Discus Aquarium Fish - 6 Simple Tips For Buying a Healthy Discus Fish

If you are thinking about starting to keep discus aquarium fish, it is important that you know how to find and choose healthy fish for your tank. Choosing the wrong fish, from the wrong person can be very frustrating to your hobby, because you will be confronted with treating diseases before your tank ever gets fully established. Therefore, you should seek out a good aquarium shop, or better still, an experienced discus breeder.

Here are some simple tips for selecting a discus aquarium fish when your are ready to buy:

1. Take your time and inspect the discus fish for at least 15 minutes in the aquarium. Watch them swim and look for any erratic behavior that doesn't look natural. Usually this means listless and sideways swimming.
2. Note the sizes of the fishes available; an eight week old discus should be about 4 cm (1 1/2in) long; a one year old discus fish is about 16 cm (6 in.) long from head to tail.
3. Healthy discus fish should have a circular body (hence the name). Long drawn out fish can be diseased or may be inbred. Other things to look for are fins that are too long in proportion to the body and extremely large eyes. Also note that, old discus fish tend to loose their circular form, so that can be another clue as to their age.
4. Discus aquarium fish that have been sick for a while develop a very pointy and sharp back. They also have sunken eyes and a shallow color.
5. Don't buy fish that are shy, timid, or that display aggression or other antisocial with it's tank mates.
6. Ask the shop if they can feed the fish. A healthy fish should have a good appetite.

There you have it; six simple tips for selecting the best discus aquarium fish for your tank. Picking good stock from the beginning will ensure long term success with your hobby. I hope these tips help you to find healthy and happy discus fish.

Do you want to discover more discus fish secrets from the experts? Would you like to know how to keep discus fish the easy way? Visit http://www.discusfishinfo.com to find a step by step guide.

By Mark Grover

Discus Fish

Discus are native to South America and are found in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Columbia. They inhabit the tributaries of the Amazon River, living in the still or slow moving waters along the banks where they hide among tangled roots and branches. They feed on insect larvae, insects, and planktonic invertebrates.http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/discus.php

Discus belong to the genus Symphysodon, which currently includes three species: The common discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), and a new species which has been named Symphysodon tarzoo. However, a further investigation published in August 2007 suggested that the genus held the three species: S. aequifasciatus (the green discus), S. haraldi (the blue/brown/common discus) and S. discus (the Heckel discus). Both studies suggest three species; the only disagreement is in the scientific names for each. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discus_(fish)

Discus fish are one of the most sought after freshwater fish available on the market today. Discus fish are very intelligent fish and have very distinct personalities, and the discus fish seems to normally recognize its caretaker and will respond with a display of affection when you enter the room. You can even feed a discus fish right out of your hand! In this article I will be going through a few things to consider when caring for your own discus fish, and also some things you can expect out of your new pet.

The first thing you need to do when starting up your own discus fish tank is to pick out an appropriate aquarium for them. It is always a good idea to purchase the biggest aquarium you can afford. Having a larger aquarium will allow you to have a bit more leeway when it comes to environmental conditions. A larger aquarium will generally tend to be a bit more stable then the smaller ones. After you get your aquarium you will need to pick out the appropriate filters and equipment for your setup. Make sure to check for your discus fish's specific requirements and adjust accordingly for your aquarium.

Discus fish are a bit harder to care for then other species of freshwater fish, and are not typically recommend for the beginning aquarium enthusiast. Discus fish tend to be more of a schooling fish and do best when kept in an aquarium with plenty of same species companions. Also you should provide plenty of cover in the form of driftwood and rocks for your discus fish. Discus fish also require water temperatures to be around 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. For feeding, you should feed your discus fish a steady diet of frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and typical sinking pellets. When your discus fish are young, you should feed them at least 3 times a day. As your fish get older you can cut back feeding to once a day. Avoid overfeeding your discus fish as it can cause them to be obese and pose health problems.

Once you get the hang of your discus fish, you can start to breed them. Discus fish are very loving parents, with both of the parents playing an active role in their fry's life. It is truly a sight to behold, seeing your discus fish swimming around with their very own offspring and I highly recommend you try and breed your discus fish when you are comfortable in your ability to provide adequate care for them.

I hope you have found this article helpful in considering owning and taking care of your very own discus fish. There are many more in-depth guides around the web that can go more into detail about the various aspects of providing care. I have just tried to give you a brief overview of a couple things to consider. As always, if you are still stuck up on some unanswered questions about discus fish, you can always contact a friendly sales representative to answer any questions you may have.

GetAHugeTank.com is an online fish tank superstore that offers fish tanks, custom aquariums of all sizes, aquarium supplies and much more.

Freshwater Aquarium Fish - Angelfish Care

Anglefish are a stunning freshwater aquarium fish that you can add to your tank. Freshwater angelfish are a type of South American Cichlid. They were first brought into Germany in 1911 and into the US in 1925. A number of kinds have been bred by aquarists, and angelfish have become the most popular freshwater aquarium fish.

However, angelfish are not a resilient fish and they can be aggressive. Many people donít recognize that angelfish are omnivores and will devour tank mates such as Neon Tetras, which they think of as a fantastic delight. The key is simple. If the fish will fit in the angel's mouth, it is not a tank mate; it is dinner. They are also attracted to slow moving, pretty, shiny fish with long fins. They are notorious for nipping at the fins of Bettas.

Since the early 1990's, there has been a marked decline in the robustness of angelfish. So called "angelfish disease" has been a difficult dilemma for freshwater aquarium enthusiasts. If you have had difficulties with angelfish not surviving in your tank, it is probable that you tank is tainted. Tanks can stay infected for months. If you have lost angelfish, you should consult with a professional and decontaminate your tank.

If you have never owned angelfish or you have had success with angels in your freshwater aquarium and you wish to add new angels, it is very important that you set up an isolation tank and isolate your new angelfish. You do not want to bring in a sick fish into your community.

Angelfish are easily stressed. Angels caught in the wild are given strong antibiotics, which can actually enable them to live around ailing fish and bring the sickness they have been contaminated with into your tank. This is another reason an isolation tank for your angelfish is necessary.

Procuring your angelfish from an respectable breeder will also help you to obtain a hardy fish. Tank-raised angelfish are less stressed than wild-caught angelfish because they are used to an aquarium environment. They will be stressed from being moved, but they will not have the additional stress from being caught in the wild, transported from South America and then placed into a tank environment.

Angelfish need to be kept in water with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, a dH range of 5.0 ñ 13 and water temperature in the low to mid 80's F. They like thick vegetation and room to swim. A 40-gallon tank is pretty much the minimum if it is a community tank; a 60-gallon is better. Not only do the angels need opportunity to swim, but their tank mates need places to get away when the angels become aggressive.

Since angelfish are omnivores, they need to be fed live food as well as flakes. Baby brine shrimp are easy to raise, and provide a needed treat for angels. Another excellent choice are bloodworms.

Angelfish do not do well in isolation. Having a single angelfish in a community tank is a set up for problems. Angelfish have been known in such a situation to kill ALL their fellow fish in the tank. Angels seem happiest with six or more in a community and lots of room.

Diane Warren is an author and freshwater aquarium enthusiast. She maintains [http://FreshwaterAquariumIdeas.com] as an outlet for her hobby. Visit her site for more information on freshwater aquarium fish [http://freshwateraquariumideas.com/freshwater-aquarium-fish/] freshwater aquarium fish.

How To Breed Angelfish

Over the past 10 years, people have asked me many questions on how to breed angelfish.

Anyway, I started to write down questions on how to breed angel fish for the past few years. And just recently, I decided to type them out and let everyone see them.

Sometimes the answers may seem very common sense... but that's how to breed angel fish. You see, angelfish aren't complicated. In fact, the more simple you keep your set up, the water changes and feeding, the easier it is going to be for your angelfish.

And you know what?

Angelfish can breed on their own! You see, sometimes we think we have to do all the work for angelfish to breed.

But angel fish still have their wild instinct. (And lucky for us, it hasn't been bred out of them!)

So here they are... Questions that people have asked on How to breed angelfish.

For you to enjoy.

How to breed angel fish

What are the growth stages of Angel Fish?

o Egg - 0 to 60 hours

o Wigglers - From hatching to free Swimming - Depending on the

temperature, this usually occurs on the 7th Day

o Fry - From free swimming to taking the form of an Angelfish

o Juveniles - When they take on the appearance of an angelfish

o Adults - Usually around 9-12 months once they are at breeding stage

How can I tell male angelfish from female angelfish?

There are some subtle differences that an experienced angelfish breeder can use to help identify mature males and females. Some angelfish enthusiasts say that the angle of the anal fin in relation to the belly of the angelfish, will identify the sex. Others say that some male angels may have a hump on the crown and some may be larger than the females. There seems to be too many ways of telling them apart, but none seem to be 100% correct. These differences do not exist on immature angelfish, all of the time. Therefore, the only sure way to tell the difference between mature males from mature females is to examine the breeding tubes during spawning. The female's breeding tube is wider and more blunt than the male's.

Does the pecking order change when a pair is formed?

Normally the pecking order will stay as it is until a pair is formed. Once a male and female form a pair, then it does change everything in the tank. The pair will normally be aggressive in defending their territory. The pecking order will be no more. At this time, it would be good idea to either remove the pair from the tank, or the other fish from it.

Can two different types of angelfish breed?

Yes they can. Whether it is black, koi, golden, silver etc, they will spawn with

any other type of angel. That is how new varieties are created. It will not

matter if they have standard fins, veils or super veils, pearl scales, blushing or not.

I have two angles now, so how do I tell if they are male or female?

Depending on the size of the angelfish now, it may take some time before you can tell their sex. The only real way of telling whether you have a male or female is by waiting for them to spawn. At that time, you will be able to see their breeding tube. The female's tube is blunt and much larger than the male's. Their breeding tubes can be said to be like a pencil. The female has a blunt tube, while the male has something similar to the tip of the pencil, shorter and pointy. During spawning, the female's lower body will thicken as she starts to produce eggs.

Can I get a pair of angels from keeping two angels?

With only two angels it is hard to get a pair. It has been done, but getting five or six angels and growing them up gives you a better chance for a pair. The chances of getting at least one pair from six angelfish is 95%.

I do not want to breed angelfish. What should I do?

If you are keeping your angelfish in a community tank, then another fish will generally eat the eggs when the lights go out. Sometimes, the parents will eat them once it gets dark. If you get parents that are protective enough to hatch their eggs in a community environment, there is still a chance that they do not survive. Breeding angelfish is not rocket science, but it is not that simple either.

What size do you sell baby angels at?

The answer to this will depend on what size the fish store wants to purchase

them at. Some places won't buy them unless they are quarter size in body.

Some will buy them at dime to nickel size. Normally, fish stores will take them when they are nickel size. When they are small, their immune system is still growing. As there is more chance that they may not survive when they are smaller, the fish stores will only buy them when they are a reasonable size.

What is reasonable will depend on your fish store.

What can I do to make sure the youngsters grow quickly to their adult

size? What food should I feed them and how often should they be fed?

There are several choices of quality foods. A color and growth flake from

Angels Plus is a good choice. Also frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms may

help them grow quickly. Depending on the size they are now, you might have to feed them 3 to 4 times a day. The problem with this is that the more you feed them, the more strain you put on your tank when it comes to waste. You will need to make sure you constantly do water changes.

When do angelfish reach adult size?

They normally reach adult size at around 10 to 12 months.

What's the correct size to breed angelfish in?

Generally speaking, a 20 gallon tank is considered to be adequate to breed a pair of angelfish.

What about a fry tank? What's a good size for them?

Again, a 20 gallon tank may be sufficient for fry. In saying this, you need to

make sure that you maintain high water quality. Once they get a little bigger, you will need to get yourself a grow out tank.

What size and how old before angelfish start pairing up?

Angelfish will begin breeding more by age than by size. Depending on the

tank, a pair of angelfish may form around 8 to 12 months. You may find that you get a pair earlier than this, while other times, you may find that they pair up later than 12 months.

How big are angelfish eggs?

They are the size of a pinhead.

What happens during the first week once they laid their eggs?

If the female has deposited her eggs, and the male fertilizes them, the

following should occur;

Day 0: The eggs are spawned in lines.

Day 1: Any infertile eggs will turn white.

Day 2: More eggs may turn white and fall to the bottom of the tank.

Some eggs may have fungus on them, which turns them fuzzy.

Today, wiggling tails may emerge from clear eggs.

Day 3: Tadpole shape forms with large yolk sack, fry remain stuck to

the slate.

Day 4: Small eyes begin to form. The fry will survive on their yoke sacs.

There is no need to feed them yet.

Day 5: Eyes grow larger, yolk sack shrinks. Today, you will need to

start your baby brine shrimp hatchery.

Day 6: Some fry are free swimming.

Day 7: Most of the fry should be free swimming. This is the time to start

feeding them baby brine shrimp.

If the female angelfish has been stressed, is it likely it will lay more

eggs?

There may be a chance that it will still spawn, but the healthy and less

stressed an angelfish is, the more chance that they have of spawning.

Hi, My name is Jamieson Vale and I've kept angelfish since I was six!

Anyway, I have been keeping and breeding angelfish for over 25 years.

Although my knowledge of angelfish is extensive, there's always more to learn about them! For more information, visit my site at Angelfish Revealed

Angelfish - King of the Aquarium

Angelfish are known to have made the waters of southern hemisphere as their dwelling grounds and over 100 diverse species have been recognized so far. They are basically categorized into two kinds of angelfish: the freshwater angelfish which inhabit the rivers of South America and the saltwater angelfish which dwell in the salty oceans.

The angelfish is an interesting class of tropical fish which is mostly known for its inimitable shape, it is flat and rotund with attractive triangle-shaped fins. The freshwater angelfish acquires a more triangle-like shape and is comparatively shorter in length when compared to the saltwater angelfish which grow up to a length of 12 inches. The marine angelfish are usually spotted in vivid colors which are enhanced further with the colored splotches all over their body. Different species of angelfish acquire different colors.

The salt water angelfish are one of the most beautiful marine creatures. There are seven different known species and they are: Queen Angelfish, Rock beauty, French Angelfish, Blue Angelfish, Cherub Angelfish, Flame-back Angelfish, and Gray Angelfish. They are basically omnivores but majority of them nosh upon marine sponges. They drag out their jaws to catch hold of the sponge, coat it with a thick mucous like secretion and then devour it up.

The fresh water angelfish come from a family of Cichlidae called Pterophyllum. There are three species found in this family, the Pterophyllum Altum, Pterophyllum Leopoliand and Pterophyllum Scalare. The Pterophyllum Scalare is the most widespread of the three and is quite a favorite with the aquarium lobby. The major varieties are: Gold Zebra, Marble, Ghost, Black Laced, and Gold Marble.

In disparity to other cichlids, Angelfish has more of a flat rotund body with triangular outlined fins. The angelfish on an average grows over 4 inches in length and 8 inches in height. They vertical stripes on their body camouflage well with the surroundings and help them in getting away from their enemies. The freshwater angelfish likes to dwell mostly in unsoiled waters and can thrive in temperatures amid 25 - 30 degrees centigrade.

Freshwater angelfish usually lay around 100 to 1,000 eggs on a flat leaf surface or face of an underwater log which hatch in a couple of day's time. The fry's (baby angelfish) keep the contact with the egg shells even after hatching for about a week. During this languid period they feed on the left over yolk. After a week's time they get separated from the egg shell and initiate swimming and feeding on their own. They start to gain nourishment from the environment. Smaller fish and other invertebrates living in the fresh water are the prey for the freshwater angel fish.

Maintaining Angelfish in the Aquariums:

The angelfish rules as the king of the aquarium fish because of its remarkably beautiful stance. The appealing colors and slim body shape attracts many viewers when they swim around in the aquarium. Both beginners and the angelfish fanatics can enjoy breeding the little species and gaze into their world.

The angelfish are a disciplined category of fish, which should be placed in groups depending upon the size of the aquarium. Enough room should be provided for the fish to grow in the aquarium otherwise it will have a stunted effect on their growth. Tall greeneries can be planted in large fish tanks to as to provide more privacy to the angels who are usually shy in nature. The water temperature should be around 24 -26 degree centigrade. A good water filter should be in place because they cannot tolerate soiled water.

Being omnivores they feed on anything from brine shrimps to mosquito larvae to even worms. Ready available angel-food can be given but should be supplemented by live food once in a while for ensuring proper growth. Never do rare fish which are smaller than the angelfish in the same fish tank, else being voracious carnivores angels will devour them up.

Angels are quite intelligent fish who also shows a great sense of bonding. They tend to recognize their holders and even acknowledge food from their fingers over time. They have a habit select a buddy to be around most of the times and exhibits such an amount of bonding that if the mate dies, the other one surviving shall cease on having food and die as well. Sometimes the fish stops to eat, in such situations change of diet or water conditions may help. Avoid keeping angels with other fish else squabbles and scuffles may harm one or the other.

When fish keeping angels, care should be taken to remove the fertilized eggs in a small tank for safety purposes, else the angels may gobble them up; having said that angelfish are generally enduring and disease-resistant. Stern care should be exercised when getting in new hoard of angels. Try to get the stock from a local breeder so as to get some genuine fish with no genetic faults.

For more information on articles like Angel Fish, you can visit my site.

By Jason Suli

How To Determine The Sex of Discus Fish

One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder is "how do I determine the sex of my fish?" There are very few easy identifiable identifiers in this process. Here, we will discuss the methods used by some of the top breeders.

In juvenile fish, determining sex is almost impossible. It is only when they begin to pair off that an opportunity arises to help in the determination of sex. Juvenile fish, both male and female, have a rounded dorsal fin, and it is not until they begin to mature that a difference can be detected. As it is never wise to excessively handle the fish, close observation is in order to aid the breeder.

In Allnut Enterprises' King Discus Hatchery, for example, it is an easy process to determine who is who, as we have observed these fish for a while, and can determine the sex of the pairs we own. This would be true in any hatchery. But to the uninitiated or casual observer, this would not be easy to do.

Some of the identifiers: The male will have thicker lips to aid him in his fight to protect the female, and will be more aggressive. He will be larger than the female, his forehead is thicker, and we have observed that if the discus are a bit shy, the male will have a tendency to stay between the female and the observer.

The dorsal fin of the male will be pointed, and the female's dorsal fin will be rounded. Note that in juvenile discus, this is not apparent.

The breeding tube of the female, between the anus and anal fin, is broader and rounder than the male, and will have a blunt tip. The male, in turn, has a smaller, sharper breeding tube. Be aware that this is only evident during spawning, and should be closely observed.

It has been said that the male discus fish will tend to have a less intense color and more pattern while the female tends to be more colorful but with lesser pattern. I disagree, because too many variables are in place here, such as the health of the discus, the water parameters, and feeding pattern.

In an interesting article by Jeff Richard, [http://www.aquaworldnet.com/dbws/sexingdiscus.shtml] he discusses an article from Diskus Brief, a German publication, which reports a very successful way of determine sex of a discus by using simple geometry. Jeff reports, and I quote: "Picture a discus facing to your left ... you would be looking at its side. Find the Dorsal (Top) and Anal (bottom) fins and look where the fins slope down toward the Caudal (tail) fin ... make sure you're looking at the fins after they have curved back toward the tail. The Dorsal and Anal Fins become (almost) straight after the fins curve down (or up) toward the Caudal Fin ... extend an imaginary line along this straight section of the 2 fins back toward the tail which just touches the Dorsal & Anal Fins past the Caudal Fin. These two imaginary lines should intersect behind the fish. The key to sexing the fish is where the lines cross the Caudal fin. If they pass through the Caudal Fin, the fish is most likely a FEMALE. If they miss or just touch the Caudal Fin, then most likely it is a MALE." Thanks, Jeff!

Sexing Discus is difficult at best. The easiest way to do so is to raise a group of at least six to eight discus, and allow them to pair off when ready. It is a beautiful sight to see this happen, and makes the hobby well worthwhile.

Alden Smith is a published author, and has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, King Discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish.

His wife Betsy is the administrator of All The Best Recipes [http://www.allthebestrecipes.com] a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.

Rainbow Fish - Tips For Proper Care

Rainbow fish are popular among aquarium owners worldwide and for good reason. These fish are both beautiful and peaceful. They are freshwater fish and originate in Australia and Southeast Asia. If you're looking to add a Rainbow fish to your aquarium, follow my tips and suggestions for proper care.

1. Make sure that you have a good-sized aquarium for your new fish. They should have plenty of room to swim around freely. Your aquarium should also be equipped with a filter and an air pump. It should also be furnished with rocks and plants for your fish. It should then be topped off with clean water.

2. When feeding your Rainbow fish, you should aim to feed it between two and three small meals everyday. During each feeding, it shouldn't take longer than about three minutes for your fish to eat all of its food. If it takes much longer, than you are overfeeding your fish, which will lead to unnecessary tank pollution. As far as food goes, you can purchase proper food from your local pet store. Just make sure that it is made specifically for Rainbow fish. They require algae-based food, vegetables and protein.

3. If you don't already have a thermometer for your fish tank, it's time to purchase one. The aquarium should always be between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This should be monitored daily. Also make sure that the pH level of your tank is between 6.5 and 7.5 at all times.

4. Be sure to clean your fish's tank every two weeks. You will need to remove approximately 25 percent of the current tank water volume.

As long as you take proper care of your Rainbow fish, it's sure to thrive for years. Just make sure that you follow my tips and also make sure to take your time when searching for fish tanks. You'll want to make sure that you have a large, high quality tank to ensure the health of your new fish.

By Bree Davis