Aquarium Fishes

Glass Aquarium Fishes

 The fresh water is nothing but ornamental fishes kept in glass container or quibbed aquarium known as fish tank. These  fishes tank  are decorated by water dwelling plants and animal with ornamental fishes.

In 19^th century 1^st modern glass aquarium was developed by Robert Warrington. Now a day fish tanks are available in various shape and size. 

Aquarium tanks are prepared with glass sides and bottom. The glass plates are fixed by aquarium cement. The tanks are generally rectangular in shape. The shallow and wide tanks are better for aquarium. The ideal size of aquarium tank may be 60 x 30 x 30cm or 90 x 30 x 40cm.

It is also important to have a cover with establishment for mounting lights and feeding. The tanks are cleaned with tap water. The aquarium tank may be placed near a window so that it gets adequate light. If the natural light is not adequate, artificial light by means of bulbs or fluorescent tube may be provided.

Maintenance  of aquarium :-

To keep fishes healthy there is need  of regular maintenance of aquarium.  The daily maintenance requires checking of the fish movement and behavior. For health of fishes quality of water  must be of good. 

Aeration with air pumps, de-chlorination, and neutralize the water parameter in aquarium, removal of the remain of eaten food and other residue is required.

Water condition and Chemistry

This is vital and it must be specific if the fish are to flourish in the long time.

Following are some physical parameters are require for healt of aquarium fishes.

1.      Temperature of 76 to 80 F

2.      pH ‐7.6 to 8.4

3.      Specific Gravity ¬ 1.002 to 1.007 is optimal.

Feeding

Most of the fish are carnivores and their diet should imitate this. Some species of fishes require lots of live food but this depends upon the species to be kept.

Water exchange

For proper conditions of aquarium 10 to 20 % of water should be changed weakly.

Water quality of Aquarium tank

Pure rain water or tap water without chlorine content may be perfect for aquarium tank. Water should be soft and not hard.  For minimizing hardness of water, water is mixed up with soft water.

Fresh water ornamental fishes

Generally attractive colored fishes are preferred by ornamental fish keeper.  These fishes are selected on the basis of color, size and body shape.

Following are some ornamental fishes are kept in aquarium

Guppy :-

The guppy  fishes are small colorful  exotic These are small colorful  fishes (3cm)  originated from Central America.  The colors of these fishes vary gratly. Female larger than male. Male have large colored caudal fins with red, orange, black spots on body.  These are omnivorous fishes.

Sword tail :  

The tail of this fishes is long with yellow sward like caudal fin having black edges. . Hence called sward tail fish. A coloured strip present along the side of fish.  In these fishes various colour variation are seen.  Tail of female is without sward tail.

Platy :  

Platy is the popular variety with black fins and black mouth. The body colour is yellow or red. The most common platy is the wag tail.  These are omnivorous fishes preferred by majority of ornamental  fish tank holder.

Gourami :   

Gourami are oval in shape  with vertical bars on lateral side of body.  The pelvic fins are filamentous.  Kissing gourami, lipped gourami, giant gourami pearl gourami etc are the popular varieties of gourami. These are herbivorous fishes.

Fighting fish:  

The male of fighting fish are very aggressive. Hence, only one fish should be kept per tank is advised. The male have graceful fins. The colour and development of fins vary greatly in these species.   Fighting fishes are adopted to live in oxygen deficient water. 

Angel fish:

 

The body of these fishes is compressed laterally.  The fins are long and trailing  These fishes have laterally compressed disc like body. They have long extensive fins.  Because of their elegant and graceful swimming  movement, these fishes are very popular among the ornamental fish keeper.

Gold fish. 

Every  ornamental fish keeper prefers gold fishes in fish tank, because of their shape and large caudal fins. These species were developed in china. There are several varieties of gold fishes are  fan tail, lion head moor,  comet , shubunkin bubble-eye, pom-pom, etc.