Betta fish are a better bet as pets than goldfish. Most kids have this experience with goldfish after a few days: Moby is found floating at the top of the bowl, then gets a one-way tour of a toilet's plumbing system. This speedy demise occurs because goldfish don't like being kept in a bowl. However, betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish, think bowls are great homes.
Water in bowls quickly turns foul and oxygen-deficient, and that's when goldfish begin to fail, Dave Taub explains. He owns Contemporary Aquarium Design in Coral Springs, Fla. But betta fish are different, says Taub, who has been breeding them for 14 years. They have a lung-like organ called a labyrinth that allows them to come to the surface and take a breath. (Taub has known betta fish to be kept in everything from pickle jars to candle holders.)
But betta fish aren't dubbed Siamese fighting fish for their ability to fight off polluted water - it's because they fight off each other. In the wild, they live in rice patties in the countries of the Far East, such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. They carve out small territories and defend them at all costs. You'll be an accessory to a fish murder if you add a betta fish to a bowl already containing one.
Betta fish are available at many pet stores for $3-$5. They're about the size of a typical goldfish, though their dainty fins make them appear larger. They come in a kaleidoscope of color combos, including shades of blues, greens and reds. Not great swimmers, they're content to gently fan the water with those graceful fins. Their diet includes a combination of at least two of the following: live or frozen bloodworms, frozen mosquito larvae, freeze-dried brine shrimp or commercial diet for betta fish. (These foods are available at many pet stores.)
Fancy aquariums may be a tank of dreams, but fuss-free bowl fish are the new trend. We're not talking goldfish, but rather betta fishes, otherwise known as Siamese fighting fish.
They come in deep jewel-tone colors, have showy exotic fins and breathe air off the top of the water, according to Garrett Young of Golden Leash & Fish in Arlington. Bettas, like goldfish, can exist in bowls or tanks without air pumps. With bettas, however, familiarity breeds contempt. "You can only have one betta per bowl," warned Kim Jetton of Fish & Pets in Arlington. "They will fight each other until one of them dies."
Serenely segregated bettas can live a very long time, some as long as six years. Most bettas are done in by their owners forgetting to add a chemical chlorine remover whenever the bowl water is changed.
Filter Media is the element employed in a filtration method to clean the water of an aquarium. Several types of filter media are accessible, and each is considered to aid a particular type of system. Following are some of the different types of filter media:
Synthetic Wool - A cotton-wool like floss positioned as the final layer in your filter arrangement to clean the water. Because of its excellent structure, it get choked up very quickly and so is impractical for utilization in a primary automatic filter or for organic colonization.
Sponge - These conventional foam pads are cheap and easy to sustain. They are obtainable in changeable grades to make possible automatic or organic filtration. Sponges are also regularly utilized in external filters to detach various filter media.
Carbon - This is an extremely permeable material. It is only effectual for a short time before have the need of replacement. Carbon should be utilized in particular circumstances such as the requirement to get rid of medication , a new aquarium set-up or water discoloration. It should be positioned as the last layer in your filter arrangement.
Ceramics Rings - Measuring just about half an inch long, ceramic rings mostly make available automatic filtration. They act efficiently as a filter to trap large-particles waste and should be utilized in the initial stage of filtration.
Sintered Glass - At the same time as common aquarium gravel can give successful mechanical and organic filtration, its application is limited for the reason of its comparatively low surface area in contrast to the volume it occupies. Sintered glass, a gravel-like substance, is a far more capable alternative as it has a huge surface area that permits massive bacteria colonies to develop. Sintered glass must be positioned after the crucial automatic filtration media.
About the Author
I am a private internet marketing and home based business researcher. To learn more on Betta Fish or for more information, please visit my Betta Fish blog.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Buying and Maintaining Salt Water Fish
A salt water fish aquarium can add beauty and life to an office or any room in the house. Exotic salt water fish are beautiful and decorative, drawing people's attentions away from anything that is stressful in their lives. Salt water fish are also great pets for busy people, because they require a limited amount of care and feeding. This doesn't mean purchasing and taking care of these fish is a no-brainer, though.
Before investing in a salt water fish aquarium, one must decide what size tank they want and the location in the room where it will sit. It's best to position the tank somewhere that it will easy to move to and from, and where it will be prominent enough for everyone in the room to see. Salt water fish also require a pump and filter to strain and recycle their water and a temperature gauge to make sure the fish are within a healthy range of hot and cold. The purchase of exotic salt water fish will also require a heater, fish nets, salt water test kits, special food and cleaning tools. It's also nice to have some rocks, coral and other decorations in the tank to make it look and feel like the fish's natural habitat.
Different types of saltwater fish will grow differently, as well, so new owners should be prepared for the specifications of their chosen breed. Experts can assist new buyers who intend to purchase exotic salt water fish, as some fish can grow to over 12 inches in length while others may only grow an inch. A small salt water fish aquarium will also require just as much maintenance than a large one, and it may be weeks before it's ready for the fish. Once they're in, though, they will add a certain exquisiteness to any room that just can't be matched.
About the Author
For more resources about Saltwater fish or about Coral reef fish and especially about Tropical fish coral reef please click these links.
Before investing in a salt water fish aquarium, one must decide what size tank they want and the location in the room where it will sit. It's best to position the tank somewhere that it will easy to move to and from, and where it will be prominent enough for everyone in the room to see. Salt water fish also require a pump and filter to strain and recycle their water and a temperature gauge to make sure the fish are within a healthy range of hot and cold. The purchase of exotic salt water fish will also require a heater, fish nets, salt water test kits, special food and cleaning tools. It's also nice to have some rocks, coral and other decorations in the tank to make it look and feel like the fish's natural habitat.
Different types of saltwater fish will grow differently, as well, so new owners should be prepared for the specifications of their chosen breed. Experts can assist new buyers who intend to purchase exotic salt water fish, as some fish can grow to over 12 inches in length while others may only grow an inch. A small salt water fish aquarium will also require just as much maintenance than a large one, and it may be weeks before it's ready for the fish. Once they're in, though, they will add a certain exquisiteness to any room that just can't be matched.
About the Author
For more resources about Saltwater fish or about Coral reef fish and especially about Tropical fish coral reef please click these links.
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