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Aquarium of the Americas
The Equipment for Your Aquarium
The first decision you need to make when setting up your aquarium is the kind of fish you want to raise. Many things are dependant on this decision:
* How many hiding places will we need?
* Can we plant a jungle, or just a few garden spots?
* Will we be breeding fish?
* Do we want to set up a decorative display just for viewing them?
* Are we going to study their behavior?
* Do we want to photograph them?
* What types of decorations do we want (divers, sunken treasure chests, rocks)?
Since the fish don't care one way or the other, these are decisions we will make for them. Kinda fun, isn't it?
It isn't a good idea to put clam shells or other items from the ocean in a fresh water tank, even though many do just that. It tends to harden the water, which isn't conducive for the health of tropical fish. (Most tropical fish come from soft water areas.)
There are many considerations that are important to fish:
* Do they need to be able to hide in caves?
* Do they need to find shelter from above with roots or plants?
* Some fish need a jungle to hide in, and it is important that they be able to hide from the other inhabitants of the aquarium.
* Some fish need lots of room to swim.
You can get further information on the needs of different fish by reading up on them -- either check online or get a good book on setting up aquariums.
These books can also help you decide how many and what type of fish to choose for the size aquarium you have.
If you ever have the opportunity to view fish and plants in their natural habitat, you will see that water isn't always crystal clear, plants don't always grow from the bottom, and most habitats are completely plant-free!
See Also:
Resolved Question: Black Moors in a 10 gallon.?
The Equipment for Your Aquarium
Weekends and Vacations with Your Aquarium
Everyone has a well-meaning friend who will come in and care for your aquarium; however, this can end in a disaster if they are not well versed in caring for your tank.
This usually ends up with too much food rotting on the bottom of your aquarium, and the very real possibility of dead fish floating around the cloudy, foul-smelling tank thrown in for extra added problems!
Something that few people realize is that fish are quite capable of, and actually need to have a day of, fasting once a week in a well-established aquarium. Because of this, it is very acceptable to leave the aquarium alone for an occasional weekend; it is even healthy for them. |
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Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans
Both are frequently found in brackish water, and their spines make them unattractive as food for other fish.
While they may be found in the same water in their natural habitat, they are competitors and should not be kept in the same aquarium for any reason.
The three-spined stickleback is usually found in wide ditches or flowing waters. The males of this species are quite beautifully colored. The bellies are bright red and the eyes shine green-blue in the sunlight.
Only one male and two or three females can be placed in an aquarium 70-80 cm, as the dominant male will constantly attack the other males.
The fish should be of about equal size and ready to spawn; do not choose the largest fish for an aquarium as they are at the height of their sexual maturity when they are of a medium size.
Sticklebacks frequently die after they have reached the end of their reproduction period. Only a few females have lived to be three years of age; males never live that long.
Related Topics: Types of Aquarium Plants ,
The Importance of Plants in Your Aquarium , Aquarium Techniques
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