Freshwater Aquarium Articles
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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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Live plants can completely transform the look of your aquarium. Keep reading to learn some simple tricks for rooting and anchoring live plants as well as some tips for pruning and propagation.
Live plants can completely transform the look of your aquarium. As realistic as some artificial plants may look, nothing compares to the real thing. Plus, live plants come with the added bonus of producing valuable oxygen for your fish.
A lushly planted tank is a sight to behold, but it does take a fair amount of work to get there. In addition to choosing the right kind of substrate for your planted tank, you also need to decide where you want to put your plants and how to keep them there. Some fish have a penchant for uprooting live plants and other factors such as strong current can make it a challenge to keep your plants where you want them.
Keep reading to learn some simple tricks for rooting and anchoring live plants as well as some tips for pruning and propagation.
Understanding the Different Types of Aquarium Plants
When you first start shopping around for live aquarium plants, you’ll find that they are sold in several different ways. Popular options like Amazon sword, crypts, crinums, and hair grass are typically sold in small pots. Rhizomatous plants like anubias and java fern are typically sold by the rhizome, also known as the rootstalk or subterranean stem from which roots and leaf nodes grow. Other plants like mosses and stem plants may be sold by the stem or in bunches.
Each of the different kinds of live aquarium plant needs to be treated differently when it comes to placing them in your tank. While floating...
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