Fish Pets / Animals
Offers
Reviews
 |
Corydoras Catfish
by broxi3781 I have always loved catfish of all shapes and sizes. They are such an attractive fish, but many species do grow too large for most tanks. Thankfully the corydora can fit into most aquarium set ups. Corydoras originally come from South America, but many in the pet trade will be commercially bred. Some varieties like albino ... being distinctly man made. There are at least 142 types of corydoras, or cories for short. They range in size from the pygmy corydoras, which are about 0.75" , to Corydoras barbatus, reputed to reach lengths of up to 5". I would note though that both of these species can be harder to keep than the standard corries, who are quite study little fish. In particular, Corydoras barbatus, is often wild caught and may have trouble adapting to tank life. This fish is also far more exacting on water requirements. The pygmy isn't much more difficult, but I would wait until the tank is fully cycled - at least 6 -8 weeks and because of their small size, tank mates must be chosen carefully. In a tank with small tetras and gentle fish these could be ideal though. The most common corydoras in the pet trade are the bronze corydoras, and its variant, the albino, along with the peppered, green, panda, Shultz's and pygmy ,varieties. I currently keep albino and panda corydoras. Theoretically, both of these species reach about 2.5 " in length, but I have found the pandas to be slightly smaller. For novice fish keepers - or simply those who just like as few difficulties as possible. I would strongly recommend any of the common species of corydoras, but the bronze and albino are meant to be the absolute easiest to keep. My personal favourites though are the albinos, which I find very active and amusing. Of course the bronze is identical except in colour. Albinos are usually white, but you can get them quite pink with a diet high in brine shrimp, blood worms and a bit of cichlid red. I will note that while "blue" and "green" varieties are available, the blue are not the least bit blue and the green only have the slightest of green tints. Panda corydoras really do have markings that remind me of a panda, and Schultz's or leopard corydoras are covered in small brown spots. The bronze cory can be reflect a number of different colours with it's metallic sheen. Corydoras serve a purpose in the tank as well. As bottom feeders, they do help keep the tank cleaning by gobbling up whatever foods fall to the bottom, stirring about through the gravel to find bits and pieces. They are considered bottom dwellers, but in the right circumstances can be very active, racing up and down the sides of the tank. DIET These little fish will eat just about anything, flake, pellets, worms, brine shrimp, even shelled peas now and again. Although they are happy enough to eat flakes, they may not get enough in a tank full of more voracious eaters. Watch and make sure some flakes are reaching the bottom, but I would also suggest feeding some sinking foods as well. I feed flake, catfish pellets and frozen food with the odd bit of vegetable. WATER PARAMETERS This is a pretty sturdy fish and can survive a wide variation water qualities but they do prefer slightly cooler water. They can be kept from 22 - 27 Celsius but temps around 24 would be ideal. Younger fish and fry will usually only survive at lower temperatures. Lowering temps will also spark breeding, and I did end up with home grown corydora after a heater failed. Unfortunately I bought a new heater and did not know that the warmer temps likely caused the death of the rest of my hatchlings - still you don't get many eggs hatching in a community tank. PH should be about 6 -7, or soft to neutral. This would be average for most tropical tanks, with the exception of some fish like cichlids where the water is deliberately hardened. HOW MANY? Corydoras are social fish and do not like to live alone. You should keep at least three. The ideal group is meant to be variants of 3 with 2 males to each female - which is pretty much their natural breeding arrangement. Females are larger and fatter and most experienced pet shops can distinguish the difference. TANK MATES Corydoras are quiet easy going fish and will not bother other tank mates. They are suitable for most community tank set ups with small to medium fish. They should not be housed with very large or aggressive fish. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Corydoras release a toxin when stressed. They can also be poisonous to other fish. Most bigger fish leave them alone, but as they are small and timid, it isn't fair to house them with large aggressive species, and constantly being harassed may affect the health of the larger fish. If one eats them, it will likely die. Dead corydoras need to be removed from the tank ASAP. Corydoras should never be transported in the same bag as other fish. The toxins released due to the stress of transport in such a small volume of water will be very likely to kill any other fish in the bag. Keep this in mind if moving house too - a separate container for these little guys. Please note corydoras are especially susceptible to aquarium treatments. Use medicines and chemicals with care. BRIGHT NEON COLOURED CORYDORA? Please do not buy any garishly coloured cory. Colour feeding does not achieve results like this. Although less commonly dyed then other white fish - like parrot fish or albino black widows it has been done. This is a cruel process which no reputable pet store will participate in. The fish is injected with dye. Many die during the procedure. The majority of the fish die within weeks, but should your fish be one of the very few survivors it will revert to it's natural colouring in a few months. If you want a brightly coloured fish, please choose one with naturally bright colours. LIFESPAN Average lifespan is meant to be about 5 years. I have read of one being kept for 8 years, but I have never managed more than 6. Read the complete review |
|
|
Goldfish
by broxi3781 Goldfish are a domesticated version of a wild Asian carp. These fish were often raised in ponds as a convenient food source, but sometime during the Chun Dynasty, 265-419, a yellow mutation was observed. This mutation became prized and fish of this colour were kept as pets rather than ending up on the plate with their less colourful ... siblings. By the Tang dynasty goldfish were regularly raised in ponds, and the goldfish as we know it was most likely developed by Buddhist monks. The fish would be raised in ponds but brought indoors into special containers to display when guests arrived. These fish became so prized that the emperor is meant to have issued a degree banning the yellow variant for any fish keeper not of royal blood. By this time however orange, red and white varieties had appeared and these were still allowed for the rest of the population. Goldfish were introduced to Europe early in the 17th century, and at one time a goldfish was considered an extravagant and lucky gift for a wealthy husband to give his wife for their first anniversary, but as the years passed and the use of electricity to create heated tanks for the colourful tropical fish, goldfish became a common, cheap, and even disposable pet. Many more people love these colourful little fish, but the information proved by pet shops does not reflect the true requirements of keeping these animals. I think very few people would buy goldfish if they realised what was really required to keep this fish happy and healthy. I have bought this up with pet shops more than once. I ask why a tank is called a goldfish tank when obviously it is too small for even one. I have been told that of course this is correct, but a goldfish can live for a short time in these tanks, while a tropical fish would die right away without a heater. If they were to make this clear to the customer though, I doubt they would have many sales. Most pet owners expect a goldfish to last a year or two, few know that this species is meant to live up to 40 years. I had a few from a carnival many years ago that I re homed to a pond after 8 years. I was unaware at the time that they were probably near to record length. I am not sure how much of the tail is excluded from measurement but counting teh entire tail, they were certainly 16" or more. Average size is 12". In this time I moved them from a 2' aquarium to a 4' and finally an 8'. I believe these were comets, but they may have been common goldfish, the two are quite similar. These are the most common types of goldfish. If your fish has short fins and an elongated shape, it will be one of these or a similar subspecies. The minimum tank size for this type of fish is 76 litres per fish. This converts roughly to a 36" x 12"x 12" tank for a single fish, and a 48" x 12" x 18" for two fish, although the 36" size, while providing an adequate water level for the fish to breathe properly does not allow it adequate space for swimming as it grows. I did find the 48" tank completely inadequate for my fish as they grew as well, although I did have 3. The fancy varieties of goldfish are not as large, nor are they nearly as active. They require only 50% of the water volume and tank dimensions of the common varieties, which means a 24" tank should suit up to two fish. For this reason, unless you intend to move your fish to a pond at some point, I would very strongly recommend choosing these varieties over the common or comet. Unfortunately, I have never found the fancies to be quite as intelligent as the common goldfish. But quite simply, the fancy varieties are bred for life in a tank, while the common varieties are bred for life in a pond. I have to admit, I loved my goldfish, and I hope someday to be able to acquire a few more, but only if I can ever build a small pond. My fish would come when I called them and take food from my hands. I was often asked if I could pet them. The answer of course is no. Handling fish removes their protective slime and can result in illness or death. Of course many people already have the common variety of goldfish, and it isn't all doom and gloom. Although my fish did keep growing and growing. I have heard of people keeping goldfish in 2' tanks for some time, and 4' tanks indefinitely. Of course very high filtration and constant maintenance are required. I have found switching to a diet high in frozen foods, like blood worms does help with water quality. If you already have this type of fish, I'm afraid I have to recommend a very minimum tank size of 2' and preferably at least 3'. I would then recommend the highest level of filtration you can afford, but a Fluval 2 being the very minimum with weekly cleaning. The filter should be rinsed in tank water. Partial water changes will help remove additional waste, but try to remove only 25% of tank water with each change. A good gravel cleaner will be helpful, but taking the gravel all out for a wash will also remove all the helpful bacteria that break down waste into less toxic substances. Should you decide at some point to move your fish to a pond this can only be done in late spring to midsummer. If you move the fish directly from a heated house to a freezing pond it will most likely be fatal. If you find yourself with a large fish and are unable to care for it, I would suggest talking to pet stores that stock pond supplies. They may take your fish or at least allow you to place a card advertising for a good home among customers. You might also find a new home on Gumtree. Goldfish are referred to as opportunistic eaters - but basically they are pigs. They eat anything and everything. Unfortunately, dry foods can expand in teh belly causing bloat (Something like if you eat 3 bags of dried fruit and then a couple of glasses of water) , so it is recommended that you pre soak them. A varied diet will help prevent constipation. The addition of a few green foods, some brine shrimp and bloodworms to a good commercial flake is ideal. Over feeding of course can kill so it is important that children be supervised in feeding. If any food remains after 3- 5 minutes - cut back a bit next time. If lots of food remians several minutes later - scoop it out doing a partial water change if you have to. If you are setting up a new tank, ideally it should set for at least 24 hours. If this is not possible, spray the water as you fill the container and use a product to remove chlorine. In the case of a first fish and a new tank, you can dump the bag it comes in directly into the tank. This will supply a very tiny amount of beneficial bacteria. Only one fish should be kept in the tank for the first 6 -8 weeks, or until ph levels have stabilised. You can buy a cheap test strip for this, or ask your local shop to test the water. Basically you are waiting for enough good bacteria to build up to break down the harmful chemicals in feces and urine. Several products are sold that are meant to jump start this process, but not having used them myself, I can not say how effective they are. There is another way to quick cycle - but it requires a friend with another tank. You simply fill a couple of women's stockings with gravel and sink them in an established tank for a week, then add them to your tank. Or you can ask your friend to run your new filter along side their own for a week. Either method will colonise the filter medium or gravel with good bacteria. Gravel is more important than people think, 80% the good bacteria will live in your gravel bed, so starting off with a good sized layer, and giving this some attention in cleaning is well worthwhile. When buying any fish look carefully for damaged fins, white fuzz etc.. A fish with white mold is likely to die soon, but more importantly an ill fish can infect any other fish in your tank. Fancy varieties are especially prone to eye and fin injuries. I did take one home from the pet shop I worked in because he had lost both eyes. I named him Kenny Clark after a Scottish Football referee at the time. Unfortunately, after spending a fortune on a nice home, medications etc... he died anyway. For a basic set up you will need: Minimum 2' tank Gravel - expect at least 3 bags. Net Filter preferably one size up from recommended for tank size as goldfish produce more waste. Food Gravel Vacuum Lighting unit and bulb. You will likely want ornaments as well. Most people buy an algae cleaner. If you do not like getting your hands wet, I recommend an algae magnet. If you don't mind though, an old credit card is much quicker and more effective. Never use razor blades - yes they do work, but one slip and you gouge tiny lines in your tank. These fill with algae and you can never get them clean. By the time you are finished, you will find goldfish are anything but a cheap pet. But with proper care, they can become very friendly, entertaining and very long lived pets. If you buy your toddler a goldfish, with proper care you can expect it to be there to greet him when he returns from university. Read the complete review |
 |
Sea Monkeys
by beautybabiex I first got these little critters when I was younger and EVERYBODY had them as pets. It was considered 'cool' to own some sea monkeys! Sea monkeys are a type of shrimp that were originally sold in pet shops as fish food. They then became mystical creatures that turned from powder into living creatures that grew infront of your ... eyes. When you buy a kit of sea monkeys, there are a couple of small packets and a tank. The tank is not what you would expect and is small, plasticy and quite cheap. There are various magnified sections so you can see the monkeys closer. The packets you get with the tank are the eggs, growth food and water purifier. Obviously the water purifier needs to go in first as it makes the perfect living condition for your monkeys, helping them to survive and keep growing. I used tap water then added this and my sea monkeys lasted fine. The correct amounts of water are written in the instructions. After you have purified the water, you need to wait 24 hours then put in your eggs, stirring with the stick provided and wait for your eggs to turn into sea monkeys before your eyes. They seem to hatch within seconds, although they are as small as a pin prick to begin with, so you will need to wait for them to grow a bit. My monkeys got to about a centimeter in length before they died a month after hatching. The funny part of it all is that the shrimps mate at an amazing speed, so you will always have babies in the tank so it never gets empty. Their mating process is hilarious as you just see two 'getting frisky' by spinning at the bottom of the tank. Feeding your sea monkeys is easy, you simply put a small amount (measured out with a spoon that you get in your kit) into the tank 5 days after the monkeys hatch. The water turns cloudy upon feeding and this is a sign that they haven't eaten. You will not need to feed them again until the water is completely clear. monkeys to eat. You don't need to feed them again into the water is totally unclouded. A healthy sea monkey will have a dark stripe going down the centre of its body, when they get unhealthy they turn completely pale. *Best tip is to leave the monkeys on a windowsill, they eat the algae that builds up from the sunlight* Also helpful because it means you never have to clean them! Sea monkeys tend to last around 2 months but reproduce at an amazing speed, so you will never notice any going. The best part is that new sea monkeys hatch from the debris at the bottom of the tank once a couple die. I had my tank as a child for around 2 years without ever refilling it with eggs. The expensive part of the whole process is that you will need to buy extra food. You can also buy packets that make the sea monkeys more sexually active - wowza! These packts cost around £1.50 each and don't last more than 2 feeds (the sex one obviously needs to be poured in once then its done with). The business must of made a lot from all the varieties of tank and accessories to come with them too, but I didn't really bother with all of that. In my opinion, these can be quite funny as you watch them hatch out into living creatures, mate and spend hours swimming into the side of the tank. Although, I have to admit after a while they did become a little boring. To purchase your own little critters, visit any toy store! The kits cost different prices depending on what you buy. Read the complete review |
Fish Pet / Animal |
||
|---|---|---|
|
4 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
3 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
3 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
2 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
2 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
2 reviews Pet / Animal / Animal Species: Fish |
|
|
1 review Common names: Bristlenose Catfish / Pet / Animal / Bushynose Catfish |
|
|
1 review Pet / Animal / Tropical Fish |
|
|
1 review Pet / Animal / A dwarf puffer fish that can be kept in a tropical freshwater fish tank |
|
|
Pet / Animal / |
|
| Fish Pet / Animal Recommendations 1 2 3 back next | ||
| dooyoo Results 11 - 20 of 26 | ||
