Much to the surprise of many tropic fish owners, discus fish care has revealed special features specific to this breed that makes it stand apart. Therefore, when you design your aquarium make sure you plan the discus fish care area properly. They make great friends and pets; as you will find out, discus fish respond to you and have a social and bonding behavior unparalleled by other breed. When you make discus fish care a hobby, you'll see they react in the most pleasant of ways, watching you moving around the room or even eating out of your hand. No wonder people love them.
Considered the pride of any fish breeder, discus fish and their care raise a few issues, though not to complex I dare say. When you plan your aquarium it is really important to set up its purpose: is it going to be a family show tank or can the discus fish use it for breeding? Discus fish care is not painstaking at all; on the contrary, it brings immense satisfaction. For instance the family habits you notice during discus fish care moments will stress out the active role the male discus takes in the raising of their fry.
Keep in mind the fact that these fish are extremely clean and they like pure water all the time. Therefore, a special part of the discus fish care should focus on keeping a close watch on water recycling, temperature and the oxygen level. In order to avoid various diseases due to improper discus fish care make sure all the living parameters are within the normal values. For instance, good discus fish care means the water is at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius at the maximum; if it gets warmer the level of oxygen drops and you'll be confronted to oxygen starvation.
Another aspect of discus fish care is the establishing of colonies of nitrifying bacteria in the filter. This is essential since no discus fish care measures allow you to put the fish in a tank without these bacteria. They are responsible for keeping the ammonia and the nitrites under control by consuming the fish waste as food. Therefore, you may choose several nitrification methods in the process of discus fish care, the most important being the type of filter you decide to use. Plants also contribute to reducing the amount of toxic substances in the water, but you will still have to change it on a regular basis.
About the Author
Want to learn more about discus fish care and breeding? Get free tips and information at http://www.reviewhero.com/DiscusFishSecrets
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Wild Caught Discus Fish
Wild caught discus fish first appeared in the 1920s and, even now, despite the large number bred in aquariums they are still very much in demand. Though difficult to care for, wild caught discus fish are a rarity that come to inhabit collectors' special show tanks. In their natural environment, wild caught discus fish prefer the calm parts of rivers, lakes and deep pools where they spend their time in shaded area clean from pollutants. This is why it is essential to recreate the same conditions in captivity too. Wild caught discus fish are the real kings of the Amazon area and make great valuable treasure in aquariums.
Before buying wild caught discus fish of your own, it is good to document yourself as much as possible about the great challenges their breeding involves. There are quite a large number of books written on how to look after wild caught discus fish; you can even enjoy some very impressive photos meant to illustrate the variety in the natural habitat with all their strips and colors perfectly matched in the clear water. Issues such as water filtration and the acclimation of the wild caught discus fish are essential for a successful experiment, particularly since it may cost you a little fortune.
Moreover, in case you are really interested in enriching your colony with some wild caught discus fish it is a good idea to get all the necessary information required to the specimens' origin, transportation and health condition. Before actually buying wild caught discus fish make sure they are in good shape and have been treated well along the long journey. You may even rely on some professional advice to check the health status, particularly since wild caught discus fish come pretty expensive and you need to know what you pay the money for.
Mention should be made that wild caught discus fish are very photo sensitive. Actually, they are caught with the help of powerful light sources that blind and confuse them. Therefore, when you try to create a proper environment for the wild caught discus fish you will have to keep in mind that their native waters are shady and a little dark. Therefore, the use of powerful lamps around the discus tank is totally unadvisable. Strictly respect such measures if you truly want to make a good home for the wild caught discus fish. Enjoy them!
About the Author
Want to learn more about discus fish care and breeding? Get free tips and information at http://www.reviewhero.com/DiscusFishSecrets
Before buying wild caught discus fish of your own, it is good to document yourself as much as possible about the great challenges their breeding involves. There are quite a large number of books written on how to look after wild caught discus fish; you can even enjoy some very impressive photos meant to illustrate the variety in the natural habitat with all their strips and colors perfectly matched in the clear water. Issues such as water filtration and the acclimation of the wild caught discus fish are essential for a successful experiment, particularly since it may cost you a little fortune.
Moreover, in case you are really interested in enriching your colony with some wild caught discus fish it is a good idea to get all the necessary information required to the specimens' origin, transportation and health condition. Before actually buying wild caught discus fish make sure they are in good shape and have been treated well along the long journey. You may even rely on some professional advice to check the health status, particularly since wild caught discus fish come pretty expensive and you need to know what you pay the money for.
Mention should be made that wild caught discus fish are very photo sensitive. Actually, they are caught with the help of powerful light sources that blind and confuse them. Therefore, when you try to create a proper environment for the wild caught discus fish you will have to keep in mind that their native waters are shady and a little dark. Therefore, the use of powerful lamps around the discus tank is totally unadvisable. Strictly respect such measures if you truly want to make a good home for the wild caught discus fish. Enjoy them!
About the Author
Want to learn more about discus fish care and breeding? Get free tips and information at http://www.reviewhero.com/DiscusFishSecrets
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Starting out in Tropical Fishkeeping
A well designed, fully stocked aquarium is a very attractive feature, and watching fish swim relaxes the mind! But before you venture out into keeping tropical fish, ensure you have enough money at hand, as there are quite a few things you will be buying: a glass tank with lid, a flourescent bulb, an under-gravel filter, an air pump with plastic tubing and airstones, an attractive background strip for the tank, fish food, a heater, a thermometer, a fish net, a wide-diameter flexible tube (useful for draining water out of the tank), rocks, gravel, warm water plants and Aquasafe (or another such chemical - for de-chlorinating tap water). Take a trip to the best local pet shop and have a wander round to get an idea of how much everything will cost. Then get ready to take the plunge!
Before you buy any fish, set up the tank with the under-gravel filter in place, topped with a fairly deep layer of washed gravel (wash it beforehand or your water will end up mucky!), rocks, etc. Install the water heater, the air pump & lines, and fix the decorative backing to the tank. Make sure that before you put anything in the tank (filter, gravel, etc), that the tank is positioned in a suitable location, and on top of a foam lining or thick blanket. This is to prevent the glass bottom of the tank cracking due to any unevenness in the surface on which the tank is placed. The tank will be heavy when full, so locate it somewhere safe where there is no possibility of any instability or failure in the supporting structure. Many tanks come with an optional supporting stand or cabinet.
When you have set up the tank in the desired location, fill it up with tap water which has been appropriately treated (e.g. by using Aquasafe). Turn on the air line and water heater. Then wait for at least 3 weeks before buying any fish. After a day, check that the temperature of the water is between about 75 and 82 F (24-28 C). A temperature of 77 F (25C) is ideal. Adjust the thermostat on the water heater if necessary to achieve this temperature.
After 3 weeks, you are then ready to buy some fish. A wise tactic is to start with only a handful of fish (i.e. 5 or 6), then if these survive you can slowly add more. You will need a fairly local pet store to buy the fish from, to prevent the water cooling too much during your return journey (as this will kill off the fish). Setting up a fishtank during the summer months is ideal, as this will make it easier to transport fish safely without the risk of water cooling. Alternatively, run the heater in your car for a short while before you go to buy the fish, to create a warm atmosphere. When you have brought the fish back home, place the bags in the water and wait for about 20 minutes to enable the temperature to equalize. Then open the bags and carefully empty them, with the fish, into the tank.
You should keep the flourescent light on for most of the day, but you can switch it off at night. Feed the fish once a day, at the same time each day if possible. If a fish dies, take it out of the water as soon as possible. Initially, check every day to make sure no fish have died. Every few weeks, do a partial water change. Don't allow any plants to clog up the tank. Plants such as Elodea grow very quickly, and will need cutting back. You can throw away the excess plant growth or donate it to a fellow fish enthusiast! If you are having problems with fish dying, check the quality of the water. You can buy a testing kit or take a couple of water samples to your local pet store to get them checked.
Happy fishkeeping!
About the Author
Hi, I'm in my mid-thirties and live in a large town in Surrey, England. I am a Transport Planner and Web Entrepreneur. I manage several websites, including Blue Fish Guides and the Anti-Church Forum.
In my spare time I play piano and organ, tend to the garden, keep tropical fish and dabble in the world of affiliate marketing.
See u around!
Before you buy any fish, set up the tank with the under-gravel filter in place, topped with a fairly deep layer of washed gravel (wash it beforehand or your water will end up mucky!), rocks, etc. Install the water heater, the air pump & lines, and fix the decorative backing to the tank. Make sure that before you put anything in the tank (filter, gravel, etc), that the tank is positioned in a suitable location, and on top of a foam lining or thick blanket. This is to prevent the glass bottom of the tank cracking due to any unevenness in the surface on which the tank is placed. The tank will be heavy when full, so locate it somewhere safe where there is no possibility of any instability or failure in the supporting structure. Many tanks come with an optional supporting stand or cabinet.
When you have set up the tank in the desired location, fill it up with tap water which has been appropriately treated (e.g. by using Aquasafe). Turn on the air line and water heater. Then wait for at least 3 weeks before buying any fish. After a day, check that the temperature of the water is between about 75 and 82 F (24-28 C). A temperature of 77 F (25C) is ideal. Adjust the thermostat on the water heater if necessary to achieve this temperature.
After 3 weeks, you are then ready to buy some fish. A wise tactic is to start with only a handful of fish (i.e. 5 or 6), then if these survive you can slowly add more. You will need a fairly local pet store to buy the fish from, to prevent the water cooling too much during your return journey (as this will kill off the fish). Setting up a fishtank during the summer months is ideal, as this will make it easier to transport fish safely without the risk of water cooling. Alternatively, run the heater in your car for a short while before you go to buy the fish, to create a warm atmosphere. When you have brought the fish back home, place the bags in the water and wait for about 20 minutes to enable the temperature to equalize. Then open the bags and carefully empty them, with the fish, into the tank.
You should keep the flourescent light on for most of the day, but you can switch it off at night. Feed the fish once a day, at the same time each day if possible. If a fish dies, take it out of the water as soon as possible. Initially, check every day to make sure no fish have died. Every few weeks, do a partial water change. Don't allow any plants to clog up the tank. Plants such as Elodea grow very quickly, and will need cutting back. You can throw away the excess plant growth or donate it to a fellow fish enthusiast! If you are having problems with fish dying, check the quality of the water. You can buy a testing kit or take a couple of water samples to your local pet store to get them checked.
Happy fishkeeping!
About the Author
Hi, I'm in my mid-thirties and live in a large town in Surrey, England. I am a Transport Planner and Web Entrepreneur. I manage several websites, including Blue Fish Guides and the Anti-Church Forum.
In my spare time I play piano and organ, tend to the garden, keep tropical fish and dabble in the world of affiliate marketing.
See u around!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
