Koi Colors - Why Am I Confused

Koi colors. This appears to be the only way ornamental koi fish are classified. Just trying to understand all the colors can be almost overwhelming for a beginner, but with a little patience and study it all begins to make sense.

Koi is simply the Japanese word for carp. It doesn't matter if the fish is the grey colored variety used for food or a brightly colored ornamental fish gracing a landscaped and meticulously maintained backyard pond. They are both 'koi' in Japan. The only difference is of course, the color. And koi colors are what have made this fish become of great interest to collectors and breeders and a hugely profitable industry.

In English, the word 'koi" refers only to the ornamental fish. In Japan, koi are symbols of love and friendship and this fish has become prized all over the world for its bright,aquarium plants, vibrant colors. This type of fish is regarded as a symbol of friendship and love. As such, it has become extremely popular on everything from jewelry to tattoos.

Koi colors are beautiful and original. No two individual fish are exactly the same. This uniqueness is what gives the koi fish the ability to impart calmness and serenity to people owners and people who just like to watch them. Different varieties are distinguished by color, patterns and scales. Every breeder seems to be actively looking for a new variety to develop. The sheer number of varieties (all based on color) can make it difficult to keep up.

It has been suggested that for a beginner to fully appreciate the beauty of koi, one needs to have an understanding of the Japanese terminology that describes the koi colors. For a novice, like myself, this can be a little overwhelming. After all, wikipedia lists more than twenty varieties and I have seen lists that had more than forty varieties. So I need a list to refer to. If I have a reference, then I don't need to worry about terminology right away.

What I have noticed about Japanese terminology for koi colors is that there is often two or more words for the same color. One may refer to the basic skin color of the fish, and another to same color markings on a different color skin. For example, a koi with red skin can be called "aka" and red markings on a different color skin will be called "hi" or simply "hee". Very confusing.

The beautiful and vibrant color is probably the reason most people become ornamental koi fish owners in the first place. After all, if the fish were not gorgeous, why would we want them in our pond. It is only later, after we have had koi for awhile that we begin to appreciate other attributes such as hardiness, size and longevity and of course, their individual personalities.

Considerations to Make When Choosing Aquarium Products

There are many different types of aquarium products in the market. This can make choosing the most suitable one an overwhelming experience more so for first time aquarium owners. However, with the right tips and guidelines, the process becomes less daunting. Choosing becomes a lot easier and you get to settle for what you have desired all along. Here are some important considerations that you should put in mind when it comes to selecting the best aquarium products in the market.

The first consideration should be on the type of aquarium you have. There are two common types of aquariums which include the saltwater aquarium and reef aquarium. Once you are sure of the type that you have, making a selection will be somewhat easy. This is mainly because most products are arranged according to aquarium types.

It is, secondly, important to consider the size of the aquarium you have. There are distinctive types of aquarium accessories. This normally depends on the aquarium size. Some accessories may not fit on smaller aquariums when they are meant for bigger ones. And for the smaller accessories, they will not work effectively on the bigger aquariums. Ensure therefore that you put the aquarium size in mind so as to avoid going for either small aquarium products or extremely big ones.

Thirdly, the features of the aquarium should be put in to consideration. There are some aquariums that need more supplies than others. This normally depends on the size and type of aquarium. You can only know whether you need to purchase lighting, chillers, filters,Freshwater Fish, pumps and any other supplies if you have the right size and type of the fish tank. Ensure therefore that you carefully understand all the features that the fish tank needs before purchasing any. This is to avoid going for products that are not necessary which will make you spend more for no good reason.

The fourth consideration that should be made has to do with the amount of fish in the tank. The more the fishes in the tank the more fish tank supplies you will need to purchase. These include supplies such as aquarium heaters, sterilizers and the likes. You want to give the fish the best environment they can have. This means having the right ratio of fish to supplies.

Lastly, the cost of the aquarium products being purchased should never be overlooked. Different shops offer their products at dissimilar prices. This means that you should do some research on a good number of shops in the market. This way you will be at a better position to know which shop supplies the best products at competitive prices. You can also find out more about where to get affordable aquarium products by asking around for recommendations. Since you are interested in getting the best at the least expense, you will take your time to find out more about aquariums and their products. This way you will never regret going for the aquarium products that you settle for.

Aquarium - Driftwood In Your Aquarium

When you design your aquarium, you want to give it that natural look. Not only for yourself, but to make your fish feel like they are back home in their natural state.

Nothing will make your aquarium look more natural and have your fish feel at home than putting driftwood in the tank.

Why Driftwood

Besides making your aquarium look natural and having your fish feel at home,aquarium fish home, it can also provide hiding places for some of your fish that are introverted. I have three African Featherfin Catfish that fall into this category and they hide in the driftwood I have provided.

Another use for driftwood is to anchor your floating plants.

If you have fish that come from the Amazon River, such as Tetras or Plecos, the tannins released by the driftwood will make the pH of your water more acidic and darken your water like it is in the Amazon River.

Selecting Driftwood

It is tempting to walk down to the beach or river and select the piece you want to go in your fish tank. This is not recommended unless you know how to cure the wood. If the wood is cured it will just disintegrate.

Many good pet stores sell driftwood that has already been cured. In fact, you can even find some selections already with plants attached to them. I have several pieces with Java Moss already rooted to the wood.

Preparing Your Driftwood

If you buy some driftwood already in the aquarium, the tannins should already be removed from the wood. If this is the case, make sure you rinse it off before putting in your aquarium. You do this to prevent mixing the environments of the pet store aquarium with yours.

If you buy it dry, you need to ensure the tannins are removed unless you have fish from the Amazon River. To do this place the wood in a container full of water. Replace the water everyday and when it stops turning the water a tea color and the pH does not become acidic, then it is ready to be put in your tank.

If you want to have plants attached to your driftwood like Water Wisteria or Java Moss, attach the roots to the driftwood with thread or even a rubber band. If you use thread it will dissolve but you will have to remove the rubber band once the roots have attached themselves to the wood.

Conclusion

Driftwood is a good addition to any ones aquarium, it makes it look more natural and your fish will enjoy the wood too. But you may need to prepare it before you put it in your aquarium to remove the tannins. Tannins will make your aquarium water look like weak tea and make the water slightly acidic.

Discover The Correct Betta Fish Water Temperature

Here is the question of the day for you betta lovers. What do you think your betta fish water temperature should be in their tank? 70 degrees? after all, they are tough fighting fish. 75 degrees? that's where we keep the temperature of our houses. How about 80 degrees? Well, if you guessed 80 degrees, your were correct and your betta loves you for it.

Does it surprise you that your betta should have water temperature at 80 degrees? Think about it for a second, they are tropical fish, tropical fish live where the temperatures are almost always above 80 degrees. If the temperature drops below 80, the water they are in, holds the higher temperature until the sun comes out and it warms up again.

The urban legend of a little betta living in mud puddles and jumping from one to the other, is just that, an urban legend. These fish live in rice paddies, rivers and ponds that usually maintain a fairly high temperature.

Thinking of your betta as a fish that needs no special treatment or care is pretty much going to doom your betta to an early grave or whatever.

My wife and I got a beautiful blue betta for our anniversary about 4 years ago. For two years we were at home most of the time and the house stayed at 75 degrees. During the summer we set the temperature at 80 degrees. We noticed a marked increase in activity from our betta when the house was at 80 degrees as opposed to 73 or 75 degrees. It never dawned on us that this was due to the difference in temperatures. We just figured he was lazy one day and not the other.

During the winter we took a week long trip and had one of our neighbors look in and feed our fish. We set the house temperature at 65 degrees.

When we returned from the trip, our beautiful little betta was on the floor of his tank and appeared to be dead. The house temperature was 66 degrees. We both thought the little guy was a goner. We left him until we unpacked and the house warmed up. After about an hour he began to swim around and when the house temperature reached 75 degrees, he was swimming around in his normal manner.

It was at this point that the light came on for my wife and I. Maybe betta fish should not be in cold water. Remember, tropical fish!

My wife jumped on the internet and started doing some research. Sure enough, almost all the sights made it clear that bettas should be kept in tanks that were heated and kept around 80 degrees. I wonder how many poor little bettas have died from hypothemia when the waters in their tanks got very cold.

So what's the answer to this problem? and why don't the employees in the fish depratment at the pet store tell us about this? It's as simple as buying a tank heater for your betta's tank. Could it be any simpler than that! How many people have had their fish die and wonder what the cause might have been. A few words at the pet store would have taken care of the problem.

Many aquariums and fish tanks come equipped with tank heaters or can easily have one installed in the tank.

The SIZE of the heater will depend on the SIZE of your betta tank.

In my view, the smallest size for a betta should be a 2 gallon tank, which would require about a 10 watt heater.

It is best to get one that is fully submersible and is safe even if run while dry. A heater this size can raise the water temperature by approximately 5 degrees. Cost for one this size would be around $13.

As you get into the larger tanks, such as a 5 gallon, a 40 to 50 watt heater would be required. Price on one such as this would be about $25.

Now that you have decided to get a heater,aquarium fish home, the next question is, where do you get one? How about the pet store where you bought your fish. Most pet stores carry a variety of fish tanks and heaters. Many tanks come with heaters made especially for that size aquarium. If not, just go by the previous guidelines, ask the Department Manager for help and read the information on the heater packaging.

Don't forget that thing called the World Wide Web. There are hundreds of sites where you can purchase a betta tank heater.

One other thing you should consider getting, is a thermometer to test the temperature of the water. This is the only accurate way of knowing the actual temperature of your bettas water. The cost of a thermometer will be under $10.

Your betta fish will live a happy, healthy life (about 5 years) if you make a little effort to help it. One of the best things you can do, is to make certain that the water in their tank is kept at the correct temperature. A tank heater and a thermometer will make this a very easy task for you.

Ideas for Stocking a 10 Gallon Desktop Aquarium

With around 10 gallons as your desktop aquarium, your options in terms of stocking fish increases. When you have less than 5 gallons, it is better to keep your fish tank limited to either a single feature fish like a betta, or a very limited number of small schooling fish like guppies or their cousin the endler's livebearers. But when you go 10 gallons and above, you'll be able to add in a few more to give your desktop aquarium some diversity (companions!). Stocking fish isn't an exact science so depending on who you talk to there are going to be a difference of opinion whether it is overstocked or not. The issue is not the fish, but the proper environment you can maintain for the fish to be healthy.

In order to keep your tank environment clean and healthy for your fish, be sure to have proper filtration, heating, cleaning, and periodic water changes depending on your selection of fish. With small sized tanks such as these, they are all vital components of your desktop aquarium as the water chemistry is more sensitive to little changes either made by your fish or the room the tank is in. So given a 10 gallon and above desktop aquarium, here are some ideas on how to stock your tank.

Small community fish tank

When you have at least a 10 gallon tank, you can keep a small community tank. Less than this, then you're better off keeping a single feature fish with a few invertebrates. The uniqueness of desktop aquariums is that they're meant to be a small so you feature them in places that a medium or big fish tank just can't. So it is impractical to create elaborate or complex aquascapes filled with dozens of different fish. For beginners it is still a better idea to stick to having a centrepiece fish along with some companions as a small community tank. A betta is always a great feature fish (and arguably the more popular fish among aquaria enthusiasts) but a great alternative is the dwarf gourami. But don't be tempted to put them both in the same tank as they can get aggressive towards each other.

Dwarf Gourami is a great feature fish

Dwarf gouramis (Colisa lalia) are great beginner's fish, as long as you keep them with other small and peaceful species. They are often spectacularly hued, with iridescent bars and orange-red feelers, which makes them a great centrepiece fish. They grow to a maximum of 2-3 inches, perfect for a desktop-sized aquarium. They are hardy fish just like the betta, and prefers a heavily planted tank for hiding places.

Neon tetras or harlequin rasboras

Alongside the dwarf gourami,betta fish, you can keep 6 neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi). One of the more popular tetras, neon tetras are also quite hardy fish and suitable for beginners. They are schooling fish so keep a minimum six of them to give you a great shoaling effect when they swim around the tank. As their name suggests, they are great to look at and grows to about 1 inch.

An alternative to the neon tetras are the harlequin rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha). They are also schooling fish so you can keep a minimum of 6 or more depending on the size of your desktop aquarium. A unique little fish, they have a distinctive black triangle mark on their side, a bit like the costume of a Harlequin. They grow to about 1 to 2 inches.

Ghost shrimps and snails

With a dwarf gourami, if you decide on the 6 neon tetras you could include a few (up to 12) ghost shrimps (Palaemonetes) into your tank. Otherwise limit it to 6 ghost shrimps for the harlequin rasboras. They're almost transparent in the water, hence the name "ghost". They walk along the bottom of the tank to collect small food particles to eat, so essentially they're helping you to clean up any excess food. They're also very interesting to look at, that more people are dedicating entire tanks to shrimps alone. Give them some vegetation or plants as hiding spots.

Consider including an apple snail, as they dine on a diet of decomposing plants, algae, and dead animals. They are highly dedicated cleaners that will keep your water quality up and reduce algae levels.

Shape of your fish tank matters

One extra detail you don't want to overlook when deciding what and how many fish to stock is the shape of your desktop aquarium. Rectangle shaped tanks give more horizontal space for your fish to swim, while boxed or hex shaped tanks works great with long and tall plants. Consider reducing the number of fish or invertebrates if you have these boxed or hex shaped tanks to give your bigger feature fish more space and privacy.

So You Want To Be An Aquarist

Introduction,pet bird

So you think you want to be an Aquarist? Well there is more to being an Aquarist than just having a few fish in a bowl.

What Is An Aquarist?

A real basic definition of what is an Aquarist is, "it is a person who takes care of an aquarium as a hobby or as a profession". This is a pretty basic definition but does not do justice for what an Aquarist really is.

Going by the definition above anyone who has a fish in a bowl could qualify as an Aquarist.

Since most people who purchase an aquarium fail, these people would not qualify to have the title Aquarist. Let us redefine it as a person who successfully maintains an aquarium as a hobby or a profession.

A really well qualified Aquarist would also be successfully breeding his freshwater fish in an aquarium.

What Does An Aquarist Do?

An Aquarist is responsible for the proper care of aquarium fish and other aquatic animals such as snails, shrimp and other animals that live in an aquarium. This person is also responsible for maintaining a proper environment that is needed to keep healthy aquatic animals.

Feeding the aquatic animals a varied diet is also required of them. They are also responsible for observing the animals for signs of sickness or injury and if they see any problems they are required to take action to the correct the problem.

You should also be in good health. There will times when you will need to lift, bend, stoop and stand for extended periods of time.

How Do I Become An Aquarist?

If you have a home aquarium and have successfully been keeping your fish tank for over a year. Then you should consider yourself an Aquarist.

But if you want to be a professional Aquarist then you should study life sciences or biology in high school. In college pursue a degree in Aquaculture or Marine Biology.

If you do not want to pursue a degree, then you may want to receive training in this field as an intern. You can receive this training at any large aquarium if you have one in your area. If not, there are lots of pet stores that will hire you on to receive the knowledge you need.

Conclusion

Being an Aquarist means more than just having some fish in a bowl. It requires extensive knowledge of caring for aquatic animals either with a formal education or through an internship.