As you may know, a while ago I set up a 5 gallon aquarium for three Cajun dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii). When getting the crays, I also grabbed a pack of food from a brand I know and love: Hikari crab cuisine. The information on the back of the pack seemed mostly correct, which is … Read more
Cherry shrimp are a type of dwarf shrimp appreciated by many aquarists for their bright colors and easy care. If you’re looking for a clean-up crew in your planted aquarium, a new breeding project, or just a fun addition to a peaceful community tank, these shrimp make a great choice! Keep reading for everything you … Read more
Invertebrates like shrimp, crayfish and crabs are big favorites in the aquarium hobby. And for good reason! There are many species that are very easy to keep, and also quite a few that do well in smaller tanks. They are fun to watch and some even have a bit of personality. So what are the … Read more
When it comes to invertebrates, many aquarists immediately think of the different kinds of shrimp and crayfish that they could keep in their tank. However, there’s another group of fascinating invertebrates that can also be kept in freshwater and brackish aquariums: crabs! Unfortunately, there is still a lot of misinformation out there about these clawed … Read more
Although dwarf shrimp are all the rage in the aquarium hobby at the moment, they aren’t the only fascinating freshwater crustaceans we can keep in our tanks. Crayfish are a great option for anyone who finds shrimp a little too ‘boring’. Some crays are tiny and peaceful, others are massive and will try to destroy … Read more
When setting up and stocking your fish tank, you’re probably thinking of fish, right? Certainly not snails. Snails are pests. Or are they? The humble freshwater snail has been gaining popularity, and for good reason. There are some fascinating (and beautiful) species out there. Snails will even scrape algae off your tank walls, eat leftover fish food, and … Read more
Even the most careful aquarium hobbyist can end up with a pest snail infestation in their tank. In the search for a quick solution, aquarists often turn to fish that eat snails, like puffers or clown loaches. These may initially be an easy fix, but most don’t consider tank size and which fish they can … Read more
Malaysian trumpet snails are seen by many aquarists as ‘pest’ snails. While they do reproduce quickly, they are also great detritus feeders and help prevent compaction of your substrate by burrowing through it. Keep reading for more information about Malaysian trumpet snail care, how they can be useful and how to prevent overpopulation. Note: If you … Read more
Say hello to a long-time aquascaper favourite! With their exceptional cleaning skills, peaceful nature and interesting appearance, Amano shrimp make a great addition to the peaceful tropical community tank. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Amano shrimp care and keeping Amano shrimp in your own aquarium. Minimum tank size 10 gal (38 … Read more
If you’ve been an aquarist for a while, chances are you’ve spotted these white worm-like creatures crawling on the glass. Ew! Luckily, they’re not harmful to most aquarium inhabitants. Keep reading for more information about planaria, how to identify these creepy worms and what to do about them. What are planaria? Planaria (singular: planarian) are … Read more
Although an aquarium dedicated to something as seemingly boring as tiny shrimp may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the (dwarf) shrimp hobby is growing fast. Knowledge about their existence and care is spreading and exciting color varieties are being developed. More and more aquarists are giving shrimp keeping a try; if you are, too, keep … Read more
To most aquarists, purposely breeding snails sounds a bit silly. After all, they are considered an annoying pest by most of us! However, there are some aquarium inhabitants that have snails on their menu. Buying new snails every time is not much of an option, so setting up a snail breeding tank might be a … Read more
If you’re looking for an interesting, quirky pet and you fancy a change from keeping tropical fish, you might consider the Red Claw crab. These attractive little creatures are often kept in freshwater community tanks. However, the crabs’ natural habitat is brackish bodies of water. These aquatic animals don’t play well with others and are … Read more
Snails can make a helpful aquarium cleaning crew and some are very interesting to watch. However, this unfortunately does not apply to all aquatic snail varieties. We all know the scenario; it starts with a single tiny snail that hitchhiked into your tank somehow, and suddenly there are hundreds of them! Oops. How did that happen, and … Read more
Aquarium snails are pretty underappreciated and underrepresented on most aquarium websites. They’re usually seen as pests instead of an actual addition to your aquarium, which is a shame as there are tons of beautiful species available. Not all of them reproduce quickly, and most can actually help you out with algae control. Looking through the … Read more
