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Best 15 Exotic Cool Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Freshwater Fish (info and tips), Info and Tips June 4, 2023June 5, 2023Cool Freshwater Aquarium Fish, exotic aquarium fish, Exotic Freshwater Aquarium Fish 27 Comments

Exotic and Cool Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Looking for Exotic cool freshwater aquarium fish? We have selected and summarized the most interesting fish kept by hobbyists in their aquariums.

When considering the rivers of Africa, South America, and Asia, the term “exotic” may not immediately come to mind. Typically, exotic fish are associated with deep-sea creatures boasting unique patterns and adaptations.

However, it might surprise you to discover that the slow-moving waters of the Amazon and other shallow tributaries harbor some of the most extraordinary freshwater fish. These captivating species can be showcased in your very own aquarium, such as Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp, Eels, Sharks, Crabs.

One common misconception about aquariums is that vibrant and beautiful fish can only be found in saltwater tanks. This couldn’t be further from the truth! There is a wide array of fresh and exotic freshwater aquarium fish that can elevate your tank to new heights.

Furthermore, maintaining freshwater tanks is generally easier and more cost-effective compared to saltwater tanks. Additionally, freshwater fish offer a balance between being challenging and easy to care for.

If you’re seeking vibrant fish to enhance your freshwater aquarium, consider the following tips.

The 15 Best Exotic Cool Freshwater Aquarium Fish

1. Bettas

Bettas are a pretty popular fish primarily because they’re so exotic looking. There are at least 14 different varieties of bettas, each with a different tail shape.

They are all available in a range of bright, beautiful colors and patterns and are a lot of fun to watch.

One important thing to note about bettas is they don’t really get along with other fish.

You should never keep more than one male betta in a tank and be very careful about choosing other tankmates. Bettas are generally pretty easy to care for and are a pretty hardy fish.

2. Arowana

Arowanas are powerful, semi-aggressive fish native to the Amazon river in South America.

These silver predators can reach lengths of up to 4 feet and have unique “drawbridge” mouths and small rear flippers. They are known for their jumping behavior and hunting in low tree branches.

Arowanas require experienced hobbyists due to their size and behavior. They prefer low-light environments resembling the Amazon River and need ample space. Arowanas are not suitable for beginners as they may jump and panic in changing conditions.

They are predatory and may not coexist well with smaller fish. Tankmates like angelfish, catfish, Plecostomus, Oscar, and cichlids could be considered, but compatibility is not guaranteed.

Despite the challenges, arowanas are highly rewarding and sought-after additions to exotic freshwater collections.

3. Neon Tetra

Neon tetras may be small, but they make up for bright, eye-catching splashes of color.

They have a light blue stripe that runs across the sides from tip to tail. Under the stripe is a white, silvery belly and a red stripe on the tail.

These fish are a great addition to any community tank. They are generally robust and tolerate water changes fairly well.

If you decide to add something to your tank, keep in mind that this is a school fish that prefers to live in groups of five or more people.

4. Discus

The Discus fish, native to the Amazon Delta, prefers calmer waters near the riverbank, often among fallen branches and trees.

Through captive breeding, they now come in various colors and patterns. With a flattened disc-shaped body, large dorsal fins, and red or yellow eyes, they are truly beautiful. However, their care requires more attention compared to hardier fish, making them suitable for experienced enthusiasts.

While Discus fish can coexist with other species, it is best to keep them in a tank with their own kind. Challenges arise if they cannot feed from the tank bottom due to bottom-dwelling inhabitants or if they are intimidated by aggressive or fin-nipping fish.

Advanced hobbyists may choose to house Discus in a community tank, but beginners should only keep Discus with other Discus in a tank larger than 75 gallons.

5. Killifish

Killifish are some of the prettiest freshwater fish out there but are a little hard to keep.

They’re recommended for people with a little bit of experience with aquariums because they’re quite sensitive to water quality.

Male killifish can be aggressive with one another so limiting the number of males you have is a good idea.

You should also provide plenty of hiding spaces in a tank with killifish. These fish are amazing jumpers so keep a lid on your tank at all times.

6. Zebra Plecostomus (Zebra pleco)

The zebra plecostomus, like other exotic freshwater fish, originates from Amazon tributaries. This catfish variety features striking black and white zebra-like stripes.

Due to its specific requirements for tank temperature and pH, the zebra pleco is recommended for experienced hobbyists.

Zebra plecostomus are bottom-dwelling inhabitants, naturally seeking shelter in small caves and among rocks in riverbeds. To ensure their comfort and well-being, the tank should be equipped with hiding spots and structures.

These fish are more active during the night and are best kept with other zebra plecos in the same tank. While they are peaceful, they may not be ideal companions for other fish species in the aquarium.

7. Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf gouramis live up to their name, reaching a maximum length of just two inches. Males typically display a vibrant orange-red body with light blue fins, while their colors vary among individuals.

These fish are known for their calm and peaceful nature, making them highly suitable for community tanks.

One advantage of dwarf gouramis is that they can thrive in smaller tanks. A 5-gallon tank can accommodate one or two of them comfortably, especially when equipped with ample live plants, including floating vegetation. They prefer a serene environment without aggressive tankmates.

8. Elephant Nose Fish

Elephant nose fish are highly unique and prized as one of the most exotic freshwater species for collectors. They derive their name from their elongated, trunk-like mouth extensions, which they use for feeding, communication, and defence.

Native to Niger in Africa, these fish possess an extraordinary ability to sense and communicate through an electric field in the murky waters they inhabit. They thrive in muddy, stagnant water with dense foliage and are primarily active at night.

Due to their specific water requirements and sensitivity to water substances, elephant nose fish are rare even in hobbyist collections and not recommended for beginners.

Their nocturnal feeding schedule may not align with all enthusiasts. However, if you can provide for their needs, these fish will undoubtedly be the most exclusive addition to your collection!

9. Red Tail Shark

Red-tailed sharks boast a striking jet black body complemented by vibrant red tail fins, adding to their exotic appearance.

These fish are highly active and can exhibit aggression, primarily in their hunting behavior towards other fish. Providing sufficient hiding places in the tank is essential.

A minimum tank size of 55 gallons is required for these fish, as they can grow to around six inches in length. They thrive in an environment with noticeable water flow and are known to be skilled jumpers, necessitating a weighted tank top for their safety.

10. African Cichlids

Cichlids are renowned for their incredible diversity, making them one of the most varied fish groups worldwide. With an estimated 2,000 or more types of cichlids, African cichlids stand out as particularly exotic cool freshwater aquarium fish.

These fish exhibit a wide range of colors, although they often appear lighter during mating or when displaying aggression.

African cichlids thrive in habitats with flowing water and ample rocks and caves to explore. Their natural digging behavior makes a soft substrate ideal for their tank setup.

11. Blue Gourami

The Blue Gourami is a sturdy fish displaying a beautiful whitish-blue coloration. Growing up to five inches in length, they possess a flattened body and prominent, round fins.

Caring for them is relatively straightforward as they are versatile eaters and tolerate water changes well.

A tank as small as 20 gallons can accommodate these fish, but it is crucial to consider their aggressive and territorial nature when selecting tank mates.

Avoid housing them with other aggressive fish such as dwarf gouramis, angelfish, and bettas. Instead, opt for peaceful companions like tetras, loaches, or guppies.

12. Jewel Cichlid

The Jewel Cichlid is another remarkable cichlid species, displaying a range of colors from red to dark purple and featuring a distinctive black spot on its body.

These fish have a natural inclination to dig and seek hiding spots, so providing a sandy substrate with plenty of nooks and crannies is essential for their tank setup.

Due to their aggressive and territorial nature, caution must be exercised when introducing them to a community tank.

Jewel cichlids are not particularly fond of planted tanks and have a tendency to uproot roots. Opting for plants with stiff foliage or small potted plants is a better choice to prevent disruption.

13. Glassfish

Unlike the other fish on our list chosen for their vibrant colors or unique patterns, the glass fish stands out for its complete transparency.

Glassfish exhibit a calm and peaceful demeanor, making them excellent companions for medium-sized, non-aggressive fish.

These fish prefer to be kept in schools of at least five individuals. Keeping them in small groups can cause stress and shyness. A tank size of about 10-20 gallons is sufficient for a small school of glass fish.

14. Rainbow Fish

Rainbow fish are renowned for their vibrant colors, and their scales exhibit a mesmerizing color-changing effect when reflecting light, providing an enjoyable visual experience.

These fish prefer a well-planted aquarium environment that offers ample space for them to swim freely.

As schooling fish, rainbow fish should be kept in groups of at least six individuals. They thrive when in larger schools of 10 or more.

When kept in small groups, rainbow fish may become shy and may even lose their vibrant colors. They have an extremely calm temperament, making them an excellent choice for a community tank.

15. Pearl Gourami

The Pearl Gourami is renowned for its stunning beauty and its ease of care. It possesses a slender body adorned with long, delicate fins.

This gourami species derives its name from its creamy orange coloration, accompanied by pearl-like spots and a distinct black stripe running from the mouth to the tail.

Pearl Gouramis thrive in heavily planted aquariums with low lighting conditions. They are peaceful fish, making them suitable for community tanks, as long as aggressive tankmates are avoided.

It’s worth noting that male Pearl Gouramis can exhibit aggression towards each other. To promote harmony, it is recommended to keep a single male with multiple females as a suitable group arrangement.

How to Take Care of Freshwater Aquarium Fish?

Tank cycle

A clean and balanced ecosystem is crucial for the well-being of freshwater aquarium fish, making the tank cycling process essential.

Good bacteria colonies play a vital role in breaking down waste and eliminating toxins like ammonia and nitrite, which accumulate from fish waste and uneaten food. These colonies reside in the substrate and filter.

To establish a healthy tank cycle, it’s important to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria before adding fish. This typically takes around 4 to 6 weeks.

Begin by setting up your aquarium and allowing the filter to run for approximately 24 hours. Then introduce hardy fish that are not overly sensitive to ammonia and nitrites.

Feed the fish as usual and after a few days, use a testing kit to monitor levels of ammonia, nitrite, and pH. If any levels are excessively high, perform partial water changes.

Continue testing the levels every few days. Over time, the bacteria colonies will develop and stabilize the tank, reducing the need for frequent water changes. Once this occurs, you can gradually introduce more fish to your tank.

How to Safely Add Fish to an Aquarium?

Properly acclimating new fish to your aquarium is crucial for their well-being. Follow these steps to ensure a safe transition:

Isolate the new fish: Ideally, quarantine the new fish in a separate tank for a week or two to ensure they are healthy and free from diseases that could be transmitted to the community aquarium.

Dim the lights: Before introducing the new fish, turn off the tank lights to minimize stress.
Float the bag: Allow the sealed bag containing the fish to float on the water surface of the aquarium for 10-15 minutes. This helps the temperature inside the bag adjust gradually to match the tank water.
Open the bag: Carefully open the top of the bag, ensuring that the opening remains above the water level.
Test the water: Use a pH meter to check the pH levels of the water inside the bag and the aquarium. If the difference is less than 0.3, proceed to the next step. If the difference is 0.4-0.8, follow the next step for up to two hours.
Drip acclimation: Add approximately 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the bag every 15 minutes. This slow process helps the fish adjust to the differences in water parameters gradually.
Transfer the fish: Carefully remove the fish from the bag using a net and gently place it into the aquarium. Discard the water from the bag, as it may contain traces of ammonia or other harmful substances.
By following these steps, you can safely introduce new fish to your aquarium, minimizing stress and maximizing their chances of thriving in their new environment.

General Tank Maintenance

Maintaining Your Aquarium

To ensure a healthy and thriving aquarium, follow these regular maintenance tasks:

Daily:

Monitor the water temperature to ensure it remains within the appropriate range for your fish.
Visually inspect the tank for any signs of issues, such as abnormal behavior or visible problems with fish or equipment.

Weekly:

Perform a partial water change of around 10% by replacing it with clean, conditioned water. This helps maintain water quality.
Use a test kit to check the water chemistry parameters, including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.
Remove any algae or floating debris, such as plant leaves, from the tank to maintain cleanliness.

Monthly:

Conduct a thorough tank cleaning. This involves:

Removing and cleaning decorations to prevent build-up and maintain their appearance.
Replace the air stone if needed to ensure proper aeration.
Use a gravel vacuum to remove debris and waste from the substrate.
Prune any overgrown plants and remove excess algae.
Inspect the filter and clean or replace cartridges or media as necessary to maintain its efficiency.

By following these routine maintenance tasks, you can create a clean and healthy environment for your aquarium inhabitants, promoting their well-being and enhancing the overall aesthetic of the tank.

Appropriate Feeding

Proper feeding is essential for the health of your fish. Follow these guidelines to ensure they receive the right amount of food:

Feed your fish a quantity they can consume within two to three minutes. This prevents overfeeding and helps maintain water quality.
It’s recommended to feed them once or twice a day, adjusting the frequency based on the specific needs of your fish species.
Each fish has different nutritional requirements, so choose a suitable diet and portion size for their specific needs.
Avoid overfeeding as it can lead to water pollution, digestive issues, and other health problems. Remember, it’s better to slightly underfeed than to overfeed.
By adhering to these feeding practices, you’ll provide your fish with a balanced diet and contribute to their overall well-being and longevity. Regularly monitor their behavior and adjust feeding amounts accordingly to ensure they remain healthy and active.

Final Thoughts

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a saltwater aquarium to enjoy a vibrant display of colorful and exotic fish. In fact, the world of exotic cool freshwater aquarium fish offers a diverse selection of fish in various shapes, sizes, and captivating colors.

How Big a Red Eared Sliders Can Get [Complete Care Guide]

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Tropical Freshwater (guides), Uncategorized December 31, 2021May 26, 2022care guide, red eared sliders, sliders

Red Eared Slider Secrets — **Although most red-eared sliders can live up to 45-60 years, most WILL NOT survive 2 years. CLICK HERE to learn more.**

The Red Eared Slider (also know as Red Eared Turtle and Red Eared Terrapin) is a medium to large-sized freshwater turtle; females are generally larger than male red eared sliders, reaching around 12 inches in length. The Red Eared Slider turtle will have several different characteristics, including size, in terms of age and size. The Red Eared Sliders growth rate is correlated to these factors and environmental factors.

Summary

Red Eared Sliders are often found in pet trade and are inexpensive animals to obtain. If given proper attention, a turtle can survive in captivity for over 30+ years. These turtles also provide a beautiful yellow, dark green, and red combination. The growing popularity of these animals as pets puts pressure on the ecosystem around the world. Before purchase, make sure the animal comes from reliable farms. After purchasing them from reputable sources, check all local regulations to ensure you follow them so that this turtle is not released without your knowledge for your safety.

Some notes

This Red-Eared Slider is a native species, a hardy turtle and a famous turtle for beginners as it is adorable and easy to keep. Some new keepers may have difficulty feeding their pets properly. The Red Eared Sliders has been described as a friendlier and cheaper animal that will give your family lasting bonds.

Red-eared slider

The Red-Eared sliders turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are subspecies that are similar to pond sliders. Red-eared Sliders are the turtles most often kept by humans and are found in other countries and are internationally popular as pets. These are native turtles to the United States and Mexico. It is known that there is a common habit of releasing this animal from its domestic environment to nature; because of this, it has become highly invasive in different parts of the world. The animal was included among the species listed on the Global Invasive Species Database most destructive list.

Red-Eared Slider: Care, Diet, Habitat, Tank, & Facts

When provided with everything the animal needs, Red Eared Slider is considered an excellent pet. Their medium size with unique colors and beautiful lines make them an easy and attractive option. However, anyone thinking about keeping Red Eared Sliders should learn that it requires attention and is highly recommended for beginners. The animal should last for generations and grow in size quickly.

How fast do Red Eared Sliders grow?

The Red Eared Slider grows to about twelve inches. It can take about eight years for red-eared sliders to reach their entire length. After their juvenile stage, they grow approximately one inch annually. Males are generally smaller than females. Your turtle’s estimated growth rate depends on many factors, such as population, age, and gender factors, that affect your turtle.

How big are Red-Eared Sliders in Captivity?

This Red Eared Slider turtle is an aquatic animal with a good average size to be kept in captivity. Explore your development and health through this guide and the helpful tips listed below.

About Red-Eared Sliders

Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) are subspecies of the common – Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta), usually pale green. Red Eared Sliders feature a beautiful yellow coloration over their green shells and throughout their dark olive head with two red markings resembling yellowish ears and bands. It is a good turtle for beginners as it grows quickly and easily compared to other turtle species. The pet industry has long marketed these turtles.

A Red-Eared Slider turtles are not just a Christmas gift

Red-Eared Sliders are available in stores and an invader in most countries but not Antarctica. Breeding populations have been identified in more than one hundred countries outside North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Their existence elsewhere causes severe problems in wildlife habitats because they can often outperform and compete with native turtle species in search of resources. The importance of proper care must remain constant when you are working to obtain optimum maintenance quality for the Red-Eared Slider.

Are Red-Eared Sliders Turtles good pets?

Red-Eared Sliders make great pets if you provide everything they need to live correctly. They require more space than other aquatic animals; just another turtle or alligator would make a turtle’s excellent companion. However, when you are still keeping these animals, even with enough space and time, it is good to start with a few animals.

How the Age Influences the Growth Rate of a Red Eared Slider

Generally, most Red Eared Sliders got a growth rate of 1 to 2 inches within the first months of life. Most adults can range in size from 7 to 12 inches. The wild Red Eared sliders can achieve a smaller size when reach sexual maturity compared to the captive Red Eared Slider turtles.

How do I take care of Red-Eared Slider Turtles?

Red Eared Slider turtles require a lot of space to live longer in their lives. For an owner who is new to turtles, you should obtain a complete analysis of the water available in your tap through your aquarium tests and adjust the parameters if necessary. This turtle is suitable for both novices and individuals with more experience in handling and rearing. Your environment must be equipped with heat lamps, lighting, correct filtration, clean water, and ideal food to ensure Red Eared Slider turtles proper care.

How long does Red-Eared Sliders live?

Red Eared Slider can live for decades. The lifespan of the red slider in nature can last about 20 years. Pet turtles generally have a longer lifespan compared to wild turtle populations. Peel diseases and skin bruises commonly occur due to the lack of heat in their surroundings. Without regular treatment and illumination, these turtles are prone to stinking, greasy sores that develop on their flesh. As a result, the skin becomes defective without adequate lighting, elasticity can be compromised, and soft tissue can become damaged or stiff.

Semi-Aquatic or Aquatic Turtles

Slider is a semi-aquatic turtle that lives in freshwater aquatic ecosystems and can also occur in brackish environments. They spend most of the day hunting for food in lakes or relaxing on rocks and logs. These species roam in still water environments, where water is held back and flows slowly. Most live in ponds, rivers, reservoirs, or swamps.

Tank size, heating, lighting and setup

During dry periods, in the natural habitat, a turtle can walk several kilometers to access a large amount of water. Most adults are kept in tanks over 55 gallons. Each slider may require up to 20 additional gallons. When the turtle tanks needs cleaning in its environment, check if the UVB light needs to be changed. Substrates are unnecessary, but you can still use them and make aquariums look prettier. If you want substrates, pebble is an easy choice. Aquatic vegetation has become famous for this type of aquarium, even though the turtle can eat them.

Tell me the best way to feed a Red-Eared Slider?

Red-Eared are omnivores hardy turtles that can suit many eating styles/diet options in particular. These small turtles usually consume fish, invertebrates, aquatic plants, and tadpoles. Sliders often have bony nozzles that help them turn over tree roots for food. Try to feed the turtles the same amount of food each day. Offer green vegetables to keep them healthy. Your pets may need supplements like calcium for a healthy diet.

How big do Red Eared Sliders get in Captivity?

In captivity, the red-eared sliders often grow larger than a wild animal. A pet turtle will have everything needed and can live a longer life while wild turtle species remain in danger. Pet turtles live in controlled environments that regulate and stabilize water temperatures. Wild turtles hibernate on their own and lose vitality, energy and essential nutrients during hibernation. Instead, wild turtles face winter conditions in a temperature-controlled environment.

The Growth Rate of Wild Red Eared Sliders

This species is similar to other pet turtles. Other factors significantly affect growth, especially food and temperature. Wild turtles eat less compared to pet turtles. Also, wild turtles should hunt whenever they need to eat. Young turtles should be given as good a daily diet as their parents. Otherwise, this can cause growth problems. They can always warm up in their basking place because the sun can provide better UV-B radiation than most ultraviolet lamp lenses. Turtles in winter are usually inactive for between three and five months.

How Basking Influences the Growth Rate of a Red Eared Slider

Ultraviolet light works in a surprising way to increase your ability to produce nutrient-rich vitamin D 3 to produce calcium and provide for proper health. They often cannot get adequate calcium from their food; this causes poor bone formation, metabolic problems and carapace rot. Provide the necessary lighting for your turtle to be always active and healthy.

Appearance

Red sliders feature yellow, leafy green, and red stripes behind the ear. Its paws and tail are light green, and tufts of yellow lines encircle its body. Some turtles are pastel shades, although people rarely see this coloring outdoors when observed. The sliders have a beautiful and showy dome-shaped shell with a slightly flat bottom that is light when juvenile and eventually darker. Baby Red Eared Sliders are yellowish and have only another dark-banded black spot on their belly.

Size

Once born, baby Red Eared Sliders are around 23 to 35 mm in size. A female’s sexual maturity comes when they reach approximately six inches. Males have shorter tails and longer nails. Adult turtles differ in size depending on age. Males and females appear to be very different in terms of body size.

Questions

The useful life of the Red-Eared Slider can range between 15 and 30 years. They are usually found in nature for a shorter time. This massive differentiation occurs because, in nature, several predators can cause serious illnesses or destruction to the turtle, leading to a reduction in its lifespan. Besides taking care of your turtle’s health, you have no other option; wait until your turtle grows up.

Red Eared Slider Diet

The Red-Eared Slider is omnivorous and feeds on vegetables, fruits and meat. Animal protein-based food has the potential to increase turtle growth. Give them a wide variety of products and nutrients so you can provide a long shelf life to other animals. A young turtle can feed on many vegetables, but this food preference may not always exist in its growth. Turtles are omnivorous animals, and healthy baby turtles typically tolerate virtually any type of food.

How big are adult red-eared sliders?

Red Eared Sliders can be classified as adults aged 2-5 years. An animal can grow up to almost six years before reaching maturity, typical of an adult tortoise. To reach maturity is generally shorter in females, reaching the reproducible age around two years.

Conclusion

The Red-Eared Slider is a cute pet that can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm). The average growth rate is expected to be 1 inch per year. In captivity, these animals are highly dependent on the quality of the environment and food provided by the turtle owner. It must have the correct filter set, ideal UV lighting system, and power supply. This helps ensure your slider receives maximum growth in terms of health with optimal maintenance.

How Long Does It Take for Cory Catfish Eggs to hatch: Reproduction, Breeding, & Care

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Catfish/Cory (Care Guides), Tropical Freshwater (guides), Uncategorized December 22, 2021April 4, 2022breeding, corries, cory, cory catfish

Corydoras are freshwater fish that are extremely popular among aquaculture enthusiasts. They are very social and like to be kept in groups of 6 to 7 or more of their species and are great fish for community aquariums. Bottom feeders are generally good tank companions for messy fish and make your life a lot easier when cleaning the tank. They spent much of their lives digging up scraps of food, algae, and biofilm around the pond. Let’s start a guide about How Long Does It Take for Cory Catfish Eggs to hatch…

How often do cory catfish lay eggs?

Cori catfish usually lay their eggs at dusk, when conditions are right. Most commonly, Corydoras lay between 10 and 15 eggs, not hundreds like other fish. This article will talk about ways to raise Corydas and safely raise their eggs to hatch.

Cory Catfish Eggs: Hatching Time Fertilization

As we go along, I’ll show you the steps for removing fish after laying eggs. The process includes incubating the eggs, recognizing how long they will last, and using the right products to adjust the water parameters.

Corydoras and egg-laying

Female Cory catfish will swim to some flat surface where her fertilized sticky eggs will be deposited. Corydoras eggs only take three to five days to hatch, so it is crucial to have a breeding tank ready and cycled. This aquarium should be as simple as possible; you won’t need fancy accessories in your breeding tank, making them more challenging to clean.

Cory Catfish Reproduction and Breeding

If you want to raise Cory successfully, you must have the right arrangement in your aquarium. Initially, it would be better if there was a separate hatchery for breeding. You will then remove the spawn group from the main tanks and place them in the new spawn tanks. The first strategy will be to create a tank for fry. Eggs are removed from the fry tank, where they are placed in a safe place and stored until the eggs hatch. Avoid wasting food, make sure they eat lots of healthy foods high in protein and use live foods. There’s a trick you can do to trick Cories into spawning in cases where they need encouragement. Do a water change (25%) with colder temperature water; this will trigger the reproduction.

How Long Does It Take for Cory Catfish Eggs to hatch?

It takes between three to six days for an egg from the Cory Catfish to hatch. If the water temperature remains below the threshold of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, then the eggs will start hatching later. When the fry is hatching, the egg will be smooth, and you can see the chicks moving around inside.

Tell me the difference between male and female cory catfish?

When your fish have not yet reached sexual maturity, you cannot distinguish the sexes. You will have to wait at least five months before you can determine the sex between different species. When Cory Catfish become sexually active, the female is often harassed by several males, in a formation that resembles the letter T. It is safe to have one male per female. However, it is also safe to have two females for each male. In comparison, the female Cory catfish is wider, with a thicker abdomen.

Diseases and Treatment

Infections from bacteria are the most common diseases not only for Cory catfish but for any aquarium species. Bacteria thrive in poor conditions, which means that your tank will get infected when the water quality is terrible. Infections from fungi are also a common disease and also the result of stormy conditions and ammonia spikes. The affected fishes tend to run nervously and can scratch against walls and decoration. Tufts also appear on the eye and face. It’s hazardous for fungus to be found on eggs, so take care of all these conditions as necessary.

How to take care of the newborn Cory Catfish Fry

You can feed them brine shrimp nauplii several times a day. After a week, you can provide the fry with crushed flake food. It is also essential to keep the water in optimal condition and never feed the fry in excess, avoiding excess leftovers in the water. At three to four weeks, the fingerlings can already provide the commercial feed without any problems. Just a few more weeks, and they will be able to mix with other fish. Daphnia and micro worms are also great food options.

How often can you breed Corydoras?

You want to have a bigger tank set up and in action when your new chicks are ready, and of course, with additional space for all future occupants. You will have approximately four weeks from laying the eggs until the fry are prepared to move in with the rest of the family. New tank syndrome occurs when the aquarium has an inadequate or uncycled filter system. Beneficial bacteria must be present in the tank to ensure the lowest levels of ammonia are maintained. Significant, sudden changes in the water can kill helpful bacteria and cause fish disease.

How do I tell if my cory catfish eggs are fertilized?

Fertile Cory eggs have gray spots of a dark color. Infertile eggs are white or clear. Just one observation can reveal which eggs to keep (those that produce live cory catfish). Remember that these fertile eggs don’t produce every single healthy offspring. Your catfish could be making poor health fries. As the keeper, you need to wait until the eggs hatch to find the most vigorous offspring of Corydoras. You will have to wait a bit longer to make your eggs hatch to discover which eggs should be avoided merely visually.

What to do when Corydoras lay eggs?

As long as the breeding tank is stable and adequately organized, fish should remain in the tank at this stage when the eggs hatch. Less experienced Cory catfish breeders should avoid handling eggs due to their fragility. You can keep the eggs in an incubator and keep them there or put them in another storage container. Both strategies work very well.

How do I breed cory catfish?

Breeding cory catfish is relatively easy as this species can breed continuously. Make sure the Cory catfish are sexually mature, thus being able to reproduce; young or immature fish will not breed. The water should never fall below 68 F. The drop in temperature reminds dry season catfish, which is their natural reproductive state. Some breeders put rainwater in their aquariums to encourage mating more naturally. Experts suggest feeding your fish live, fresh food, thereby conditioning the fish for reproduction, which improves egg quality and breeder recovery.

Tank conditions for breeding Corydoras

Cory catfish are generally kept in water tanks more significant than 30 gallons. The difficulty of storing a variety of small fish together is having live swimming space available to all animals. Bigger fish tend to be a little lazier than smaller ones – something fish keepers don’t always expect. The aquarium may look big enough for your fish, but you need to check the action of the animals in the fish tank. If they look stagnant or try to hide appearing to be stressed, consider purchasing a larger tank.

A heater

Corydoras are very sensitive to change in water temperature. An aquarium with a heater allows the tank to stabilize the temperature needed to maintain healthy aquatic animals. Temperature fluctuations depress the animal’s immune system, bringing disease and other unwanted conditions to your fish.

Substrate

An essential part of the tank, the substrate must be soft and rounded. Otherwise, it can hurt the barbels of the fish, which are very sensitive. It is best to use fine sand, gravel, small stones, or coarse sand can cause discomfort to the animal.

Plants

Java moss, Java Fern, and Pennyworth are great living plants for your breeding tank. Live plants in the breeding tank will help with the fry’s safety in their early days and provide some snacks for the fry.

When is Corydora old enough to breed?

It depends on the species of your catfish, but some species reach sexual maturity around 9 to 12 months of age. Knowing when they are ripe ensures that you don’t waste your time raising fish that are not yet sexually ripe. Spawning can be a stressful experience for fish if they are not sexually mature and well-conditioned. Your Corydas males are likely to mature sexually at 6-9 months but try to avoid genetic reproduction at that age. After all, fish mature at different rates, and their size is an excellent indicator of this. You can even have at least a group of 15-20 healthy fish for the next spawning season.

How can you tell if a cory catfish egg is fertile?

Infertile eggs often decay. Fertilized eggs can hatch in five days, and babies eat tiny plankton right away. When a baby starts to eat, you begin to see tiny thread threads sticking out of the stomach with every bite. A black band on the egg’s surface indicates that the egg is fertile and that a fertile egg is fertile.

What should I do after a Cory Laid her eggs?

When a female Cory Catfish is introduced into a community aquarium with male fish of the same species, she usually lays eggs in that environment. If this has happened to you, there are things you can do to keep your eggs from getting lost or eaten.

How do I look after Corydora Fry?

At the time of hatching, the fry does not even need to eat. Newborns only need commercial food for fingerlings or live food such as infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp. Make sure your fingerlings are under the best possible environmental conditions; you may notice that fry is small and very fragile.

Can Cory Catfish lay eggs every week?

Cory catfish could lay eggs every week of the year. As long as a good diet and water quality is presented, Corydoras usually breed a lot. You can expect to get 10-15 eggs per catfish. The mother typically lays her eggs between glasses or near a plant.

What is Cory Catfish?

Cory Catfish (Corydoras) is one species of catfish from South America. These catfish prefer to inhabit creeks and shallow water beds. As they live at the bottom, they spend hours in the sand and gravel looking for food and playing with it, always staying close to the substrate. They also like dense vegetation and lots of hiding.

Temperament & Behavior

They have a gentle temperament and are pleasant and fun to watch. They work together with everyone but don’t be caught on territories or violent species such as cichlids. They like flowing water because one can see them dancing around them, so make sure your water filters are of good quality and adequate plants, wood and stones so that they can rest and hide. Remember Corys are social fish, and you should hold them in groups of at least five. When they are in a large school, they get better.

Diet

Because they feed on the bottom of the tank, they are also the most omnivore scavengers. Never assume they have been appropriately provided just by leaving food leftovers. Give them food too; the diet must depend on animal and vegetable protein, always of excellent quality. Just make sure you don’t overfeed them, as leftover food dispersed in the aquarium increases nitrate, ammonia, and overall pollution, which may kill these fish.

Water Parameters (pH temperature etc.)

The best water parameters are pH of 6.0 up to 7.4; the temperature of 71-84°F. It does not affect if it is slightly below the perfect level, but you should keep it steady. They are susceptible to ammonia, nitrate; which may be silent killers. The range of parameters depends on your Corydoras species.

Life span

Corys can live up to 5 years if kept under favorable care conditions, with good nutrition and excellent water quality. In nature, they usually live less, as they are susceptible to predation and other adverse factors.

Corydoras Species

There are more than 200 different species of Cory catfish.

Minimum tank size

For a group of five Cory species of medium to large size, you need a minimum of 30 gallons.

Where are Corydoras found in the wild?

Charles Darwin came across these tiny fish during his famous Beagle cruise – voyage. Corydoras should be located in shallow water that is not too cold. Charles Darwin discovered Corydoras about 1831-1836. They favor slowing water flows in streams, lakes, or other watercourses. Cory catfish are native to South America.

How do I tell if my Cory Catfish is pregnant?

If female Corys get swollen abdomens, they are probably full of eggs. Also, Corys get pregnant quickly, and you should continue to watch if the swelling starts to go down. Sometimes a Corydora lays her eggs near a plant or a water filter.

Do Cory Catfish lay unfertilized eggs?

Female Cory catfish lays unfertilized eggs for a variety of reasons. They are usually on tanks bottom and are teardrop-like. The female lays eggs that are infertile as a result of stress or immature age.

How do I know if my Corydora is male or female?

You can not distinguish between male and female Corydoras in young fish as this animal is sexually immature. Wait up to a year to see the correct sex of Corys. You’ll notice some of them all tend to be a tiny bit heavier and thicker overall; those are female. Compared to females, males are super short and look younger fish.

Do Corydoras change gender?

Corydoras never changed their sex. If they were born male, they would remain male for the rest of their life. Any ‘gender differences’ are caused only by misclassification of the gender. i hope you will get the answer for your query How Long Does It Take for Cory Catfish Eggs to hatch, still if you have any query then comment below.

How many snails in a 10 gallon tank? ( Answer & Basic Care )

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Crabs, Shrimp, Snails (Care Guides), Snails (guides), Uncategorized December 18, 2021April 4, 202210 gallon tank, aquarium snails, snails

Freshwater snails generally feed on algae, controlling the excess of these unwanted vegetables in the aquarium. The unique feature and wide variety of freshwater snails make an attractive addition to your aquarium. They are resistant and easy to care for. Let’s started on How many snails in a 10 gallon tank….

How many mystery snails are in a tank?

20-gallon tanks can hold up to 8 mysterious snails, while 10-gallon tanks only hold four. I generally recommend having extra space in your tank because snails multiply quickly. This article will cover some tricks to prevent disease and control the snail population and ways to prevent overpopulation in the aquarium.

How many Nerite Snails per gallon?

Nerite snails are tiny snails that like to feed on algae and therefore help keep the inner surfaces of the tank clean. This species is endemic along the coast of East Africa. Even though they are so small, you shouldn’t add too many to a tank; an overpopulation would exponentially increase the biological load of the aquarium. They produce waste like any other aquatic creature. Just two Nerites for a 10-gallon tank is enough.

Nerite Snails Facts & Overview

Nerite snails originate from the Neritidae family, which has about 200 species. This variety of snails is common in brackish coastal waters, but some are found in lakes and rivers. Many snails have adapted to live in freshwater, so they are ideal tank companions for your tropical freshwater aquarium. Nerites are one of the best algae eaters out there. They can only survive for 1-2 years and can grow to an inch. Snails aren’t very active, but they are peaceful creatures that shouldn’t bother the rest of the fish. They can become easy prey, so they are not suitable for an environment full of large predatory fish.

Diet

Snails feed on algae that form on the surfaces of your tank. If your tank is low on algae, you may need to add other feed for the animals. In this case, wafer food is a good substitute because it can remain at the bottom of the tank until the snail finds it. Spinach and lettuce are great alternative foods and inexpensive to commercial products. Home recipes even work, but you have to be careful with the amount of food offered, not polluting the tank’s water. Overfeeding and underfeeding have different effects on the health of aquatic snails.

Appearance

A snail’s anatomy includes a hard spiral shell backed by a muscular “foot” that moves side to side to push the snail forward. Different species have different colors and markings, but they both have similar basic shapes and structures. Zebra nerite snails have stripes around their shell that point into the center of the coil. Horned snails have thick black and yellow stripes, and along one line is some dark “horns.” Tiger nerites are bright orange but darker. Olive nerites do not have a pattern on their shells and are typically kept in aquariums.

Tank Mates

Snails are tiny and peaceful and can be left in friendly communities. They are perfect for keeping with tetras and barbs. You can keep them with shrimp (like ghost shrimp) and sometimes with other snail species. Keeping them in a mix of fish and shrimp is especially rewarding because you see so many different behaviors, and each part of the tank has a point of interest.

Freshwater habitat

Some snails that inhabit brackish water adapt to the freshwater environment. Make sure you have plenty of caves for hiding places; rocks and logs can be used. At night, nerites are known to rise above the surface of the water. It is advisable to invest in a well-fitting tank cover if you don’t already have one. Snails prefer a high pH and a temperature of around 77 degrees. How many snails are allowed in an aquarium depends on how many fish they contain and how big the aquarium is. You might consider an example of about one snail per 5 gallons.

Keep Nerite snails together.

1 or 2 snails in 10-gallon tanks will prevent overstocking. This value is not a constant, but if you use too many in a small area, the algae will likely stop growing, and you may have problems filtering.

Snail Nerite Habitat and Tank Conditions preferred

As they are endemic to the African coasts, they like tropical waters with a temperature around 72-78°F. The proper pH is 8.1 -8.4, and the salinity will not exceed 1.028sg if you create a saline environment. These animals live in forests and estuaries surrounded by rocks and other surfaces where they feed on algae in their natural habitat. In saltwater, they’ll appreciate a hiding place and a fine-grained sandy bottom that won’t get damaged. Calcium-based supplements will help provide much-needed calcium that snails must have daily.

Nerite Snails Lifespan

The Nerite snail lives an average of one year. Occasionally, snails can live for two years if they are well cared for and fed. If, when changing the aquarium, the water parameters in one aquarium are entirely different, it can cause death within a week of adding them. A dead decomposing snail can dangerously elevate the ammonia levels in the water tank to the entire aquarium environment.

Are Nerite nails suitable for an aquarium?

Any aquarist can keep nerite snails. It keeps algae levels low while producing a different aesthetic than the surrounding fish. Despite that, it’s impossible to find a good excuse not to add some of your tanks.

Difference Between Male and Female Nerite Snails

These animals have cupped feet that protect their muscles and push their heads forward. If they are happy and in good shape, both the male and female populations will grow fast, reaching a size of one inch. Depending on the species, the colors and patterns of their shells vary.

Nerite Snail Reproduction

No Nerite snail is asexual; if you have male and female nerite snails in your aquarium, they will breed and lay eggs in all habitats, although babies don’t develop. The larvae will start to build their shells and eventually stop swimming and start crawling like snails. They’re relatively small, so you’ll want a sponge filter.

Breeding

Nerite snails reproduce and lay eggs, but they hardly hatch, as juveniles need brackish water to complete their cycle. Some snails reproduce asexually, which Nitrite does not; the female produces eggs that need to be fertilized by the male, just like the fish. Eggs are then spread throughout the pond. At birth, small snails are tiny. An ideal breeding tank can contain as many snails as possible, with an equal proportion of males and females.

Do Mystery Snails Multiply?

Mysterious snails multiply rapidly. When the female is ready, she goes to the outside of the aquarium, close to the water slide, and lays her egg mass; in a few days, the eggs are developed and hatch between 20 and 40 baby snails. You must have both sexes inside your tank to create new mystery snails. If female snails lay eggs without the male, this egg will not be fertilized.

Can you have too many mystery snails in a fish tank?

The increased number of snails increases the biological load, encouraging regular spikes of toxic materials like ammonia. Therefore, the aquarium must always be well sized for the future number of inhabitants, having good filtration and more space for hatching snails. Maintaining the algae population will be a problem with many snails, so the mollusk must be fed.

Take care

Snails can deal with a variety of health problems, such as the deterioration of their shells. Some conditions can be tough to manage without proper care, while others are easier to manage. Lack of calcium can cause the bark to weaken and crack. Older snails are more likely to develop the bloating disease – a disease that causes the body to swell and swell with fluid in a way that makes movement difficult. Watch out for white spots on a shell, as it is usually a parasite that has spread. Copper is toxic to all invertebrates; keep your tank free of it.

How many mystery snails should be in a tank?

Aquarists must maintain one snail per gallon. You can use this rule to get accurate numbers of mysterious snails in your aquarium. Remember that you don’t have to follow the “2 snails per gallon” rule because it does not consider several factors, such as plants, filters, decorations, and the space they occupy in the aquarium. Even though the rule says that 14 gallons of water can contain 28 snails, it is better to calibrate this average to less.

Typical freshwater snail appearance and behavior

Snails have huge, muscular feet and can walk back and forth on their outer shells. The species can be hermaphrodite or not, reproducing sexually or asexually. Some ornamental species do not reproduce in freshwater, which can inhibit overpopulation in freshwater aquariums. Snails become more active at night and can be immobile during the day. Dead snails are usually suspended inside the shell; they will generate a robust unpleasant odor when moved.

Feeding

Snails that live in a community aquarium without plants and algae must be fed. In aquariums, they eat algae and fish food scraps. Remember that fish food is unlikely to contain copper sulfate, as this poison can be a deadly concern for snails. When snails feed in the aquarium, they can be supplemented with algae disks or, to a lesser extent, with sliced vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, kale, or zucchini. However, all uneaten vegetables need to be removed. In addition, overfeeding increases snail populations; don’t overfeed them.

Pay Attention to Imposters

Nerite snails are unique and slightly fancier antennae, while Mystery snails do not change gender over time. Zebras, tigers, olive, and horns are four essential categories of nerite snails. They have very distinct visual characteristics, including different shells and antennae. Mystery snails are the most commonly found snail species globally, but Nerites are more distinct from other species and are more likely to be confused with other species.

How do you control the population of snails?

If you have at least a couple of Mystery snails in your home, yours will spawn; for other species, only one female will bring the same result of overpopulation. You will need to take steps to keep snail populations under control, including disinfecting plants and objects after purchase, taking care of overfeeding, and constantly removing eggs and chicks.

Stick to one gender

Some snails cannot breed unless you have male and female snails inside your tank. So if you could limit the number of snails to a single genus, you can keep them without fear of a population explosion. However, these techniques can only work effectively if you know enough of the difference between males and females. It’s a good idea to ask the shopkeeper before buying a snail; they will prevent you from filling their tanks with both sexes.

Remove the snails manually.

It is better to kill a snail by crushing it with a heavy object. The remains can be used as food for the animals in the aquarium. You can get rid of them by donating or selling them to people who want them. Some stores buy snails from people if they like their prices. However, some aquarists choose to kill snails; this allows the fish to eat the remains of the snails in the tank.

Take advantage of predators.

Some predators will have difficulty eating the snails if you have plants that decorate the pond; several snails can use these plants to hide. You should, at the very least, believe that fish eat the young of adult snails. Try to use the Killer snails to inhibit other species.

Common health issues

As long as ambient conditions and feed supply are adequate, invertebrates essentially have a resistant immune system against disease.

Notes and sources

All forms of aquatic life are potential carriers of pathogens that affect people. Always wash your hands when touching your aquatic life and habitat in general. Pregnant women, children under five months, and people with immune dysfunction should consult a doctor before acquiring aquaria and snails.

Conclusions

The rule of thumb is to use common sense when populating your tanks with snails because overpopulation can get out of your control. For How many snails in a 10 gallon tank, try to keep a maximum of 2 female Mystery snails or a small group of Nerites. Use the average of one snail for every gallon of water. Stick to a single-sex and keep the water temperature relatively high. Once you start to maintain them and have experience, you can try other solutions or take a more practical approach, adding snail-eating predators to your tank. Stick with a female snail and avoid having too many snails in your tank. To control overpopulation, we have some tools like manually removing, introducing a predator, or holding the feeding rate and temperature of the animals.

Water Temperature For Guppies: (What Is Ideal?)

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Guppy (info and tips), Tropical Freshwater (guides), Uncategorized, Water Health (info & tips) December 17, 2021April 4, 2022guppies, water temperature

Guppies are tropical fish that live in warm waters in nature. In a home aquarium, Guppies flower more efficiently when the room temperature is controlled. In this article, I cover the water temperature requirements for Guppy fish, whether they need a heater or not. Let’s start Detailed guide about Guppy Temperature.

Water Temperature Range For Guppies

Guppies are incredibly cute and hardy aquarium fish, but they need certain things to survive like all animals. The main thing to take into account is the water temperature. Let’s look at fish as a whole and cover the necessary basic facts. The proper water temperature range for Guppies should be between 74 and 82 F. We’ll discuss everything you need to know about water temperature for guppies and other vital issues. We will also discuss how to heat water to the right temperature and solve possible problems.

Do guppies need a heater?

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a warm water fish. During breeding, guppies prefer cooler temperatures around 74 F. As with all aquatic animals, your aquarium must have a constant temperature. Thus, the use of a heater is necessary. The heater controls the temperature in the aquarium. There is always a problem with monitoring or adjusting the water temperature manually. Your guppies will be affected whenever temperatures fluctuate. Fluctuating temperatures cause a drop in the fish’s immune system, making them more prone to disease. In the case of Guppies, some illnesses can be challenging to treat, so it’s best to avoid them.

About the Guppy Fish

Guppy is generally considered tropical fish as they live in places like Venezuela and Trinidad. The male is a very colorful fish. These fish do very well in a 5 to 10-gallon community tank. Guppies are easily fed; they will eat anything they put in their mouth. Guppies do well in waters with medium hardness and relatively neutral pH around 7.0. A good filtration system and some water changes are essential to keep these guys happy and healthy, and yes, they need a heater.

Can you keep guppies in the outside pond?

You can keep your guppies in an outdoor lake with temperatures between 60 and 65°F. A heating unit is another solution you can have to keep your tank water warm. Using an external tank heater is not easy or economical.

What type of heaters can I use to heat my tank?

When it comes to heaters, a tank can have four basic types. Submersible heaters have the best features for a starting point. This includes hanging submersible heater, subsurface heater, and filter heater. Before buying heaters, the hobbyist must understand the pros and cons. The best heater is reasonably cheap and easy to install. The size of your guppy tank determines the force of your heater; use between 2.5 and 5 watts per gallon of actual water volume in the aquarium.

Submersible heater

Submersible heaters are placed under the water lines. Vertical and horizontal placements are considered the best as they allow the thermostat to determine the correct temperature; suction cups are used to secure the heater to your aquarium. Glass submersibles can be fragile and require more careful handling unlike plastic submersible heaters. They can be placed vertically, horizontally, and at any angle.

Do I need a spare aquarium heater?

Your Guppy doesn’t stand a chance in frozen water, so the fish must warm it up to survive. Spare heaters will make it easier to replace heating components if the equipment fails; it is advisable to have an extra one.

Substrate heater

A substrate heater is best suited for heating your tank if it contains live plants as it keeps the substrate warm. Substrate heaters have a resistor attached under the substrate that keeps the water warm and stable. Unlike the submersible, the heat from the substrate heater increases evenly while reducing the visual clutter of the display. If you need to change this type of heater, the tank must be disassembled; this discourages many from using it.

Filter heater

Filter heaters are suitable for large aquarium aquariums. Filter heaters are unique because they’re invisible.

Tell me the lowest water temperature that guppies can tolerate?

The ideal water temperature for guppies is 74°F to 82°F. They can survive if the temperature drops to 60°F. Guppies are tropical fish that bloom at warmer temperatures. A sudden change in water temperature translates to an unhealthy immune system, lethargy, and reproductive problems in fish. When the temperature drops below 60°F, the Guppies may not survive.

Tell me the lifespan of a Guppie?

They can survive in captivity for between 2 and 3 years. The best examples of factors that affect your Guppy’s chances of being healthy are temperature, water quality, and fish care.

Keep it with fish with the same water temperature range.

Keep Guppies with tank mates that live in the same temperature range so you won’t have future problems with fish exposed to high or low temperatures. Temperature is necessary for a Guppy fish to survive in the best water conditions and to reproduce correctly.

What is a suitable temperature for guppies to breed?

The water temperature should be around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. When breeding, try to use the same temperature as usual in your aquarium. Fingerlings must thrive for breeding success; this can only be achieved with the correct and stable temperature; higher temperatures lead to faster growth, and lower temperatures lead to slower growth, both of which are not desirable when breeding fish. Everything must be sized correctly.

Points to remember

If kept in cold water, Guppies in domestic aquariums will face other illnesses, such as behavioral difficulties in reproduction and growth, and suffer slowly and silently. It would be best if you did not expose them to unwanted temperatures. Therefore, keeping them in warm water without variations is the best way to provide them with a suitable habitat for optimal growth. Exposure to irregular water temperature can be fatal.

Conclusion

The quality aquarium heater will help keep the water temperature stable and between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Guppies live in warmer waters. The maximum temperature that can be maintained is 84°F; that temperature is used mainly for therapeutic purposes. Check that the guppy temperature and other water parameters match that of fish in a community aquarium. I hope this article answers your questions about guppy temperature requirements and has given you some ideas of other fish that also like warm water. When choosing a fish for your community aquarium, make sure they match each other.

[2023] How to Care for Your Fish Bowl : Basics for Begginers

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Beginners (guides), Blog, Care Guides, Goldfish (care), Koi/Goldfish (guides), Uncategorized, Water Health (info & tips) December 7, 2021June 4, 2023beginners, fish bowl, goldfish

How to Care for Your Fish Bowl: Basics for Beginners: Fish are kept in small, closed habitats. Many hobbyists would consider a bowl a cheaper alternative to a glass aquarium. Indeed, these fish are not always healthy or allow a suitable habitat, especially tropical fish. Let’s find out why they don’t provide an appropriate environment for fishing in your home. For more details, keep reading this post where we’ll talk about fish that live in unfiltered tanks.

Keep fish in a bowl – What you need to know.

If you need to keep your fish in a bowl, try to provide a minimum size of 10-gallon containers so the fish can live better. Lastly, one can use a sponge filter and some live plants to aid in the filtration and general water conditions. The sponge filter provides a place for beneficial bacteria to grow; it will also help aerate and move the air around the water, and living plants will help eliminate some nitrate in your body. Small heaters can be used in a bowl, and Water temperature is an important parameter to keep an eye on your fish tank because of the constant fluctuations.

Fishbowls restrict oxygen levels.

Food waste, clogged filters, and excessive algae growth can cause decreased dissolved oxygen and reduced gas transport capacity to the aquarium. In bowls, it is necessary to consider a limit to a gallon of water. Not all fish species will adapt to space. Maintenance is easy; carry out water changes periodically to ensure that the fish’s oxygen levels are correct. The most suitable way to maintain the levels correctly is to have an air pump.

Betta fish can live in a fishbowl without a filter.

Bettas are the most popular aquarium animals that can live in a fish bowl without filter. Bettas come equipped with labyrinthine organs that allow them to breathe atmospheric air. It is still necessary to maintain the purity of the water bowl. It is vital to keep a good filter and have good conditions for water. Typically, partial water changes should be done at least every five days. Betta fish, the Siamese fighting fish, lives in an ideal habitat for up to four years. A few logs, the proper lighting, and the burrows keep your fish healthy in a bowl. Bettas like aquarium plants, so add plants to your fish bowls.

The limitation fish bowl fish

Fishbowls are best suited for the minimalist setup (this means we don’t use filters and heaters). Also, since you are using bowls, you only have a small water volume, typically 10 gallons maximum. You must make up for the lack of filters and heaters with regular cleaning, changes, and monitoring of the water conditions. We suggest starting a setup if you have some experience in fishkeeping. The water in the fishbowl will require regular changes instead of traditional cleaning of filters and so on. The result is that you make up for the lack of filtration and heating by continually changing the water in the bowl. But this doesn’t allow you many species of fish in a gallon bowl.

Zebra Danios fish can live in a bowl.

Zebra Danios are gray with gold color and five blue stripes. They typically prefer temperatures in the 77 – 95°F range. Zebra danios should be preserved in three to three gallons of water. Sand and gravel would be ideal substrates based on them, as fish prefer more alkaline materials. Plants like Amazon sword plants or java ferns increase the oxygen in the aquarium water. You’ll need several of them and can opt for a 10-gallon fishbowl for a school of danio. The maximum size fish should reach about 2 inches.

Can Ember Tetras fish live in a bowl?

This fish is also known as an incandescent tetra for its coloration. In nature, the tetra-ember swims in swamps and slow-moving rivers. The fish will bloom in the bowl. Add floating plants, such as the hornwort and java moss, as well as java ferns, to the bain-marie. Similar to other small fish, it is possible to overfeed your tetra and have water damage. Consistent water replenishment is key to having a tetra bowl. Tetras are sensitive to changes in pH, ambient lighting, and temperature.

Fishbowls are not easier to maintain

Some believe that because a small bowl is easily maintainable than an aquarium. This especially applies in an emergency when novices are interested in fisheries. As many knowledgeable aquarium traders will likely tell you, the vast majority of attempts to keep fish in a bowl can end in either one of two ways: one keeper quickly finds the bowl too tricky to maintain and upgrade to a traditional aquarium. The bowl is too small to keep, so keepers often find it too difficult to control.

How often do you change the water in a bowl?

Partial changes should take place weekly, preventing the water parameters from becoming critical for fishbowls. It is essential to have products to condition the water that will be added to the system. Keep in mind that the necessary care is very regulated. That is why betta fish or danios are often recommended, as they are the best fish in these bowel conditions, as partial changes can be made once a week. These fish deal well with poor filtration, as they are resistant, but it is necessary to change the water at least once a week.

Best fish bowl fish: guppies live in a bowl without a filter

Guppies are too good to live in a bowl. Of course, the water change maintenance should be constant, but the concern will be far less than with other types of fish. The guppy is the easiest fish available to hobbyists and beginners. The beautiful fish are offered in fantastic color varieties and are pretty hardy. They also reproduce quickly and accept fish food very easily. They are resistant to water parameters. And when there are offspring, they can be kept at an initial stage in a 5-gallon bowl.

The best fish to keep in a fishbowl

White Cloud Minnows are small but active fish with small red tips and like to swim in schools. They are super strong and very healthy fish that can live in not the best water quality. They can survive without heat, so they’re not a problem unless it’s not necessary. Adding snails or shrimp does not affect the life of the fish. You could keep three tiny fish in a 10-gallon bowl of live plants, and it would look fantastic. They are friendly and peaceful fish, so add some snails and shrimp to your bowl.

Conclusion

Ammonia and other substances like nitrite quickly accumulate in smaller spaces and poison fish. An aquarium can be maintained with weekly water changes and the installation of a sponge or air pump. These pets can feel safe among plants like Java Fern, Anubias, and Java Moss, which is beneficial to water quality. So, we concluded that several fish species could live in a bowl, but it is not recommended to keep them that way. Ideally, in emergency cases, use this system.

How To Keep Betta Water Warm Without A Heater [Full Guide]

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Betta Fish (guides), Betta Fish (info and tips), Blog, Care Guides, Info and Tips, Uncategorized, Water Health (info & tips) November 23, 2021April 15, 2022betta, betta fish, heater, water warm

Fish, like reptiles are cold-blooded, so unlike mammals with the ability to generate their own heat, they can only absorb warmth from the surrounding water. When the water is too cold, swimming and moving becomes difficult for them, so they’ll avoid doing it as much as they can. You may observe your Betta laying listlessly at the bottom of the tank.

Betta fish are a tropical species from the warm fresh water ponds of Thailand. They may go into shock at temperatures below 74 degrees Fahrenheit, though it is usual for them to react poorly when temperatures are 72.

Truthfully, Bettas with no heaters, can survive within reasonable limits, but they certainly won’t thrive. They prefer this. It helps them strengthen their immune system at risk of disease. Changing seasons sometimes can damage your dog’s immune system but it’s not possible. There are numerous factors to take into consideration and we intend on going through a full line of answers and ultimately finding a solution you feel comfortable with. We’ll pass through several lines to give you an objective answer to all the facts. A truly objective question can only be obtained once one examines the facts.

How To Keep Betta Water Warm Without A Heater!?

Let’s examine the disadvantage of keeping a water tank warm without a heater. No method of a way round any disadvantages. We’ve all been fascinated by fishkeeping since antiquity before submersible electrical heating was invented. Victorian tank had flat bottom and was heated by boiling the bottom (very much as a souppot!). Victorian –errahthenia was heated from below so much as a soup to cook from below the water of fish during the Victorian age. Here is the easiest and fastest way of bypassing the heater for good in your aquarium.

Betta Tank Heaters: Comparison Table


	FREESEA 50W Mini Aquarium Heater Fish Tank Submersible Heater with LED Temperature Display		View on AMAZON
	Aqueon Flat Submersible Heater 7.5 Watts		View on AMAZON
	PULACO 25W Small Aquarium Betta Heater with Free Thermometer Strip, Under 6 Gallon Fish Tanks (Preset Temperature 78℉)		View on AMAZON
	SunGrow Halfmoon Betta Heater, 10 Watts, for Small Tanks, Fully Submersible Aquarium Heater, Automatically Reaches Preset Temperature, Energy-Efficient Heating Module, Suction Cups Included		View on AMAZON
	DaToo Mini Aquarium Heater 25W Small Fish Tank Heater 25 Watt with Free Thermometer Sticker		View on AMAZON

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How to make your fish tank cold without a roost heater will ensure your day is going smoothly when your electrical cable runs out, you break your aquarium heater or if you never prepare the fuel. At freezing days, your tropicalfish, your bettas etc need a warmer environment to maintain their lives stable. This is where the importance in an aquarium heating tank grows exponentially. Now let it be useful to keep our fish warm at home.

Do Betta fish need a heater?

The Average Betta thrives better in warm water and anything above 68 degrees Celsius is not conducive. Lower temperatures doesn’t actually poison Bettas directly; they just make them vulnerable to the majority of diseases. There are certainly many good alternatives to caring for fish without the need for a heating system. The water temperature in Southeast Asia is about 70 to 80 degrees F on average day. If you live closer to the ocean, filters may not be necessary but the water is recommended but it can be hard on fish to survive on warm water. The fish are not indirectly affected by lower temperatures, they don’t directly effect their lifespans and are not exposed to any temperature variations that may result from the mild-warm water.

Tropical fish are big no-no for laying out a tank without an heater. The plants do not well in temperature variations and when stressed by inconsistent water conditions develop dangerous ailments and infections. Corals need UV light and specific water parameters to survive and grow. It is practically impossible to do a minimalist heater-less system when you plan to install coral reef tanks. The constant temperature range needed to control in this class of aquariums is between 75°-80°F in the tank’s water temperature. The range of temperature required to stay within the constant range of 75 – 80 °F is 95 – 80°F.

What happens if Betta water is too cold?

Fishes can’t regulate temperature like humans because they depend in part on the environment for its supply of heat. Betties were fatally unresilient against the cold. In theory, they will be in a coma for a period until water has been very cold which could range in temperature from 50° to 100° Celsius. It basically stops swimming. It sinks to the bottom of the tank. It also hibernates in place until it dies. Betta would do a lot very well if you have a light source nearby and try to get accustomed to being somewhat hot in the cold months. They are fickle and they’re beautiful as they’re delicate.

How long will Betta survive without a heater?

Why don’t animals need more of it even if they have no heat? Room temperature, age of his betta and the health of the animal will be considered. The room temperature should be above 82 °F when the temperature is above this. But if this temperature is so cold or that an older baby gets sick already it can be days before you get too cold and it can potentially be very unhealthy if the water temperature is not below zero.

11 Ways On How To Keep Betta Water Warm Without A Heater?

There are another way to keep your pet warm without having to purchase any heat-up supplies. These steps are honestly fairly straightforward or unspecialized. These are just tips in life and with 2 or 3 of these together you have a real effect! Let’s get down to a few basic, yet surprisingly effective methods to keep your Betja fish warmer.

1.A little sunshine

This step involves using the best source of heat in nature: the sun. Anywhere between 6-8 hours of sunlight will warm the tank up in the perfect way. It also benefits plants and there are a number of issues there. Algae are also plants. It thrives on nitrates and relying heavily on sun for expansion. Their growth in this area can be very explosive and I strongly suggest not staying in the bowl near a window if you are not sure that algae will not appear in your yard if you leave it outside too. It is warmer it helps at photosynthesis. There are also opportunities to use sunlight directly.

2.Use a smaller bowl

Betta fish are fishes not really needing real estate and would be happy and comfortably in their own tiny dishes. This fix is useful because small containers will heat up very quickly. Smaller tanks also lose heat much faster than bigger tanks. How do you keep warm fish? This simplest principle is to introduce continuous, constant heated fuel supply to your tanks for an extended period of time. As long as you can prevent the tank from losing heat too fast you should be ready. It could serve as a solution as a problem as it is a problem and it does not have significant drawbacks.

3.Exploit your aquarium lights

All the half decent aquarium aquariums have good lighting that explains well the plants in your aquarium that call it home. Conventionally these lamps were intended for fish and plants. They might not be hugely strong like any other heater of course, so when used properly they give some great wallops. Leaving the light on for about 8-10 hours can be more hot than you think, they just may heat the tanks well enough to get inside the 80°f range. The only issue with that idea is that the tank starts to lose heat immediately after lights are turned on.

4.Use a poorly optimized filter

Older or poorly optimized filtration can act as heaters. Their poor energy efficiency is a result of them releasing heat. Great for keeping your Betta warm. The only disadvantage is they can not be easily moderated. Overheating can happen and there is no guaranteed way to reduce its heat output. Using older filters older water filters will become extremely hot after about ten hour usage and can sometimes cause water to heat up while entering the tank. If the process lasts long enough it could dramatically improve the filters’ power efficiency. It is not often easy to control and reduce the heat absorbed from the filter.

5.Warm up your tank’s water gradually (temporary solution).

You add a hot hose to your pot to warm the contents gradually and gently. This is not the most efficient option but it remains on the table if heater-free usage is a necessity in itself. It leaves room for somewhat significant fluctuations in the water temperature so you shouldn’t attempt that when bringing up sensitive fish. Water cooling slowly is lower risk than large temperature fluctuations. If you aimed for a temperature of 80 degrees in your aquarium, its water should reach 120 degree. For keeping your tanks warm, fill a sealed bottle with hot water.

6.Insulate the glass walls of your tank.

Insulating insulated glass walls might be an alternative next step. The Styropofoam coating in the back and sides of the tank is not the most pleasing option. The use of insulation film can provide an as-good alternative. This method would help the existing temperature escape but you would need to continue changing the warm water frequently. It is a real drawback of eliminating a heat source in an aquarium. Forgoing a heater leads to no hand control of the water in your tank.

7.Use warm water for water changes.

Warm water can help you raise the temperature of the tank to the level you want to keep without requiring a heater. Of course, this temp is pushed slowly. Raising its temperature at 1 degree per hour is potentially harmful to other fish. You may mix room temperature water with a portion of boiling water but never add boiling water direct to the tank. Keep this in view that if you need extra water for the water change in your tank you need to make an extra water change.

8.Move aquarium to a warmer area of your home/closer to a pond

Setting it to a warmer place gives you several degrees with no hassle. It’s important if you’re choosing the hot summer route to protect your system from algae. It can affect the algae when the light comes in. How can I choose the perfect aquarium setting?

9.Turn up the heater in your house

A good first step for keeping a tank of fish warm without a heater is to increase a temperature in the room in which the aquarium is located to 78 °F (25.5 °C.) It is recommended therefore that nano tanks should not have temperature drop in some nanotubes.

10. Use a hood or canopy

One of the simplest ways to ensure that your Betta water stays warm is to use a hood or canopy on the tank. If you use a lid with your tank, the water will retain warmth better as the heat will not dissipate out through the water’s surface as much as it would without a hood.

11. Use a heating mat

If your Betta fish lives in a fishbowl or small tank you could use a heating mat to warm the water. This would not work with larger tanks.

4 Types of Betta Fish Tank Heaters?

hygger 50W Mini Inline Quartz Glass Aquarium Heater with External Controller, Adjustable Submersible Betta Fish Tank Thermostat for 5-15 Gallon

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Your aquarium should not have hot water in it if you already own a large, established fish tank with tropical inhabitants. These helpful tips show you how to build a heater-free tank that doesn’t need constant effort to stabilize water temperatures. We will discuss emergencies later! How do emergencies work?

Betta fish need more warmth when being able to prosper. Show some key facts in setting up a betta tank. Check this handy advice for set up betta fish tanks that your betta may need for survival!! Learn the basics of getting the correct heater and setting up your small fishes aquarium in the world of betta tanks.

1.Submersible heater

More submerged heating units will be using molded plastic panels rather than standard glass. These types of heater are normally placed beside the filter and warm up the water before it reaches the tank. They also feature an exceptional system of LED lights which indicate heater status and temperature. The light comes on when the heater is working and goes off when it is left idle or turned off. As it is tipped completely in water that gives the same hotsink more constant energy output while creating a much less expensive and efficient heating solution. This heater is very much stronger because the tank is underwater and preferably tied back to the bottom of the tank.

2.Aquarium heaters and the possible problems that come with them

The temperatures on the two sides of the spectrum are unsuitable for the betta fish. When the tanks are too warm, they are becoming erratic. They swim faster – and if not logically. they continually swim toward the ocean to feel the coldest. Prolonged hot stays in your system can result in death or rapid aging. Another potential danger is that electricity will fail or malfunction the thermometer. All these threats may sound unavoidable but there are a thousand chances of these happening. It is rare when a heater performs its work too well. Sometimes they have an overheating effect which can make them fatal for many reasons. It’s possible.

3.In-line heaters design

This heater takes in one of the uses of the submersible filter and builds its heat-switching system around it. The heater is often connected with it to the filter. It heats the water when it goes back into a tank. It’s more expensive than the typical aquarium heater and is built for aquariums with curious or somewhat aggressive fishes. Having it mounted on the exterior of the tank there will always be the risk of a leak. These heaters are filters manufactured from the factory – supplied with a heater. We want to explore the fish in question and explain just how important the Betta fish appears.

4.Hanging/Immersive heater

Through the glass tubing this heating element infuses heated energy into the boiler system. It’s the most popular type of heater presently and is not particularly powerful. It’s partly submerged inside of tank. Generally in aquariums you need to make a hole to accommodate this heater type. They’re ideal for the basic freshwater arrangement but perform awfully well during the standard saltwater aquarium. However they operate badly. And they’re fantastic at the salt-water setup. The heater style is most perfect for the freshwater aquarium types b.

Bettas need light too

Betta come from rice paddies in Asia. They live in the more tropical climates. It would be beneficial to invest in quality lighting in addition to your heating system. Bettas won’t die by sitting only at night but are substantially less active and more fun. Bettas will not die if they were sitting in darkness. Instead they will be less active in the bright light. You may see Bettas’ other work at Bettas’s website in detail.

Final Thoughts

Betta Fish need more care than the other because it is living in an entirely different environment – water. The water temperature can change easily from high or low which can cause certain negative effects of your fish. This is why managing aquarium temperature is a crucial fact that every aqua-culture owner should consider. No matter how you decide to use your current solution your heater must be the one designed to keep work going at its best performance. Please keep us informed of the best solution and of any help that you need for your fish. We will help you soon as soon as we get the job in case it comes out.

Betta Fish Diseases (Ultimate Guide With Pictures)

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Betta Fish (guides), Betta Fish (info and tips), Blog, Care Guides, Diseases (info & tips), Info and Tips November 18, 2021January 13, 2023betta fish, betta fish diseases, bettas, diseases, sick betta fish

This Guide to Betta Fish Diseases can help you identify different illnesses your fish might go through and treat them as soon and effectively as possible. Different diseases can stem from a variety of causes, such as fungal, viral, bacterial or parasitic. However, many of them have simple and easy treatment if you can correctly identify what it is.

Betta Fish Diseases, Symptoms and Treatment Comparison Table

Title	Cause	Symptoms	Treatment
White Spot (Ick)	Parasite	Small white spots on body	Raise water temperature, Medication
Hole-in-the-head	Parasite	Pale ulcerated area around head	Vit. C foods, Medication
Skin & Gill Flukes	Parasite	Labored breathing, Rubbing against objects, Abnormal breathing	Medication
Anchor Worm	Parasite	Visible parasites attached to body leading to ulceration & irritation, Damaged gills (breathing probs)	Remove parasite with forceps, Medicated bath to prevent secondary infection, Insecticide, Permanganate "dip"
Velvet Disease	Parasite	Golden dots on body, Rubbing against rocks, Dusty brownish body color	Raise water temperature, Dim lights, Aquarium salt treatment, Copper sulphate treatment
Saprolegnia	Fungal	Whitish fur-like growths, Pink/white external body bumps	Vit. C foods, Medicinal bath, Salt treatment, Methylene Blue
Lymphocy Stitis	Viral (contact)	Cauliflower-like growths & white areas around eyes	No treatment/cure, Quarantine all new fish to prevent
Septicemia	Viral (contact)	Hemorrhaging internally and externally (eyes, gills, pop-eye, swollen abdomen)	Antibiotic medication (Virtcom)
Piscine Tuberculosis	Bacterial	Weight loss (sunken abdomen), Loss of appetite, Papules (small bumps on skin), Discoloration, Bulging eyes	Trim affected fins, Bacterial medication
Fin Rot	Bacterial	Fin decay- erosion of edges of fins, Red marks	Improve water quality, Remove fish that nip fins, Vit. C foods, Antifungal to prevent secondary infections
Columnaris (Mouth 'Fungus' or Cotton Mouth)	Bacterial	Cottony growth near mouth, Loss of appetite, Loss of sheen	Improve water quality, Antibiotic medication
Swim Bladder	May be Bacterial	Inability to balance in water	Check water temperature, Medicinal bath
Vibrosis (Red Boil)	Bacterial	Discoloration, Reddish staining of fins, Bulging eyes, Lethargic, Ulcers	Medicated food
Psendomoniasis Septicemia	Bacterial	Hemorrhages in mouth & ulceration on body	Medicated food
Chlorine Poisoning	Chemical	Restlessness, Inflamed gills, Trouble swimming, Incorrect body positioning, Sudden death	Remove fish from water, Water treatment to rid chlorine (boil it, at water conditioner)
Ammonia Poisoning	Pollutant (decomposition of organic matter causing imbalance to the nitrogen cycle)	Increased mucus production, Red bleeding gills, Body color darkens	Remove fish from polluted water, Water change, Biological bacterial treatment
Dropsy (condition, rather than a disease)	May be caused by any number of diseases	Build-up of body fluid causing bloating and protruding scales	Treatment of the disease causing the condition

Betta Fish Medication Comparison Table


Top	Heals damaged fins & skin, Bacterial infections, contains melaleuca	View on AMAZON
Top	Anti-fungal, Internal & external infections	View on AMAZON
Top	Parasitic disease (gill, & skin flukes), Swolen abdomen, Hole-in-head, Wasting disease	View on AMAZON
Top	Treats most diseases- Ick, Fungus, Mouth rot, Use as a preventative	View on AMAZON
Top	Fungal Infections	View on AMAZON
Top	Fungal & Bacterial- Dropsy, Popeye, Fin/tail rot, Septicaemia; Treats internal when food is refused	View on AMAZON
Top	Nematodes, Roundworm, Nodular worm, Hookworm	View on AMAZON
Top	Micro-bacterial starter- Establishes nitrifying bacteria. This cylces your tank and reduces ammonia and nitrates	View on AMAZON

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Complete Guide to Betta Fish Diseases and Treatment (with pictures)

Betta fish, also called Siamese Fighting Fish, tend to thrive in simple but well-equipped tanks, usually filled with various plants and decor to hide in. Most betta, when not well, have symptoms that clearly indicate it may be sick, such as droopy fins, lethargic swimming and dulled colors.

It’s important to understand these symptoms so you may be able to care for them as soon as there’s a hint that they may have fallen ill.

Fungal Diseases in Betta Fish

True fungal infections in betta fish are less common than parasitic or bacterial infections.

In general, they usually appear as white cottony growths on fish; like white sheets of fuzz, white lumps or white dusty slime. They can also be internal, and in a lot of cases, fatal if not treated properly.

Fungal outbreaks can follow other bacterial or parasite illnesses where the fishes body has open wounds and a weakened immune system.

Fungal diseases are most commonly brought on by poor water quality, infected food or open wounds. Therefore, such diseases can be prevented by keeping a clean aquarium environment and avoiding infected injuries.

Antibiotics like Methylene Blue and Clear Fungus are effective at removing fungal diseases on fish.

Fin and Tail Rot

Fin rot can be the result of a bacterial infection or of a fungal infection, where a betta’s fins and tail begin to decay and rot away. The fins may also develop a white layer on the surface if it’s a fungal infection.

This common condition isn’t fatal if treated early and fins will eventually grow back, though they may not be as vibrant or long as they were before.

Fin rot may be caused by poor water quality, a poor diet or damage caused by other fish nipping your betta’s fins.

Treatment can include a quality diet high in Vitamin C, along with drastically improving water quality in terms of it’s pH, temperature and various pollutants like ammonia.

Your betta can also be treated with an antifungal medication to prevent secondary infections. For example, Hikari revive is an effective prescription of 5 days, with clear instructions for its use.

It’s also recommended to remove fish that like to nip at the long fins of betta fish, or any sharp artificial plants or ornaments that could also tear fins.

Water Mold

Another common fungal illness is Saprolegnia. This is a water mold domycede infection, also known as oomycete infection, or winter kill.

Water mold shows up as whitish fur-like growths and/or pink or white external body bumps.

Foods rich in Vitamin C, salt treatments and medicinal baths with Methylene Blue are all recommended treatments. Ensure your betta is in a high water quality environment and the tank is kept at the optimal temperature.

Bacterial Infections in Bettas

Bacterial infections manifest in many ways and are often associated with poor water quality, fish stress, or contaminated food. Common signs include cloudy eyes, a white film on the Betta’s body or fins, tattered fins, and hemorrhaging (bloody patches) or open sores (ulcers) on the mouth and body. The fish may be listless sitting on the bottom of the tank.

Columnaris (Mouth ‘Fungus’)

Columnaris, are bacterial diseases that can cause a fin to rip or flake. It appears as a pale patchy sheen on the fishes body.

It also causes skin ulcers or unexplained lesions, yellow spots or marks on the face, sometimes resembling a cotton growth near mouth.

The fish is prone to breathing difficulties because of this condition and its damage to the gills. If you don’t treat the infected fish it dies within 72 hours.

The disease could easily be prevented by treating open wounds and fungal infections in aquariums.

Columnaris can be treated with tetracycline and anti-biotics containing sulfa 4 TMP SulfA and triple sulfa. It’s also possible to prevent this issue by ensuring the water is optimal in the tank (free from ammonia, PH in correct balance and correct temperature for Betta fish.

This is a bacterial illness which causes white circles around the mouth and lips of fish. It is often prevented by keeping water clean and clogged. It will cure mouth fever when antibiotics are used.

Others medicines used to treat fish fungus can also help treat the infection. The infected fish can’t survive if sickness doesn’t get dealt with early enough so the diagnosis may have to be delayed.

Columnaria is very contagious so you need to remove and incubate infected Bettafish.

The diseases may be internal but the most often externally occur on Betta. There is a slow and a fast form of this infection so depending on the one your Betta had this will determine how likely it was to overcome the illness. To prevent this disease, maintain good water quality and disinfect all equipment before entering the tank.

As an precaution ensure a high water level and disinfect the equipment at the entrance to the tank while keeping the water safe from the bacteria and other viruses in the. The disease is sometimes found in fish caught before.

It is easy to confuse Columnaris with a Fungal disease called Saprolegnia. They look similar, but require quite different treatments. Saprolegnia presents itself with patchy white (or cotton wool look) on the dying tissues of the fish, whilst Columnaris appears more as a patchy sheen on living tissue.

Columnaris is treated by using an antibiotic or a copper sulfate. To treat Columnaris you must remove the bacterial infection from its whole tank, changing the tank water, vacuuming gravel and adding aquarium salt. After cleaning the tanks you can.

Bacterial Septicemia

Bacteria septicomy is the less common fish illness caused by Pseudomonas or Streptococcus bacteria. It is a serious condition, that if not treated early will result in death.

Symptoms show up as hemorrhages in the mouth and ulceration of the body.

Treat the condition with a medicated food.

Velvet

Velvet disease is caused by a protozoan parasite. Other names for the condition are: Coral Disease, Gold Dust Disease or Rust Disease.

Symptoms show up as many tiny golden dots covering the fishes body, giving the appearance of ‘rust’. The fish will be agitated, rubbing itself against rocks and plants.

Treat the illness by raising the temperature of the water, dim the lights and apply aquarium salt to the tank. In addition, treat with copper sulphate for ten days.

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Bettafix medication is useful treatment for many other diseases and ailments. It can cure many of.

The fish infected with velvet appear have a rusty face and tanned head including skin glands and belly and it may have black spots all over the skin caused.

If the velvet has been decontaminated before too long it can be fatal.

The parasitic disease could be prevented by improving the quality of water and making the conditions comfortable. I’ve lived with betta for the past 10 or 13 and saw this remedy help to heal our aquatic pets’ injuries.

Dropsy

Dropsy is a condition rather than a Betta fish disease. Build-up of fluid in the body causing bloating and protruding scales can indicate a number of sicknesses including bacterial infections, liver disfunction and parasites.

Swollen belly lining and the swollen belly are caused by accumulation of internal fat.

Infections can occur if you get one of them for medical reasons. Symptoms usually present are white scales and sunken eyes.

There is no known cure for dropsy but medication such as Betta Revive can help with the illness.

Most fish that can be at risk for dropsy don’t survive and most are die of infections. The bacterial infection can be avoided by keeping the aquarium free and by feeding fish with vitamins rich foods such as vitamin rich fish. Dropsy is a bacterial infection with effects on the kidney systems and its cause.

Swim Bladder Disorder

Pool bladder disorder is due to constrictions, poor water conditions parasites or bacteria and increased organ space (oesophagia).

Fish that have an irregular bladder can also lay at the bottom of the tank and flop out sideways or upside-down in the water.

It can be controlled by maintaining high quality water, avoiding overstocking and providing the fish with the correct amount of fresh and fiber-rich foods.

The treatment can end by raising water temperature, letting the fish fast for a few days and then feeding with cooked peas. Medicinal baths also help to treat the disease.

Hemorrhagic

Hemorrhagic symptoms include bleeding to the face and mouth of the fish, as well as pop-eye and a swollen abdomen. The infection is treatable thus the death is very low.

A diluted solution could prevent salmonella infection by killing Yersinia ruckeri bacteria which causes the diseases.

The treatment of hemorrhagic may include the use of antibiotics such as ampicillin. The disease’s fatality is small.

Hemorrhaging is also a symptom of Septicemia, treatable with an antibiotic medication.

Pop Eye

Pop eye is often a sign of a health-related bacterial infection such as Vibrosis (Red Boil) or Piscine Tuberculosis.

Bacterial infections that lead to Pop-eye can be avoided by prevent infection in the aquarium.

Quarantining new fish before placing them in the main aquarium.

Alternatively Pop-eye is one of the possible symptoms of Septicemia, a viral illness. Antibiotic drugs such as Tetracyclines may treat this illness.

Cloudy Eye

Poor water quality (particularly when PH drops) often leads to cloudy eye in Bettas, either directly or indirectly, generally due to a weakened immune system. In addition, internal parasites, such as protozoa or flukes can lead to the condition

The bacteria is found to cause a white film covering the eyes. It can be treated with antibiotics including Metafix and Fungus Clear.

Providing clean water and a healthy diet are the best treatments for Cloudy Eye. Salt treatment or medication with an antibiotic are other helpful treatments.

This type of bacteria illness is not fatal, but may impede vision.

Parasitic Illness with Betta Fish

Symptoms indicating that your fish has a parasite infestation include: clamped or droopy fins, loss of weight, there may be white spots on the skin or gills or you’ll notice your Betta trying to rub against aquatic plants or ornaments in the tank. Some Betta fish appear bloated.

Most parasitic diseases in Bettas occur as a result of poor water quality.

Hole in the head

Hole-in-the-head disease shows up as pale ulcerated areas around the head. It isn’t a disease common in Bettas.

The fish which have been infected usually dies after several days in cases where it was not treated adequately earlier.

Treatment with Vitamin C enriched food and a parasite medication such as Parasitic Clear.

Anchor Worms

Anchor worms are parasitic worms that attach to the fish’s body leading to ulcerations. They are a devilish parasite from the Lernaea species (actually a type of crustacean, not worm) that embed their anchor-shaped heads into the scales and flesh of their host fish.

The parasites are visible to the naked eye as they protrude from between the Betta’s scales. Fish will show signs of irritation and its gills may be damaged (showing breathing difficulties).

Treat infected fish by physically removing the parasites with forceps. Then give the fish a medicated bath to prevent secondary infection. Using an insecticide medication or a potassium permanganate ‘dip’ will also rid the fish of these paracites.

Anchor Worm is prevented by treating all newly infected fish and keeping the water clean. A condition that is diagnosed untreated can become fatal.

Ich

Ich, a parasitic disease also known as White Spot, causes small white spots to cover the fish’s body. The fish will be irritated and may rub itself on rocks and plants.

The sickness can be treated by raising the water temperature slightly and using a parasite medication such as Ich-X which gives excellent improvement within a week.

It is preventable by changing and conditioning of water regularly.

Viral Infections

Viral infections are common in Betta fish, but they can affect all aquarium fish. There are no known treatments or cures for viral infections. Fish that are suspected of having a viral infection should be removed from the fish aquarium straight away to prevent spreading to other fish.

Betta Tumors

Bette tumors are usually cancer – lumps growth or minor bumps/cysts that show up underneath a fish skin.

They mainly affected reproductive organs, gills, tail and waist.

The tumors can be controlled by feeding the fish a clean tank, maintaining a healthy diet, treating any other infections or by keeping carcinogenic elements away from the tank. T

he benign tumours and cysts can be treated in several ways depending on the cause of the lump or bump. These malignant tumors are hard to cure but simple surgical procedures can aid.

Betta Fish Chemical Poisoning

Ammonia Poisoning

A build up of ammonia in the aquarium can lead Bettas becoming sick. Decomposition of organic matter (fish wastes, excess food and nutrients) in the water increases the likelihood of a toxic level of ammonia.

In a well cycled aquarium, where a healthy population of beneficial nitrogen consuming bacteria live, ammonia levels will always be in check. However, if this balance is upset nitrates in the water build up leading to the water being polluted.

Symptoms of ammonia poisoning in Betta fish include: an increase in body mucous production. Gills will be inflamed red and may bleed and the fishes overall body color will darken. Sometimes the fish will appear agitated or distressed.

Chlorine Poisoning

Tap water in many countries contains chlorine which is put into the water to kill pathogens. Chlorine is toxic to Betta fish and will cause death if the fish is left in the chlorinated water for too long.

Water added to an aquarium from the household tap must be treated first to remove the chlorine. There are commercial chlorine treatment products that can be bought that will do the job.

Alternatively, fill your tank and run the filters, allowing it to cycle for a few days. The chlorine will dissipate. To speed the process up, you can boil the water to remove the chlorine.

Symptoms of chlorine poisoning include restlessness and erratic behaviour– such as shooting around the tank and jumping. The fish may have trouble swimming and show incorrect body positioning. Its gills will be inflamed.

It is important to remove the fish from the tank and place it in healthy water. If the damage to the fishes gills is minimal, it will likely recover.

Isolate sick fish immediately

If your betta shares its tank with other fish or aquatic creatures, immediately move him towards the quarantine or hospital tank. That last thing should be to expose other tank participants to risking an aquatic illness.

It is also not a necessity or a waste to medicate healthy fish. So drop it into your hospital tank to a separate tank where you will only medicate the sick or injured fish then give yourself another chance to recover. Whenever someone sickens him you need to treat her properly.

Sick Betta Fish Behavior

Some patterns of behavior are correlated with a stressed or sick betta fish and yet not necessarily fully contracted disease. However. This behavior can give you the most accurate and quick diagnosis of when your fish is sick. This behavior and correcting its errors early are important. Attempting to control the problem could increase risks from an outbreak and eventually cause more serious problems.

Betta Fish Diseases

After diagnosis you can now follow the treatment options. Never stop treatment early as it can increase parasitic immunity. If your betta fish lives in solitude you may choose to keep them in the tanks they already contain. If they survive in a community tank you may quarantine them in separate hospitals as a disease-treated tank to treat them. List some famous Betta infections listed below… Infection b. tinnitis is commonly inherited.

Sick Betta Fish signs

If any of these things is unusual or even when parts of their body or fins look unusual to you, trust your instincts. Remember that treating in the early stages of any condition will most likely lead to good outcomes. You have sick fish at hand. If you notice any sign of either any betta fish diseases or any more you may have a disease to contend against that can lead us to a disease.

Keep a First Aid Kit – Hope for the best prepare for the worst

Keeping a first aid kit ready can be a very useful thing for any fish owner. That should be treated as an essential kit for routine care of the fish. Do you or something in your family need medical attention for a sick or injured person? Why would you wait till they are sick on your fish before finding a drug when they might really need them? Let us ask.

A note on preventative medicines

Your aquarium waters are always full of good bacteria with most of it being beneficial. Even harmful bacteria won’t hurt your fish unless their immune system is well developed. By using antibacterial medicine when there are no visible indications of infection, you may end up hurting the good or poor bacteria and giving them the chance to adapt to change. Your best bet is practicing good aquaculture maintenance because diseases have no effect on fish unless they get good care. Good aquaculture keeps should be practicing good care. Keeping fish healthy is the only solution that can prevent disease.

What to put in your Betta First Aid Kit

Ampicillin used for pop-eye and Gram negative infections. Kanamycin – Antibacterial for bacterial disorders. Maracin 1 and 2 – Antibacterial and antiviral medication effective for milder types including frank rot and rhinitis. Jungle infestation Eliminator – fizz forms. Ideal for mouth rot swollen fins that cause fungus and stinging and for eye fog diseases. Works slowly, but remember: dosage appropriately; a full packet is for a 40-gallon tank!

Check water chemistry before treating

Why do you think your mother is unwell? Common toxic substances that form in aquariums creating poorwater conditions are ammonia nitrite and nitrate. Check your water by use of liquid testing tubes. Do a water-change in case you find no unsafe water. The symptoms of poisoning by each potential culprit include vomiting and diarrhea swelling an.

Timing is everything

Some betta illnesses can quickly get worse, leaving few hours of time free for the hunt in the pet food store. Preventing the first stages of illness is probably the easiest path to success. I think therapy should be given if it is difficult.

Questions and Answers

My betta is pale and still alive but is beneath its tank. Very likely that you’re overfeeding him or he’s developed a swim bladder condition. The transparent ring is highly likely fungal, so take one such drug as the Bettafix remedies in that article. You should try cleaning and conditioned the water and maintain the right parameters in water such as pH ammonium nitrite and cadmium. Get me some ways to treat the condition. If she looks sick be careful to monitor it for the next few days to see if she’s going to show any signs of sickness. Does the guy look sick?

Summary

Fin-tail Rot Bacterial/Fungal Clean living conditions Tetracycline/Water-Myxazin Columnaris Bacterial Treat open woulds. Clearfish Fungus Avoid prima e infections. Methylene blue parasite clearance hole in the head Parasitic Keep carbon out in water. Betta Tumors Malignant/Benign give healthy foods surgery/viral medication Betta Revive Pop Eye Bacterial Control other disorders. Faking/Raising water temperature to avoid Overing Fasting/Raising water temperature Betta Remedy/Fishzole Ich Parasitic Change water regularly.

Final Thoughts

Some fish could develop behavior defects like excessive stress, lethargy and poor appetite. Betta fish can suffer from fading colors or abnormal color changes and can develop things like bubbles and solid particles like blobs on their bodies. These conditions could be controlled by regularly changing and conditioning water and by optimizing parameters for ammonia, pH, Nitrite, Nitras, air hardness, water temperature and pressure. Animals showing signs or symptoms of distress should see veterinarian immediately. If you don’t understand why your fish doesn’t work do look through some of the answers listed here.

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[Complete Guide] 40 Gallon Breeder Tank: Everything you need to know of this breeder

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Equipment (info & tips), Info and Tips, Tropical Freshwater Fish (Care Guides) November 15, 2021April 4, 202240 gallon tank, breeder tank

When assembling a 40 Gallon Breeder Tank, the basic principle for not getting it wrong is to study the size of the aquarium versus the fauna you imagine adding. There are infinite types of mounts, from marine tanks to fresh, to biotopes and plantations. Creating can be easier than it sounds. This tank gauge is the best seller in the aquarium industry. Breeder tank has been growing in the market every year. Every day we see more websites aimed at breeder fish and other animals. Articles on fish breeding have given us a lot of important information for successful fish breeding.

About buying a 40 gallons tank, What fish should I pick? How to correctly size the 40 Gallon Breeder Tank? Is it possible to have a good aquarium in 40 gallons of water?

40-gallon breeder fish tank dimensions

The most common dimensions of this aquarium are 100x50x30 cm; it is equivalent to 40 gallons. It’s a great fish tank size. They are widely used in large fish breeders. It is usually an aquarium gallon size used by freshwater fish breeders. It is commonly used in saltwater aquariums for corals.

Is a 40-gallon breeder tank suitable?

It’s common for people to move to smaller tanks right away, but did you know that the smaller tank is more difficult to maintain? Mainly in parameter control. The tank has to be strategically thought; the measure of 40 Gallon Breeder Tank was thinking about having more space, ease of maintenance, and compatibility with most lighting fixtures. It is better to have more area (length vs. width) than height, making maintenance and lighting incidence very difficult.

Setting up a 40-gallon breeder tank.

This item considers the positioning of rocks or trunks, substrate placement (fertile, neutral, or that acts in the alkalinization of water), placing the water, connecting the devices to start the system. Don’t forget to have a good piece of furniture to support your aquarium; you need to keep it safe. After all, we are talking about glass!

Glasses for 40-gallon tanks are the most manufactured standard. So you find a lot of furniture out there, but keep your glass safe from crumbling supports. Glasses are sensitive to vibrations, sudden temperature changes. And safety in fish farming is essential.

Cycling the breeder tank gallon to receive the fish

Considered when the aquarium is running at full steam, just after assembly: filters on, lighting on as required (8h daily lighting? 10h? need to see which plants and fish you have chosen, to see what they need), CO2 introduced in the water, heater, in short, everything.

Sometimes particles can make the water cloudy for some time; the cycling period is also helpful to allow time for the particles to settle or be filtered out until the turbidity decreases. Above all of this, our attention should be focused on the good bacteria communities, which begin to fix and transform nitrogenous compounds into non-toxic forms. The use of tests will likely be required frequently at this stage – at least pH and ammonia tests are essential.

Oscar fish is a favorite of breeders.

Its size and need for territory mean that each fish needs a lot of space. Start with 40-gallon breeder tank dimensions for the first Oscar and add an extra 40-gallon aquarium bill for each additional Oscar. If you’re a breeder looking to turn your tank into a community tank, you’ll need to pick some big, passive fish that will stay out of Oscar’s way while still being able to defend themselves. The ideal is to have only one Oscar fish (if it’s a relatively small tank or 40 gallons) or a group (for a large enough tank), then a hierarchy will form in the school, and there will be relative peace. But maintaining a group can create a problem in the medium-term if developing couples start fighting over territory. If the tank is not big enough, at least 40 gallons, you will need to separate those getting too much to avoid deaths. Oscar fish breed in captivity with some ease. When they form a couple, they will be together for life. The problem is that when this happens in community aquariums, the aggressiveness of these fish tends to increase and with the enormous risk of parents eating their offspring due to the stress caused by the simple presence of other fish in the aquarium. In these situations, the ideal is for the breeder to separate this couple into a tank just for them if they want to reproduce.

Is it possible to breeder a marine tank at 40 gallons?

Yes, it is possible. The difference is that you will need some other equipment that in a freshwater tank would not be necessary. For example, the Skimmer. Saltwater fish demand strong currents, good water circulation. If you own corals, it is essential to know correctly and need lighting to be used. It ends up being a little more limiting the amount of fish possible to put in a 40-gallon marine tank for the size and varieties available in fish stories. Marine fish breeders usually tend to start with an even smaller tank because the price is much more prominent than in a freshwater tank. These marine aquariums tend to be very popular in home environments, especially in children’s rooms. Although it looks big, it is clear that the space for corals and fish when it comes to saltwater is relatively tiny, but enough for you to have a healthy tank.

The Importance of Partial Water Change in the fish tank of This Gallon Size

The partial exchange of marine tank works as follows:

It varies from tank to tank, but the rule is to change 20-30% water per month. You can change it all at once or split it and change it little by little until you complete the monthly percentage. Excluding extreme cases, never change more than 30% as marine animals are not used to sudden changes of any kind. You only siphon the sump to remove that dirt that accumulates at the bottom. Only siphon the rocks from the tank if you want to remove any pests, such as algae, planarians, and cyanobacteria, etc. If dirt is on the substrate, you can siphon only the surface without touching the sand using a thin hose.

School fish and a 40-gallon aquarium

Acid pH fish are pretty common in tank stores; the beauty of the community tank usually focuses on shoal fish; below, we will mention four species that can make up this aquarium, our suggestion is an average of 15 units of one of these species (be careful in overcrowding). The suggestions are: Paracheirodon axelrodi, Hyphessobrycon amandae, Hemigrammus rhodostomus, and Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi. From this list above, the biggest highlight for a closed school is the Rodostomus; they swim in sync and have very high activity in the fish tank.

Medium and large fish are compatible with 40-gallon tanks.

In this case, a quantity of 6 specimens would be fascinating to compose your aquarium; it is essential to note that the two species suggested below also swim in schools. Pterophyllum scalare and Symphysodon aequifasciatus, will always be the favorite. It is worth noting that both species can prey on smaller fish, especially the angels, when it is not used to the aquarium fauna.

This fish tank is it meant to be a community?

Community fish tanks need more attention as they require a more accurate calculation for size and filtration needs. But it is possible to mix school, medium, and even large fish. Everything will depend on the behavior of the chosen fish. It is also essential to know the necessary parameters for each species to live well.

The 40-gallon tank is one of the most recommended and used by aquarists today. With good versatility and easy maintenance due to its size, it turns out to be a perfect tank for those who want to start the hobby. It is seen a lot in creating guppies and mollies as well.

It is a tank that, with little investment, you can provide a good quality of life for the inhabitants.

Guppies and Mollies are the most bred fish in a 40-gallon aquarium.

The famous Poecilids, who has never had one. They are famous for being resistant fish and with a high reproduction rate, very suitable for those just starting with fishkeeping. However, make no mistake, as any other animal requires particular care.

The amount of fish can vary a lot, but take into account that they are fish that reproduce at a very high speed, so about 3~5 groups of 1 male to 2 females is quite interesting; some of these species can breed with each other.

Is it possible to have plants in a 40-gallon tank?

If you are starting now, we strongly recommend slow-growing, low-maintenance plants. The suggestion below is genera with dozens of species and varieties; most of them do not change the way of cultivation and are common in the main fish store.

Anubias – They are among logs and rocks.

Echinodorus – Due to their size, they make the background and tend to leave the fish tanks.

Eleocharis – If you have fertile substrate, you can choose to have a beautiful soccer field style carpet, but they are slower and even slower if you don’t have CO2 injection. Please pay attention to the dimensions of the plants to be used so that they don’t get too dense in the tank and remove the free spaces for the fish. These low-light plants are excellent for breeding in this tank pattern. So you can create a small aquascaping without spending too much, making it look enjoyable and giving a better adaptation to the fish breeder there.

The advantages of having a 40-gallon freshwater breeding tank

One of the main advantages is the ease of keeping the parameters in this tank. The ideal filtration is easy to find, as pumps and filters made for these tanks are ubiquitous. In addition, the larger the tank, the smaller the variations in parameters due to the amount of water available there. This is very noticeable about sudden temperature changes, which are always slower in these tank sizes. You’re sure to spend a lot less energy on your heater on a tank of this size.

Hardscape for 40-gallon breeder aquarium

Driftwood is welcome when it comes to fauna for acidic water as they tend to lower the pH. Be careful with those sharp ones; they can hurt medium and large fish. Rocks like dark basalt rocks can give a nice touch to the aquarium; some rock types can raise the pH, being useful for the alkaline pH group. Better if the bottom of the aquarium is free of a substrate, it helps with maintenance.

Essential Equipment for a 40-gallon fish tank

For filtration, it is best to use a foam-type filter or a hang-on, always scaling the water flow needed for the species. A heater is required to maintain the temperature stable.

Conclusion about breed fish in a 40-gallon aquarium

As a general rule, the larger the tank, the greater it is stable. So this size tank fish for beginners is a good start. Breeding is not always easier when starting with small volumes of water. The main fish we see in these aquariums are the famous guppies, colorful and of great variety; they attract any eye. But a 40 Gallon Breeder Tank allows us to go further. It is possible to have marine and freshwater fish. Have a high density of fish as well as medium to large fish. Have plants and corals. It’s up to the breeder to know how to shape their ideas, keeping it as a suitable principle for the animal life contained there. Articles to teach how to keep fish in these dimensions are increasing every day on the website. The search for fish that are possible to 40-gallon breeder in these fish tanks is the new trend of the moment. Search more about this size tank and keep fish in your house room.

[Detailed Guide] Tiger Shovel Nose Catfish

Jesse B. Aquatic Life (info & tips), Blog, Care Guides, Catfish/Cory (Care Guides), Info and Tips, Tropical Freshwater (guides) November 12, 2021April 24, 2022catfish, tiger shovel nose catfish, tiger shovelnose catfish

The Tiger Shovel Nose Catfish is a unique aquatic fish that has attracted the attention of aquarists for many years. Their size and temperament make them impressive to look at in a tank, but also presents fish enthusiasts with some challenges.

In this guide we address these challenges and present information to assist with keeping this fascinating species in your aquarium.

Introducing the Tiger Shovel Nose Catfish

The Shovelnose tiger catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), also known as the Barred Sorubium or Tiger Spade Nose Catfish, is a large fish that can grow to four feet in the wild.

Native to the Amazon River basin, catfish can be found in the deepest sections of rivers, residing in the shade of overhangs or in amongst river logs.

Shovelnose catfish tend to live in dark, murky waters where their vision isn’t very useful. They have sensitive barbel whiskers, which are used to search out food using touch and taste.

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Their ‘catfish’ name came about by having these whiskers, and the fact that when caught by a fisherman they make a noise like a cat purring.

Because of their size and taste, these fish are sought after by local fishermen, being regarded as good-eating sport fish. They are regularly found for sale in South American fish markets.

Tiger shovelnose are solitary creatures and nocturnal hunters. In the wild, they feed on fish, crustaceans, and even larger animals such as small mammals and birds.

Tiger Shovel Nose Catfish Appearance

Their long, lean body has a solid silvery gray glow. Dark streaks and spots are spread all over the body and can give the catfish the appearance of a tiger.

These river monsters have large flat mouth that helps them capture their prey. The barbels are long, sloping down, and protrude from the front of your jaw. These are used to locate prey. The dorsal fins are medium in size and folded back in a shell-like pattern.

Size

These catfish can become huge in an aquarium and need a lot of room to swim!

In the wild, specimens can grow as large as four feet long and weigh as much as 70 pounds. Aquarium kept fish wouldn’t reach this size.

Catfish grow continuously throughout their lives. No matter how little you feed them or how small the tanks are, they will quickly grow into something huge. Expect your aquarium Shovelnose catfish to eventually grow to about 30 inches long (2.5 feet).

Females grow larger than males, reaching sexual maturity at about 22 inches and males at 18 inches.

How fast do they grow?

When fed correctly Shovelnose catfish can grow 12″ every 2 years, reaching their full length in 5-6 Years. This is only achievable with a big enough tank and when fed a variety of meaty foods. Most people simply don’t have the space in their homes for a suitable tank and often get rid of their catfish at around 3-4 years.

How long does a tiger shovelnose catfish live?

The lifetime of the tiger shovelnose catfish in captivity is about 18-20 years. Longevity is influenced by genetic influences and the level of treatment to which these fish are subjected. Wild fish live longer.

Are they dangerous?

Tigernose catfish are very ferocious looking and do have an aggressive nature. If the tank you use to house them in is overcrowded with aquarium decorations and other species of fish, Tiger catfish may become hostile.

They are a species of fish that hunts for its food, and will willingly eat smaller tankmates.

It is best to house Tigernose Catfish in a long and wide tank, allowing them the space they need, and match tankmates that have the size and similar nature to be able to defend themselves.

Tigernose catfish do not have venomous spines that can harm people or tankmates.

Aquarium Care

Tank Size

Tiger Shovelnose Catfish is a predatory monster that an experienced aquarist should only keep with a huge tank.

These fish can get anxious when stressed and react quickly by rising to the surface, splashing water everywhere. They become very active in the tank when agitated.

Juveniles less than 6 inches long must be in a tank of at least 55 gallons.

As these fish grow, they will require a much larger tank to cater for their size. A tank would need to be at least 180 gallons.

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Tank Considerations

The tank you house these fish in needs to be robust. Due to the size they can grow to, and their aggressive fast swimming nature when agitated or frightened, these fish can break glass, especially aquarium lids if they jump.

The catfish dwells in the lower portions of the tank, so a long and wide tank is better suited for this species. This allows for them to have room to turn around and swim naturally.

What to Put in Their Tank

Tiger Shovelnose Catfish suffer from stress or aggression when in an empty tank. By replicating their natural environment by including rocks, driftwood or bogwood, and plants into your tank they will feel more at home with places to hide.

Tank Mates

They can live alone or in community with other catfish. Due to their aggressive nature, it is important to match them with tank mates that are of similar size and are robust enough to take a few knocks.

Shovelnose catfish will pick on other fish that cannot stand up for themselves and get territorial (especially if there is not enough room).

Tankmates would need to be resilient species of fish. Such fish would include: Arowana, other large catfish like the Redtail Catfish, Giant Gourami, Pacu, and even Oscar fish. Just make sure there is room in your tank.

You must try to disperse aggression; otherwise, it will not be possible to keep Tiger Shovelnose Catfish in communities tanks. Therefore look for robust, but peaceful tankmates.

Water parameters

Tiger shovelnose catfish are hardy freshwater fish species that can tolerate a wide range of water parameters. They require minimal maintenance once the tank is set up properly.

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Quality water is one of the most crucial aspects of good fish care, and when taken seriously you can expect fish to be healthier and live longer. Do regular water checks using a reliable testing kit, make water changes and attended to tank maintenance.

Water temperature: 75°F to 82°F.
pH levels: 6-8.
Water hardness: 6-20 KH.

What to do when Shovelnose Catfish outgrow their tanks

Careful planning in the beginning is required before embarking with keeping this species of fish.

Many inexperienced hobbyists are attracted to the juvenile Shovelnose Catfish in the aquarium stores. These smaller fish look unique, are very attractive with their large mouths and whiskers and appear harmless. However, they discover quickly that their little catfish soon becomes a tank giant and outgrows its home and they are wanting to give their fish away.

Most public zoos and aquariums may no longer accept these monsters, so finding a home may not be easy. They should never be thrown out into the wild as they are a skilled predator that can degrade native species and their natural habitats.

Diet

Tiger shovelnose catfish are not picky eaters. In the wild they hunt for prey consisting of crustaceans, fish, frogs and other smaller animals that cross their path.

Feed them a balanced diet consisting of a mixture of frozen foods, worms, and pellets. For a treat, offer shrimp and pieces of fish.

Ensure you provide enough food for these fish to match their size and appetites.

Never overfeed your catfish; overfeeding is the leading cause of poor water quality leading to health problems. If you accidentally overfeed your fish, proceed with a water change as soon as possible.

These nocturnal fish prefer to forage for food when the lights go out.

Breeding Tigernose Catfish

Tiger Shovelnose catfish are very difficult to breed in aquariums since they need plenty of space to breed. They can however be bred in large ponds. Having a pond that replicates the muddy rivers they originate from will be helpful in enticing this species to breed.

There is no know external ways to sex these fish. Females do grow larger than males, but otherwise they have the same appearance.

We suggest that you do not attempt to breed them in your tank, rather just enjoy the extraordinary beauty of this species.

Common diseases

Tiger shovelnose catfish have no specific diseases or ailments. Illnesses that they may get can usually be attributed to poor water quality or overcrowding.

In this case, follow the basics of water health. Perform water tests, provide healthy food with no leftovers, and reduce tank stress.

If you get it right, the tiger can live a long time.

A Tiger Shovelnose Catfish aquarium tank should have a quality filtration system since these fish are sensitive to poor water quality.

Final Thoughts

The tiger shovelnose catfish are an impressive species and make great pets for anyone with the space to accommodate them. Raw quality, power, and unique appearance will make them an instant stand out! They are active fish that never cease to entertain!

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