Freshwater Aquarium Articles
Updated
Breeding aquarium fish can be tricky, but with the right tank setup and preparation it can be done. Read on to learn about the top 5 tetras for breeding and how to do it right.
Tetras are a group of small freshwater fish that come in a wide range of colors. These fish are great for beginners because they are typically easy to care for and most species get along well with tankmates.
What may not be so easy about keeping tetras is encouraging them to breed. Compared to livebearers like swordtails and guppies, tetras are much trickier to spawn, though it certainly can be done. It takes a certain tank setup and dedicated care to protect fry until they are big enough to fend for themselves.
In this article, we’ll explore the subject of setting up your tank for tetra breeding and provide tips for spawning and caring for the fry. We’ll also provide an overview of the top 5 tetras for breeding.
Setting Up the Tank for Success
When you think about fish that are easy to breed, species like swordtails, cichlids, and guppies come to mind. Compared to these fish, tetras are not “easy” to spawn. There are, however, some species of tetra that are easier to spawn than others and, with the right setup and care, it can be done.
A single pair of tetras is capable of producing several dozen eggs in one spawning attempt, but you have to start with the right tank setup and proper conditioning. The best thing to do is condition a school of tetras in a community tank using high-quality flakes and freeze-dried foods. If you really want to accelerate the process, use live foods...
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Cichlids are some of the most beautiful fish in the world, but they can also be the most aggressive. Keep reading to learn about the best and worst cichlids for your community tank.
Part of the fun of having a fish tank is stocking it. The challenge of finding the ideal combination of species to make your tank look its best without putting your fish at risk for predation or bulling is something every aquarium hobbyist loves. When it comes to keeping the peace in a community tank, many hobbyists assume that they are limited to placid species such as livebearers and tetras when that may not be true.
A community tank doesn’t have to be boring. With a little research and careful planning, you can find a group of species that will live together in harmony and turn your tank into a thriving aquatic paradise. Don’t assume that because many cichlids are aggressive that they must be omitted from the community tank. Keep reading to learn about the best cichlids for a community tank.
The Top 10 Cichlids for a Community Tank
When it comes to choosing fish for a community tank, you need to think as much about the size of your tank as the fish you plan to keep in it. Many cichlids grow to be fairly large fish, so keep that in mind when planning your tank. Here are the top 10 cichlid species for a community tank:
1. Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii) – A carnivorous species, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids do well in community tanks as long as they aren’t kept with other Apistogrammas or fish small enough to be seen as prey. They prefer planted tank with open areas for...
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Catfish are an extremely diverse group of fishes and many of them fare well in the home aquarium. Keep reading to learn about the most popular catfish for freshwater tanks.
When you think of catfish, you probably picture the big river fish you fry up and serve with a side of cornbread. When it comes to aquarium catfish, however, there are many different species. In fact, catfish can be found in almost every ecological niche around the world (except Antarctica). Some catfish live in oceans but, of the more than 2,400 varieties, most of them are freshwater fish.
If you’re looking for a bottom-dwelling species to add to your tank, catfish might be a good option. Keep in mind that because there are so many species, they come in different sizes and have different preferences for tank parameters.
Keep reading to learn about the most popular species of freshwater catfish and how to care for them.
What Makes Catfish Such a Popular Choice?
There are many reasons to love catfish in the freshwater aquarium. For one thing, they are an extremely diverse group of fishes with many unique colors and patterns. Catfish also tend to be very hardy and, for the most part, easy to keep in the home aquarium. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but most of the popular species are peaceful fish that get along well in community tanks.
Catfish belong to the order Siluriformes which is a varied group of ray-finned fish. Most catfish have barbels on their faces which look similar to a cat’s whiskers. Because catfish have very small eyes, they rely on these barbels to navigate and to find food – they also...
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