Charlie Morton 
Brine shrimp are an extremely useful live or frozen food for aquarium fish and aquaculture. But if you’ve just bought a big bag of brine shrimp to last your fish several days, you may be wondering what’s the best way to keep them alive. Brine shrimp can be successfully kept alive in a refrigerator for … Read more
Amazon Frogbit is an attractive floating plant often grown in tropical freshwater aquariums. Its modest demands and many useful attributes have made it a popular plant among fish keepers for decades. This Amazonian plant isn’t entirely without its problems, however. Its fast growth rate and ability to cast heavy shade over the aquarium means that … Read more
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably noticed your fish shaking, twitching, shivering, or trembling and are wondering why they’re exhibiting this strange behavior. Vigorous shaking in some aquarium fish is a natural courtship behavior used to impress a potential partner, but if your fish is shaking for longer periods, it’s probably a sign of an … Read more
If you’re reading this, you may have noticed a few of your fish disappearing in the night, and your algae eater looking particularly satisfied in the morning. Or perhaps you’ve heard gruesome stories of algae eaters going on a killing spree in a community tank? Though such horror stories do exist, the good news is … Read more
When it comes to decorating a fish tank, some of us like to get creative. For me, nothing can beat an aquascaped aquarium with plenty of plants, stunning rocks, and twisted pieces of driftwood. But can you include crystals as part of your aquarium decor? The answer is yes! You can. But you also need … Read more
When I got my first aquarium twenty years ago, I just assumed that the filter would do most of the cleaning work and didn’t realize that I’d have to change the water frequently too! But I soon learned that partial water changes are a standard part of good aquarium maintenance. While aquarium filters perform an … Read more
We totally understand – you want your fish tank to be an oasis of calm, a serene place to relax in a sanctuary of color, movement, and life. But you can’t get that if your fish tank is making constant noise, and the most common culprit of a noisy fish tank is the filter. We … Read more
Dropsy, bloat, edema, hydropsy, and ascites are all fairly synonymous terms referring to a very unpleasant condition of swelling up in pet frogs. Unfortunately, the condition can be very unpleasant or even fatal for frogs such as Pacman frogs, African Dwarf frogs, and African Clawed frogs, and can only be safely treated by a trained … Read more
If you’ve noticed that your fish has swollen lips, there are a few possible causes – some of them quite benign and others very serious. ‘Fat Lips’ or ‘Duck Lips’ can be caused by fish genetics, mild injuries, viruses, or bacterial infections. In the latter case, fat lips can indicate a very serious illness and … Read more
Red-eared sliders are exotic and beautiful-looking turtles, but are also messy and love to eat fish! In an aquarium, tankmates of red-eared sliders need to be either very big or fast to escape the greedy belly of this omnivorous reptile. There are no perfect solutions, and even the toughest of fish may succumb to attacks. … Read more
Cherry shrimps and Ghost shrimps are two of the most commonly kept freshwater aquarium shrimp species. Their small size and easygoing temperament make them a great choice for beginners, and their ability to help keep the tank clean is a bonus for any aquarist. But which one is the better of the two? Let’s take … Read more
Hole in the head and lateral line erosion (HLLE) disease are two fairly synonymous common diseases that can cause distress not only to your aquarium fish but also for you to witness. The sudden appearance of unsightly lesions and holes forming on your fish is never going to be a comfortable experience for either of … Read more
Gouramis are famous for raising their eggs and young in foamy, floating structures known as bubble nests. But how exactly do they build a bubble nest, do all Gourami species make them, and how should you raise the young Gouramis when they emerge? Stick with me and I’ll answer all of your questions about Gourami … Read more
If you have well water and are thinking about getting an aquarium, you’re probably wondering if you can use it for your fish. The short answer is yes! You can use well water or borehole water for your fish, although in some instances you’ll need to treat it first. This involves a bit of understanding … Read more
Swim Bladder disease or swim bladder disorder is a fairly common ailment in aquarium fish, and betta fish are no exception. If you’ve noticed your betta swimming upside down, sideways, or getting stuck at the top or bottom of your tank, he might well have a swim bladder problem. While it can be distressing for … Read more
