Your Pet Fish

Marine Fish

Beginners Guide To Filters For Tropical Fish Tanks

Article by Chloe Heini Taylor

Your fish tank filter is an essential part of your aquarium set up. Without filtration the aquarium water will quickly become stagnant and toxic and won’t be conducive with healthy living. Basically, if you aren’t wanting to stock your fish tank solely with green algae then you’ll need to find a solution for filtering the water!The 2 main distinctive filter types are the internal fish tank filter and the external fish tank filter. You can utilize either type in either salt water or fresh water fish tanks.

Internal fish tank filters come in 2 basic styles (however, there are different types within each style just to confuse matters!). The first type is the under gravel filter which is usually seen in cold water and tropical fish tanks. These are made up of an elevated plastic grate which sits at the base of the aquarium. The gravel or substrate is then positioned on the surface of the grate and vertical tubes connect to the filter. These tubes generally either have a power head located on top or a bubbler inserted into them. Water will then be forced to flow through the gravel and back up the tube in to the tank. The gravel itself acts as the filter and collects any extra food particles or fish waste that is pulled down through it.The next type of internal fish tank filter normally sits in a corner of the tank or attaches to the wall of the tank via suction cups. With these, a motorised pump sucks the water in to the unit and through one, or a combination of, filters which catch the waste material. The filtered water will then be pumped back into the tank. This procedure is continuous and, providing that the filter media is changed at regular intervals, generally does a great job of cleaning the water. This type of filter usually provides an affordable solution (prices do vary rather a lot though so it’s worth looking around) but sometimes generates a humming background noise which not everybody likes and you’ll have to get your hands wet when it comes to cleaning and changing the media.

External filters are, in my view at least, the most effective filter choice for any aquarium though they do come at a price. All the filtering happens outside the aquarium therefore the messy stuff is kept away from the clean water of the tank. Changing the filter media is also a lot simpler and results in less disruption to the fish because you don’t have to place your hands in the water. These usually suit larger tanks or more serious aquarists as the price can be somewhat prohibitive for newcomers to the hobby.As said before, prices do vary quite a lot so it’s worth looking around either your neighborhood suppliers or online. Personally, I’ve been using Aquarium House (http://www.aquariumhouse.co.uk) for quite a while now. They’re a price comparison website for aquarium supplies so they do the hard work for you. You will find anything from tropical fish tanks, marine fish tanks & fish tank filters right the way through to fish food, fishkeeping books and fish tank decorations. A lot of the goods on their website also come with price match guarantees so it’s hard to go wrong. If you sign up to their newsletter they will notify you when the leading suppliers have promotions, special deals, free p&P, free giveaways etc. so definitely worth a look!

Whichever filter option you choose, it’s essential to keep up to date with the maintenance and regularly change the filter media otherwise even the most expensive filter won’t do it’s job properly.

Old Christmas Trees Protect Marine Life
Marine fish
… for juvenile fish this winter. Photo: Wikimedia Commons When residents in Riverside County, Calif., drop off their Christmas trees for recycling this year, they'll not only be saving space in the landfill; they'll also be helping marine life. …

Marine fish question by Alex R: What should i get tropical fish or marine fish?
Which one is harder to look after?
Which fish are better?

Marine fish best answer:

Answer by Viktoriya
I’d stick with tropical fish. Marine are way too hard to keep happy! As to an answer which fish is better – I suppose it depends what you’d call better? Both tropical and marine have great colourful fish – they are just different.

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Betta Fish

Caring For Betta Fish – Beginner’s Guide to Bettas

Article by T L Gallamore

Betta fish are one of the most popular types of pet fish in our culture today, second only perhaps to the goldfish. Between you and me though, I’d much rather have one of these guys than a goldfish. In this article I’ve given you some beginner tips on taking care of Betta fish and pointed you towards some helpful resources!

Basic Info: Betta fish originated in or around Siam, which is how they were titled the “Siamese fighting fish.” Of course, if you look on a map today you’ll find no mention of Siam, as it is present day Thailand. Betta fish now live naively in other countries in Eastern Asia as well. They generally occupy ponds, rice paddies, and slow moving streams.

Diet: In the wild, Betta feed on small insects that either stray too close to, or live on/in the water. What this means is that they are primarily carnivores. A well balanced diet should be fed to Bettas, there are many live foods along with nutrient enriched diets like flakes and pellets. I choose to feed my fish pellets and catch him a small ant to eat every once and a while! Bettas are food dependent and will develop a relationship with you around this, my betta eats food off of my finger and gets very excited when I walk in the room.

Housing and Climate: Bettas should be housed alone as more than one will often result in conflict. They should be kept in a decent size tank, mine absolutely loves his 10 gallon tank and I wouldn’t recommend anything less than 5. Temperature should be kept constant at a temperature between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, bettas are use to the tropics, just try and re-create home!

Most deadly Betta mistakes occur without the owner even knowing what’s going on. Avoid these mistakes and give your Betta fish the best life possible. I found my “salvation” so-to-speak in Betta Care Made Easy. In just a few minutes I learned a whole lot about little things I was doing that were harming my fish. Some of them ost noteworthy topics included were:

> How to maintain proper water conditions> When and when not to use a filter> How to correctly setup a Betta tank and the 5-part checklist> What to do if your Betta won’t eat> Caring for Betta fish that are ill, how to diagnose and <u>cure every Betta sickness</u>> Step by step instructions for breeding bettas> Heaters and thermometers??? How to get your temperature right!> Why the wrong type of lighting can kill your Betta

Everything you need to know at http://BettaCareMadeEasy.info

Originally published at Caring For Betta Fish

Betta Fish question by Jenny H: What other fish can i keep with a betta ?
I was thinking of getting a betta fish in a large vase. But maybe i will get a 10 gallon tank with a betta and some other types of fish. So i am wondering what fish can i keep with a betta?

Betta Fish best answer:

Answer by sno_star67
betta fish are fighting fish. they have been known to accidentally kill themselves trying to attack their own reflection in a mirror. Don’t put any other fish with a betta. Keep it by itself and away from other fish tanks. Good luck with your new pets!

My planted tank. Flight of the betta fish.

45g tank, 130w lights ,filter xp4, Co2 setup. Fish: 3 Angels, 1 betta, 8 gold Tetra’s 1 gold chinese algae eater. Plants: Dwarf sag,Cryptocoryne Wendtii ,Red tiger lotus, Red dwaf lily and Cryp Balansae.
Betta Fish Video Rating: 5 / 5

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Betta Fish

7 Care Recommendations For Betta Fish – A Beginner’s Guide

Article by Trent Gallamore

Alright, so you just got a Betta fish (or are at least considering getting one), now what? With so many of the website’s you visit having slightly contradictory content and lessons, it can be hard to know just exactly what you should be doing to make sure that your little is in the best health he can be in and lives as long as possible. So, in the spirit of helping you do just that, this write-up is going to cover 7 vital Betta fish care tips that you should be made well aware of before trying to care for a Betta fish.

1.) First and foremost, let’s talk tank size. This is one of the most disputed issues of Betta fish care but the bottom line is this: Five gallons should be the minimum tank size you keep a Betta in, and ten is better. Shoving a Betta into a little glass vase where he can barely turn around is not going to give him an enjoyable nor a long life. And just so you know, those people who say that Betta fish originated in puddles and therefore don’t like a lot of space are sorely misinformed, yes the rice paddies of Thailand were shallow, but Bettas’ original homes were vast ponds of water that dwarf any aquarium most of us can buy. In closing, bigger is better when it comes to Bettas!

2.) Our second care tip is short but sweet: Temperature in the tank. Betta fish are used to warm water and 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended range for these guys to live in. Anything below 76 and your fish will start to get sluggish, with serious health risks presenting themselves after pro-longed exposure to 68 degrees or lower.

3.) Next, be sure that you know your water well enough to deem it safe for living. For Bettas, this means more than simply dropping some dechlorination drops in your tap water (though you should always do this too). It is important that you buy a cheap testing kit for oxygen levels, ammonia, and nitrates, which you should use regularly to ensure proper water quality. The number one cause of Betta fish illness and premature death is the fact that most owners don’t keep up on their water conditions, this should also include changing about 50% of your Bettas water out each week if the tank is filtered, more if not.

4.) Socialize! This is one of the most overlooked aspects of Betta care, which has always been a surprise to me because it is generally the most fun! While these finned friends are usually forced to live alone in tanks due to their conflicting nature with certain (though not all) other types of fish, it doesn’t mean they like being lonely. The more you are around the more a Betta fish will get to know you and accept your presence as a friend, especially when he associates feeding time with you being nearby. Try training your Betta, oh yes, it’s possible, to swim through hoops or jump out of the water for food.

5.) Speaking of jumping, Bettas do that, a lot! Even though Bettas can breath through their labyrinth organ, not just their gills, this organ has to be moist to function properly so if a Betta jumps out of his tank, he can be in trouble with more than just other household pets you might have around! Make sure your water level is a few inches below the top of your tank and that, if possible, it is covered with some sort of mesh.

6.) Alright so it’s feeding time, what do I serve up?! For most Betta fish, a well balanced diet that can be provided by most Betta-specific flake or pellet formulas is just fine. However, it is good to sprinkle in some live or freeze dried protein treats when possible, brine shrimp and blood or ring worms are timeless favorites for these guys.

7.) Night and day. While most people don’t realize or think about it, Betta fish like to be on the same general sleep pattern as us (awake during the day, asleep at night). When choosing a place for your Betta’s tank be sure that it will be lit during the day (though not in direct sunlight!) and dark at night, to promote a natural and non-stressful sleep cycle for your finned friend!

Betta Fish question by Aleasha C: How to make aquarium for a betta fish?
I have a betta fish that I got from a pet store. It is still in the little plastic container that I bought it in. I don’t know how to make an aquarium for it. I have a floral vase that I would like to use, but I’m afraid that it is dirty. Should I wash it with soap, or could that hurt the fish? Do betta fish need gravel? How high should the water be? Also, how much should I feed my betta fish every day?

Betta Fish best answer:

Answer by Lo C
Never use soap, never use a vase or bowl. Bettas need a 5 gallon filtered and heated tank. Do a fishless cycle before adding the Betta. Feed your Betta a high quality pellet 2-3 times a day with small meals. Occasionally feed meaty foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, krill, tubifex worms, etc etc.

20L aquarium fish Tank betta fish breeding amano shrimp

hi my first upload….sorry for poor quality…(will upload better)….new novice aquarium betta tank…wanting to give breeding a go….help and tips…female betta in breeding box (will remove to own tank after)….betta has made bubble nest….6 almano shrimp (possibly one other shrimp as much bigger than others) 2 red cherry, .tank 2 weeks old, superfish 20L 5 gallon tank with new nutrafin co2 (bit slow) one bubble every 8 seconds (getting faster)….plants java fern, moss around bog wood, hair grass.any advice…
Betta Fish Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Cold Water Fish

Your Fish Tank And You: A Guide

Article by Jack Dobson

If you are thinking or purchasing fish, either tropical or cold water, the most important thing to consider is what kind of fish tank to house them in. Improperly cared for fish will be susceptible to many different kinds of malady and at the worst may die from being improperly housed. Please think carefully before purchasing fish and always make sure that a tank is set up to house them at the least three days ahead of purchase, to make sure that the water in the fish tank has time to stabilise.

A suitable fish tank is one which contains enough space for a fish to move around freely. Contrary to popular perceptions spherical bowls are not good housing for either goldfish or tropical fish unless they are very large. The best sort of fish tank will be rectangular and made of sturdy glass, preferably with a roof to prevent fish from jumping out. Some fish tanks come ready equipped with a back light and this is a good thing if one is thinking of purchasing tropical fish; however cold water fish do not require a back light.

To keep both cold water and tropical fish healthy it is a good idea to put food into the fish tank on a daily basis. Different kinds of fish require different kinds of food and your pet shop should be able to advise you on this. It is very important not to over-feed fish as to do so can result in illness and even death. Fish will over-eat if given the opportunity so be very careful as to how much food is inserted into the fish tank.

A properly equipped fish tank should come with a filter and an aerator to maintain suitable levels of oxygen in the tank. If you will be keeping tropical fish you should think about including a heater as well; however cold water fish will not need a heater in their fish tank.

It is important to include gravel in a fish tank for the health and well being of both tropical and cold water goldfish. Contrary to popular opinion, fish have a longer attention span than seven seconds and hence it is advisable to include toys and ornaments to divert their attention. Toys need not be expensive; fish can be diverted by something as cheap and ordinary as a ping pong ball inserted into their tank.

To find out more on equipping your fish tank, or just to see this advice in action, visit the VideoJug website and watch their Fish Tank Guide.

Cold water fish question by heatherxp2: What fish can i get for my cold water tank?
What fish can i get in a cold water tank 10L 2.6galons i don;t have a heater i do have a filter and a air pump lots of plants some thing bright and small would be nice, and can eat cold water fish food

Cold water fish best answer:

Answer by catx
There are no “coldwater” fish suitable for such a small tank. Very few “coldwater” (or sub-tropical) fish are available to buy anyway. Mostly including Goldfish (need over 70 litres), White Cloud Mountain Minnows (over 50 litres) and Dojo Loaches (over 70 litres).

In such a small tank you could just about fit a single Betta, with a 25w heater, just, but it would prefer larger.

Such small tanks are going to leave you unsatisfied and are harder to care for than larger tanks anyway.

Cold Water Walleye Tips-Facts of Fishing

Pro angler and host of Facts of Fishing Dave Mercer hits the water with Captain Jim Johnson and gets some tips on finding fish and making them bite.
Cold water fish Video Rating: 5 / 5

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Betta Fish

Review: Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers By Marcus Song

Article by Bosun Sogeke

Marcus Song’s “Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers” is filled with exclusive and little known insider information on caring for these exquisite and one of it a kind little fish. Even for someone like me, who has owned Betta fish nearly all of my life for their beauty and longevity, I learned something new at the turn of each and every page. This is a wonderful read for those who are curious to learn about these under water beauties and possibly obtain one (or three or four!) for themselves.

First, Song took me through the history of the fish, from the olden days in rice paddies to their name sake, the ancient Asian warrior Bettah clan, to their international dispense via a gift from the King of Siam. He also explained the fascinating and exciting world of fish fighting when the people of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam would put their homes and even their children on the line “on the outcome of just one fight.”

We all know that Bettas are fantastically colored. But do you know why? They were not always so highly decorated. Song delves into color variations and just how Bettas got the immense variety of terrific tints and patterns that we see today.

While explaining the facts of how Bettas are no longer bred to fight but rather for their vivid hues, Song talks about how the species has calmed down their fighting spirit and become more tranquil, slowly but surely, generation after generation. Song took me through an incredible journey of how he himself has bonded with fish beyond anything in my wildest imagination. If cared for properly, Song claims a Betta will literally wag his tail when he sees his owner approaching and will possibly come to the surface for some extra TLC in the form of a pat on the head or a little leftover piece of chicken. In a later chapter, towards the end of the book, Song also informed me that after a bond has been formed you can actually train your Betta to do tricks such as jumping out of the water for food or swimming through hoops! I found these sections truly incredible, proving that the Betta is not just “some fish” but rather gentle companionship for those looking for an alternative type of pet.

Next, after getting some necessary background knowledge, I took a journey to the pet store in my mind with Song while he explained the do’s and don’ts of scoping out a respectable pet store, choosing the right Betta, avoiding death and illness while transporting the little guy and introducing fishy to his new home. Although the tank set up procedure is simple, if it is not done correctly, it could be a life or death situation that you do not want to put your newest family member in. Song eagerly explained many Betta lover tips such as aging water to filtration instructions and beyond.

I began to wonder what else there was and if I, as a fellow Betta owner, was feeding my fish properly. Low and behold, the next chapter answered my questions precisely. Little did I know that Betta fish were carnivores and that my little guys craved treats like a small piece of chicken left over from dinner or even a tiny but juicy piece of steak! Song also eased my vacation stress of what do with our three Bettas when we went on our annual vacation. Our little men are easier to please and care for than I had thought a mere 30 minutes before diving into Song’s book.Song then prepared me for any health issues that my fish might have, some that might have gone unnoticed had I not taken a moment to read his book. There are many illnesses that can fall over your Betta but 99% of them can be cured if the owners observe their fish with attentive and loving eyes. Song gives me all of the information I could ever need on sicknesses, what to look for with each illness and Betta lover tips on treatment and even better yet, on prevention. It is so easy to stop these problems before they start. I learned many, many helpful tips to help my Betta fish become happier, healthier and stress free.

Lastly, Song took me into a place we have all been before: the loss and mourning period at the death of a pet. Most books do not speak of this topic but it is one that we have all experience with a beloved pet, big or small. Song made me feel comforted, that I wasn’t alone, when experiencing feelings of loss and sadness after a Betta fish’s death and where to go for help to cope with this loss if need be.

Song’s guide, “Caring for a Betta Fish: An Insider’s Guide for Betta Lovers” is truly a first in the Betta world. It is comprehensive and detailed yet easy to read and maneuver through. I found his tips thoughtful, informative and very simple to follow. Whether a member of a Betta group, a Betta breeder or just a fellow Betta lover my advice to you is to read this guide! Not only will it make you a better Betta owner, you will increase the quality of life for your Betta as well as yourself by giving yourself the gift of a truly unique and one of a kind pet for years to come.

Mr Song also offers at no extra cost, the following ebooks as bonuses, when you buy the Betta Lover Guide:

Bonus #1: A Special Guide to Breeding Your Bettas. (A $ 19 value.)Bonus #2: The Betta Bucks Guide. (A $ 39 value.)

O.C. family returns to a violence-plagued Mexico
Betta Fish
Whatever the family couldn't sell, they gave away, leaving behind only a planter and a betta fish named Snowflake. Berenice's sister, Karla Quezada, moved in and took over the mortgage payments. "It was a very difficult decision and it continues to be …

Betta Fish question by honey girl: How many betta fish can fit in a regular size fish bowl?
I just bought one betta fish ,and put him in a regular size fish bowl ,but The fish bowl look like it is big enough to add one more betta fish in it ,but I don’t know if I should or not, they might fight or kill each other . So can any one tell me what to do? Also how much should he eat?
Thanks to all advice

Betta Fish best answer:

Answer by fish man
only females can be kept together

males will fight and kill each other
and a male and a female will fight each other

allow 3 gallons filtered and heated per fish

i am interested in how you could fit a heater into a bowl can you please elaborate on this

and bowls are not suitable for fish

they are also known as Siamese fighting fish

the amount of fish a tank can hold should never be calculated by looks.

Betta Fish Breeding with a lot of eggs

My Betta Fish Spawning with lots of eggs
Betta Fish Video Rating: 4 / 5

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