Rainbow Shark Fact Sheet

The rainbow shark, a popular freshwater aquarium fish, has always been among my favorites. When I first began keeping fish, I was amazed by the amount of sentience and personality that these hardy cyprinids display. While rainbow sharks are fairly forgiving, I learned the hard way that they must be kept within good water parameters. Furthermore, rainbow sharks require an adequate amount of space and a healthy diet.

Know these facts about rainbow sharks before purchasing one of these red-tailed beauties.

Adult Size

Most rainbow sharks in pet stores are still very young. A rainbow shark may exceed six inches.

Tank Size

Rainbow sharks become boisterous when they are kept in tanks that are too small. A large tank of 55 gallons or above is necessary to maintain proper health and stimulation.

Social Behavior

The rainbow shark is not a social fish; do NOT keep more than one in a tank. They are very aggressive toward one another and to similar "shark" species, such as the red-tailed shark.

Tank Mates

Keep rainbow sharks with fish of similar size. They may bully small fish, such as danios or tetras, unless there is adequate swimming space. Very large fish may try to eat rainbow sharks, and bottom-dwellers like the pleco may compete excessively for territory.

Life Span

Well-kept rainbow sharks have an average life expectancy of 5-7 years, though many die prematurely from poor water conditions.

Diet

Don't let the name fool you-- this "shark" is a vegetarian. Rainbow sharks need algae, pellet food and herbivore flake food.

Breeding

Rainbow sharks are very difficult to breed in home aquariums because they fight excessively; one fish is likely to die before the pair gets around to laying eggs. Most rainbow sharks are bred on commercial fish farms.

Water Parameters

The rainbow shark prefers a pH of about 7, though a pH as high as 8 or as low as 6 can be tolerable for brief periods of time. These fish are relatively sensitive to nitrates and ammonia; keep both levels as low as possible.

Temperature

A heater is a must-have for these tropical fish. Keep rainbow sharks at a temperature between 75-80 degrees at all times.

Variations

Albino rainbow sharks are a popular alternative to the traditionally pigmented wild specimens. These fish are white with red fins and eyes.

Harlequin Rasbora Fact Sheet

As an aquarist, I have always adored the dazzling sight of a school of harlequin rasboras. These hardy, colorful schooling fish resembles other species, including the closely-related lambchop rasbora, and it is marked by the black triangular shape that lines its reddish-pink body.

Harlequin rasboras are very forgiving to beginning fishkeepers, and they can thrive in surprisingly poor waters. Still, it is important for aquarists to know the facts about harlequin rasboras before buying them.

Adult Size

The harlequin rasbora is a tiny gem; adults are usually about 1.5 inches in length.

Tank Size

Despite its small size, the harlequin rasbora needs a large tank. They are active swimmers and need to live in groups, so 20-gallon tanks are the minimum size for this species.

Social Behavior

Harlequin rasboras are shoaling fish. Keep them in groups of 8 or more individuals-- the more, the merrier.

Tank Mates

Harlequin rasboras are extremely peaceful and may be bullied by larger tankmates. Do not co-house them with large or predatory fish. Large cichlids and anabantids are particularly likely to eat harlequin rasboras.

Life Span

A harlequin rasbora will live to be about four years old if it is kept in a proper environment.

Diet

Harlequin rasboras are omnivores and usually accept fine flake food. Frozen treats like bloodworm and brine shrimp are acceptable, healthy treats.

Breeding

Female harlequin rasboras are slightly larger than males and lay eggs under broad leaves. Most pet-store harlqeuin rasboras are commercially bred.

Water Parameters

Keep harlequin rasboras at a pH between 5.5-7. Nitrate levels should be below 25 ppm, ammonia levels should be nearly undetectable. This tiny fish is relatively tolerant of fluctuating water parameters.

Temperature

Harlequin rasboras are a tropical species; they require a heater or a warm ambient temperature. A target range of 72-80 degrees is ideal.

Variations

There are no domesticated varieties of harlequin rasbora.

Glass Catfish Fact Sheet

One of the first fish I ever kept was a glass catfish named Casper. Predictably, he died because of sub-standard care (I was only 13 at the time) and I was afraid to brave glass catfish care again for nearly a decade. I recently rediscovered this under-appreciated beauty, and I'm glad to have the skills necessary to care for them properly.

When cared for correctly, glass catfish can reward fishkeepers with years of beauty and entertainment.

Know these facts about glass catfish before purchasing them.

Adult Size

Glass catfish stay small; adults rarely exceed three inches in length.

Tank Size

The glass catfish requires a 29-gallon aquarium or greater. Larger tanks accommodate the social and swimming needs of this relatively delicate freshwater fish.

Social Behavior

Many fishkeepers fail to keep these social animals in the group sizes necessary to maintain their health. Glass catfish need to live in schools of 8 or more individuals.

Tank Mates

The glass catfish is easily bullied by hardier, more aggressive species. Keep it with other gentle, social species with similar water-quality needs.

Life Span

When kept properly, glass catfish can live surprisingly long life-spans. Some have lived to be 8 years or older.

Diet

The glass catfish will not eat flake food unless they have been carefully trained to accept it. Feed glass catfish a steady diet of daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp. Frozen food is acceptable, but some won't eat it unless it's wriggling.

Breeding

The glass catfish will not breed in captivity. All pet-store specimens are wild-caught.

Water Parameters

Glass catfish are very sensitive to water conditions, so excellent filtration is a must. Do not allow nitrates to fluctuate above 10 ppm; keep ammonia undetectable. This species thrives in a narrow pH range of 6.5-7.

Temperature

The glass catfish can easily become dangerously hot or dangerously cold. Aim for a target temperature between 72-78 degrees.

Variations

No domesticated strains of glass catfish exist.

Black Phantom Tetra Fact Sheet

As a long-term fishkeeper, I have always had a fondness for tetras. For years, I stayed away from black phantom tetras because they seemed uninteractive and dull, but I eventually realized thay they are surprisingly social and fun to watch when they are kept in good conditions. Like other tetras, black phantom tetras will only show their true colors-- literally and metaphorically-- when they are happy.

If you're interested in keeping black phantom tetras, consider these facts.

Adult Size

A healthy black phantom tetra may grow to about two inches in length.

Tank Size

Keep black phantom tetras in a 10-gallon tank or larger. Smaller tanks do not provide acceptable water quality for these relatively temperamental fish. They may hide in very large tanks exceeding 55 gallons.

Social Behavior

Black phantom tetras will only thrive when they are kept in shoaling groups. When kept in groups of 8 or more, they establish a pecking order and leave other aquarium inhabitants alone. They may become aggressive or sluggish if they are kept in excessively small groups.

Tank Mates

The black phantom tetra combines well with other tetra species of similar size. Neon tetras, pristella tetras and rummy-nose tetras get along with black phantom tetras and do not compete for space.

Life Span

Black phantom tetras live 2-5 years. Poor water quality, disease and predation may contribute to a tetra's premature demise.

Diet

These eager eaters will consume flake, frozen or live food. Feed a varied diet including a high-quality flake food, along with high-protein treats like bloodworm.

Breeding

The black phantom tetra is extremely difficult to breed. The female scatters her eggs and the fry are very sensitive to poor water quality. Males become aggressive and more colorful when they are interested in mating.

Water Parameters

Black phantom tetras tolerate only a very narrow pH range, between 6.5-7. The water should have no detectable ammonia and nitrate levels below 15 ppm.

Temperature

The black phantom tetra's natural range is tropical, but not excessively hot. They prefer a temperature of 71-78 degrees.

Variations

Breeders have successfully created long-finned strains of black phantom tetra.

Pristella Tetra Fact Sheet

As an aquarist, I've always been fond of the small, peaceful tetra species. Recently, I've fallen in love with the pristella tetra, also known as the X-ray tetra. This tiny freshwater fish is hardy and peaceful. Though not as brightly colored as some other tetra species, the pristella is quick, active and beautiful in its simplicity.

Here is some information you may need to know before keeping pristella tetras.

Adult Size

Pristella tetras can grow to up to two inches, but some stay as small as one inch.

Tank Size

An advanced aquarist may be able to keep a healthy school of pristella tetras in a 5-gallon tank, provided it is well-filtered. Twenty gallons is a bare minimum for beginners; this allows fluctuations in water quality without significantly compromising the fish's health.

Social Behavior

Like most tetras, pristellas are very social. In order to thrive, pristella tetras must live in groups of five or more. Ten and over is ideal

Tank Mates

Pristellas are non-aggressive and live well in community tanks. Avoid keeping them with large, predator species; their small size makes them easy prey.

Life Span

A pristella tetra may live to be five years old, though many die prematurely.

Diet

The pristella tetra is a true omnivore; feed it omnivore flakes as a staple. They will also eat live plants, frozen food and live daphnia.

Breeding

Pristella tetras won't usually breed by "accident", but you may get lucky. Females are a bit rounder than males and scatter eggs on plants.

Water Parameters

Keep pristella tetras in soft, slightly acidic waters; a pH of 6-8 is best. Nitrates should be below 20 ppm and ammonia should be undetectable.

Temperature

Pristella tetras can tolerate a fairly wide range of temperatures, but thrive between 75-82 degrees. A heater is a must-have unless they are kept in a consistently warm room.

Variations

Some fish stores sell an albino pristella tetra, which might be sold as a "golden x-ray fish".

Platy Fact Sheet

Livebearing toothcarps like the platy are extremely popular among beginning fishkeepers. The platy fish is extremely hardy, inexpensive and easy to breed, and dozens of varieties exist. Platies were among the first fish that I kept when I first began fishkeeping, and they still remain one of my favorite species of ornamental fish.

These charming livebearers are easy to keep, but good care is still essential to help them thrive. This platy fish care sheet can help you establish a good home for your new fish.

Adult Size

An adult platy will usually grow to 1.5- 2 inches in length. Females are larger by about a half-inch.

Tank Size

Platy fish can thrive in relatively small tanks, but they should not be kept in anything less than ten gallons.

Social Behavior

Though not a true shoaling species, platy fish tend to do best in small groups. ideally, one male should be kept with two females. This prevents aggression between the boys.

Tank Mates

The platy is extremely peaceful and gets along well with other species. Do not keep platy fish with any species that is large or aggressive enough to harm them.

Life Span

Platy fish do not have particularly long lives; they rarely live more than two and a half to three years.

Diet

The platy is a true omnivore; it will eat fresh, frozen or flake food of any kind. Be sure to provide a varied diet.

Breeding

Platy fish are easy to breed-- in fact, most fishkeepers have a hard time stopping them. The young are free-swimming as soon as they are born, but the parents will usually eat them unless they are separated or have plenty of hiding spaces.

Water Parameters

A platy will do best at a pH between 7-8. Keep ammonia levels undetectable and nitrate levels below 25 ppm. Platy fish can tolerate lightly brackish water if they are acclimated gradually.

Temperature

Platy fish do not require a heater. Although the water temperature should remain stable, these fish can thrive at any temperature between 65-80 degrees.

Variations

Dozens, if not hundreds, of cultivated varities of platy fish exist. Red-wag, moon, sunset, Mickey Mouse, rainbow, calico, black, blue, tuxedo, albino, tiger and marble varieties are just a few. Many of these are the result of selective cross-breeding with related species like the molly and the swordtail.

Rosy Barb Fact Sheet

The rosy barb is one of the most beautiful cyprinid species available for the home aquarium. These forgiving fish can thrive in a wide variety of water conditions, and they are among the few ornamental fish species that can readily thrive in colder waters. 

Good care is important for maintaining the health of your rosy barbs. This guide can help you establish a good home for your new aquatic companions.

Adult Size

An adult rosy barb will generally be 3.5-4 inches in length.

Tank Size

Rosy barbs can live in relatively small tanks, but they cna not thrive in anything below 20 gallons.

Social Behavior

A rosy barb will become anxious and aggressive unless it has a group of companions. Keep rosy barbs in schools of five or more individuals.

Tank Mates

Rosy barbs are notorious fin-nippers. They may attack and kill slow-moving or long-finned fish, such as bettas or angelfish.

Life Span

A healthy rosy barb may live to be 4 years old or more, but few live more than 3 years in captivity.

Diet

Rosy barbs are omnivorous, eager eaters. Feed a combination of flake, frozen and live food. Brine shrimp and bloodworms are a nutritious treat.

Breeding

Males become intensely colorful when ready to breed. Females scatter their eggs on broad-leafed plants and do not engage in brood care. Because the parents may eat their eggs or fry, it is important to separate them from the young as soon as spawning has taken place.

Water Parameters

Rosy barbs thrive at a pH between 6-7. Ammonia levels should remain as low as possible at all times, and nitrate levels should stay below 25 ppm.

Temperature

The rosy barb is one of the few ornamental species that does not require a heater. In fact, they show their most brilliant colors at the lower end of the temperature range. Keep rosy barbs between 60-80 degrees. While they can tolerate a wide temperature range, it is important to avoid sharp flucutations.

Variations

Many domesticated varieties of the rosy barb exist. Breeders have established long-finned, golden, neon, blushing and striped varieties of rosy barb.

Cherry Barb Fact Sheet

The cherry barb is one of the most popular fish for freshwater aquariums because they are undemanding and remain small in size. Cherry barbs are very easy to care for and tend to do well in relatively small tanks.

As an aquarist, I like cherry barbs because they are easy to care for and beautiful. However, I personally will not buy or keep cherry barbs because of my concerns regarding their status as a threatened species. If you decide to keep cherry barbs, seek fish that have been bred in captivity and provide them with good care.

Adult Size

Cherry barbs grow to 1.5-2 inches in length.

Tank Size

Because of the cherry barb's small size and forgiving nature, it can thrive in a relatively small tank. A tank of 5 gallons or larger may accommodate a small school of these undemanding fish.

Social Behavior

Cherry barbs are more active when they are kept in schools. A male-female pair can suffice in a small tank, but they really do best in groups of 5 or more.

Tank Mates

Cherry barbs are peaceful; they can live with almost any non-predatory fish. Do not keep them with any fish large enough to eat them, and avoid housing them with slow-moving, long-finned fish. They may nip Betta's' fins.

Life Span

Well-kept cherry barbs will live 5-7 years in captivity.

Diet

Cherry barbs are true omnivores. They will accept live, frozen or flake food. Offer brine shrimp as an occasional treat.

Breeding

Cherry barbs will breed in home aquaria. They attach their eggs to fine-leaved plants using a stringy, weblike material. Males become darker and more intensely colored when they are ready to breed. Remove the parents promptly; they will eat their own eggs.

Water Parameters

A cherry barb can tolerate any pH between 6-8; they are reasonably forgiving of pH fluctuations. Keep nitrates below 25 ppm and ammonia levels as low as possible.

Temperature

Cherry barbs are tropical, but they may be able to live without a heater if your home stays relatively warm. Keep your aquarium temperature between 71-82 degrees.

Variations

There are no notable, domesticated strains of cherry barb available for the aquarium trade.

Kulhi Loach Fact Sheet

The Kuhli loach (also spelled Coolie loach), is a charming, eel-like fish known for its entertaining behavior and unusual appearance. The Kuhli loach has all the personality of larger loach species, but it remains small in stature and it is relatively forgiving of sub-standard water quality.

As a long-term aquarist, I adore keeping Kuhli loaches because of their complex personalities and amusing behaviors. If kept in good conditions, these entertaining fish will entertain their keepers with years of fun.

Adult Size

Kuhli loaches stay slim and short their entire lives. These eel-like fish rarely exceed four inches in length; many adults never grow to more than three inches.

Tank Size

The Kuhli loach is one of the few cyprinid species that can thrive in a small tank. Keep them a five gallon tank or larger.

Social Behavior

Kuhli loaches are friendly with one another and with other species. They do best in small groups of three or more.

Tank Mates

A Kuhli loach can live and thrive in a tank with almost any other freshwater species. Avoid keeping it with any boisterous bottom-dwellers, such as large plecos or rainbow sharks; these fish may bully the peaceful Kuhli loach.

Life Span

Treat your Kuhli loach with care, and he'll live for ten years or more.

Diet

A Kuhli loach will eat almost anything that sinks to the bottom of the tank. Kuhli loaches are true scavengers; they will eat flakes, pellets, detritus, algae and frozen food.

Breeding

Kuhli loaches lay their eggs on plant-roots under the substrate. The Kuhli keeper may not be aware that breeding has taken place until the fry swim out into the water. Try keeping a very large group of Kuhlis in a large, well-maintained tank.

Water Parameters

Kuhli loaches thrive in a narrow pH between 6-7. They are relatively sensitive to nitrates and ammonia; keep nitrate levels below 25 and ammonia levels as low as possible.

Temperature

Kuhli loaches are a tropical species; they require a heater. Keep your aquarium between 75-85 degrees.

Variations

Several variations of Kuhli loach exist in the wild. They display a wide array of natural color patterns, including stripes and spots. The similar "black loach" is sometimes marketed as a variation of the Kuhli loach, but it is in fact a different species.

Clown Loach Fact Sheet

The clown loach is one of the most popular ornamental fish for freshwater aquariums, but many novice fishkeepers fail to provide the species with the amount of space and interaction that it requires. As a long-term aquarist, I have always admired the clown loach because of its beautiful coloration and entertaining behavior.

When kept properly, a clown loach may live a decade or more . Use this clown loach care guide to give your fishy friend the long, healthy life he deserves.

Adult Size

Clown loaches in pet stores are almost always very young fry, so fishkeepers may underestimate the animal's adult size. Many healthy clown loaches have exceeded one foot in length.

Tank Size

A clown loach can not live for more than one to two years in a small tank. A 55 gallon aquarium is the minimal acceptable tank size for an adult cown loach.

Social Behavior

Clown loaches are friendly and social; they get along well with each other and other species. To thrive, these peaceful fish should be kept in small schools of four or more individuals.

Tank Mates

Clown loaches can live with almost any peaceful tankmates. They will gladly school with fish that have similar patterns, including the tiger barb.

Life Span

Expect your well-kept clown loach to live 10-12 years. In poor conditions, a clown loach will have a much shorter life expectancy.

Diet

Clown loaches eat a wide variety of plant-based foods and small bits of animal matter. Fresh, frozen and flake food are all acceptable foods; clown loaches will also help to clean up algae.

Breeding

Your clown loaches aren't likely to breed in a home aquarium; few breeders have successfully conditioned them to lay eggs. Most clown loaches are wild-caught in Borneo; they swim into bamboo traps and are sold to Western markets.

Water Parameters

Keep your clown loach at a pH between 6-7.5. Nitrate levels should remain below 25 and ammonia levels should remain nearly undetectable. Frequent water changes are essential.

Temperature

These tropical fish can only thrive in warm tanks. Clown loaches will only thrive at a temperature between 75-85 degrees.

Variations

Because it is resistent to commercial breeding, there are no domesticated varieties of clown loach.

10 Facts About Albino Cory Catfsh

As a dedicated aquarist, some of my favorite fishy companions include a trio of albino corydoras catfish, or "cory cats" for short. These small, frisky, active catfish are excellent community fish and tolerate a wide range of water parameters. Because they are hardy, forgiving and social, albino cory cats are ideal pets for beginning fishkeepers.

Here are 10 interesting facts about albino cory catfish.

1. Most albino cory catfish are selectively bred from the bronze cory catfish, or Corydoras aeneus.

2. Albino corydoras catfish do not occur naturally in the wild; they have been bred exclusively for the commercial ornamental fish trade.

3. Most catfish are nocturnal, but the albino corydoras is most active during the day.

4. The name "corydoras" comes from the Greek kory (helmet) tand doras (skin). It literally translates to "helmet skin".

5. Albino cory catfish engage in an unusual mating behavior, in which the female attaches herself to the male's underside and drinks his sperm.

6. Female albino cory catfish are usually plumper than the males, but this is not a universal trait.

7. Cory catfish thrive at a temperature between 72-78 degrees. In homes that are kept consistently warm, they may thrive without a heater.

8. High nitrate levels can cause albino cory catfish to develop infected barbels; this makes it difficult for them to navigate and eat normally. Maintain nitrate levels below 20 ppm.

9. Most cory catfish die after 2-5 years in captivity. However, some live surprisingly long lives. One was recorded to live to be 27 years old!

10. Albino cory catfish sometimes rise to the water's surface to "drink" small amounts of air.

Visit Fishlore for more information about caring for albino cory cats.

Swordtail Fact Sheet

The swordtail, a showy livebearer, is one of the most popular freshwater fish for beginners to the hobby. Over the course of ten years of fishkeeping, I have enjoyed keeping swordtails and their close relative, the platy. While they are extremely easy to care for, swordtail fish should not be overlooked by veteran fishkeepers-- they provide plenty of entertainment and beauty.

While swordtails are relatively easy to care for, they require good water conditions in order to truly thrive. If you keep your swordtail fish in good conditions, you'll be pleased by their active personalities and beautiful appearance.

Adult Size

Swordtails are one of the largest livebearing toothcarps. An adult can grow to five inches or more.

Tank Size

A trio of swordtails might be kept in a ten-gallon tank if the water is kept immaculately clean. Otherwise, twenty gallons is the bare-minimum for this active species.

Social Behavior

Swordtail fish do not school together, but they do require some degree of social interaction. Keep swordtails in groups of three or more. Alternatively, keep a single swordtail with two or more other livebearers, such as mollies or platy fish.

Tank Mates

Predatory fish seem to love the taste of swordtails. Avoid keeping them with large predators. Swordtails may bully petite livebearers like the guppy, and nippy fish like the rosy barb tend to bite the males' showy tails. Otherwise, swordtail fish can tolerate a wide range of tankmates.

Life Span

A well-kept sword tail can live to be up to five years old. Two to three years is more common in captivity.

Diet

Swordtails are omnivores, but their diet should include plenty of veggies. Flake, frozen and live food are all appropriate. Some stores offer livebearer flakes designed for these veggie-crazy fish.

Breeding

You will have no difficulty breeding swordtails; you're more likely to have trouble stopping them from breeding. Females will give birth to live young every four weeks. If the parents aren't removed from the tank, they will usually eat their young.

Water Parameters

Swordtails can live in a wide variety of water conditions, and they can endure unusually high levels of pollutants. Maintain a pH between 7-8. Swordtails can tolerate nitrate levels up to 30 ppm and ammonia levels up to 2 ppm.

Temperature

Swordtails can live without a heater if your home stays relatively warm. Keep the temperature between 70-82 degrees at all times.

Variations

Breeders have created dozens of unique varieties of swordtail fish, mostly by cross-breeding them selectively with related species. Pet stores may offer black, tuxedo, gold, neon, spotted, lyretail, albino, silver, red and blue swordtail varieties.

10 Facts About Australian Rainbowfish

Australian rainbow fish are stunningly beautiful, so they are popular choices for stocking home aquariums. While some species of Australian rainbowfish are surprisingly hardy, others require carefully maintained water parameters and specialized care.

The most common Australian rainbowfish in the home aquarium include the Australian red-tailed rainbowfish, the dwarf rainbowfish and the threadfin rainbowfish.

Know these 10 interesting facts about Australian rainbowfish if you are interested in keeping them in your own fish tank.

1. Australian rainbowfish are closely related to the tropical marine rainbowfish that populate the saltwater ecosystems around Australia and Oceana. True freshwater fish are rare in Australia, and the fish have entered freshwater streams over hundreds of years.

2. In general, Australian rainbowfish do best when trace amounts of salt are added to the water. While they can survive in brackish-water ecosystems, high salt levels are not ideal.

3. Newly hatched Australian rainbowfish fry accept very fine grades of live food. Baby brine shrimp, artemia and daphnia are ideal.

4. Female Australian rainbowfish have shorter fins and duller coloration than males.

5. The tiny Australian rainbowfish Pseudomugil signatus remains guppy-sized throughout life, but teh red-tailed rainbowfish may grow to 4 inches or more.

6. Australian rainbowfish live primarily around North-Eastern coast of Australia, including the fresh and brackish-water streams of Queensland.

7. Because Australian rainbowfish are hardy and can survive a wide temperature range, they have the capacity to become a dangerous invasive species in the U.S. never-- ever--- release Australian rainbowfish or any other species into the wild.

8. Related freshwater species that are similar to Australian rainbowfish live in Madagascar, Mexico and Cuba.

9. The closest relatives of freshwater Australian rainbowfish populate the Great Barrier Reef. Saltwater species are generally larger than their inland cousins.

10. Ideal tankmates for Australian rainbowfish include mollies, guppies, swordtails and other salt-tolerant livebearers. Several species of gourami, barb and tetra can also thrive in a tank with Australian rainbowfish.

10 Facts About Black Skirt Tetras

The black skirt tetra is a very popular fish for home freshwater aquariums. I have had the honor of keeping these beauties in my own tanks, but I was dissuaded from serious interest in the species by its uninteresting adult coloration.

Nevertheless, the black skirt tetra is a fascinating species, and its undemanding nature makes it ideal for beginning aquarium enthusiasts.

Know these ten interesting facts about the black skirt tetra.

1. The black skirt tetra is a member of the characin family, which also includes the piranha and the neon tetra.

2. Black skirt tetras are omnivores, but they prefer meaty foods as a staple. In the wild, they eat insects, crustaceans and worms. They usually accept flake food.

3. Adult black skirt tetras lose their juvenile coloration. After about one to two years of age, they lose their characteristic "skirt".

4. Female black skirt tetras are usually larger than males and have a wider anal fin. Otherwise, there are no obvious differences between male and female black skirt tetras.

5. A black skirt tetra has an average life expectancy of 3-5 years in captivity, but its life expectancy is much shorter in poorly-kept tanks.

6. Angelfish and bettas are incompatible with black skirt tetras; the tetras will eagerly nip th efins of slow-moving tankmates.

7. Black skirt tetras are sometimes confused with black phatom tetras, which are a completely distinct species.

8. Other names for the black skirt tetra include the black widow tetra, blackskirt, blackamoor, petticoat tetra or butterfly tetra.

9. In general, these frisky fish will breed in captivity. However, adult males often eat their own eggs.

10. As a schooling fish, black skirt tetras should be kept in groups of 3 or more at all times. They may become more aggressive if they are kept in social isolation.

10 Facts About Tiger Barbs

The tiger barb fish offers impressive coloration and beautiful schooling behavior. More than any other cyprinid species, tiger barbs can provide fishkeepers with years of beauty and entertainment with very little labor input. These tough, hardy fish can thrive in a large aquarium if they are kept in suitably large schools.

If you are interested in this species, know these 10 interesting facts about tiger barbs.

1. Tiger barbs have a strong need to be in large groups. They are highly social and will only thrive when kept in groups of eight or more.

2. A school of tiger barb fish will develop a pecking order, similar to a pack of wolves or a pod of dolphins. If you learn to discern the differences between your tiger barbs, you will see that they eat in the exact same order every time.

3. The tiger barb looks very similar to its two closest relatives, the black ruby barb and the five-banded barb. It will willingly interbreed with most other barb species.

4. Selective breeding has produced many interesting varieties of tiger barb, including long-finned, albino, golden, rosy, red and green strains. These varieties can all interbreed with one another.

5. Tiger barbs will school with fish that have similar patterns of color. Watch your tiger barbs school alongside clown loaches, five-banded barbs, and even flame tetras.

6. Female tiger barbs can lay as many as 1000 eggs in a day.

7. Depending on the strain of tiger barb fish, adults may reach anywhere from 2-4 inches in size.

8. The term "barb" applies to all members of the genus, which differ from other cyprinids in that they completely lack barbels near the mouth.

9. Tiger barbs are notorious for their fin-nipping tendencies; they may harass members of other species. However, this behavior is usually minimal in barbs kept in sufficiently large schools.

10. Tiger barbs have no obvious sexual differences, but the females may be a bit stouter than the males.

10 Facts About Paradise Fish

Because of its hardy nature and tolerance of low temperatures, the paradise fish is frequently kept in home aquariums. Although its aggression makes it unsuitable for community tanks, the paradise fish thrives in small aquariums even without a heater.

The paradise fish is a very interesting species with a rich history. Consider these ten interesting facts about the paradise fish.

1. Along with the common goldfish, the paradise fish is one of the oldest species of domesticated fish. In 1665, Samuel Pepps described the Chinese keeping paradise fish in glass systems that we would now refer to as an aquarium.

2. The paradise fish is a labyrinth fish; it has a lung-like organ that enables it to breathe small amounts of air.

3. Female paradise fish are smaller than males and have less impressive coloration.

4. While Macroodus opercularis is known as the "true" paradise fish, other related fish share the name. The brown spike-tailed paradise fish, for example, is smaller and much more elegant.

5. There are several domesticated strains of paradise fish, including powder-blue varieties, albino fish and individuals with more intense coloration.

6. Wild-type paradise fish have colors and patterns similar to dwarf gourami and giant gouarmi-- two distantly related species.

7. Male paradise fish tend to fight violently with other anabantid species. Never keep a paradise fish with a betta, gourami or climbing perch. they may also display aggression toward long-finned species like the angelfish.

8. Paradise fish lay their eggs in bubble nests. The male blows a web of saliva-coated bubbles underneath a broad-leafed plant at the surface of the water. He then mates with the female and deposits the eggs in the nest.

9. Paradise fish change their colors depending on mood, temperature, water quality and breeding interest. A paradise fish color change should be interpreted as a sign that something has changed in the fish's health or in the quality of the aquarium water.

10. Adolescent paradise fish begin to show gender differences between 2-4 months of age.

Giant Danio Fact Sheet

The giant danio is an ideal freshwater fish for beginners. As a long-term aquarist, I've enjoyed taking care of these lively, colorful minnows.

Giant danios originate in the clear streams and rivers of India and Sri Lanka, and they are now bred extensively for the aquarium trade. If you are interested in keeping giant danios, know these facts about giant danio care.

Size

An adult giant danio may exceed 4 - 4.5 inches in length. While this is small compared to many other freshwater fish species, it is nearly twice the size of other danio species.

Feeding

Giant danios require an omnivorous diet. They will eagerly eat flake, frozen or live foods and may graze on algae.

Tank Size

In general, a school of giant danios will do best in an aquarium of 29 gallons or more. They require plenty of open space for swimming.

Social Behavior

Giant danios are a schooling species and belong in schools of 5 or more individuals. Large schools of 10 or more are best, but they require more space.

Temperature

As a tropical species, the giant danio will thrive best in a water temperature between 75 and 80 degrees.

Aquarium pH

Giant danios can tolerate a fairly wide range of water conditions. They can survive at any pH between 6.0 and 8.0.

Sex Differences

Male giant danios are smaller than females, with longer fins and more intense coloration.

Tank Mates

When kept in overly small groups, giant danios may playfully pester other fish in the aquarium. However, they are otherwise peaceful. You can keep giant danios with almost any other smallish freshwater species.

Varieties

Cultivated strains of giant danio exist, including albino breeds and long-finned strains.