Red Coris Wrasse

Red coris wrasses are colorful marine fish from the Indo-Pacific. They are commonly found off the coast of Hawaii. Like the other wrasses, they belong to the family Labridae.

The red coris wrasse is also commonly called the yellow-tail coris or the clown wrasse.

Red coris wrasses grow quite large for aquarium fish, reaching an adult size of about 14-16 inches (36-41 cm). Due to their large size you will need to provide them with a spacious aquarium (at least 90-100 gallons (341-379 liters)).

As in several other species of saltwater fish, juvenile yellow-tail coris look much different than the adults. Juveniles are orange with white spots that are outlined in black. As they mature they take on the adult coloration as shown in the top photo.

They don't make good reef fish because they normally feed in reef invertebrates. This means they will eat your ornamental shrimps, crabs, and molluscs. In captivity they need to be fed a variety of meaty foods - chopped seafood, marine aquarium fare for carnivores, mysis shrimp, ect. They have large appetites, especially as juveniles, and need to be fed often.

Longnose Hawkfish

The Longnose Hawkfish has a red checkerboard pattern on its white body with a very long nose.

Minimum Tank Size: 20

Level of Care: Easy

Diet: Carnivore. Provide meaty foods such as fresh chopped seafood, mysid shrimp, brine shrimp, table shrimp, preparations for carnivores, and most flake foods.


Natural Origin: Indo-Pacific

Sizes-Approximate: Small-Large 1.5 - 3 inches

Boxfish Longhorn

Boxfish are generally peaceful and they definitely require peaceful, slow moving tankmates like themselves, do not house them with aggressive eaters. As mentioned earlier, they are capable of releasing a lethal toxin when they are stressed so “bullies” in the tank need to be removed.
Be cautious when introducing them in a reef tank since they will often nibble at tubeworms.

TankConditions: 72-78°F; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12

Compatibility: Butterflies, Cardinalfish, Chromis, Clownfish, Damsels, Dartfish, Dragonets, Eels, Filefish, Foxface and Rabbitfish, Gobies, Grunts and Sweetlips, Jawfish, Hogfish, Lions and Scorpions, Parrotfish, Pseudochromis, Squirrelfish, Tangs and Surgeons, Wrasse, Live Corals, Live Rock and Sand.

Salt Water Gobies

Gobies are mainly bottom dwelling fish and are found in tide pools and shallow waters near coral reefs throughout the world. Some species can be quite colorful while others are drabber and covered with spots and stripes to blend in with their surroundings.

Gobies feed on a variety of things including algae, plankton, and small invertebrates.

Gobies do best in an aquarium with a lot of rocks and crevices to hide in. These fish are jumpers so the tank should have a secure cover. They should be fed a good variety of fresh and prepared foods that consist of both protein and vegetable matter.

The Pleco Fish

The plecostomus is a peaceful species that can be housed in a community tank as a single member of its species. As an adult, it is extremely intolerant of its own kind, although two can be kept together if they are added simultaneously as juveniles and allowed to "grow up" together.


The pleco is a vegetarian in nature, so its diet should be duplicated as closely as possible in the aquarium. It will accept a wide variety of the many catfish foods available, such as algae wafers and pellets, as well as flake foods with a high vegetable content.

Discus Fish

All Discus fish variants originate from the Amazon region in South America. They prefer lakes, deep puddles and smaller rivers and streams. The water in this region is acidic and you should therefore provide your Discus with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. It is also important that you keep the water in the aquarium soft, 0-3dH is recommended. Discus cichlids like to stay in the shadow during the day and the ideal water temperature in the aquarium is 25-29°C (77-84°F).

Discus cichlids are not very competitive and if you place them in the same aquarium as more assertive fish species, e.g. Angelfish, your Discus might be without food and starve or suffer from malnutrition. More docile species are therefore recommended as tank mates. Keeping several Discus cichlids together is a very good idea since Discus cichlids feel more at ease when in a group. A small group consisting of 6-8 specimens is ideal if your aquarium is large enough. You can also keep Discus with schooling fish, e.g. characins, since their presence will have a calming effect on the Discus. It should however be noted that Discus can consider smaller fish as food if it has not been brought up together with small fish.

Dragonettes Saltwater Fish

Dragonettes are often considered to be difficult fish to keep in captivity...they can be difficult to get onto foods and are slow deliberate feeders, primarily consuming copepods, amphipods and other small organisms. It is often suggested that fish from this family require a minimum of 50-75 gallons of tankspace per fish, and only in a well established "reef aquarium" (set up at least 6 months or longer) where ample supplies of small invertebrate life are able to sustain these constant pickers.

A Few Beautiful Aquariums

Killifish

Killifish fare widespread throughout Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and parts of Europe. These fish almost every biotope in freshwater. More than 500 species are represented in this group.
Killifish are generally peaceful by nature and can get along well in community tanks with other small or non-aggressive fish. The males can however, be aggressive towards each other, so it's best to keep just one male per killifish species per aquarium, and to avoid keeping species which look similar. Any number of females will be happy together. Killifish prefer a well-planted tank with lots of hiding places, and you should make sure that the hood is secure, as many of them like to jump. They're happiest in fairly shallow water with some floating plants to obscure the surface.

Cory Catfish

Unlike many types of catfish, Corys remain relatively small as adults. In fact, most only grow to between 1" and just over 4" in length, which suits them to smaller freshwater community aquariums. However, since most Cory Cats prefer to be kept in groups of four or more, these active scavengers also attend to the substrate cleaning needs of larger aquatic systems.
In addition to their smaller size, most species of Corydoras are active during daylight hours. This allows aquarists ample time to observe their antics, in comparison to the nocturnal habits of most types of catfish. Plus, there are over 140 identified Corydoras species, each in an array of body shapes and colorations, which ensures there is a Cory Cat suited to any aquarium's style.

Siamese Fighting Fish

Bettas originate in the shallow waters in Thailand (formerly called Siam, hence their name), Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of China. They proliferate rice paddies, shallow ponds, and even slow moving streams.

Bettas have a special respiratory organ that allows them to breath air directly from the surface.

Optimally the water for keeping healthy Bettas should be soft, warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and powerheads are not suitable. Bettas may be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and if no aggressive or fin-nipping fish are present. However, only one male may be kept in each aquarium.

In nature Bettas subsist almost exclusively on insects and insect larvae. They are built with an upturned mouth that is well suited to snatching any hapless insect that might fall into the water.

Blood Parrot Cichlids

A Hybrid Fish with a Gentle Disposition

The mouth of a Blood Parrot is a small slit which resembles a beak. It cannot close its mouth but is able to pick food from the surface of the water and crush it using its throat muscles.

The Blood Parrot cichlid is extremely peaceful and is compatible with a wide range of fish of the same size.

Feeding a Blood Parrot is simple because it will eat veggies, flakes, freeze-dried, and small live foods.

Clown loaches

Clown loaches have no special requirements on water conditions, they do however prefer a certain aquarium setup to be at their best. A tank size of 48 inches with the length being more important than the depth. It is very important to have a soft or fine textured substrate as they are continually probing the upper layers with their barbels for food. The tank does not need to be heavily planted, but the fish are shy and must have a place to hide - driftwood - caves - or even a clay flowerpot. The lighting in the tank should not be overly bright. Clown loaches are happiest living in small groups and will live peacefully with all other fish. Sometimes they will form small troops with members of the Corydoras family. Feeding is not difficult as they will accept all prepared foods and like all fish relish the addition of live foods especially small worms. The addition of a plant supplement is also beneficial. Clown loaches once established can live a very long time.

Zebra catfish

It has a flat "shovelnose" head and has dark black and silver bands the length of its body. It also has long whisker-like barbels around its mouth. This fish is not particularly aggressive, but may eat any small fish that can fit into its mouth. Keep with other large tankmates like pacu, tinfoil barbs, large cichlids and similar fish. The tank should have plenty of open space with little to no decorations. Banded Shovelnose Catfish may only eat live foods like feeder fish and shrimp in the aquarium. With time and patience, they may be able to be weaned onto prepared or frozen foods

African Knife or Clown Knife Fish

A super fish. Just be careful because you may buy them very small and they grow very large! They are also very deceiving, their mouths look very small until they hinge their jaws. These fishes can eat small and medium size fish in a hurry. They are rather plain looking as juveniles but they get their tell-tale spots once they get into adulthood. These fishes are NOT for the beginner.

pH Value
6.8
Water Temperature
76-80 deg. F
Size
36"
Feeding
Mainly Live Fish, Flakes, Pellets, Brine Shrimp & Worms if you are lucky
Lighting
More nocturnal; prefers dusk and dawn. Dim lighting suggested
Temperament
Peaceful, very good community fish with fish its own size or larger only. Anything smaller may be dinner.

The Jaguar Catfish

The Jaguar Catfish is one of the most beautiful catfish, having a brown body and numerous black spots with chocolate brown centers. A light yellow to gold horizontal band runs along the side of the body. Juveniles are more distinctly marked than adults. Jaguar cats can "talk," making noises like a foghorn by rotating their dorsal fin spines.

Scientific Name : Liosomadoras oncinus
Family : Doradidae
Common Name : Jaguar Catfish
Maximum Size : 18cm / 7"
Origin : Rio Branco, Brazil - white water river
Temperature : 20-24pH Level: 5.8-6.5

Behaviour in captivity: Unlike many other popular catfish species, the Jaguar catfish does not form schools. It is a highly territorial species and this must be taken into consideration when you set up your aquarium. It is possible to house several Jaguar catfishes in the same aquarium if it is large enough, but this calls for a clever aquarium decoration that break up the aquarium into several different territories. There must also be plenty of hiding spots throughout the aquarium. Include driftwood and pieces of PVC pipes or similar. If you hear strange sounds from the aquarium at night, it is Jaguar catfishes trying to stake out their territories. Rivaling the Jaguar catfishes will rotate the spines of their pectoral fins at the base; thereby producing a sound somewhat similar to a foghorn or tuba.

A Small Salt Water Fish Aquarium

A saltwater fish tank can be one of the most striking additions to any home or office. The color and brilliance of the fish and other saltwater creatures captivate just about everyone by bringing the color and activity right into your home.

It does take quite a bit of up-front work before you can even begin to introduce fish to a new saltwater aquarium. The water needs to be at the optimum ph, temperature and salt content before it is safe for living animals. Because the fish and other creatures are quite expensive it pays to have the tank properly set up otherwise you could end up with sick or dying fish whose cost is impossible to recoup.

Setting up a saltwater fish tank takes some time and planning but if it done right it will provide hours of entertainment for you and your guests.

The Flower Horn Fish

This Flower Horn fish transformed dramatically in less than one year.

Flower Horn Fish or Hua Luo Han which is popularly known has taken the aquatic world (particularly in the South East Asian region) by storm within the last two years. Its popularity is gaining momentum day by day, and it is set to be an internationally known fish with the likes of the discus fish and arowana. Luo Han fish is basically from the Cichlid family, which is classified under the genus of Cichlasoma, a specie commonly found in South America. This beautiful hybrid is thought to be the end product of cross breeding between the Cichlasoma Trimaculatus, Cichlasoma Festae, Jingang Blood Parrot, and etc.. To date, a lot of better quality Luo Han have been produced resulting from the intensified eagerness of breeders to produce the best show quality fish for the market.

Cichlid Breeding: Learning the Basics

~Pooja Chakrabarty

Cichlid breeding is easy with some cichlids and difficult with others, but this is made easier if you as a cichlid owner take good care of your cichlids. Keeping the aquarium clean and maintaining the conditions required by that particular cichlid will keep your cichlids healthy. This will induce them to mate more readily.
Perhaps the most essential element in cichlid breeding is keeping your cichlids in top shape. How can you do this? By investing in a good filter to keep the water free of pollutants, by purchasing a heater to maintain the temperature, by carrying out regular water changes, by maintaining a good water chemistry (water should be free of ammonia and nitrites), and, by providing your cichlids with a well-balanced diet.
The speed at which cichlid breeding is accomplished depends also on the diet
Why do you need to keep your fish healthy? Only healthy fish will want to mate. Moreover, many female cichlids do not eat during the incubation, which may in some cases last up to 4 weeks. Only a fish that is in good health will be able to endure such abstinence from food.
For cichlid breeding, it is helpful to get several females for each male, as this way they male's bullying does not get restricted to just one female. Aggressiveness of tankmates can cause stress among the weaker fish. For cichlid breeding to be accomplished readily, it is essential that your cichlids are not stressed.
The speed at which cichlid breeding is accomplished depends also on the diet. A varied diet should be provided. At the time of cichlid breeding it would be advisable to provide food that is rich in proteins.
Cichlids breed in different ways. Open Brooders (e.g. angelfish, discus) spawn on open surfaces like rocks, or on the substrate. Shelter Brooders are of two types – Cavity Brooders (e.g. Apistogramma) who lay their eggs in caves and in depressions, and Mouth Brooders (e.g. Aulonocara) who carry the eggs and the fry in their mouths. Open Brooders tend to lay more eggs (sometimes as much as 10,000) than the Shelter Brooders (about 300).
Cichlid breeding becomes easier if these territorial creatures are provided with sheltered areas where they can spawn. Rocks and plants can be used to provide them with hiding places. Mouth brooders will benefit the most from these hideouts because they will need more than usual protection when they are egg-laden.
The female releases the fry depending on a number of factors such as her species, her age, and the state of her health. Water quality may also determine when the fry get released.
Remember that young inexperienced females are not too likely to carry the eggs for the full term the first time round. After that first time however, they learn to breed successfully.
Sometimes fish do not mate because they are overfed – the hungrier they are, the more their aggressive tendencies are likely to show up, and the more likely they will be to mate. However some species like Auloncara naturally take time to become sexually mature. Be patient with them.
Water temperatures of about 76oC and 78oC and alkaline, hard water will aid in cichlid breeding. The maintenance of a steady temperature will aid in the hatching of the eggs.
Raising and harvesting of cichlids can be done in several ways. The best method is allowing the mother to spit out the fry naturally in a separate tank. Here she does not have to worry about other adults who may eat the fry. The survival of the fry is almost certain in this case unless the mother herself consumes the fry. in such a case it would be good to transfer the mother to another tank once she has released the fry. Most fry start eating flakes and brine shrimp once they have absorbed their egg sacs. The fry will grow rapidly with good water conditions, frequent feeding, and good diets.
Cichlid breeding is almost an art form, and you and your cichlids will keep getting better at it with time. Keep trying.

The Ram Cichlid

~Pooja Chakrabarty

The Ram Cichlid ( Microgeophagus Ramirezi): or is a colorful, relatively peace-loving cichlid from South America. Being one of the smaller cichlids, it is also sometimes referred to as the Dwarf Cichlid, and its vibrant colors have earned it the name of Butterfly Cichlid.
The Microgeophagus Ramirezi popularly goes by the name of Ram Cichlid. It is also referred to as the Butterfly Cichlid. This fish from Colombia and Venezuela usually grows to a length of 3" but may even be smaller. For this reason it is also often called the Dwarf Cichlid.
A ram cichlid would love a tank which has a lot of plants and open space. These peaceful cichlids get slightly aggressive during spawning, but are more often bullied by larger tank mates. Temperatures of 78oF to 84oF, and pH levels of 6.5 to 7.0 are good for ram cichlids. You can keep these cichlids in groups (they do especially well in a species tank), and a 10 gallon tank will do fine. Ideally you should keep them with fish that are slow-moving, for they tend to hide if made nervous. Small tetras, barbs, and even Heckel Discus fish can be kept in the same aquarium as ram cichlids.
Temperatures of 78oF to 84oF, and pH levels of 6.5 to 7.0 are good for ram cichlids
Though these fish are not difficult by temperament, they are not recommended for beginners. You must avoid keeping them at low temperatures and in water that is hard or on the higher limits of the pH scale. The water should as far as possible be free from ammonia, and other nitrogen compounds.
These carnivorous cichlids love live food but you must also feed them flakes, frozen food, and pellets. A good diet will also bring out their many colors showing you why they are called Butterfly Cichlids. These beautiful freshwater fish live for about 2 years, and are of two main varieties: the Blue Ram Cichlid and the Gold Ram Cichlid.
It is simple to identify the sex of breeding ram cichlids as the males have more elongated strands on their tail fin, while the females tend to be rounder and with pinkish bellies. These fish pair off easily. The females lay the eggs (up to 500) on flat rock surfaces, and both parents fiercely watch over their eggs and fry. However they may eat up the eggs, hence it would be a good idea to keep the parents in a separate tank and raise the fry separately.
Although they are not the recommended fish for budding fish enthusiasts, they are easy to keep, and very easy to breed. Ram Cichlids truly look lovely as they swim around your aquarium.