Most hobbyists choose to grow aquatic plants in their tanks. Plants bring many benefits to a fish tank, helping to oxygenate the water, taking up harmful ammonia and nitrates for use as nutrients, and offering shade and shelter for the fish and other tank residents. Java ferns are wonderful plants that you see in many … Read more
If you’ve noticed your mystery snail’s shell becoming thinner, more pale, cracked, deformed, or damaged, it may be suffering from snail shell erosion or ‘shell rot’. This can be due to several factors, but acidic water is often one of the root causes. Here I’ll run you through some of the main causes of shell … Read more
Did you know that there’s a shrimp that can actually break glass? Well, there is a remarkable crustacean that can do exactly that! The beautifully colored Mantis shrimp is a tiny underwater vandal with a big reputation! So, what are Mantis shrimp? Are Mantis shrimp safe to keep? And can a Mantis shrimp harm a … Read more
Algae is the hobbyist’s sworn enemy, spreading in a slimy carpet over your tank and coating your decorations, plants, and viewing panes in green, red, or brown gunk. You can use an algae magnet to remove the eyesore from your tank glass, but you’ll need some help to get rid of algae growing in hard-to-reach … Read more
Cichlids are some of the most intelligent and interactive of all aquarium fish, so it’d be unusual to keep them alone. But since they’re such a vast family, there are nuances between the species that can inform us whether to keep a cichlid in a pair with its own kind, in a community tank, or … Read more
Almost every college dorm windowsill or student apartment has at least one spider plant; mine certainly did! Spider plants are easy to grow and very adaptable, happily growing in a wide range of conditions and environments. But can you grow a spider plant in your home aquarium? The answer is yes, with a few caveats, … Read more
When it comes to testing aquarium water parameters, you’ve got two main options: liquid test kits (aka. drop test kits), and test strips. While test strips are sufficient for offering quick, approximate readings, liquid test kits offer a more accurate and reliable method to test both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. But which liquid test kit … Read more
Neon tetras are one of the most popular tropical freshwater aquarium fish in the hobby. These fish are beginner-friendly and relatively easy to keep, so we reckon you’ll probably have some in your community tank. But why do your Neon tetras have white spots? Can this disease wipe out your entire population of tetras? And … Read more
Hear the name ‘water flea’ and you might start to feel itchy. But thankfully the type of animal we’re referring to here has nothing to do with the insects that can suck your blood! Water fleas, or daphnia, are perfectly harmless in most aquarium settings and some fish keepers even use them as a source … Read more
We all know cuttlebones are good for parakeets, but snails? Yes! Aquarium snails such as mystery snails, nerite snails, and rabbit snails can all benefit from having cuttlebones in their tank. Cuttlebones are not only a healthy snack for these pet invertebrates, but they can also help adjust the water parameters to favorable conditions for … Read more
Columnaris and Ich are two common diseases that can affect almost any species of tropical fish. Beginner aquarists often confuse the two diseases. However, both conditions have different causes and require different treatments, so it’s imperative that you can distinguish between the two. If your fish are sick and you think Columnaris or Ich might … Read more
There are around 150 species of plecos, many of which are seen regularly in the hobby. Plecos or plecostomus are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that are generally pretty hardy if kept in clean conditions and offered a high-quality diet. However, plecos can be vulnerable to a few diseases, one of which is white fungus. Plecos sometimes … Read more
If you’ve noticed your betta breathing heavily, you have good reason to be concerned. Heavy or rapid breathing is a classic sign that something is not right either in your betta’s health or the aquarium environment. Here we’ll look at some of the main reasons that your betta might be breathing fast, and what you … Read more
The Hydra is the scourge of many fish tanks and is definitely not a creature that you want to have in your aquarium, especially if you have small fish or a breeder tank. This guide explains how to identify, eliminate, and prevent a Hydra population from invading your setup! Ancient Origins The original Hydra monster … Read more
You may have seen videos on Youtube or TikTok over the past years of bloated pet frogs, puffed up like big balloons, floating around in an aquarium. If you didn’t understand why the frog was bloated, it’d be understandable to laugh. But bloat turns out to be a serious and painful illness that frogs may … Read more
