulcher were pond bred and raised. The only thing
to keep in mind with these cichlids is that they are capable of
redesigning your aquarium, they can make huge holes and are real
little bulldozers. So if you have, or want to setup, a subtile
planted tank, don’t add a couple of Pelvicachromis to your
aquarium.

The last dwarf cichlid I want to mention is the Microgeophagus
ramirezi, or Ram cichlid. Their behavior and care are roughly
the same as the apistogramma’s but they are more tolerant when
it comes to water values, and in my experience they are easier
to keep in good condition. Unlike the apistos they have to be
kept as a couple, not a harem but that’s the only breeding
experience I have. I have tried several couples, have a couple
in a breeding tank right now, but I have never even had a clutch
of eggs. I know from other breeders that they are kind of hard
to get going, but if they do they never stop

Learn how to check the water temperature of a fish tank and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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Learn how to care for black skirt tetras and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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A balanced diet for your aquarium fish is essential to thier survival. Most of the commercially available dry fish foods are almost always unbalanced. In many cases, the vitamin content will gradually decline at room temperature and since majority of the dry food for tropical fish commonly used will only keep for about three months, it is always advisable to buy fish-feeds in many small packs rather than in one large pack.

The feed could preferably be kept absolutely dry in a refrigerator. However, all fish appreciate a change of diet and will thank you for your consideration with more interesting behavior, better colours, and greater readiness to breed and better general well -being. This change of diet should be supplemented with live food; majority of which now come in irradiated freeze dried forms to make sure that they are disease free.

I will mention a few that could be found handy in some major aquarium shops and I will group them into two. And they are flake foods and freeze-dried foods

Flake foods

Most popular and highly recommended brands are Aquarian®, Tetra®, and Wardley®. They are varying in cost and quality. Wardley is the least expensive among the three. However, the Aquarian and Tetra are richer in specialty flakes compare to Wardley.

Freeze-dried foods

You will also find freeze-dried foods available in aquarium stores. They are favorite foods for aquarium fish. They have single animal-ingredient like mosquito larvae, blood worms and Tubifex worm each. Aquarist should note that freeze-foods are not in themselves complete diet but they can be combine to flake food or other type of freeze-dried foods. We shall discuss more about Tubifex as a popular freeze-dried food.

TUBIFEX - This is a traditional favorite food relished by most fishes. They are small red worms that live at the bottom of streams and rivers particularly where large amounts of organic matter are present. Therefore, it is difficult for the aquarist to collect them life from their habitat. It is therefore preferable to buy Tubifex from pet shops where they are already clean, freeze-dried and concentrated into cube forms.

From personal experience, Tubifex tubes could probably be the most exciting feed to use for fishes. The cube can be stuck to the front inside wall of the aquarium. The fishes in the tank will immediately come forward and bit off pieces of worms excitedly until satisfied.

You need not bother to remove the rest worms since they seldom pollute and in most case fishes return to the feed for further fill.

Learn how to care for gold dust mollies and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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This book opens with a look at fish biology and advice on how to provide healthful aquarium conditions. The fish are presented in four sections, starting with goldfish, then covering other cold water fish for cool tanks, warm tanks, and large tanks. All the fish featured in this book are shown in full-color photographs. The accompanying text provides details on their organs, behavior, ideal aquarium conditions, and food requirements, plus, where appropriate, practical advice on breeding. Book covers: Breeding Behavior, Shoaling Fish, Bottom Dwellers, Easy Fish, Fancy Goldfish, and more… Hardcover, Barron’s (2000) 77 pages List Price: $14.95 FYI Price: $5.00

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Learn how to remove and discard of a dead fish and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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As with many animal species, the male Fancy Guppies are more beautiful than the female Fancy Guppies. Males come in a large variety of bright colors, like red, gold, black, blue and green- while females tend to only have gray or tan colors. These fish look most beautiful in aquariums when you have several of them to swim together.

Fancy Guppies like warmer aquarium waters. You should keep your temperature set between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and consider adding a tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water in the tank. Most livebearers Guppies fair better with the salt added.

While Fancy Guppies can survive on just floating flake food and freeze dried bloodworms, they will become stronger and hardier if fed some frozen brine shrimp or Black Worms from time to time.

When you put Fancy Guppies into your aquarium, you’ll want to keep twice as many females as male Fancy Guppies. You can add other fish that are compatible, including Small Tetras (Neons), Honey Gourami, Cory Catfish, Glass Fish, African Dwarf Frogs and Ghost Shrimp.

Many stores will try to sell Mollies and Guppies together, but most of the larger Mollies will attack Guppies and are not really compatible in an aquarium together.

You do not want to keep Swordtails and Platies in a tank with Fancy Guppies, either. They just do not get along. Guppies should be placed into aquariums with smaller tank mates.

Fancy Guppies have a short lifespan of about 3 years. The males grow to be about 2″, and females will grow a little longer at an average of 2.5″ long. Sometimes Fancy Guppies will have a longer lifespan with outstanding aquarium care, and there are even instances where the fish have gotten bigger than their average sizes.

When acclimating your guppies to the fish tank, be sure to float the bag they came in, in your fish tank water for 20 minutes then slowly introduce some of the fish tank water into the bag -little by litte before releasing them into the tank. This will give your new fish the chance to adapt slowly to it’s new environment.

Learn about fish tanks, supplies, and procedures and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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Learn how to care for types of guppies and how to maintain an aquarium in this free video on caring for fish and fish tanks.

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