Article by John Thomson

Where will you put it?

The size of your new freshwater aquarium tank will depend upon where it will go in your home so this should be your first decision. Keep the tank away from direct sunlight since this will almost always encourage excessive algae growth. Also you should not place the tank where it will be difficult to maintain the correct stable temperature, e.g. near draughts from windows and doors or near radiators. In an ideal world your aquarium should be situated in a reasonably tranquil part of your house where the fish will not be unduly alarmed by human traffic or noise.

Buying your Freshwater Aquarium Tank and Equipment

Acrylic or Glass?

As a general rule acrylic tanks are costlier than their equivalent in glass. Just because glass is cheaper it does not mean that acrylic is better than glass. Each material has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Poor scratch resistance is the biggest disadvantage of acrylic. Acrylic tanks have the big advantage that they can be formed in almost any shape. On the other hand glass is harder to scratch but it can smash and crack also it weighs much more because it has to be thicker.

Here is a list of their pros and cons:

Acrylic

Easily scratchedLightDifficult to break or crack – children safeCan be moulded into almost any shapeNeeds a stand supporting the whole of its weight otherwise it can split with the weight of the waterThinner and easier to drill through for filters etc.Less distortion because it is thinnerCan yellow with ageMore expensive

Glass

Hard to scratchHeavyCan break or crack – may be a hazard when children are aboutLimited to certain shapes mostly rectangular although bowed front glass tanks are now availableMore rigid so they can be placed on an open standThicker and difficult to drill throughMore distortion due to its thicknessDoes not yellow with age so they maintain clarity over a long timeLess expensive

Acrylic tanks have to be more carefully maintained than glass using acrylic safe tools particularly those used to scrape off algae.To sum up, If you just want a standard rectangular tank then it is probably best to go with glass. You will normally have to go with acrylic if you want a very large tank or one with an unusual shape.

Other Equipment

You must carefully choose the right equipment for your aquarium. A reputable dealer will help you with this and it is a good idea to build up a good relationship with your fish man.You should have some knowledge about what else is required, filter, heater, lid with lighting, substrate, backing material and such things as rocks and real or plastic plants. You will need extra accessories like a water conditioner, net, test kits etc once the tank has been set up.

The Golden Rules

Never buy the tank and fish on the same day. Curb your impatience to come home with everything you need all at once!Get the largest tank that space and your budget allows. Small tanks sold as ideal for beginners are a mistake. Larger tanks are more stable in terms of their water chemistry, temperature, etc. Water conditions will take longer to change in a large volume of water so changes for the worst are less likely to take you by surprise. A three foot long (92 cm) aquarium holding approximately 100 litres (about 25 gallons) of water is a good size starter tankPreferably place your tank on a tailor made stand, failing this it should be a strong piece of furniture. A large tank full of water weighs an enormous amount. Water weighs 1kg (2.2 pounds) per litre. A regular tank size, say 36x12x18 weighs approximately 110kg or 242 lbs plus the weight of the tank, gravel, lid and decorPrepare your tank and have it running with freshwater aquarium plants, heating and filtration for at least a week before the fish arrive. This gives the water a chance to settle down as far as its quality is concerned and allows the good bacteria a chance to multiply to a level where the tank is ‘cycling’Do not load the tank with more than 1 inch of fish to each gallon of water and remember that your new fish are probably babies so they will grow fast. There are many aquarists who like to be even more conservative using one inch of fish for every two gallons of water keeping fish waste levels lowDon’t just tip them in add your new aquarium freshwater fish carefully. Float the bag in the aquarium for about 20 minutes so that the temperatures equalise, open the bag and add some aquarium water to it for a further 20 minutes and then finally gently add them to the tank

ConclusionSo there you have it. First make a decision about where your tank is going to live and then you can decide on its size and the material that it is to be made from. Your home freshwater aquarium will be a success from the start if you follow the six golden rules.

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Article by richard

There are certain inherent challenges to virtually any activities, and the creation and maintenance of a saltwater aquarium are no different. A bit of reasonably well thought out foresight can sometimes save us lots of resources at some point down the road. It might therefore be a good investment of our time and attention to consider some challenges that commonly befall the less experienced aquarist.

A very common mistake is to misunderstand the eating requirements of our livestock, commonly resulting in overfeeding. However, there are concerns related to overfeeding that should be taken into consideration in addition to the obvious.

Among such concerns is that uneaten food that remains in the tank for prolonged periods of time can create unwanted nitrates and overload filters. It is therefore most advisable to not only clearly understand the eating habits of our livestock, but to also possess a working knowledge of the ingredients of the food we purchase and subsequently place in the tank. Compare the nutrients from one brand of food to another, purchasing only those of high quality, and do not feed fish any more than they can consume within two to three minutes per feeding.

Another common mistake is having improper water filtration and circulation. Adequate biological filtration is a very important aspect of our saltwater aquariums. There are various choices for filtration systems, and making the wrong one creates many challenges that could have been avoided. It is better to have more filtration than is necessary than to not have enough.

Similarly, a lack of adequate water circulation creates the potential for multiple significant challenges. Poor water flow can cause the inadvertent cultivation of undesired algae and the prevention of stationary livestock from receiving adequate amounts of food, among additional problems.

The misdiagnosis of disease is yet another frequent stumbling block among beginner aquarists. This is quite relevant in the manner it relates to the treatment of saltwater ich, the most commonly found disease in saltwater tanks. Specifically, there are two different types of saltwater ich that are often confused with one another.

One of the two is Amyloodinium ocellatum, sometimes referred to as Oodinium, and commonly known as either Marine Velvet or Coral Fish Disease. The second of the two is Cryptocaryon irritans, more popularly known as White Spot Disease. The two have some commonalities yet also have some succinct differences, so effective treatment is quite different from one to the other. It is therefore quite important to accurately diagnose either, as is the case with any disease that may be found within our saltwater aquariums.

A little research and subsequent planning can add up to a whole lot of savings in resources such as time, attention, and money. We should take our time and not rush in making our decisions about building and maintaining our aquariums. Acquiring knowledge related to topics such as the types of livestock to purchase, the compatibility of the livestock, and general tank maintenance should all be considered an ongoing part of our hobby.

This is getting to be more and a lot more widespread practice. This image will also present you what your frag will mature into!

Building your personal frags is straightforward to do. Make confident you have the proper instrument for the species of coral you want to frag.

Most tough corals will will need a bone cutter to rapidly and effortlessly lower as a result of the base of challenging coral stalks. This newly cut off piece is easy to place in the aquarium or to trade with buddies. Often you do not need to have to do anything at all aside from cut it cost-free from the Mother coral. If you created numerous small items you may take into account making use of a coral cement to adhere the coral to a rock. This is carried out for easy placement during the reef, permitting you to control the angles and positions of the new frag.

Mushrooms and polyps can be “fragged” as properly. Have you at any time observed that stray mushroom floating about the bottom of your tank? Certainly it arrived loose from the shop to your tank? Uncover a compact stone and some Super Glue Gel and merely glue the bottom of the mushroom to the rock. It will stick in seconds and is risk-free to go right back again into the tank. A new colony will mature.

If you are operating with a Mother Colony, do not frag much more than 25% of the colony at a time. Your aim is to generate quite a few new coral frags and however to not injury the mom colony, so that it can keep on to mature and be propagated later.

We do encourage just about every hobbyist to “Go Green” and strongly look at paying for fragged corals. They are used to the aquarium environment and are considerably hardier than wild harvested corals. If you are tired of viewing wild corals die, then give frags a attempt. If your regional fish retail store does not carry tank raised coral frags, then request that they do. It is Rather uncomplicated for them to deliver in frags. Take pleasure in your coral reef aquarium!

http://www.tropicalfishresource.com/coral-frags.html

Reside coral frags may possibly often arrive unattached to any rock or substrate this might present a issue in an aquarium with a lot of water current or “curious” inhabitants. Your very first inclination may well be to wedge your new coral frag in involving the rocks in your tank, nonetheless you could consider a distinctive additional efficient approach – super glue gel.

Is super glue gel safe and sound to use in a reef tank? Yes. Super glue is offered in two frequent varieties liquid and gel. Utilizing the gel kind can prove to be a very protected and useful process in mounting tiny coral frags in your aquarium. The super glue gel can be applied directly to the back of a coral frag or mushroom, then attached to a rock that is nonetheless submerged underwater devoid of even getting rid of the rock from the tank.

Stick to these straightforward techniques to mount coral frags in your reef aquarium working with super glue gel:

1) Go to a regional pharmacy or supermarket and pick up a identify brand name super glue in gel form, not liquid

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If you are starting a saltwater aquarium you are going to hear people talking about live rock. This term is confusing, after all what could be alive on a rock? If you are interested in this subject, keep reading and about the role live rock plays in a reef aquarium.

What Type of Live Rock Should I Buy? Use a mix of different Live Rock. Using larger, denser pieces towards the bottom of structures will provide a strong base. Then add more porous and interestingly shaped pieces for the middle and top. Make sure the rock structure is stable and will not fall over if bumped. Avoid buying pieces that are boulder shaped as they are very dense and are difficult to stack.

Where Can I Buy Live Rock? Live Rock can be purchased at many marine fish aquarium specialty stores or also online. The advantage of buying in person is your ability to hand select each piece. You will find better deals by shopping online. The best is advice is to compare what your local fish store has in stock compared to what is available on the internet.

Can I add Live Rock to an existing aquarium? You can keep adding rock to an establish aquarium or to a tank that already has some rock. Just be sure to add cured live rock that has stopped decaying. This rock is typically a little more expensive, but you don’t want to risk your fish and corals to an ammonia spike. You should carefully examine these pieces of rock for any bad critters like aiptasia, mantis shrimp or gorilla crabs. If you buy used live rock, this tip is especially important as you don’t want to inherit someone else’s problems.

One of the best tips for starting a saltwater aquarium is to purchase live rock with many different shapes and sizes. This will allow you to be flexible when designing your reef structure. Other than buying live rock online, you can check your local classifieds or join a local reef club. You might be able to find some wonderful deals.

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Do you have an aquarium in your home? If you already do, you may know some of the benefits that come with owning one. If you don’t, there are many of them, both health and educational and it may actually be one of the best things that you can do for your home to provide an atmosphere or relaxation.

A home freshwater aquarium is always an excellent choice for a pet for several reasons. You get to pay very little to set it up and maintain it. You also don’t have to worry every time you are leaving the house about who will watch over your fish – so long as there is someone who can spare a couple of minutes a day to feed them, they will be fine.

There are other benefits that are not so direct but are even more important.

They are a great source of relaxation. Science has proved this. After a winding day, if you come home and watch your fish and play with them, you will unwind. Watching them will cause the happy hormone, serotonin to be released. This hormone is what elevates your mood so that you feel better. If you want to know how powerful this is, patients who have watched the fish swim around in the dentists’ waiting room will register lower levels of pain – serotonin is already at work.
If you have children, you know that sometimes they can drive you crazy; they get a bit too active and you need to quiet them down. A home freshwater aquarium is a perfect way. Observation has revealed that a hyperactive child will settle down a few minutes into watching the fish swim around. It’s such a powerful effect that the same therapy has been tried on ADHD children showed that their agitation levels went down.
If you have a senior person staying with you who suffers from Alzheimer’s a home freshwater aquarium can help them a great deal. Test have shown that they eat better and are less disruptive if the spend some time before an aquarium. If they can handle it, let them play with the fish and feed them too – it’s a nice way to keep them occupied.
A home freshwater aquarium is an excellent learning tool for kids. There is no better way to get your children learning than to introduce them to live fish at an early age. And think about all that they will learn too. They will get into different fish types, the environment, suitable habitats as well as how to care for a pet. They get some science because they start learning about compounds that exist in the tank. More than that, it’s a great way of spending time with your child either watching or feeding the fish, or even cleaning their tank.
If you have an invalid, fish are known to quicken healing. Get a home freshwater aquarium and place it where they can see. Watching the fish relaxes them and helps them heal faster.
You can use your fish to make money too, especially if you have a freshwater tank. Breeding for freshwater fish is easier than salt water fish, and there is no reason why you cannot learn how to breed and sell the results to pet stores.

Whether you live alone or have a family, a home freshwater aquarium is a big treat and a boost to your health. And it will not cost you much to set-up and maintain, considering all the benefits you will get from it.

One of the most basic questions aquarium owners must know the answer to is “What Do Fish Eat“>what do fish eat?” If you don’t know what to feed your fish you are going to be in trouble from the beginning. When you buy your aquarium and fish, be sure to ask the salesperson, what the fish you are buying eat and what they were feeding them at the store. Also do a little research on the internet or at the library about what different types of fish eat.

Betas

Betas could possibly be beckoning fish you see displayed in small bowls at your hometown pet store. They have lengthy flowing fins of red, purple or blue and are incredibly easy to care for. The solely drawback of Betta fish is that they must be stored all by yourself — the males will combat one another to the death, and females are seldom available in pet shops. They don’t do very well with other pet fish species either, because different fish want to nibble on their protracted fins.

You must always contact the pet retail outlets very first to discover in the event that they will take your fish. If they won’t take their situation I would propose advertising all of the fish in different fish forums and pet categorized lists. You will find somebody, someplace that will want to take care of the fish.

Both tropical and freshwater aquarium fish are enthralling to look at. Aquariums in themselves are a sort of art, and possessors may maintain building on it over time. The much more nooks and crannies there have been in the aquarium; the more spots a fish may hide or sleep.

Small, slender fish, hardy, engaging and simple to look soon after Good for keeping with different fish, favor the top degree of the tank Sociable fish, take pleasure in a strong current, plants and different diversions Omnivorous, eat dried food and luxuriate in treats of live meals Frequent kinds include Zebra, Pearl, Leopard, Gold, Blue, and Giant

Platys and Swordtails mate and reproduce very often in the house aquarium. They can indeed be livebearers — which means their infants (fry) commence swimming as soon as they can be born.

Further Information For additional information, and to get more magnificent ways to have a good time together with your family, sign on to  a large collection of articles covering the whole thing from What Do Fish Eat to What Do Tropicalfish Eat, you’ll find all of the help, guidance and amusement you need to turn out to be a good fish feeder.

Apart from fish pellets, Koi fishes also love to have foodstuff like prawns, tadpoles and earthworms. They also love to eat some fresh things like watermelon, oranges, lemons and lettuce. One should opt for the good quality of Koi food for the better health of pet. However, nutritional Koi food is quite expensive but that is rich in high proteins and nutrients. There are several types of branded foods available especially for Koi fish but one should consider the right one. Online research can prove to be beneficial in order to solve the mystery of what do fish eat? One can also purchase fish food directly from online stores.

Discover more about What Do Fish Eat here.

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For just one thing, there are many apartment dwellers at the present or people who reside in limited space. Even the smallest cat might take up some area owing to his or her litter box and may not even be allowed in an condo as a consequence of would-be damage. But most apartment managers allow tropical fish by reason they do not score the carpet, make messes on anything, or disturb the neighbors. And for people who might not be even limited by an apartment’s rules, consider that tropical fish don’t need to become walked, groomed, scooped up after, and will not tear up the rosebushes or leave you a lifeless mouse as a gift. They do not get fleas and won’t get into fights with different locality fish and won’t give you a litter of six or seven babies that you simply in some way must give away.

To fend off this problem, use try strips in between water changes to determine levels of this compound. Aim to hold the levels under 20 parts per million (ppm). If levels are on top of forty ppm, do an immediate water change.

Both tropical and freshwater aquarium fish are magnetic to look at. Aquariums in themselves are a sort of art, and owners can keep building on it over time. The more nooks and crannies there are usually in the aquarium; the more areas a fish may hide or sleep.

Small, slender fish, hardy, engaging and simple to look after Good for maintaining with different fish, favor the top level of the tank Sociable fish, enjoy a powerful current, plants and various diversions Omnivorous, eat dried meals and luxuriate in treats of reside food Frequent varieties take on Zebra, Pearl, Leopard, Gold, Blue, and Giant

Piranhas

A more odd option, these carnivorous fish can easily live for as much as 25 yrs. Naturally hardy so good for the beginner, however please do mind your fingers May grow quite large so are in need of a big a sufficient quantity of tank Younger fish will eat flakes and freeze dried meals however older ones favor lean beef, chicken and fish, and a few fresh fruit and greens Types take on Red Belly, Black, White, Gold and Wimple

Further Information

For added information, and for further wonderful methods to have a good time together with your family, sign on to ith a huge collection of articles overlaying all kinds of things from son or daughter security to wet day activities, you will find all the help, guidance and pleasure you ought to be a good parent. Go to My Household UK now!

Find out the secrets of Whаt Dο Fish Eat here.

Article by Andy Davis

Having your own coral reef is a dream shared by many aquarists. For a long time, it used to be very difficult to grow and maintain coral reefs in aquariums because of the lack of knowledge about them and their needs to survive in a saltwater aquarium.

A coral reef system is complex and requires the right components and proper maintenance. The good thing is that even though some corals are still very difficult to grow and maintain, a wide range of corals are now easy to grow even for beginners.

If you’re a beginner or average aquarist, when picking corals for your saltwater aquarium, you might want to go with soft corals because they are easier to take care of.

Below are 5 different types of soft corals:

Cladiella Corals: Cauliflower, Finger Leather and Colt Coral. They adapt very well and do best with moderate lightening and water movement.

Palythoa Corals: Button Polyps and Sea Mat. Can grow very fast under bright lightening (might overgrow your other corals). Prefer rapid water movement. Warning: Handle them with gloves to protect yourself from their toxin (the palytoxin).

Sarcophyton Corals: Leather, Mushroom Leather, Toadstool, Toadstool Mushroom and Trough Coral. Adapt to all lightening levels. Moderate water movement is prefered to prevent parasites on their surface.

Discosoma Corals: Disc Anemones, Mushroom and Mushroom Corals. Low light is preferable. Active feeders (small fishes but also detritus and uneaten food).

Zoanthus Corals: Button Polyps, Zoanthid and Sea Mat. Bright light is prefered as they feed on zooxanthellae along with algae, D.O.C.’s and bacteria. Warning: Use gloves to handle them (because of the palytoxin).

As you see, many different corals can grow in your saltwater aquarium. This is just a short selection so what you have to do is research the specific needs of the different corals you’re interested in and make sure they can grow in the same aquarium. With the right light, water movement and nutriments, you’ll have healthy corals.

Every hobbyists, either advanced or beginners want the best components in their aquarium to grow and maintain their corals in the best environment possible. That is why having a very high quality saltwater aquarium can make a difference. But the hard part about purchasing an aquarium to grow corals is that many different components are needed and selecting and installing them can be daunting task.

But with the right aquarium and a selection of soft corals you will have a beautiful easy to maintain coral reef at home!

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When do we use fish or fishes? Fish is used either as singular noun or to describe a group of specimens from a single species. Fishes describes a group of different species

1.) Koi – Fish with the Longest Lifespan

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A Koi or Nishikigoi is an ornamental domesticated variety of the common carp. It is popularly kept for decorative purposes in outdoor water gardens or koi ponds and is m0ore popularly known as Japanese Carp. It is one of longest-living animal in the world with some animals living more than 200 years. The oldest known species of fish to have ever lived is a Koi named Hanako. This Japanese fish was reportedly 226 years old upon her death.

2.) Barbus thermalis – Highest Temperature Living Fish

A safe temperature for tropical fresh water fish is 20-35 º Celsius but the Barbus thermalis lives in a hot spring at 50º Celsius. This amazing small fish can be found in Sri Lanka.

3.) Polar Cod (Boreogadus saida) – Coldest Temperature Living Fish

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If the Barbus Thermalis can live in a hot spring at 50º Celsius, aPolar codfish on the contrary, is comfortable at 2ºCelsius below zero. The Polar Cod is an extremely unique and hardy fish that can grow up to 30 cm in length. It survives best at temperatures of 0–4 °C but may tolerate colder temperatures owing to the presence of antifreeze protein compounds in its blood. It is also commonly known as Arctic Cod.

4.) Turritopsis nutricula – Biologically Immortal Marine Creature

Turritopsis nutricula is a very unusual jellyfish species. It reverts to a sexually immature stage after reproducing, rather than dying as in other jellyfish. This bizarre Jellyfish is regarded biologically immortal and has no maximum lifespan. It should be noted also that jellyfish are not true fish.

5.) Crocodile Icefish (Channichthyidae)– Freeze Tolerant Fish

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Another freeze-tolerant fish is the Crocodile Icefish of Antarctica and southern South America. It feeds on Krill, Copepods and other fish. It has a transparent blood and lacks myoglobin that makes it capable to live in extremely cold places. It is also commonly known as White-blooded Fish. There are 15 known species of Icefish.

6.) Phreatobius cisternarum – Fish That Live Underground

Phreatobius cisternarum is a unique catfish species that can be found in Brazil. It is one of the very few fish species that live underground in phreatic habitats.

7.) Mudskippers – Fish That Walks and Live on Lands

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Some fishes live mostly on land. Mudskippers, member of the Gobiidae family, are fish that use their pectoral fins to walk on land. They feed and interact with one another on mudflats and go underwater to hide in their burrows. These bizarre fish can be found in the Indo-Pacific region and Atlantic.

8.) African Lungfish (Protopterus) – Obligate Air Breather

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This fish is unique – it can breathe air. It rises to the water surface to breath. The African Lungfish is an obligate air breather – it must breathe air periodically or they suffocate. The African Lungfish can be found in Africa. It can swim or crawl along the bottom, using their pectoral and pelvic fins. It can grow as much as 200 cm long and can live out of water for many months in burrows of hardened mud beneath a dried-up stream bed.

9.) Hagfish (Myxine) – Most Disgusting of All Sea Creatures

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Hagfish is a jawless fish.  Jawless fish do not have fins, scales or jaws with teeth. Its bizarre feeding habit and slime-producing capability earned it the title as the most “disgusting” of all sea creatures. It is sometimes called Slime Eel although it is not an eel at all.

10.) Lampreys (Diversas lampreas) – Jawless Fish with Funnel-Like Sucking Mouth

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Lampreys are jawless fish – they do not have scales, fins, or jaws with teeth and sometimes called as Lamprey Eels. They are characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. Some Lampreys are well known as species which bore into the flesh of other fish to suck their blood but most Lamprey species are non-parasitic and never feed on other fishes.

11.) Garman’s Sea Snake (Hydrophis semperi) – World’s Only Sea Snake That Lives in Freshwater

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Garman’s Sea Snake is one of the rarest sea snakes in the world. It can only be found in Taal Lake in the Philippines. Garman’s Sea Snake is only one of two “true” sea snake species and the only one known to live entirely in freshwater.

12.) Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)– Live-bearing Fish

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Female Guppies, together with female Sharks keep the eggs in their bodies until the baby fish hatch. Guppies are among the world’s most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. This live-bearing species can grow up to a length of 6 cm. Guppies are also known as Millionfish.

13.) Pipefish (Syngnathinae) – Species Where Male Species Gets Pregnant

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Pipefish female, along with Seahorses female, give their eggs to the male to take care of.

Pipefishes or Pipe-fishes are unique species of small fish that belongs to the Syngnathidae family.

14.) Minnow (Pimephales promelas) – Fish That Can Tell When Another Minnow is Being Attacked

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Minnows can tell when another minnow is being attacked. The skin of the minnow in danger gives off a chemical. The chemical warns other minnows to escape. Minnows are small freshwater and saltwater fish of the carp family.

15.) Catfish – Fish That Can Walk on Land/Facultative Air Breather

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Catfish are unique fish species – it can walk on land. Catfish are Facultative air breathers – they only breathe air if need to and will otherwise rely on their gills for oxygen. Catfish are named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat’s whiskers but not all species have barbells. The heaviest and longest catfish is the Mekong Giant Catfish of Southeast Asia and the second longest is the Wels Catfish of Eurasia.

16.) Atlantic Goliath Grouper(Epinephelus itajara) – Fish That Starts as Female and Changes into Male

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The Atlantic Goliath Grouper is a bizarrely unique fish which starts as female and later changes into a male. It can grow up to 2.5 m in length and can weigh as much as 363 kg.It is formerly known as Jewfish and is also known as Itajara.

17.) Sharks – Amongst the Earliest Known Fish to Exist

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Sharks, together with Rays, Chimeras are cartilaginous fish. They have soft material called cartilage instead of bone. Bony fish have skeletons made of bone. The earliest known shark dates from more than 420 million years ago – before the time of the dinosaurs.

18.) Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus) – Fish Capable of Generating Powerful Electric Shocks

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Electric Eel is a spineless and toothless fish in the Amazon. It can produce a current of up to 650 volts, enough to shock a human. This electric fish uses the powerful electric shocks it generates for hunting and self-defense. It lives in South America and despite its name it is not an eel but rather a knifefish.

19.) Rays – Fish with the Most Unusual Shapes

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Rays are fish with unusual shapes. They have flat, disc-shaped bodies. There are more than 500 known species of rays. These cartilaginous fish are closely related to sharks, from which they can be distinguished by their flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head and gill slits that are placed on their ventral surfaces.

20.) Archerfish (Toxotidae) – Nature’s Greatest Sharpshooters

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Archerfish are unique fish that knocks down sitting or flying insects from underneath the water by shooting them down with water droplets from their mouths. They can hit their prey with great accuracy at a distance of up to 1.54 meters. They are also commonly known as Archer Fish or Spinner Fish. They can be found in the Philippines, India, Australia and Polynesia. They can grow up to a length of 40 cm.

21.) Piranha – World’s Most Ferocious Animal

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Piranhas are not just the most ferocious fish but also the most ferocious animals in the world. These freshwater fish inhabits South American rivers. Piranhas are known for their sharp teeth and a voracious appetite for meat. They are known also to attack humans. A single drop of blood on the water will signal them immediately to attack.

22.) Electric Rays (Torpedo fuscomaculata) – Fish Capable of Producing Electric Discharge

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Electric Rays are unique flattened cartilaginous fish well known for being capable of producing an electric discharge. These electric discharges ranged from 8 volts up to 220 volts. There are 69 known species of Electric Rays. The Electric ray on the above photo is a Torpedo Fuscomaculata.

23.) Tawilis (Sardinella tawilis) – World’s Only Freshwater Sardine

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The only freshwater sardine in the world is the Tawilis and it can only be found in Taal Lake, Philippines. It is also called Freshwater Sardinella. It is unique in that it is the only member of the family Clupeidae that is known to exist entirely in freshwater.

24,) Sailfish (Istiophorus) – World’s Fastest Fish

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Sailfish can be found in all the oceans of the world. They are grey to blue in color and are remarkable for their erectile dorsal fin known as a sail. They are also distinct for their elongated bills that resemble those of the Swordfish and Marlins. As the world’s fastest swimmers, Sailfish have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 km/h. Sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg.

25.) (Schindleria brevipinguis)Stout Infantfish– World’s Smallest Known Fish

The smallest known fish species in the world is the Schindleria brevipinguis. It is endemic to Australia and is commonly known as the Stout Infantfish. It inhabits the Coral Sea, Osprey Reef and the Great Barrier Reef. Its maximum length is 8.4 mm or .33 in and weighs about 1 mg. Trimmatom nanus, a dwarf goby from Indian Ocean, is now moved to 2nd place.

26.) Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – World’s Largest Fish

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The world’s largest fish species is the gigantic Whale Shark. It can be as long as 12.65 meters and can weigh as much as 36 tonnes. It can live up to 70 years.

The ff: are not true fish;

Many types of aquatic creatures commonly referred to as “fish” are not fish. This includes the crayfish, cuttlefish, jellyfish, shellfish and starfish.

See also *World’s Most Brightly Colored Fishes*25 Amazing and Bizarre Deep Sea Creatures*Beauty and the Beast: Top 20 Most Poisonous Fish in the World*Top 12 Most Colorful and Beautiful Aquarium Fishes

Article by Li Ming Wong

Most people are unaware or uninformed of how to properly clean and care for a saltwater tank. It’s best to understand how to care for your saltwater tank before even buying one so as to avoid possible problems down the road. The first thing you should be aware of is that you will need to buy filtered water or buy a reverse osmosis kit. Otherwise you can use regular water, making sure it is at the correct temperature, and add in chemicals to remove chlorine and other unwanted chemicals. Maintenance is a necessity and you will need to clean your tank at least once a month. It is best to try to clean the tank as often as every two weeks however, don’t over clean your tank or you will remove some of the beneficial bacteria. Most people think that removing this bacteria is a good thing, but it’s the exact opposite for a saltwater tank. This bacteria is actually essential to maintain a healthy and balanced aquarium.

If you are just starting out with a new saltwater tank, you will need to let the tank sit for 30 days before adding anything to it. It is recommended that you buy some test strips to test out the water and make sure everything is balanced. Nobody wants to invest in a .00 fish and have it die because the water was not tested and the chemical balance was off. Once the tank is established and the chemical levels are stable, it will stay that way, and you shouldn’t need to test it if you do frequent water changes. When cleaning the tank, you will need remove of stir the gravel to remove sediment that could possibly change the chemical make up of the tank. Use caution when cleaning an acrylic tank and be sure that the cleaning supplies being used will not harm the tank in any way.

The best thing to use to remove algae is phosphate drops. When added to the water on a regular basis, algae does not build up as quickly. Another way to avoid an algae problem is to invest in some hermit crabs and snails to keep your rocks and tank clean. Hermit crabs and snails are known to be the clean up crew, and can make a huge difference in your saltwater aquarium if you have enough of them. You will also need to buy a scraper or a scratch pad to clean the glass. A regular cleaning tool will not be strong enough to remove the algae from the glass.

It is very important to aim the filter head down into the water. Failure to do so will result in a build up of salt on the lid of the tank. Good lighting and a strong and efficient filter are a necessity. The tank should only be lit for about 6 hours a day. The more lighting, the more algae will form. You can buy a timer from the pet store to make sure the light is on at the exact time each day. Otherwise the lighting could range from day to day and algae will form. Try to position the saltwater aquarium away from direct sunlight as this will also add to the growth of algae.

The key to maintaining a healthy saltwater aquarium is to keep it clean and algae free. By remembering the ways to avoid algae, you will be able to keep a healthy aquarium for years to come.

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