Adding driftwood is a great way to get a natural look in your aquarium fish tank and help your fish feel more at home in the setup. Aquarium-safe wood can be found in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and there is a type for almost every biotope! Although adding pieces of driftwood can make your … Read more
There are many types of aquarium substrate available nowadays with products ranging from neon-colored gravel to natural-looking sands. Substrates are an important place for beneficial bacteria to grow but choosing the right products can be a bit of a challenge, as each substrate type has a different effect in your aquarium and on your fish. Keep … Read more
This is a guest post by Adam of Betta Fish Center! Water to bettas is like air to humans… so you can understand why the quality of your betta’s water is vitally important to betta fish care as it assists with keeping these pet fish not only healthy, but also content and happy in their aquatic … Read more
Quarantining fish before adding them to the main display aquarium or when they’re sick is a very important part of fishkeeping. Even experienced aquarists often overlook this step because they think it isn’t needed and want their new fish in their tank as soon as possible! First, we need to understand what a quarantine tank … Read more
Proper filtration is, as most aquarists know, necessary to keep the aquarium water clean and fish healthy. The definition of “proper filtration” varies depending on factors like water volume, the amount of fish, how much water is changed every week and the amount of plants, but in almost every aquarium two different kinds of filtration … Read more
When you are setting up a new aquarium, there is always the question of whether you should go for live aquarium plants or not. Real plants usually look better than fake plants and are a nice addition to most aquariums, but many aquarists worry that it is too difficult to keep them alive and so … Read more
As an experienced tropical and coldwater fish keeper with over 40 years of experience, I can state with some authority that the best way to keep diseases and parasites out of your aquarium is by quarantining all new aquatic life before adding the newbies to your main tank. Now, you’d think that putting your livestock … Read more
I’ve kept tropical and freshwater fish of many different species for over 40 years. I love their vibrant colors, beautiful finnage, and quirky personalities. However, what I don’t love about fishkeeping is their susceptibility to diseases. Of course, some species are hardier than others, but every type of fish can get sick sometimes. As a … 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
Rotala indica is a beautiful aquarium plant that does well in most well-maintained tropical freshwater tanks, even without CO2 supplementation. This red-leafed plant species is easy to care for and can grow quite tall, making it an ideal choice to create an exciting backdrop to a deep tank setup. Read this guide to learn everything … Read more
So you’ve noticed black gills on your betta fish? That’s not unusual, and not necessarily a problem – although it could be. What appears to be black gills in betta fish is usually not their gills at all, but a black ‘beard’, a normal and healthy part of their anatomy. Occasionally, however, a betta’s gills … Read more
Some hobbyists feed live worms to their fish from time to time as a tasty, nutritious treat. That’s a great idea, provided you obtain the worms from a reliable source so that you know the critters are disease free before offering them to your pets. But what does it mean if you discover black worms … Read more
So you’ve seen some lumps or bumps growing on your goldfish and are worried about their health. The good news is that most wart-like growths on goldfish are completely benign cutaneous tumors that won’t affect your pet fish’s health. What Are the Lumps on My Goldfish? The lumps and bumps on your goldfish are very … 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
Crayfish can make excellent pets. These cute crustaceans are fascinating to watch, hardy, and easy to keep. If conditions are correct, there’s no reason for your crayfish to die suddenly. Crayfish usually die because of unsuitable or poor water conditions, an uncycled tank, lack of oxygen, large, aggressive tank mates, and old age. In this … Read more
