Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish are a popular fish to keep in your fish tank because they are generally placid and can live comfortably with other species of fish in a community tank. They also have a distinctive appearance of having barbels around the mouth that look like whiskers and hence give them their colloquial name Catfish. This article will briefly describe the common types of catfish that can be kept in an aquarium, some of their habits and how to care for them.

The two species of catfish that are popular for aquariums are the Corydoras sp. (also known as corys, cory catfish or cory cats) and the Synodontis sp.

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Corys are indigenous to the tributaries of the Amazon river system. These waters are typically clean and clear and have a constant and gentle current. Corys tend to stick at the bottom in the current searching for food on the river bed or small animal life. Corys are quite small and live in small groups in the wild. In aquariums they are often on their own.

They are fairly hardy in terms of water quality. They can tolerate slightly acidic or alkaline water but are ideally suited to neutral water. They like a fine gravel substrate as most of their time is spent foraging for food. It is important to keep the water and gravel clean because Corys will pick up bacterial infections, such as ich or fin rot, from dirty substrate. To this extent, Corys are good for cleaning up waste material off the bottom of the tank but they also eat a wide variety of food including pellets and flake food and also blood worms. They are also well adapted to cold water and can live in water ranging from 18-25 degrees Celsius.

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Synodontis sp. are generally larger fish than the Corys with some notable exceptions being the upside down catfish or synodontis nigriventris. They hail from the river systems and lakes of Africa where water is quite hard. Again they are bottom dwellers that prefer fine gravel substrate that they can scour for food. Having said that they will eat most types of other food from live food to flake and pellets.

Synodontis are quite shy to some extent and prefer dark surroundings. The lighting should be low and the habitat should include plenty of rocks and wood that can create caves and other place to hide from time to time.

Fish Tank

If you want to lower maintenance requirements, as well as keeping your fish healthy and your water clear and beautiful, accentuating the ambiance of your home, then pick the perfect filtration system for your fish tank. Make it simple. Consider the specific requirements to best suit the needs of your fish. You have to take into account that the water volume and shape of your fish tank, the kind of fish you keep, as well as the exact amount of food your fish will need all factor in to the equation.

Without a proper fish tank filtration system for your fish tank, your will die from the toxins that build up in the fish tank when there is an absence of proper filtration. There are biological, chemical, as well as mechanical kinds of fish tank filtration systems available on the market today. This article will explain in more detail the differences between biological fish tank filtration systems, chemical fish tank filtration systems, and mechanical fish tank filtration systems.

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

Having the very best fish tank filtration systems are essential for you, especially considering that if you choose the right one, it will require the simplest maintenance possible. In addition, the proper fish tank filtration system will ensure the health and beauty of your fish tank. Indoor fish tanks are a great idea for your virtually any home décor. But if you decide to keep decorative, pet fish, you need to choose the very best filtration system - one that will best suit your specific, individual needs.

Biological fish tank filtration systems are virtually always crucial. Nonetheless, the other two fish tank filtration systems (which I will discuss later on) are good options in several cases as well. The excreted waste of our fish is expelled into the water, and will then become poisonous to the fish. To battle this toxic condition, a biological fish tank filtration system will transform the bacterium in this waste, and other particles. A biological fish tank filtration system will turn these kinds of toxicity into a relatively harmless chemical: nitrate.

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

Nitrate actually encourages the growth of algae in your fish tank. Some fish feed on this kind of algae - but usually not enough, they do not consume all of it, and some consume none. Nevertheless, you will (from time to time) have to scrub your fish tank clean of the buildup of algae. If you cycle your fish tank using a biological fish tank filtration system, you can certainly create a biological environment. When you have already designed a specific biological habitat, and if you purchase a new biological filtration system, your fishes etc. will not have to adjust.

With a new biological fish tank filtration system in your old biological fish tank, the underwater environment will not (or, at least, with high quality equipment it should not) change at all. Instead, it will simply become a fish tank now maintained by a higher quality fish tank filtration system. It is a win-win-win situation when you purchase a higher quality fish tank filtration system. It is better for you, better for your fish, and even better for your home décor!

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Did you know that reference was made to koi colors as far back as 316 AD in the Western Chin Dynasty? That's how long these wonderfully colorful fish have been written about... it's quite amazing really!

Right back then the colors of koi that were documented included black, blue, white and red... so koi colors are actually nothing new - it's just that they have been perfected through the art of selective genetic breeding.

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

But it wasn't till the 17th century that real koi breeding began in the Japanese region of Niigata Prefecture, and it was the Japanese who took the time to master the art of selective breeding. Through careful trial and error, they became the master's of selective koi breeding and they still lead the world today.

So if you seriously want to gain a firm understanding about koi fish, the different types and their variety of colors then you really need to learn some of the Japanese terminology to get a grip on the real meaning of things.

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Some of these terms will be explained further into this article, but for now let's look at a bit more of the koi fish history.

So... going back to 17th century Niigata Prefecture ... it was here that farmers started to notice that occasionally the grey carp fish would have offspring with different colors and markings. This prompted them to study the fish and their findings revealed a good number of koi with distinct and colorful patterns which they then proceeded to cultivate even further until the 19th century.

By the 19th century there were a vast number of koi breeders in Japan and now there were also many new koi color varieties emerging. Koi had become incredibly popular and were affectionately known as "the fish of nobility" but they were still only really known within the Niigata region of Japan.

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Real Butterfly Koi Fish

Big Fish Flounder

Salt water fishing is a topic as big as the sea. It can run the gamut from angling for smaller inshore species like speckled trout, flounder and redfish, to an offshore adventure in search of pelagic giants like bluefin tuna and blue marlin. Since the inshore species are more accessible to anglers, here are a few tips to help in the search for a good catch. And just to narrow down the field even more, the tips given here will be geared more toward the beginning surf fisherman. However, these salt water fishing tips will put any beginner on the path to becoming a pro.

First, in order to catch a fish the bait has to be placed where the fish lives and feeds. This may be as simple as tossing a baited hook into the surf, which will often produce great results. But not all fishing spots are created equally. Any given stretch of beach will have certain areas that hold more fish than others. It is best if the angler can invest the time to survey the area he plans to fish at low tide, as this condition often reveals subtle dips in the bottom, deeper holes, sandbars, and other structures that will hold fish.

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

If it is not possible to survey the beach at low tide before fishing, at least take a few minutes to study the patterns of the incoming surf before you cast your rod. Waves that break far from the water's edge usually mean shallow water, and at times waves may be seen breaking on a sandbar many yards from shore. In contrast, if the surf rushes in and the waves break closer in one area than in another it usually means that the area is deeper than its surroundings. It is important to pay close attention since fish usually congregate around some type of underwater structure or area of depth change.

One mistake that I have seen many fishermen make is to try and send their bait as far as possible with every cast. At times this does pay off, but many times there are plenty of fish to be caught within a few yards of the sand, right in the foam. It is best to fish with multiple rods and cast various distances from shore until the fish are found.

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Expensive, oversized tackle is not a necessity. Any decent quality rod and reels combination in medium to medium-heavy is perfectly acceptable. A simple bottom fishing rig of two or three drop lines tipped with size six hooks, and with enough weight to keep the rig on the bottom attached to the terminal end, will catch most species that live in the surf. Always remember that if you want to catch large numbers of fish you can catch a big fish on a small hook. But you can't catch a small fish on a big hook.

For the beginner, it is best to fish with natural bait. This means practically anything that the fish in your area might be feeding on. Small pieces of shelled shrimp, worms, the meat from clams, small pieces of squid, and cut fish are just a few of the best baits.

Big Fish Flounder

Salt water fishing is a topic as big as the sea. It can run the gamut from angling for smaller inshore species like speckled trout, flounder and redfish, to an offshore adventure in search of pelagic giants like bluefin tuna and blue marlin. Since the inshore species are more accessible to anglers, here are a few tips to help in the search for a good catch. And just to narrow down the field even more, the tips given here will be geared more toward the beginning surf fisherman. However, these salt water fishing tips will put any beginner on the path to becoming a pro.

First, in order to catch a fish the bait has to be placed where the fish lives and feeds. This may be as simple as tossing a baited hook into the surf, which will often produce great results. But not all fishing spots are created equally. Any given stretch of beach will have certain areas that hold more fish than others. It is best if the angler can invest the time to survey the area he plans to fish at low tide, as this condition often reveals subtle dips in the bottom, deeper holes, sandbars, and other structures that will hold fish.

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

If it is not possible to survey the beach at low tide before fishing, at least take a few minutes to study the patterns of the incoming surf before you cast your rod. Waves that break far from the water's edge usually mean shallow water, and at times waves may be seen breaking on a sandbar many yards from shore. In contrast, if the surf rushes in and the waves break closer in one area than in another it usually means that the area is deeper than its surroundings. It is important to pay close attention since fish usually congregate around some type of underwater structure or area of depth change.

One mistake that I have seen many fishermen make is to try and send their bait as far as possible with every cast. At times this does pay off, but many times there are plenty of fish to be caught within a few yards of the sand, right in the foam. It is best to fish with multiple rods and cast various distances from shore until the fish are found.

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Big Fish Flounder

Expensive, oversized tackle is not a necessity. Any decent quality rod and reels combination in medium to medium-heavy is perfectly acceptable. A simple bottom fishing rig of two or three drop lines tipped with size six hooks, and with enough weight to keep the rig on the bottom attached to the terminal end, will catch most species that live in the surf. Always remember that if you want to catch large numbers of fish you can catch a big fish on a small hook. But you can't catch a small fish on a big hook.

For the beginner, it is best to fish with natural bait. This means practically anything that the fish in your area might be feeding on. Small pieces of shelled shrimp, worms, the meat from clams, small pieces of squid, and cut fish are just a few of the best baits.

Big Blue Fish

If you're planning on going big game fishing in New Zealand, you'll need to prepare yourself to possibly catch the big one you've always dreamed of. Because the industry is well regulated and numbers are protected, there are still good numbers of fish to catch, and great spots to find them in. Taking a chartered boat out to a good spot is the perfect way to spend a day or two.

So what kinds of fish can you hope to find in New Zealand? There are a range of good sized specimens in our waters. The following are some of a Kiwi fisherman's favourites

Big Blue Fish

Big Blue Fish

Big Blue Fish

Big Blue Fish

Big Blue Fish

Big Blue Fish

If there was a prized fish that set New Zealand apart from other fishing spots, it would be this one. New Zealand boasts the largest striped marlin caught on record, and they are abundant in the waters surrounding the top half of the North Island. Many people choose to fish for them on the East Coast of New Zealand as the conditions are calmer there, however, they are also in good supply on the West Coast (though can be sporadic). The best time to catch one of these beauties is between February and May. An average sized fish comes in at between 80 and 120 kilograms and you may be lucky enough to land one around the 200 kilogram mark.

Big Blue Fish

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish are a popular fish to keep in your fish tank because they are generally placid and can live comfortably with other species of fish in a community tank. They also have a distinctive appearance of having barbels around the mouth that look like whiskers and hence give them their colloquial name Catfish. This article will briefly describe the common types of catfish that can be kept in an aquarium, some of their habits and how to care for them.

The two species of catfish that are popular for aquariums are the Corydoras sp. (also known as corys, cory catfish or cory cats) and the Synodontis sp.

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Corys are indigenous to the tributaries of the Amazon river system. These waters are typically clean and clear and have a constant and gentle current. Corys tend to stick at the bottom in the current searching for food on the river bed or small animal life. Corys are quite small and live in small groups in the wild. In aquariums they are often on their own.

They are fairly hardy in terms of water quality. They can tolerate slightly acidic or alkaline water but are ideally suited to neutral water. They like a fine gravel substrate as most of their time is spent foraging for food. It is important to keep the water and gravel clean because Corys will pick up bacterial infections, such as ich or fin rot, from dirty substrate. To this extent, Corys are good for cleaning up waste material off the bottom of the tank but they also eat a wide variety of food including pellets and flake food and also blood worms. They are also well adapted to cold water and can live in water ranging from 18-25 degrees Celsius.

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Catfish For Aquarium

Synodontis sp. are generally larger fish than the Corys with some notable exceptions being the upside down catfish or synodontis nigriventris. They hail from the river systems and lakes of Africa where water is quite hard. Again they are bottom dwellers that prefer fine gravel substrate that they can scour for food. Having said that they will eat most types of other food from live food to flake and pellets.

Synodontis are quite shy to some extent and prefer dark surroundings. The lighting should be low and the habitat should include plenty of rocks and wood that can create caves and other place to hide from time to time.

Fish Tank

If you want to lower maintenance requirements, as well as keeping your fish healthy and your water clear and beautiful, accentuating the ambiance of your home, then pick the perfect filtration system for your fish tank. Make it simple. Consider the specific requirements to best suit the needs of your fish. You have to take into account that the water volume and shape of your fish tank, the kind of fish you keep, as well as the exact amount of food your fish will need all factor in to the equation.

Without a proper fish tank filtration system for your fish tank, your will die from the toxins that build up in the fish tank when there is an absence of proper filtration. There are biological, chemical, as well as mechanical kinds of fish tank filtration systems available on the market today. This article will explain in more detail the differences between biological fish tank filtration systems, chemical fish tank filtration systems, and mechanical fish tank filtration systems.

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

Having the very best fish tank filtration systems are essential for you, especially considering that if you choose the right one, it will require the simplest maintenance possible. In addition, the proper fish tank filtration system will ensure the health and beauty of your fish tank. Indoor fish tanks are a great idea for your virtually any home décor. But if you decide to keep decorative, pet fish, you need to choose the very best filtration system - one that will best suit your specific, individual needs.

Biological fish tank filtration systems are virtually always crucial. Nonetheless, the other two fish tank filtration systems (which I will discuss later on) are good options in several cases as well. The excreted waste of our fish is expelled into the water, and will then become poisonous to the fish. To battle this toxic condition, a biological fish tank filtration system will transform the bacterium in this waste, and other particles. A biological fish tank filtration system will turn these kinds of toxicity into a relatively harmless chemical: nitrate.

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

Nitrate actually encourages the growth of algae in your fish tank. Some fish feed on this kind of algae - but usually not enough, they do not consume all of it, and some consume none. Nevertheless, you will (from time to time) have to scrub your fish tank clean of the buildup of algae. If you cycle your fish tank using a biological fish tank filtration system, you can certainly create a biological environment. When you have already designed a specific biological habitat, and if you purchase a new biological filtration system, your fishes etc. will not have to adjust.

With a new biological fish tank filtration system in your old biological fish tank, the underwater environment will not (or, at least, with high quality equipment it should not) change at all. Instead, it will simply become a fish tank now maintained by a higher quality fish tank filtration system. It is a win-win-win situation when you purchase a higher quality fish tank filtration system. It is better for you, better for your fish, and even better for your home décor!

Fish Tank

Fish Tank