Fish

One of the most popular home aquarium inhabitants, the Oscar fish is among the fairly large kinds in the species of cichlids reaching lengths between 12 to 16 inches. It is a South American Cichlid and is also referred to as Velvet cichlid, Peacock cichlid or Walnut cichlid. The most common variants of Oscars among aquarists are the Veil-tailed, Blueberry or Strawberry, Albino and Lutino, Tiger Oscar, Green Oscar and the Red Oscar. Oscars are beautiful living creatures but there is so much to know about these fishes and one should learn a bit about them before planning to own one.

The popularity of Oscars stems from their personality. Known to be intelligent fishes, it is considered an all-time favourite among aquarium hobbyists. Their ‘intelligence’ is mostly observed by how these fishes could recognize their owners. The Oscar fish demonstrates an ability to respond to people, not many fish possess such capability. What’s funny is, they can even play dead at the bottom of the tank to trick smaller fishes to come closer and eat them. Pretty smart eh? Like most territorial fishes, the Oscars have a reputation of being aggressive at times.

Those who intend to buy Oscars are those who plan to bring home an addition to the family. These fishes happen to possess ‘dog-like-personalities’. Oscars love to be touched and rubbed. They’re very fun to have as they can be taught to do little tricks to get their food. These fishes are voracious eaters by the way, which explains why they are willing to charm people and get to feed them.  They too can have their moods… can be spoiled or sensitive, and demanding at times. They behave very much like a part of your family.

Oscars normally cost about $4.99 to $6.99. In looking for the best Oscar fish to take home, it is always advised to go a reputable fish store. Sure you would find a lot of pet stores that sells Oscars as well. But remember, anybody can put up a fish store. If the places you buy your fishes from do not have the expertise on the kind of fish you want, there is a great chance for you bringing home a diseased fish.

Buying Oscars online is possible too. But doing a little research about the place you intend to make your purchase is always a wise move to make sure you get yourself a healthy Oscar fish for your tank. Among the Online pet stores/fish stores that guarantees you quality fishes are:

That Fish Place/That Pet Place – claims to be the original aquatic and pet supply superstore, run by animal lovers, trained professionals and experts for over 30 years in the industry. Look it up at  www.thatpetplace.com.

Fish Factory – ensures you the healthiest livestock available from their 7,000 square feet of freshwater and tropical fishes. Learn more about them at www.fishfactory.us.

Beyond the Reef – supplying quality fish and corals and equipments for reasonable prices. You can check out different Oscar fishes and get in touch with them at www.beyondthereefinc.com.

You might also wanna try Petco (www.petco.com), East Coast Aquatics (www.eastcoastaquatics.com), Pet Smart (www.petsmart.com) and many others who provide information about their facilities and staff to be sure they have only the quality fishes. The Oscar is one fish with a great personality! Its size and beauty commands attention. Oscars can be quite a showpiece, it’s sure worth to own one!

African cichlids are one of the most interesting fishes anybody can ever keep in an aquarium. If you want a tank full of the most brightly colored freshwater fish you could ever see, then this is the fish for you. Known for being social and active, these fishes displays a lot of energetic movement and keeps anybody’s tank look alive and entertaining. The array of colors and beautiful patterns they come in are not typical of most freshwater tropical fish, making African cichlids among the most fascinating and beautiful fish to observe.

These fishes come from three of Africa’s great lakes: Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria. Among the common species of African cichlids within the aquarium hobby are Zebra Obliquidens, African Butterfly Cichlid, Lake Makawi Butterfly Cichlid, Jewel Cichlid, Compressed Cichlid, Grants Peacock Cichlid, Frantosa Cichlid, Slender Cichlid, Victoria Biglip Hap Cichlid and Lifalili Cichlid. There are over a hundred of African Cichlid species but not all makes good fish for an aquarium.

Aside from their social behaviour and extroverted personalities, a lot of fish keepers are amazed with the degree of intelligence these fishes possess. African Cichlids are also territorial and has the tendency to be aggressive towards other cichlids. This behaviour may be dealt with though by considering aspects like male to female ratio in the tank and providing them structured areas and hiding spots within. A large tank for your cichlids is important as well.

Most African Cichlids are known for their proliferation. Being “maternal mouth brooders” makes them relatively easy to breed. The male African Cichlids fertilizes the eggs and the female then picks them up, and incubates them in her mouth for 21 to 31 days. She doesn’t eat during this period, one amazing character these fishes have. There are also a few other species of fish that practices mouth brooding though.

These creatures, according to their species, vary in size. But unlike other aquarium fishes, African cichlids could grow up to 4 to 6 inches, while the Haps could even reach sizes up to 9 inches. These fishes lives for about 4-10 years, but certain species could thrive up to 15 years.

African Cichlids are one of the most beautiful aquarium inhabitants an aquarium owner can ever have. It doesn’t require really much to care for them. Their temperaments could make looking after them become daunty. With proper knowledge, keeping African Cichlids is easy and rewarding, and makes anybody’s aquatic experience wonderful.

Also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta Splendens are often the favourite among home aquarium dwellers. Not only they are relatively easy to care for, this species are not expensive as well. The color variations of Bettas/Siams are amazingly beautiful and many fish keepers are lured by its vibrant colors and active lifestyle.

Because of the ease of care, Siams/Bettas can make a lot of sense if you are new to fish keeping. Finding beautiful live betas for sale is easy if you’re interested in raising show quality betas in your tank. These species have unique personalities, and buying them from local fish stores or pet stores (Petco, Petsmart…) is always the first advisable thing to do. Buying a fish that you’re most connected to is always the best. Bettas tend to learn faces and recognize people, and their curious trait would show how they want to get to know their caregiver better.

If buying your fishes online is most convenient for you, it is best to look up where guaranteed quality of Bettas are found. Among these places are:

LiveAquaria.com — a large and reputable supplier of aquatic products operated by veterinarians and pet products experts who have been in the market for over 25 years. They take pride in their expertise and extraordinary measures to ensure best possible care for your fishes until they are delivered to your doorstep.

Tropicalfishmiami.reachlocal.net — a giant one-acre farm located in Miami, Florida. They are known to breed the best among the varieties of freshwater tropical fishes and a stock of the unusual species. The quality of their fishes is owed to the perfect weather and weather conditions to where their facility is. They import hundreds of species across America and around the globe. Getting in touch with them is easy as they have provided all contact information in their site for specific details of your order.

Aquariumfish.net — based in San Diego, CA, Aquariumfish.net claims to sell over 1,500 of the nicest and most unique betas every week, at incredible prices you would surely approve of. They ship over 48 states in the U.S. and to some places in Hawaii and Alaska.

You could find hundreds of pages more if you do a search, but buying from reputable sources would always make your purchase worthwhile. Also, if you do your purchase online, make sure you know your Betta more before buying it. Websites provides links for you to explore on more information about the fish.

Learning more about these fishes is always advisable before deciding to buy one. The secrets to making your Siams/Bettas healthy and happy is on the kind of care you provide them. With the correct knowledge of the proper care they are due, and the love you give to the fish, your betas would live longer and provide you with an amazing aquatic experience.

Betta fish are probably one of the nicest looking fish around. Also known as Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens), they are one of the most popular specie for freshwater aquarium display. These ray-finned creatures are most appreciated for their brilliant colors. Though they come in all sorts of shades, red, blue and green are the most common. They often come in a combination of such colors and results in very unique color designs. Male betas tend to be more colourful and have longer fins than the females.

These creatures require very little to survive. Because of the low cost of maintenance and ease of care, they are more preferred to be kept by aquarium owners and fish enthusiasts. Those who are starting out in their fish keeping hobby tend to be advised on this specie over others that require a great deal of time and attention, and more often expertise to make them thrive. Bettas are discovered to tolerate poor water conditions and could live in smaller spaces (like small sized aquariums). But that doesn’t mean they have to be kept such way. Like any other fish, you need to provide them proper habitat and regular water change. Betta fishes have a fairly short lifespan, but with the right conditions, they could live up to three or four years.

Bettas are called Siamese Fighting Fish for a reason – - – they actually fight. Their aggressive nature is a distinguishing trait for Betta fishes. Such behavior stems from the need to protect their territory and to eliminate competition for food. The males tend to be more aggressive towards each other and even their own reflection could intimidate them as they perceive it as another male. Since Siams/Bettas only attack other males, it is never a wise idea to put two males on the same tank, as it would always result on one of them dying. However, a male betta may also attack a female if he feels threatened by her. Its aggression is easily seen when a betta would flare up his fins to try to make himself appear bigger and more superior than the other one. Female betas, on the other hand, are not aggressive and would do well if placed together.

Bettas breed quite different too. A male “courts” a female betta by building a bubble-nest among the leaves of floating plants where the eggs spawned by the female would be placed later on and would be fertilised by the male Betta himself. One other distinct feature of Siams/Bettas is their ability to breathe oxygen both in water and air owed to the labyrinth organ in their heads. This enables them to live in oxygen-poor environments. But that doesn’t mean they require less oxygen than other species. By nature, bettas feed almost exclusively on insects and larvae. Frozen or freeze-dried bone shrimp, daphnia, plankton, glassworms could be excellent options for feeding your betta pets.

Bettas bring a lot of life and beauty wherever you place them. They may have an aggressive nature, but some betas love to be raised from the water and stroked. They love swimming in their caregiver’s hand. You see, they can have their own personalities and could be man’s bestfriend. The beauty, grace and unique personalities of Bettas make them ideal pets.

Freshwater angelfish are among the most beautiful of all aquatic creatures. Its spectacle is mostly credited to its extraordinary patterns and colors. They would stand out in any reef tank. No wonder fishkeepers, fish breeders and fish enthusiasts would not want to be without an angelfish in their tank.

This type of freshwater fish has several species. Among them are Pterophyllum altum (Altum angelfish, Deep angelfish or Orinoco angelfish), Pterophyllum leopoldi (also known as teardrop angelfish, long-nosed angelfish, dwarf angelfish or Roman-nosed angelfish) and Pterophyllum scalare. The latter is what’s commonly referred to as the freshwater angelfish and what’s mostly kept in aquariums.

They could come in the most beautiful rich colors and appearances. Silver, Zebra, half-black, gold marble, are just among those. These beauties are so eye-catching that fish owners take pride in showing off their angelfish, and most often are the major attraction in their reef tank. They are non-aggressive and are the gentlest among others. The popularity of the attraction these fishes bring has created hundreds of thousands of fanatics all over different places, making them one of the most sought species in the aquatic world. Some of their colors are a result of pigmentation while others are due to interaction of light. Nonetheless, the overall effect brings a striking ensemble.

This type of aquatic is not really hard to obtain. Price-wise, they could be pretty affordable. More exotic breeds would cost a little more but is not a very big dent on fish breeders’ pocket. Breeds like Silver Diamond Angel Fish, Gold Marble Angel Fish, Gold Diamond Angel Fish, Blue Merle Blusher Marble Angel Fish, Gold Pearl Angel Fish and Black Blusher Angel Fish, could be bought for $12 – $26. Among them, the Marble Diamond Angel Fish with white body and glittery scale pattern and black patches on the body, fins and tails, seems to have the most exotic appearance and is more appreciated by many. If you want one with the darkest color, the Black Blusher will be the perfect choice.

Black Clown Angel Fish, Koi Angel Fish, Black Double Dark Angel Fish and Chocolate Blusher Angel Fish, are somewhere around $10 – $22 and the Black Double Dark, which is coal black and with no variations, is the most appealing in this price range. Koi has the most playful appearance though, with its black patches, orange crown and blushing gills. It is beautiful to mix different breeds in your reef tank though and you will have the prettiest parade of angel fishes. The Sunset Blusher Angel Fish costs around $9 – $20 and is one you shouldn’t miss in your collection. Its stunning pearl white color captures every viewers fancy while the orange crown creates a beautiful contrast.

However you can get lovely angel fishes at the price range of $8 to $18. Among those you can take home for such price are the Black Hybrid Angel Fish, Black Lace Angel Fish, Black Lace ghost Angel Fish, Zebra Lace Angel Fish, Smokey Leopard Angel Fish and the Turquoise Blusher Angel Fish. The Black Lace Angel Fish, for why it is called Black Lace, has a chocolate brown color with solid stripes and is quite something not to miss as well.

For $6 to $14, you can have breeds like Silver Zebra Angel Fish, Gold Marble Angel Fish, Silver Clown Angel Fish and Silver Ghost Angel Fish. Gold Marble Angel Fish has a gold body and random black patches on its fins and tails are the captivating ones among the group. Plain Gold, Marble and Silver angel fishes are sold as low as $5 to $12.

Being timid and safe, they are often deemed as safe pets. Because of the sole beauty and traits of angelfishes, more and more are seeking out this species. With the different lovely breeds to explore on, these interesting creatures could surely create a one of a kind show tank.

Keeping tropical fishes is a pleasurable hobby for a lot of people. However, most believe fishkeeping is as easy as buying a fish tank, filling it with water and depositing the fishes in. This approach is not a very good way to start your tropical fishkeeping hobby, and may even be cruel to the fishes.

Knowledge and dedication is needed when you want to care for these lovely creatures. One needs to have a grasp of some basic know how on caring for freshwater tropical fish before probably owning an aquarium.

There are so many things to go from and you may ask so many questions.
What species of fishes should I care for?
What type of aquarium do I need and how big?
What equipments should I get?
Where should I set up my aquarium?
What do I need to maintain an aquarium?
How often should I feed the fishes and what should I give them?

There are so many basics that govern the aquarium life. There are hundreds of fantastic species of freshwater tropical fishes. Common species you can own and care for at home are angelfish, catfish, discus, carachins, labyrinth fishes, swordtails, guppies and mollies. Of course, you can choose from among the wide number of species out there, it is all about what you find most interesting, beautiful and fits your budget well.

Careful consideration must be exercised in picking out your aquarium. Ideally, larger aquariums contain greater volume of water, keeping water conditions more stable, and one should choose the largest he can afford or accommodate in his available space. Where you will place your aquarium is another factor. Since beautifying the home is one of the reasons for setting up an aquarium, putting it where it can be easily viewed serves its purpose. However, one must not forget that an aquarium needs constant maintenance, so it should be in an accessible and convenient location as well. Keep it away from heat source and direct sunlight to avoid algal growth.

Aquarium maintenance is crucial. There are certain rituals one has to perform on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis like checking water temperatures, filters and pumps, testing water quality and doing water changes from time to time, cleaning the tanks and filters on top of feeding the fishes and observing their behaviours. The latter would help you identify signs of ill health. Many factors can cause your freshwater tropical fishes to become ill. Incorrect diet and poor water conditions are the most common. Unstable oxygen is another thing.

You see, caring for freshwater tropical fishes involves so many things and doing a little more research before rushing out to buy one is always a wise move. When you’re sure you’re ready to keep them healthy and beautiful, it might be the right time to head out to the fish store.

There are probably hundreds of spectacular species of freshwater tropical fishes out there. The beauty and uniqueness of these creatures have drawn more and more people into fishkeeping and the hobby had become so popular all over the world.

Most fish owners, seeks out the very rare species for several reasons. Rare freshwater tropical fish are preferred by those who have the passion for the exotic. These people, who are mostly collectors, have the ‘eye for the unusual’. Others desire to preserve them from extinction. Those who are more inclined to business, buys the rare ones to breed them and make profits from them.

Among those what are thought of as rare freshwater tropical fishes are dwarf cichlids, livebearers, rainbow fish, labyrinth fish, killifish, gobies and gudgeons. Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria are those that are sought of because of their extraordinary colors. African cichlids are most admired for their fantastic beauty and charm. Siamese fighting fish and Poecilia reticulata are probably the best ones to show off with their splendid and brightly colored tails and wonderful contrast tints. But there are more out there if you do a little more digging in and want to be adventurous in your choice. You can find an overwhelming number of attractive rare species to explore with online. These rare and hard to find species for experts and hobbyists of all experience levels are not easily available in pet stores, but are mostly found in specialty online stores.

Places like Rare-tropicalfish.com, Karmafarmaquatics.net, Justrarefish.com, Tothefish.com and Reefhotspot.com are just among the few that offers such exotic creatures. It is hard to state the prices though since every kind is priced differently according to how difficult they are to obtain, where they come from, how they will be shipped, and a lot of considerations that goes with the cost. I must say there really aren’t that much places that has readily available rare freshwater tropical fishes, but if you know how to be resourceful, and would be willing to pay a few $$$ for it, you can actually own yourself the loveliest and most unique breeds in your showcase.

Getting the rarest may cost one a fortune. But whatever reason you have for wanting to purchase rare freshwater tropical fishes, may be well enough worth your money. After all, they are one of the world’s hidden gems. Seeing these lovely colored creatures would make one wanna pay any price for it.