Edmund L. asked:


Native to the Amazon River Basin, the popular Discus (Symphysodon spp.) are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid fish, the common discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), and a new species named Symphysodon tarzoo.  S. aequifasciatus occurs in the Rio Amazonas, Rio Solimões and the Río Putumayo-Içá in Brazil, Peru and Colombia .  S. discus appears to be limited to the lower reaches of the Trombetas, Rio Negro and  Abacaxis rivers.  S. tarzoo occurs upstream of Manaus in the western Amazon.

All Symphysodon species have a laterally compressed round body shape, with patterns of shades in brown, blue, green, and red. The length and height of a typical grown adult ranges from about 20–25 cm (8–10 in).  There are many notable colour variations, brown, blue/green, royal blue, red spotted green, heckel, red turquoise, solid cobalt, blue diamond etc.

The shy and peaceful Discus which makes wonderful aquarium inhabitants, are sensitive to the environmental stress and disturbances. Hence the discus aquariums should be ideally located in a quiet area, preferably with little movements in the surrounding areas of a home or office. Plenty of hiding places should be provided to this fish for retreat.  Careful selection of cohabitants with the Discus should be made with care. Some fish may introduce parasites, diseases without exhibiting any noticeable signs. In a stressed environment, Discus stop producing their stress coat and their immune system also stops, leaving them vulnerable to parasites and diseases, and may die easily as a result.  The ideal water temperature to maintain Discus should be in the range of 26-31 C, where young Discus fry should be ideally kept at 31 C (88 F) degrees. Water parameters should be very soft and slightly acidic with a pH value range 5.5 – 6.5.  Discus should live well in a well lit planted tank with adequate biological filtration, and some shaded areas for them to hide in. 

A good water quality will allow Discus to have good appetites, and accept any food offered to them. As the Discus are shy in nature, they may be difficult in competing for food against the more aggressive fast swimmers.  Small characides such as tetras are excellent cohabitants for discus. Tetras usually thrive in similar water parameters as that of the Discus, and their schooling behavior greatly help in calming the discus. 

As in all other cichlids, brood care is highly developed where the pair of Discus will care for the young. Discus lay their eggs in angled surfaces, and hence vertical surface should be be provided for them to do so. Diet for the breeding pair of Discus should comprise frozen blood worms, beef heart, frozen or live brine shrimps and some dry food such as Tetra Color Bits. Avoid worms like tubifex which carry the risk of introducing parasites or diseases into the breeding tanks. A healthy pair of breeding discus should spawn frequently. The eggs usually takes about 48 hours to hatch and the fry becoming free swimming after 72 hours later.  As soon as the fry becomes free-swimming, they will move to the parent’s sides to feed off the mucous secretion. The fry will be ready to take on newly hatched brine shrimp after 5 days of free-swimming.  It is good to remove the parents from the fry after 2 to 3 weeks, where the parents may be able to breed again. Fry should be fed no less than 6 times a day with newly hatched brine shrimp and chopped blood worms.

This beautiful fish is not suitable for the beginner though.



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Jeanie Smith asked:


Catfish are common fish found in freshwater aquariums. Catfish are very unique and differ from other fish in regards to their health and care. The most distinguishing feature of a catfish is the prominent “barbells”, which look like whiskers on a cat, hence giving these one of a kind fish their name. The other thing that set catfish apart from any other fish is the fact that they have no scales. They also possess a strong, hollow ray on their fins that a stinging protein can be emitted from if the fish is irritated or in danger.

The most common catfish found in aquariums are the armored catfish. This group is smaller in size than other types of catfish and make a great addition to an aquarium. When you are setting up your tank initially, it is best to decide then whether you are going to house catfish. Your decision will impact the type of gravel or sand you will use as well as the pH of the water within the tank. Armored catfish prefer soft bottom material because they forage for food within the substrate. Catfish feel more secure when they are hidden from the light, so be sure to have caves and hiding places for this type of fish.

Overall, the care of catfish does not vary from caring for your other fish. You should try to include a food that will settle on the bottom of the tank as these fish are bottom feeders. The water should have a temperature in the middle to upper seventies and the pH should be neutral. This is usually the same set up and water balance you will use to house other fish as well, so it should not be a major concern when you add your catfish.

Catfish are known to be somewhat goofy and comical, but this may depend on the species of catfish you have. Their behavior will vary, but as a whole, the catfish is an entertaining addition to an aquarium. There are group and schooling catfish that get along well with each other. There are also loners who always stay away from their neighbors. Catfishes are the ideal candidates for community tanks because they inhabit niches and shelters on the bottom not occupied by other aquarium inhabitants. They generally get along well with all types of fish. Only in combination with some larger Cichlids can there be a problem as the Cichlids tend to extend their territorial claim to the entire tank.

The one thing to consider before adding a catfish to your existing aquarium set-up is the size of the other fish. While catfish generally get along with most fish, they are a predator and will attack and feed on smaller fish. Catfish are also nocturnal, and should be fed later in the day or at night. You may have to adjust the feeding times depending on what your schedule is now and what other types of fish inhabit the tank. With the number of species of Armored catfish, you will be sure to have a colorful and amusing aquarium with the addition of these comical fish. As with all fish, be sure to keep the aquarium clean and healthy so as to ensure the health of the fish as well as your enjoyment for years to come.



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Andrew Bicknell asked:


Once you pick out your new fish tank and get it all set up your biggest decision is going to be what type of fish to put in it. One of the biggest factors that will determine the type of fish to buy is the size of the tank. If you have a small 5 or 10 gallon tank then it just doesn’t make sense to buy fish that may grow to be 6 to 12 inches long.

One of your best resources when it comes to purchasing fish is the people who work at the local pet store. They can point you in the right direction, making the learning curve much easier. There is also a wealth of information across the internet about fish and fish tanks, so much so that it may take a little time to research the type of fish you think may work in your new aquarium.

If you are looking for a more decorative tank with lots of color then smaller more brightly colored fish such as tetras, neons, and even angel fish are a good choice. There are hundreds of small fish varieties to choose from and most of them will school, making for a constant display of flashing colors in your tank. Smaller fish are easier to care for as well, eating simple flake food and keeping aquarium maintenance to a minimum.

If you bought a large tank then your choices increase. For the truly adventurous large fish such as cichlids can be a fun choice. They are much hardier then smaller fish so there is less chance of them dying after you get them home, which is good considering they will cost more. Cichlids do have something of a mean streak though, so you have to be careful with the other fish you wish to have in the tank. They will attack and kill other fish and even those of their own species.

Cichlids will also grow to a rather large size, some large enough that they can eat feeder goldfish. Once you get them to this size there is little else you can put in a tank with them. They can also be quite messy, creating large amounts of waste material and they will push the gravel and any other decorative rock or items you may have in the tank around, creating piles of gravel and other debris wherever they see fit.

In the end choosing new fish for your aquarium will come down to the type and size of tank you have and your own personal preferences. Obviously the larger the tank to more choices you will have but even the smallest of tanks can add decorative warmth to any room.



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Auke Veenstra asked:


The real apistogramma’s come from southern America, they all have the same characteristics, like a complex breeding behavior, as their large relatives, only their size is different. Besides the apistogramma group there are also some relatively popular dwarf cichlids from Africa, like the Pelvicachromis group. From this group the most widespread cichlid is the Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis or Purple cichlid.

Generally the cichlids from the apistogramma group are more fragile and harder to maintain, and breed, for a longer period of time. In my opinion apistogramma’s are not real beginner species. They are more likely to get diseases if not all the environmental variables are properly taken care of. They need soft and acidic water with a low PH value, a PH of 5.5 to 6 is preferable. They hardly eat dry foods, best is to feed them live foods or frozen food, like bloodworms, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae. Apistogramma species can be kept in a large tropical community aquarium, but be sure the other fish are not too small, they can defend their territory very fiercely, and can be quite aggressive when they are breeding. In my opinion it is best to keep the apistogramma’s on their own, in a larger aquarium you could combine two apistogramma variants together, maybe supplemented with a small group of other fish, like some livebearers or betta’s. They also can be kept together with discus or angel fish. I always have a harem of apisto’s in my discus tanks, just to populate the lower areas of the aquarium and I really like these small dwarfs with a big attitude.

The cichlids from the Pelvicachromis group are much more tolerant when it comes to water values and feeding, I do consider these cichlids a good beginner species. They are hardened, beautiful colored and eat almost anything. The Pelvicachromis pulcher is maybe one of the most easy to breed cichlids as well. If you have an adult couple they will reproduce, in a community tank, a special species tank or in a pond, some people like to breed them in their pond during summer. Actually some of the biggest and nicest colored Pelvicachromis pulcher were pond bred and raised. The only thing to keep in mind with these cichlids is that they are capable of redesigning your aquarium, they can make huge holes and are real little bulldozers. So if you have, or want to setup, a subtile planted tank, don’t add a couple of Pelvicachromis to your aquarium.

The last dwarf cichlid I want to mention is the Microgeophagus ramirezi, or Ram cichlid. Their behavior and care are roughly the same as the apistogramma’s but they are more tolerant when it comes to water values, and in my experience they are easier to keep in good condition. Unlike the apistos they have to be kept as a couple, not a harem but that’s the only breeding experience I have. I have tried several couples, have a couple in a breeding tank right now, but I have never even had a clutch of eggs. I know from other breeders that they are kind of hard to get going, but if they do they never stop



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Abhishek Agarwal asked:


When you have put together your aquarium, you would be all eager to get the fish to go into it. But the dilemma about choosing the fish is that there are so many varieties available that you could get confused about your choice. It is best if you take the advice of your fish shop locally. But surely their advice will not be any different than the advice that follows here. If you think this is going to blossom into a really keen hobby, then choosing small fish could be just a waste of money and time. On the other hand, if this is a passing fancy or you have your kid’s interest in mind, then most certainly you should go for small fish.

Aquarium fish which is small is usually of bright colors and feed on fish flakes more than fish meat. They could range from angel fish to tetras and are chosen for decorative purposes due to their shine which reflects a bright silver under the particular aquarium lights. The fish species are simple and no fun to watch as they have no personality. These fishes are suitable for decoration and for simple aquarium set ups and usually people wanting a tank with low maintenance go for it.

It is a bit more difficult to maintain the larger fish like African fish and cichlids. But they generally are sturdier fish so their mortality rate is very low compared to other smaller weak fish. The main attraction or rather the problem of cichlids is however their cannibalism. They will gobble up the smaller fish in the tank in no time at all. If you feed them anything less than fish meat, they will not like it. Cichlids have different types and their looks also differ. Oscars which find personal favor with many people; can be red, tiger or albino. Then there are jaguar cichlids as well as black belts, and so the list goes on. These fish types need a lot of gravel cleaning and filter since they create lots of waste. Cichlids’ breeding pair costs a lot of money! Cichlids are generally the more expensive fish as they are larger (one tank can accommodate 5-6 cichlids and one half foot Oscar). One thing to remember is that these fish prefer to arrange the tank just the way they like it. So initially though the tank caters to your taste, it won’t stay the same for long. There is so much more to know about cichlids which have a distinct personality.

So the type of fish that you should get for your aquarium depends on the purpose of your getting the aquarium. Decorative small tanks need decorative small aquarium fish. But if you have a bigger tank, you should get bigger fish. Put in some larger fish and see the fun you will have watching them!



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