As with any pet, providing your fish with a correct diet in the right amounts is essential for their health and longevity. That sounds pretty straightforward, but it’s something that beginners to the hobby often get wrong, sometimes with drastic results. One of the most important aspects of tropical and cold water fishkeeping is understanding … Read more
Regardless of the species, providing your fish with a balanced diet is essential for keeping your pets healthy and thriving. But fish feeding has many potential pitfalls that you must avoid, as getting it wrong often leads to health problems for your fish and even fatalities in extreme cases. I have over 40 years of … Read more
Sometimes, important scientific discoveries remain hidden away in obscure journals for years before the findings receive wider recognition and application. This year (in February 2023) a scientific paper reviewing the stinging nettle’s potential as a food in aquaculture revealed that the ‘backyard weed’ can boost growth rate, reproduction rate, and immunity levels, as well as … Read more
Axolotls are lively, cute little creatures that can make unusual, quirky pets that even engage and interact with their owners, making them a popular choice in the aquarium hobby. But are pet Axolotls difficult to feed? Can they eat live food? And do you need to hand-feed your Axolotl? Read this guide to learn how … Read more
Now there have been some reports online of tetras eating dwarf shrimp species, especially cherry shrimp. Are these stories true, and how can we protect our precious shrimp from the ravages of our hungry tetras? The truth is that tetras can sometimes eat dwarf shrimp, but usually only when larger tetras are kept with the … Read more
It’s not unusual for fish to lose their eyesight either through disease, an accident, or a fight with a tank mate. Some fish are even born blind because of a genetic quirk. However, a lack of sight doesn’t mean that your pet can’t enjoy an excellent quality of life. Of course, providing any fish with … Read more
Fish is one of my favorite snack foods, and I use it in cooking, too. But I wondered recently if my fish would appreciate the addition of a few crumbs of this popular food to their diet. So, I did some research, and it turns out that fish cannot eat cheese, and feeding it to … Read more
Many freshwater fish species are omnivores, meaning they eat plant matter and meaty protein. Regular commercially produced fish flakes and pellets provide much of what your fish need to remain healthy and thriving, but many hobbyists like to enhance their fish diets with a few extras in the form of vegetables. Most people have a … Read more
Kuhli loaches are one of my favorite fish. Mysterious, nocturnal, and eel-like, these beautiful creatures make a fascinating addition to most community tank setups. Some fishkeepers, however, are concerned about keeping kuhli loaches with shrimp. After all, other loach species are notorious for eating invertebrates, and there have been rumors on the internet about kuhlis … Read more
Goldfish are normally one of the greediest of all pet fish, so it’ll always be concerning if they completely refuse to eat. A lack of appetite in your goldfish is a classic tell-tale sign of a serious problem in your tank environment or your goldfish’s health that’ll need correcting as soon as possible. In many … Read more
It can be difficult to find tough enough tank mates for your betta tank. Some bettas are just so darn aggressive, they’ll pick fights with anything you put in their tank. But surely aquarium snails should be a safe bet? Sadly not. While many people have kept betta fish and snails together for years without … Read more
Algae is a major bugbear for most aquarium owners, and many people like to assemble an aquatic cleaning crew to graze on the algae and keep it under control. Corydoras catfish are hardy, peaceful, easy to care for, and full of personality, which makes them ideal for a beginner’s tropical community tank. But do Cory … Read more
If you’re keeping both goldfish and tropical fish, you might be wondering – can I skip buying two kinds of food for my fish, and just feed my goldfish the tropical fish food? The answer is that tropical fish food is often not so different from goldfish food and can occasionally be used as a … Read more
Corydoras catfish are one of the hobby’s most popular aquarium fish. These cute little guys are peaceful, hardy, and extremely easy to care for, making them a popular choice for beginners. Corys can live for five years or even more if provided with the correct environment and a high-quality, varied diet. So, what do these … 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
