Bgf Journal

Setting up your first fish tank can be exciting but there are a lot of choices to make not the least of which is choosing freshwater tropical fish that will get along and thrive in your tank. A novice aquarist needs fish that are rather hardy and easy to take care of. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful and exciting tropical fish that fit the bill.the first time aquarium owner might be wise to start with guppies. Sometimes you can find them as juveniles and buy them pretty inexpensively but the juveniles are rather boring to look at it you might want to go with a mature fish which will probably only cost a couple bucks anyway. Guppies are great starter fish since they are quite social and...

Two of the most preferred aquarium fishes, not only among beginning hobbyists, but also by expert aquarists, are the betta fish and African cichlids. The many interesting characteristics of these two species make them increasingly popular in the fish keeping hobby, and are most sought for. Both African cichlids and Bettas are native to freshwater habitats, making them excellent species to keep in tropical freshwater aquariums. The two species are also known for their ornamental qualities. African cichlids are very fascinating because of their wide array of beautiful colors and diverse patterns. Bettas have the most vibrant colorations compared to many other fishes. Both are considered very active...

Worldwide, shelter brooding is a kind of reproductive habit among cichlids. Many cichlids guard their off spring and hide them inside caves, shells or simply inside the mouth of a parent. To breed them, clear clean water and substrate ranging from mud to gravel is required (with regards to the Betta species). Dense vegetation really should be planted into your aquarium. Their water temperature need to be cool, say between 65 and 75 degrees F. Flowing streams coming from the highlands have cooler water. Most African Cichlids are what's called "maternal mouthbrooders." Mouthbrooders are highly advanced from an evolutionary standpoint. They've developed a technique for protecting their young along at...

African cichlids are well known among aquarists for their aggression and territorial behavior and hence, they can be difficult to care for when not handled properly. If you are going to keep them with other community fishes or cichlids, you need to pay extra attention to the issue of water requirement and compatibilities with other cichlid species. Firstly, you will need to ensure that the fishes in your aquarium come from waters with similar pH level. African cichlid comes from three main African lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. The general idea here is to not mix cichlids from different lakes as the pH level of the water are not the same. The same logic goes with all the...

Many aquarists like you enjoy keeping cichlids in their fish tank because of their different shapes and vibrant colors. Before long, just having them in their aquarium is not enough, fish lovers want to breed cichlids on their own. In fact, cichlid breeding is an interesting process to watch because of their parental behavior and highly organized breeding activities. Cichlid breeding parental brood care falls into one of three categories: open brooding, cave brooding, and mouthbrooding. Most African Cichlids are mouthbrooders. In other words, the female African Cichlid will hold the eggs in their mouth. First, you need to get your breeding colony. Often, when a female cichlid is ready to mate, all...

Discus is an extremely popular aquarium fish almost all over the world. Observations say that this fish shows a highly developed social behavior and hence is choosy about their breeding partners. Originally from the Amazon and its tributaries, they like to be in groups, or communities. So if you are keen to have them in your aquarium, make sure that you buy a group of discus. Breeding discus fish can be a little tricky as it needs a partner of its choice, clean water and a stipulated temperature to lay eggs. If you want to do it at home, follow these tips on how to breed discus fish: 1. Take a large tank of water, preferably about 10 gallons in size so that you can keep at least four discus fish in...

It is not unusual that exotic fish owners find breeding discus fish a little bit demanding. The difficult part about raising discus fish is finding the right pair, this arises from the fact that discus fish likes to choose their partners alone, and not everyone suit their favor. In that circumstances, you have two options for your breading discus aquarium fish; you can either buy a pair or raise them together in a group and hoping that they make a pair. The initial option is not the best, since discuss fish pair can be as expensive as few hundred dollars, which is quite a lot. Hence, the most beneficial option you have is to start breeding discus fish by creating discus group of at least half a...

Hobbyist and pet lovers do not only love having their Discus fish at home or in their aquariums, but some also have ventured in breeding Discus fish. Aside from producing more colorful fishes, breeding them can also be a source of extra income. However, breeding this type of fish can be a challenge as there are important considerations you have to take note. It is also important that before you go into breeding Discus fish, make sure that you are familiar with their behavior especially when it comes to their mating. Here are things that you need to consider if you want to venture into breeding Discus fish. - Make sure you have the right fish tank for the breeding. A minimum 20-gallon fish tank is...

When it comes to breeding discus fish, there are many things that you need to know before even attempting to try breeding, but this is true of any species really. Discus fish are excellent breeders and if you are interested in breeding discus fish, then you might like to know that you could earn quite a bit of revenue by successfully breeding your discus. However, as with all species of fish, before you even contemplate breeding discus fish, you need to learn everything that there is to know about discus so make sure that you do your home work before you begin trying to breed! Once you think that you are ready, then you might be wondering where to start! Here are some really helpful hints to get you...

Lovers of pet do not just like having their Discus fish at residence or in their aquariums, but certain too maintain ventured in breeding Discus fish. Away from creating further colorful fishes, breeding them may furthermore be a basis of added revenue. The challenging procedure is to breeding this kinds of fish as there are crucial considerations you cover to take considerations. It is as well crucial that prior to you go into breeding Discus fish, make reliable that you are familiar with their manners particularly when it comes to their mating. Please follow the below steps you want to monitor about Breeding Discus fish. 1. Make certain you produce the actual fish tank for the breeding. A least...

Often when you decide to buy fish oil for its outstanding health benefits, the labeling on the bottle tends to emphasize the EPA content rather than the more important DHA levels of concentrations. Most people have heard of Eicosapentaenoic acid because of this type of advertising focus, but how many folk know about the fatty acid docosahexonoic acid? There is of course another type of fat, which also is not to well known and that is ALA, which is found predominantly in flax seeds and various nuts. We have already mentioned which is the most important fat found in fish oil, but how does it compare to that found in flax seed oil? I would recommend you to buy fish oil above flax seed products. Why...

A lot of ordinary folks today, especially health buffs, are more inclined to buy fish oil supplements which contain omega 3 for plenty of health reasons, not to mention the health benefits that can be obtained from fish oil supplements. Due to the number of years dedicated to studying health benefits that can be obtained from fish oil, health experts recommend taking these capsules at least once a day for a more healthy, hale and hearty living for adults and children alike. The major benefits are for a healthy heart, which enables it to avoid heart related illnesses, not to mention its ability to prevent cancer and other health disorders due to its major component, which is the omega 3. According to...

With the increase in demand of omega3 fish oil nutritional supplements, it seems like every time you turn your head, a product is available in the market. However, how to buy fish oil of high quality that can help you reap maximum health benefits is a challenge if you are not aware of some basics. Let us find them out. Purity of the oil Before you buy fish oil supplement look for the COA (Certificate of Analysis) published by the manufacturer; this official document gives you the clear picture of percentage of toxins present in the oil. Yes, you heard me correct. I am talking about toxins - harmful chemicals like mercury, lead, arsenic, etc. All these impurities can be present in the oil via tainted...

Are you planning to buy fish oil supplements? If so, let me first congratulate you because you have taken the right and wise decision here. An effective supplement can promise you good health for today, tomorrow and for years to come. Now I am sure you might have already searched for the various options to buy fish oil - checked the Internet, checked on your local neighborhood shop; but the variety available out there is so large, that it becomes difficult to decide which one to actually buy. If this is a concern for you too, here is some piece of advice. When you set out in the market to buy fish oil supplement, first check the source from which it is obtained. Not all the fish have quality omega 3...

If you want to buy fish oil you should turn first to the world wide web. Why do I make such a bold claim? Aren't perfectly good fish oil supplements available from your local supermarket? This is very likely to be true. They can be bought at very reasonable prices too. You won't necessarily find them cheaper on the internet. So why should you look there first? As with many other purchasing decisions, it pays to do some research before you make a decision. And in the case there are few other resources that you can refer to for information. The real benefits of these supplements come with regular and prolonged use. They are amazing products but they don't do miracles. Don't expect dramatic results in...

There are many options when you buy fish oil at your local vitamin store or nearby market. The large variety of stores sell soft gels or capsules ranging from odorless, for kids, molecular distilling, organic and many more. Doing a little research online can help you decide which is the best to take for your health and diet. Depending on what your needs or what results you want can affect your selection of the type of oil you choose. Currently, they have developed a specific omega 3 for women who have recently given birth. Each type of oil has a more specific use these days such as inflammation or even brain health. Looking at the benefits you are sure to see why people decide to include this fish...

If you are considering setting up a new marine aquarium but holding back because you are not sure what a beginner saltwater aquarium setup should include this article will give you a brief look at setting up a marine aquarium for the first time. The first thing you need to do is to pick your tank. You should pick the biggest tank that you can afford and fit into your home. One of the most popular sizes for new marine fish keepers is the 75 gallon tank. This tank is big enough to offer system stability but not to large to overwhelm you when it comes to maintenance. After you pick your tank you will need to decide what type of fish you want to keep. Keep in mind that saltwater fish are much different...

If you are looking for a fantastic day out with your children, or just want to revisit your own childhood, then visit the incredible Ushaka Marine World in Durban, South Africa. Housing Africa's largest aquarium, you can get up close and personal with thousands of species of fish from all over the world. There are also regular dolphin shows at Ushaka Marine World as well as seal shows, and these are sure to delight the young and old as they watch how the amazing training of these wonderful animals comes to life. The shows are extremely popular and it is always advisable to get to the amphitheatres well in advance of the start times. Slides, a lazy river and huge pools all make up the waterpark, and...

The last few years have seen more and more being written about keeping discus fish than most other fish species. Anyone who is thinking about keeping discus fish in their home aquarium should of course get all the information they need before actually buying any of them. They are thought of as royal fish, they are native to the warm and calm Amazon waters that charm through their behavior. Keeping discus fish does require a bit of knowledge on their background, about what to offer to make such pets happy and also what to expect from them. Discus fish are considered fish of changing habits that manifest personality. When first keeping discus fish you will find that they are shy and very calm in...

Having a pond in your home can be the ultimate expression of freedom for the avid fish lover out there, as it signifies an evolution from the aquarium to the next level. Aside from being an aesthetic privilege, having a pond gives you ample space to rear your aquatic creatures, and allows you to fulfill your long hidden ambitions to the fullest. One of the most important things new pond owners should take note of is how to keep your pond clean. Fish, or any other form of aquatic life form, be it flora or fauna, require a habitual environment which will encourage their growth, not discourage them. Living under unhygienic conditions can breed sickness or ill-will, and it's the same for the living...

Fish oil is growing fast in popularity and more people are looking to buy fish oil to improve their health but not many people know what they should be looking out for when they are buying it: and that is the reason for this article today to make sure that when you buy your supplement you can make an informed decision because trust me, not all fish oil tablets are created equally. The first thing you should look at when you buy fish oil supplements is the DHA level it contains. DHA and EPA are the essential fats found in the omega3 and with a vast majority of the supplements available you will find that they are higher in EPA. Now whilst this is not the end of the world you really want to buy fish...

There is a lot of controversy these days over rare and exotic pets, and included in that controversy is question of whether or not you should keep rare tropical fish. Some may argue that rare animals of any variety should not be taken from their natural habitat so that they can breed and be as healthy as possible, while others argue that keeping any animal in captivity can actually be safer than letting it loose in the wild. And since keeping rare tropical fish means that they won't be in the ocean near predators and other harmful elements, and they'll be kept in a closed and controlled environment, is there really any harm to this? Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of keeping rare...

So you've decided on which aquarium to buy, been and purchased it, and set it up in a prominent location in your home - what next? Before you rush out and buy your freshwater tropical fish, you need to make sure you have all the equipment necessary. At the very least you need a lid for the aquarium, lighting, heating and a filtration system. It is very important you buy the correct size for your aquarium. For instance, the lighting needs to be sufficient to light the entire aquarium, likewise the filter must be able to cope with the amount of water you will have, or it will not work to optimum efficiency. Buying a heater which will have to work hard to keep your aquarium at the correct...

A freshwater tropical fish aquarium can be a wonderfully peaceful and ever-changing decorative item in any room but many people never get to experience them because they simply are afraid that it is too much work to set them up and maintain them properly. But this could not be further from the truth, in fact, an aquarium and can be very easy to set up and maintain if you simply follow two basic rules and those are making sure that tank cycles through its nitrogen cycle probably and never overloading it with tropical fish. The size of your tropical fish aquarium is also important. If you think you're going to want to keep a lot of fish you better get a big fish tank. Generally, the larger the tank...

Freshwater tropical fish are the perfect choice of pet for first time pet owners. While you cannot hold them or stroke them like a conventional pet, they can nonetheless give you much pleasure by watching their interaction with each other in the tank, not to mention the relaxing effect that they have on you as you watch them swim about. There are many different types and colours of freshwater tropical fish to choose from, like black, orange, blue or even spotted. These pets do require a certain amount of care and maintenance to keep them well and healthy. The first thing you will have to look at when you choose your freshwater tropical fish is what type of tank you want for them. There are two...

Now that the tank is running smoothly, the temperature should be around seventy-eight degrees. I would suggest adding two products that I use in my tank to aid in the breakdown of waste and improve cycling. They are called "Cycle" and "Waste Control" from Hagen. I have been using them since day one and they work wonders. OK time to use our test kit to test several components of your aquarium water. We will test the "PH", "Nitrites", "Nitrates", "Ammonia", "Iron", "Phosphate", "Carbonate Hardness" and "General Hardness". There are several different test chemicals out there but I use the Hagen test kits and find them very reliable. You're saying to yourself, I don't have any fish in the tank, why test...

tr> So you have a mature pair of discus fish that have shown an interest in each other but there not laying any eggs. The most important factor in discus breeding in the water quality, make sure it is soft, acidic and clean. If you have this water, your most likely stressing over why there isn’t hundreds of eggs in the tank. If you have discus ready to lay eggs there are a few ways in which you can give them a helping hand. The first way you can tempt them to lay is to feed a rich diet of frozen bloodworms for about a week. Feed it everyday as well as their other meal. This should condition the female and get her ready to breed. Other foods that are good for breeding discus are white worm...

When in search for show quality aquarium inhabitants, African Cichlids are always among the top options. These vibrantly colored creatures are not only attractive but their social and active nature makes them most interesting to keep as they create the most alive and entertaining tanks you'll ever come across with. Their unique patterns and colorations make up a fabulous underwater display. Apart from their being social, the most important characteristics of African Cichlids, something not all fishes exhibit, is their degree of intelligence. This species possess a lot of other important qualities. Though not the only species of mouthbrooders, such quality of African cichlids still sets them apart...

African Cichlids are in the tropical semi-aggressive community and grow from 4? to 8? or more. These are a long lasting fish living up to 20 years! African Cichlids are versatile in the fish tank, they spend their time in the middle level in the water. You can find the African Cichlids scooting from top to bottom. African Cichlids are great for a community aquarium but they are semi-aggressive. Cichlids are territorial, and can eat smaller fish. You can put these fish with other fish but be sure they have similar temperaments and are similar in size or the Cichlid will begin to rule the roost. African Cichlids are carnivores but they can als chow down on some plants. Prepared foods such as...

When you are thinking about breeding discus fish, there are certain things that you need to know in order to make sure that the breeding process is a successful experience for you and the fish. Discus fish are great fish to breed and you can also earn a little extra money from selling the fry, but you need to know a lot about fish before you begin. But once you have done your research on this species, then you will be ready to think about breeding fish. Here are a few dos and don't of breeding discus fish. DO: make sure that you invest in a bigger fish tank if you have a small aquarium. Discus require a minimum of a twenty gallon tank, however twenty seven gallons is ideal for breeding discus fish...