Better Tropical Fish Tanks» Tropical Fish Species

Fish For Your 5 Gallon Fish Tank

Elizabeth — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:24:20 +0000

Nano tanks are quite popular, but it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what fish you should put in them. Many aquarium fish grow too big, especially if you’re thinking of keeping schooling fish. Then there’s the question of which fish is are compatible with each other.

Here are some suggestions for groups of fishes that are compatible inhabitants for 5 gallon tanks. I have only included fish is that are at least relatively easy to keep.

Note: I am assuming a standard 5 gallon long tank. If your 5 gallon tank is tall and narrow, it will support fewer fish as it is surface area that determines the number of fish you can have. There are a variety of rules of thumb people use for determining number of fish. For a properly-filtered tank of standard proportions containing tropical species, a 5 gallon tank should contain no more than 10 inches of fish. I have kept the fish inches here to 8.5 or less because this leaves more room for equipment malfunction such as short power outages and human error.

Cold water fish need more space – no more than one inch of fish per gallon in a standard-sized tank.

The tanks:
5 gallon tank with plants and a pH of between 6 to 7.

Fish Tank One: Amazon Nano Aquarium 1
6 Neon Tetras
1 Otocinclus

Fish Tank Two: Amazon Nano Aquarium 2
6 Black Phantom Tetras

Fish Tank Three: Betta Bachelor Pad
1 male Betta

Fish Tank Four: Lady Betta and Frogs
1 female betta
2 dwarf frogs
1 Otocinclus

5 gallon tank with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5

Fish Tank Five: Subtropical Stream
4-5 White Cloud Mountain Minnows

Fish Tank Six: Mini Catfish Tank
6 Pygmy Corydoras
1 Otocinlus

5 gallon tank with plants and a pH of 7.0 to 7.6

Fish Tank Seven: Where’s the Fish?
8 shrimp of any mix of species that doesn’t exceed one inch, Cherry shrimp is a good beginner species
1 horned nerite snail

Fish Tank Eight: Guppies, Guppies, Guppies
5 Male Guppies
1 horned nerite snail

Small Corydoras for Small Tanks

Elizabeth — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:30:45 +0000

Corydoras catfish are wonderful fish, but the most common species, such as the Bronze Corydoras and the Peppered Corydoras, grow too large for tanks of much under ten gallons if you’re to keep them in a group. Since Corydoras are schooling species and prefer to be in groups, it is good that there are smaller species available. All of the species listed below are under 2 inches when fully grown.

Small Corydoras Species:

C. osteocarus 1.8in
C. tukano 1.8in
C. melini 1.8in
C. breei 1.8in
C. boesemani 1.8in
C. bicolor 1.8in
C. sanchesi 1.6in
C. paragua 1.6in
C. ortegai 1.6in
C. multimaculatus 1.6in
C. gracilis 1.6in
C. lamberti 1.5in
C. paucerna 1.4in
C. habrosus 1.4in
C. cochui 1.4in
C. pygmaeus 1.3in
C. hastatus 1.3in

Sources:

Planet Catfish for species lengths.

Crayfish In Your Aquarium

Elizabeth — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:18:18 +0000

Crayfish are crustaceans that look much like small lobsters or large shrimp and come from freshwater streams and rivers around the world. They can make very good inhabitants for the aquarium, but they do have special requirements that must be met. In particular, they require aerated water, space, are often aggressive, and will eat small tankmates.

Because they come from running water, they require well-aerated water. This means they should have a filter or at least an air stone, and may well enjoy filtration that produces a strong current.

Crayfish are good at escaping, and tanks for them should have a tight-fitting lid that they cannot get out of. They typically get to the top of the tank by climbing up any equipment that extends to the top of or out of the tank. Hiding places are important in order to make the crayfish feel secure, and there should be more hiding places than crayfish in a given tank in order to reduce fighting. Crayfish like to burrow and will rearrange tank decorations if the decorations are light enough. They also eats live plants, so try not to get too attached to any decorating scheme or plant you put in their aquarium.

They are are best kept one to a tank, as they are likely to fight with each other. Some may also be kept in male-female pairs, which is necessary if you want to breed them. There are also a couple of very small species in the genus Cambarellus that can be kept in groups if sufficient hiding places are given. Like Bettas, crayfish are sometimes used in animal behavior labs to demonstrate aggressive behavior – in both species the animals cannot actually get at each other. The behaviors are observed as they threaten each other through the glass.

Crayfish are larger than most other invertebrates commonly kept in aquaria and large adults will need considerable space. Ten gallons is enough for an adult of most of the North American species, but some of the Australian species can reach 16 inches and would need a 30 gallon or larger tank. There are a few dwarf species such as the Dwarf Cajun Crayfish, and Mexican Orange Dwarf Crayfish, that can be kept in a smaller fish tank or in a group in a 10 gallon tank if there are enough hiding places.

Crayfish will eat fish if the fish are small enough, so tank mates need to be considered very carefully. Slow-moving species of fish are likely to get their fins damaged even if they do not get caught. The dwarf crayfish species can be kept with fish, but keeping them with very tiny fish or fry is probably not safe, and they should not be kept with large fish because the fish may eat them.

Crayfish can be fed on shrimp pellets or flakes, but there are often specialty crayfish foods available and many crayfish enjoy vegetables such as zucchini or peas. If you live in a soft water area, you may wish to add calcium to their water, as this nutrient is important for growing a healthy exoskeleton. Molting crayfish will eat their discarded exoskeleton to recover the nutrients, so this is often left in the tank. Temperature requirements vary, but many species are happier in cooler water than the standard tropical tank.

Some Interesting Crayfish Species:

Procambarus alleni “electric blue”, Florida blue lobster
6-8 in, typical needs for a crayfish.

Procambarus sp. “Marble”
This species has no males. The offspring are clones of the parent. More mundanely, it grows to about 4 inches in length and has typical requirements.

Cambarellus patzcuarensis Mexican orange dwarf crayfish
Thi species is tiny, at 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length. If it can be kept was small fish, but not with large fish as the fish may eat this crayfish. Many individuals can be kept in the 10 gallon tank so long as there are hiding places. It can stand warmer water, being comfortable in 60-82F.

Cambarellus schufeldtii Dwarf Cajun Crayfish
Very similar to the Mexican Orange Dwarf.

Cherax tenuimanus “Blue Marron”
This species grows large at 10 to 16 inches in length and requires a larger tank of 20 to 30 gallons. It likes temperatures of 60 to 72 Fahrenheit, and care is otherwise as for most crayfish.

Sources:

Aquatic Community Aquarium Forum

canadiancrayfish.ca

McClure, Susan. Crayfish Care. Badman’s Tropical Fish.

Conservation of the Asian Arawana

Elizabeth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:37:30 +0000

The Asian Arawana, Scleropages formosus, is endangered, mainly due to habitat destruction. It is listed under CITES Appendix 1, which means that trading this species across national boundaries is illegal unless the individual fish are captive bred. The Asian Arawana is captive bred in Kalimantan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Unfortunately, it is also illegally wild caught in various places in Southeast Asia. Captive breeding, poaching, and smuggling are all encouraged by the high prices these fish bring.

Captive bred fish from Singapore usually come with an embedded microchip to prove that they are captive bred and prevent theft. Asian Arawanas are selectively bred for color, especially red or gold variations. There is a tradition in China that this fish, especially if red or golden, brings good luck to its owner. This is one reason for the fish’s popularity and high price.

Because of the prices these fish sell for, farming this species is quite lucrative and has been described as a ‘gold rush’ on the Arowana club website. A very good specimen may be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Because Asian Arawanas are so expensive, they are sometimes smuggled. This means that if you are looking to buy one, you should check its papers and that it has an identifying microchip. It is all too easy to find stories about Arowanas being confiscated by customs officials, whether in boxes under legal items, or inside a dress being worn at the time. Problems you just don’t get with Neon Tetras…

Sources:

Arowana-care.com

Arowanaclub.com

CITES Convention Text

Fishbase.org

Ng, P., Tan, H. (1997) Freshwater fishes of Southeast Asia: potential for the fish trade and conservation issues. Aquarium Sciences and Conservation. Vol 1: 79-90

UNEP-WCMC. 6 March, 2007. UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species

A Better Deal for Bettas

Elizabeth — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:08:09 +0000

Bettas are probably the fish most commonly kept in small unheated and unfiltered bowls or tanks. At first sight, they seem the ideal fish for this situation. Bettas stay small, growing to approximately 3 inches in length. The waters from which they come are naturally slow-moving or still, and shallow. Bettas have the ability to take in oxygen from the air, which increases their resistance to low oxygen conditions. They dislike fast filtration. They are solitary in temperament and swim slowly. All these things makes them seem an ideal candidate for the small unfiltered bowl.

Problems With Betta Bowls

However, the waters from which they come are warm: the average temperature is 24-30C (75-86F), according to Fishbase.org. This is much higher than the temperature in most people’s houses, especially in the winter. While they will survive in an unheated bowl provided the room is decently warm, housing them like this seems questionable. When kept at lower temperatures, Bettas are less active and are more susceptible to disease.

While Bettas do much better than most fish in low-oxygen conditions, they still suffer from build up of fish wastes when kept in small bowls. Such bowls must be cleaned much more frequently than a tank to prevent build-up: 100% water changes multiple times per week. The long fins of male bettas are susceptible to finrot, and dirty water increases the likelihood of problems.

Some of the objects in which Bettas are kept are too small for any fish. In petstores, they are often kept in hand-size bowls, or worse, in plastic drinking cups. I’ve even seen a few in containers narrower than their body was long, not counting the fins. Moral sentiment and the fish’s health aside, this is not a sensible way to sell these fish, as they cannot display properly and their beauty is completely invisible.

Advantages of a Heated Aquarium

Keeping these fish in an adequate-sized and warm tank has advantages to the fishkeeper in addition to feeling good about the way you keep your fish. Healthy fish display more, build bubble nests and check every nook and cranny of the aquarium for missed food. They are much more interesting to watch, and a betta doing an aggressive display in a well-lighted aquarium is a truly stunning sight.

Sources:

Fishbase.org

RandomWiktor. Tiny Mud Puddles and Other Lies: Myths and Misconceptions About Our Beloved Bettas

The Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus): Pet, Food Fish, and Invasive Pest

Elizabeth — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:44:16 +0000

The Walking Catfish, Clarias batrachus, is a very large catfish sometimes seen in the aquarium trade. It is also used as a food fish. It is native to Southeastern Asia, but it has been introduced to numerous other places where it has become an invasive and predatory pest. Once in an area, it is hard to contain because it can walk across land, entering aquaculture ponds and eating the fish, or entering seasonal wetlands not normally inhabited by fish to eat tadpoles.

It has been introduced to Indonesia (Sulawesi), the USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, UK, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Taiwan, Thailand, and possibly the Philippines. This species has been nominated as one of the world’s top 100 invasive species. The method of invasion involves escapees from the pet trade as well as aquaculture. It is illegal to keep this fish in some countries, as well as in many US states.

Very cold water kills Walking Catfish, so if your area goes below freezing in the winter this fish should not become invasive even if some manage to escape. In many areas with warmer water it is often illegal to keep them without a permit. Even if they are legal in a warmer area, it is still very important not to let them escape from their tank. Because of their ability to walk on land, the possibility of escape is much greater than with most tropical fish. Make sure their aquarium has a strong and tightly fitting lid so that they cannot push it up and wander off.

Sources:

Global invasive species database. Compiled by Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Brogan, Christine. 2003 Introduced Species Summary Project

Now for Something Different: Songs of the Aquarium

Elizabeth — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:26:58 +0000

The Corydoras Catfish

Catfish leaps upward
Hovering in mid-water
Hoping for some food.

The Betta

The betta dances
Before the glass’s mirror
Rival dances back.

The Neon Tetra

Swimming together
To confuse bigger fishes
They sparkle with light.

The Guppy

Tail streaming behind
The small fish wiggles onward
Looking for a mate.

The Goldfish

Slow and yet graceful
They sail on through the water
Each alone yet not.

Note: Next week’s post will be a proper article.

How Big is That Tropical Fish Part 2: Fish 10-16 Inches in Length

Elizabeth — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:08:36 +0000

Many of the tropical fish seen in pet stores are not fully grown. The final size of the fish varies dramatically between species. This is a list of the sizes that individual species are likely to grow to. Only some species are listed here, and adult fish of the same species vary somewhat in size. This is meant as a general guide to help you avoid buying fishes that will outgrow your tank.
Oscars: Astronotus ocellatus
Tinfoil Barb: Puntius schwananfeldi
Bala Shark: Balantiocheilus melanopterus
Apollo Shark: Luciosoma spilopleura
Six-barred Distichodus: Distichodus sexfasciatus (may grow larger in wild)
Banded Leporinus: Leporinus fasciatus
Red Piranha: Natterer’s Piranha: Rooseveltiella nattereri
Clown Loach: Botia macracantha (may grow larger in nature)
Green Snakehead: Channa gachua, Ophiocephalus kelaartii (often only 8 in)
Four-eyed Fish: Anableps anableps
Cuckoo catfish (female): Synodontis multipunctatus
Royal Panaque, Royal plecostomus: Panaque nigrolineatus (16 in)
Gold Nugget Plecostamus: Scobinancistrus sp.
Giant Whiptail, Golden Whiptail: Sturisoma aureum

Sources:

Butler, Rhett A. 1999-2008. Mongabay.com – San Francisco, CA

Practical fish keeping http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/home.php

Mills, D. 1987 Illustrated Guide to Aquarium Fishes. Galaxy Press, England

Corydoras in the Aquarium

Elizabeth — Sat, 02 May 2009 20:59:20 +0000

Corydoras are among the best tropical fish for the home aquarium. They are small, they aren’t aggressive toward smaller fish, they are hard for bigger fishes to eat, and they help keep the tank clean by scavenging food off the bottom. Despite rumors to the contrary, they do not eat fish poop and they do require feeding. They prefer to eat food off the bottom so they need to be fed food that sinks.

They will happily eat sinking tablet foods. There are several different types of these which can be found at most pet stores. They also enjoy frozen foods, especially frozen blood worms. Live worm-type foods are eagerly accepted so long as they are small enough for the fish to eat.

Types of Corydoras

There is an astonishing number of Corydoras species. The number of named Corydoras species was 156 in 2006 (Fuller, 2006), with new species being discovered faster than they could be named. These fish originally come from South America, mainly from the great river basins of the Amazon, the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.

The most common Corydoras species in the tropical fish hobby is the Bronze Corydoras, Corydoras aeneus, followed by the Peppered Corydoras, Corydoras paleatus, but there are many are other species available. They range in size from scarcely over an inch in the case of Corydoras hastatus, pygmaeus, and habrosus to approximately 3 inches for Corydoras aeneus and others. Fish that look like Corydoras but are larger are probably in one of the genera Brochis or Schleromystax, both of which are closely related to the genus Corydoras. The common Corydoras are usually between two and three inches in size with Corydoras aeneus being approximately three inches when adult.

With so many species, there are many different color patterns available. Most Corydoras patterns contain contrast in dark and light coloring, or large amounts of gray. Different color patterns will appeal to different people, but the intricate pattern of spots on Corydoras trilineatus makes it one of the most beautiful species.

Corydoras Behaviour

Corydoras school. Almost all species are bottom dwellers and enjoy digging in the gravel. The schools often sit on the bottom or hover and swim just above it. The exceptions are the dwarf species which will often be found schooling in mid-water as well as near the bottom. These smallest corydoras have a slightly different and more streamlined shape when compared to the Bronze Corydoras. The shape of these small Corydoras is probably due to their preference for mid-water swimming where a more streamlined shape is useful.

Corydoras can absorb oxygen from air taken into the gut and for this reason will sometimes dart to the surface for a breath of air and then back down to the bottom. This is normal behavior, but if all your Corydoras are doing this constantly then there may be inadequate dissolved oxygen in your tank.

I have kept Corydoras for many years and I have never seen recognisable aggressive behavior by Corydoras against members of their own species or any other, including towards much smaller individuals that have beaten them to the food, and partially grown fry of other fish species.

Corydoras are egg-depositors and will lay eggs on any available flat surface including the walls of the tank, the tank heater, and tank decorations. Reports on whether they eat their eggs are mixed so you may wish to separate the eggs from the adults.

With their even temperament, myriad species, and comical appearance, Corydoras are much more than just tank scavengers. When given what they need to flourish they are a fascinating and beautiful addition to the tank.

References:

Fuller, I. 2006 Starting with Corydoras. http://www.scotcat.com/articles/article33.htm

How Big is That Tropical Fish Part 1: Fish Over 16 Inches

Elizabeth — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:49:31 +0000

Some of these species are sometimes illegally wild-caught and exported from their countries of origin; just because it is on this list is not a recommendation for keeping it.

Enormous Tropical Aquarium Fishes (Over 16 in.)

Red Tail Catfish: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
Arapaima, Pirarucu: Arapaima gigas (potentially to 16 ft. usually less)
Arowana: Osteoglossum bicirrosum, Osteoglossum vandelli
Black Arowana: Osteoglossum ferreirai
Asian Arowana/Green Arowana: Scleropages formosus
Australian Arowana: Scleropages jardini
African Arowana: Heterotis niloticus
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish: Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
Shovelnose Catfish: Sorubim lima
Reticulated Pimelodid: Perrunichthys perruno
Plecostamus, Pleco, Suckermouth Catfish: Hypostomus plecostomus
Snow King Plecostomus: Liposarcus anisitsi
Blue-eyed Panaque, Blue-eyed Plecostamus: Panaque suttoni
Sailfin Plecostamus: Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Walking Catfish, Albino clarias: Clarias batrachus
Fire Eel: Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
Ornate bichir: Polypterus ornatipinnis
Knife Fish; Featherback: Notopterus chitala
Mozambique Mouthbrooder: Oreochromis mossambicus
Gourami: Osphronemus goramy
Black Shark: Labeo chrysophekadion

Sources:

Butler, Rhett A. 1999-2008. Mongabay.com – San Francisco, CA

Practical fish keeping http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/home.php

Mills, D. 1987 Illustrated Guide to Aquarium Fishes. Galaxy Press, England