Breeding goldfish

It’s not impossible to breed your goldfish, but it’s not as easy as breeding rabbits or gerbils.

The reason is that goldfish lay eggs in the water, rather than giving birth to baby goldfish. These eggs must be protected until they hatch, and the tiny baby fish (called fry) raised using special baby fish food.

The eggs are vulnerable to infection, and parents will give you no help, either. In fact, they may even eat the eggs, and so the eggs and baby fry will need their own aquarium or pond.

On the other hand, you can potentially raise dozens or even hundreds of baby goldfish from just one spawning, if you’ve got the time, resources and commitment.

You might even get the bug, and try and develop your own line of fancy goldfish. After all, no fancy goldfish occur naturally in the wild - they have all been developed by many years of selective breeding.

Key steps in breeding goldfish

Click on the links below (where available) for information on that specific breeding step.

1. Choose the parent fish for breeding
2. Separate the male and female goldfish
3. Feed your brood stock to improve their condition ahead of breeding
4. Prepare the special aquarium that you will use to raise your goldfish fry
5. Reunite the male and female goldfish in early Spring in the breeding aquarium
6. Watch your goldfish making love! Then remove the parents, and wait for the eggs to hatch
7. Feed the babies baby brine shrimp, switching to other foods as they grow
8. Maintain good water conditions in the fry aquarium
9. Cull weak or deformed goldfish in order to preserve the genetic line
10. As they grow, divide the goldfish out into more aquariums or ponds to avoid overcrowding

source: http://goldfishcareguide.com/2008/04/01/breeding-goldfish/

Baby Goldfish

If you want to get some baby goldfish, the most fascinating way of obtaining them is of course to breed goldfish in your own aquarium or pond. A goldfish becomes sexually mature when it is around one year old, but will not reach their prime until two years later. It can be hard to distinguish a male goldfish from a female goldfish, but when they become mature the female will usually become a little plumper than the male. The male goldfish will develop small bumps on its head, and when the spawning period begins those bumps will be easier to notice since they will become white. There are several things that you can do to encourage your goldfish to produce baby goldfish. Pond living goldfish will typically spawn during spring, when the cold season ends. Frequent water changes can also induce spawning. If you want baby goldfish, you should make a partial water change once a day. The fresh water and supreme water quality will help getting your goldfish into spawning mood. Changing 20 percent of the water is a good rule of thumb, since a larger change can alter the water quality too rapidly. Keep the water temperature around 700 F at day time and around 500F during the night. An improved diet will also increase the chance of baby goldfish in your pond or aquarium. If you usually feed your goldfish pellets or similar, you can gradually substitute the prepared food with frozen or live food such as worms or brine shrimp. A third trick that is commonly used by professional goldfish breeders is to separate male and female goldfish. When you reintroduce them to each other, they will be more interested in making baby goldfish. This method does however mean that you must know which fish that is male and which fish that is female.

Providing your goldfish with spawning mops is a good idea when you want to have baby goldfish, since the female goldfish can use these mops to deposit the eggs on. The eggs are adhesive and will stick to the spawning mop. Professional breeders will often make their own floating spawning mops from nylon rope, but you can choose to purchase ready made goldfish spawning mops from the fish store if you don’t want to create them yourself. You know that your goldfish are ready to make baby goldfish when the male starts to chase the female around for several hours. He will bump and push her on the abdomen as soon as he gets a chance. When the female is ready, she will deposit eggs that stick to virtually anything in the pond or aquarium. If you have provided the goldfish with floating spawning mops, she will probably choose to release the eggs near them. As soon as the eggs are released, the male goldfish will spray his milt over them in order to fertilize them. Most female goldfish releases several batches, and the first batch is considered to be of highest quality. A large female goldfish can lay up to 1000 eggs during one spawn, but it is only a fraction of these that will turn into baby goldfish. When you plan to raise baby goldfish, it is important to keep in mind that adult goldfish love to eat baby goldfish, including the eggs. As soon as the eggs have been fertilized, the spawning mops should therefore be removed to their own aquarium or pond.

Rinse the spawning mops in a bucket of water. The water must be suitable for fish keeping, and have the same water quality and temperature as the water in which the eggs were deposited. Then you can place the eggs in a 20 gallon aquarium where the water is no deeper than 6 inches. If you keep the water temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the eggs will hatch with 3 or 4 days. During this period, you can spot eggs that are not as clear as the rest. It is only the clear eggs that can hatch, and the other eggs should be removed since they will attract fungi. Newly hatched baby goldfish will be too small to feed on anything else than microscopic organisms, but eventually you can start giving them larger and larger food. When the baby goldfish is 48 hours old, you can give them liquid fry food, oatmeal paste or hardboiled egg yolk. After around two weeks, the baby goldfish is large enough to eat infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp. The next week you can introduce powdered fish food. Do not feed your baby goldfish more than what they can consume within 20 minutes.

During the first four weeks, the need food three times a day. Until they are four moths old, you should feed at least twice a day.

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/goldfish/baby.php

Freshwater Aquariums

Freshwater aquariums remain the most popular option for fish tanks. Although saltwater aquariums have a certain draw, fish enthusiasts and traditionalists tend to feel strongly about using freshwater in the environments that they build for the fish that they house. A freshwater fish tank can be easier to care for than a saltwater aquarium, and can also be more cost effective over time.

For beginners who are just buying their first fish tank and creating their first underwater environment, freshwater aquariums are the best bet. They are typically simpler to prepare for in terms of stocking up on supplies. In addition, the maintenance required on freshwater aquariums is typically far less time consuming than for saltwater environments. When you decide to introduce a freshwater fish tank into your own home, simply keep in mind a few basic considerations and you will successfully be able to set up and maintain your tank.

One of the most important components to choose for freshwater aquariums is the filter. Think of your fish tank as a miniature swimming pool. As with a swimming pool, the water in the tank has to be continuously filtered to guard against the infiltration of harmful substances that may either develop or be introduced remotely. Therefore, it is very important to choose a well-designed filter that will run continuously to keep the water pure and healthy for the fish that live in your freshwater aquarium.

Another important consideration for freshwater aquariums is the size and design of the tank itself. Remember that if you are a beginner, you will want to start smaller and truly learn how to provide ongoing care to a fish tank before moving to the larger and more extensive tanks. Consider choosing a simple rectangular or circular tank to get started with. You will then choose an appropriate filtration system based on the size tank - don't try to work in reverse and pick a filter before a tank or you'll end up with a mismatch.

Other supplies to consider for freshwater aquariums are the gravel that will line the bottom of the tank as well as any cute objects that will be used to create a tableau or design. When picking any object to add to a fish tank, ensure that it's waterproof, able to be sterilized, and will provide no threat to the water or the fish that live within it.

Once you have made all of these important decisions, it's time to set up your freshwater aquarium. Finding the appropriate place in your house can be a tough but important decision. Freshwater aquariums are often the focal point of a room, and so you should choose an area that is highly visible, yet outside of the normal traffic within the room to guard against any accidents that may harm the tank. Depending on the fish you choose to raise, consider the amount of light that the aquarium will get either naturally or through a tank light. And finally, have fun with your new tank - freshwater aquariums can make for a very enjoyable pastime.

Getahugetank.com offers custom aquariums , fresh water aquariums and fish tank supplies.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Dinn

How to Care For Goldfish Like the Experts Do

Goldfish are renowned for their beauty and grace that they display when in aquarium. You just have to visit any pet shops to find varieties of this majestic fish available for sale. But how do you care for them? Are there any special needs for gold fish? This article will attempt to provide some answers to this question.

It is important that the quality of the water is well monitored because goldfish has a tendency to produce a lot of waste materials thus degrading water quality. A good filtration should therefore help to maintain water at an optimum level so as to care for the goldfish.

The aquarium should also be wide enough to allow the fishes to be at ease and also to provide space for the goldfish to grow. Some interesting facts about goldfish are that they can attain 40 to 50 cm in the wild. However in captivity this is rarely the case.

Goldfishes usually will prefer flakes as food but it is advised to give them pellets for food because it does not spoil the water quality. It is recommended to remove the excess pellets that fishes will not eat within a period of five minutes. These pellets will only dissolved in the water and degrade the water quality.

Goldfish are freshwater fishes that will thrive in temperature from 5 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius. Although goldfish might survive at temperature above 25 degrees it is recommended for the goldfish health that the temperature is kept within this range. This should also be the range if you are interested in goldfish breeding.

Keeping goldfish does not need to be a chore. If you know the basic tips about goldfish care this should be easy for you to maintain your goldfish in good shape and resist any upcoming goldfish illnes

Araticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elijah_Bitson

Choosing Fish For Aquariums - Choose Between Gold Fish And Piranhas!

When you have put together your aquarium, you would be all eager to get the fish to go into it. But the dilemma about choosing the fish is that there are so many varieties available that you could get confused about your choice. It is best if you take the advice of your fish shop locally. But surely their advice will not be any different than the advice that follows here. If you think this is going to blossom into a really keen hobby, then choosing small fish could be just a waste of money and time. On the other hand, if this is a passing fancy or you have your kid's interest in mind, then most certainly you should go for small fish.

Aquarium fish which is small is usually of bright colors and feed on fish flakes more than fish meat. They could range from angel fish to tetras and are chosen for decorative purposes due to their shine which reflects a bright silver under the particular aquarium lights. The fish species are simple and no fun to watch as they have no personality. These fishes are suitable for decoration and for simple aquarium set ups and usually people wanting a tank with low maintenance go for it.

It is a bit more difficult to maintain the larger fish like African fish and cichlids. But they generally are sturdier fish so their mortality rate is very low compared to other smaller weak fish. The main attraction or rather the problem of cichlids is however their cannibalism. They will gobble up the smaller fish in the tank in no time at all. If you feed them anything less than fish meat, they will not like it. Cichlids have different types and their looks also differ. Oscars which find personal favor with many people; can be red, tiger or albino. Then there are jaguar cichlids as well as black belts, and so the list goes on. These fish types need a lot of gravel cleaning and filter since they create lots of waste. Cichlids' breeding pair costs a lot of money! Cichlids are generally the more expensive fish as they are larger (one tank can accommodate 5-6 cichlids and one half foot Oscar). One thing to remember is that these fish prefer to arrange the tank just the way they like it. So initially though the tank caters to your taste, it won't stay the same for long. There is so much more to know about cichlids which have a distinct personality.

So the type of fish that you should get for your aquarium depends on the purpose of your getting the aquarium. Decorative small tanks need decorative small aquarium fish. But if you have a bigger tank, you should get bigger fish. Put in some larger fish and see the fun you will have watching them!
Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, "Aquarium Care Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal

How to Clean a Small Fish Tank

This guide will walk you through cleaning your small fish tank or fish bowl.

Step1

First you will want to pour most (about 3/4)of the water from your original fish tank, into your holding fish tank or container.

Step2

Now net your fish buddies out of the remaining water and move them over to the other fishtank.

Step3

You can pour the remaining water out, and you are free to clean the inside of the tank, but do not use anything with harsh chemicals, a simple wipe down with a clean towel should do fine, anything you may use from under the sink can leave residue and harm your fish!

Step4

Once your tank is clean, you can fill it back up with water about 2/3 the way and add your Fish Scale Treatment (treat water per instructions on bottle) and also add your Water Treatment(treat water per instructions on bottle), especially if you have county or city water rather than a well.

Step5

Now grab your bag, and fill with the original old water, and net your fish and put him in the bag as well, tie the bag off and put it in the new water (This will allow the fish to gradually get used to the new water temperature so you dont shock him by changing his water temp suddenly) You shouldnt have to leave him like that but about 2 hour or so, but it depends on the size of tank you have.

Step6

Once the water temperatures have had time to even out, you can free your fish from his bag prison, into his freshly cleaned home!
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2184489_clean-small-fish-tank.html

Notes on Goldfish Breeding

Goldfish breeding is done with lot of care and attention. For breeding, the single tail type goldfish is advised for beginners. The types of goldfish that are sensitive at the time of pregnancy have to be avoided for goldfish breeding. The breeding should not simultaneously be taken up for more than two types of goldfish.

The prime age of a gold fish is three years for goldfish breeding. More number of fish is selected and set aside for breeding to compensate for some of the fish may die. The fish selected for breeding are fed small quantities of live feed avoiding dry feed for two months before the spawning.

The tank selected for goldfish breeding should be cleaned well. Germs free tank is recommended for breeding. The tank is advised to be dried after cleaning for two weeks. The tank is provided with good aeration and sufficient light. Natural plants and nylon wool are placed inside the tank for goldfish breeding.

The water temperature is raised 2 degrees per day until the ideal temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degree Centigrade). For successful breeding more males are kept. The ideal proportion is two males to one female for goldfish breeding. The female gold fish has a bigger and fuller abdomen; male goldfish develop white color breeding tubercles.

The male fish follows behind the female in the ritualistic spawning chase. The male pushes the female goldfish in her abdomen repeatedly. This takes place for few hours. The female goldfish releases eggs in batches. Goldfish at its prime release five hundred to one thousand eggs. The eggs are sprayed with milt by the male goldfish making them fertile at once.

The eggs are moved to another tank with water at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is about six inches to avoid the pressure for the fish fry. In four to seven days the goldfish eggs hatch. Being heavy, the fish fry sink to the bed of the tank. The feed for the first 24 hours is supplied from the full yoke sac of the fish fry. Fish fry swim up in search of food after 24 hours.

If you want to learn more about goldfish or more specifically goldfish breeding then check out http://www.secretsofgoldfish.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dane_J_Stanton

How to Name a Goldfish

Your new goldfish deserves a noble moniker to honor him his whole life, even if that life only lasts until next week. Goldie’s been done, Fish is too obvious and Sushi is ironic but cruel. Consider the following to determine a name for a goldfish.

Step
1
Observe the goldfish you have chosen. Does a name scream out to you? Does your fish have obvious traits, such as a growth on his forehead or a spot on his tail that looks just like the one on your mother-in-law’s chin?
Step
2
What do you want your fish’s name to say about you? When a friend asks, do you want the name to indicate your humor, vocabulary, coldheartedness, knowledge of Eastern religions or taste for shocking slang?
Step
3
Ask yourself, “Will I be comfortable saying this name in 10 years if the goldfish defies the odds and survives that long?” Even if you’d like to change your goldfish’s name, your kids, relatives and friends will never let you forget his original appellation.
Step
4
Try names on your tongue. Does Aloysius sound satisfying? Does Carpo feel right? Is Magdalena just too long?
Step
5
Consider your household. If you have children, they will want to name the fish. Make suggestions to vary the options or you may be feeding “Goldie," “Fishy” or “Swimmy” for the next few years.
Step
6
If no perfect name emerges from your musings, let your fish remain nameless until inspiration strikes. Your fish will swim on in blissful ignorance of his John Doe status and you can hold out for the name that seems right.
Source : http://www.ehow.com/how_2009206_name-a-goldfish.html

How to Sex a Goldfish

Sexing a goldfish is an important part of its ownership. Determining the correct sex of your goldfish can help you name your goldfish suitably or plan breeding activities. Tell the sex of the goldfish early in its life so that you may properly care for it.

Instructions

Step
1
Wait until your goldfish are ready to breed. Telling a goldfish's sex is easier when a goldfish is mature and interested in spawning. 
Step
2
Look at the goldfish's overall body type. Males tend to be thinner and longer than female goldfish. View your goldfish from above its aquarium. Males have more symmetric bodies than females. 
Step
3
Note the goldfish's abdomen. If the abdomen appears swollen, asymmetric and soft, the goldfish is probably female. A hard abdomen indicates a male goldfish. 
Step
4
Check the goldfish's gills and pectoral fins. If hard, white pimples develop in these areas, the goldfish is likely male. Goldfish belonging to species with short fins can also have their fins studied to determine sex. Male short-finned goldfish have relatively longer, sharper and stiffer pectoral fins and leading rays than their female counterparts. 
Step
5
Inspect the goldfish's vent. A female goldfish typically has a vent that is more prominent than a male goldfish's; their anal fin's leading ray is also thicker than a male's.                              

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2146225_sex-goldfish.html

Aquarium Plants

Keeping plants in the aquarium can require just as much patience and care as the fish in your aquarium. Keeping a planted aquarium will pose many new challenges for you to keep track of and manage. Many people chose fake plants for their aquarium, but they do not get the full experience out of these. In this article I will going through the various things you need to consider when picking out the proper plants for the aquarium.

The first thing you want to do, is find out what type of plants best simulate your fish's natural habitat. Of course you could always mix it up as long as it will pose no harm to your plant or your fish. Many fish require plenty of plant cover in their natural habitat so it is good to provide it in the aquarium. You should also make sure to not add real plants to aquariums where the fish you are keeping tend to eat that plant type. You should also make sure to house any plants in an aquarium of at least 10 gallons in size. It is better to have an aquarium of 30 gallons, but for starting out 10 gallon should work just fine.

As far as lighting conditions for your planted aquarium, you should provide an adequate amount of lighting for the plants. You should make sure that you do not use lights that can cause additional heat to be transferred to your aquarium. Lighting arrangements can work out if there is plenty of plant cover for this fish to hide under, but you should also definitely take into account the fish's own lighting needs. It is best to include plants and fish with similar lighting requirements to make adjusting the levels that much easier.

When you are putting plants in your planted aquarium, you should provide a suitable substrate for the plants to get their roots in. A substrate of at least 1-3mm in size is normally recommended, but you should check your plans specific needs to find out exactly what would be the best for it. Most planted aquariums are freshwater, so just be sure to properly condition and de-chlorinate the water so your plants aren't damaged. Different species of plants have different water conditions so just make sure you know the exact water parameters to properly care for the plant.

I have tried to show you a couple of things to take into consideration when you are thinking out the details for your planted aquarium. I always recommend you take it a bit slow when starting out your planted aquarium. Haste definitely makes waste, and it is great to have a bit of patience. You can purchase your aquarium plants from many retailers all over the web, you can always ask a helpful sales representative if you have any problems or questions when selecting the plants. Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope I was able to provide you with a bit of useful information. An informed decision on a planted aquarium is always the best kind.
GetAHugeTank.com is an online fish tank superstore that offers fish tanks, custom aquariums of all sizes, aquarium supplies and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Wilson

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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Wilson

Learn All The Secrets About The Color Of Your Goldfish

The main colors that the modern goldfish are available in are: Bronze: These types have to be specially bred. Pink (albino): This is a type which is also a result of selective breeding. Wild type: These types of goldfish are more common and they slowly change their color as they grow, losing all the black pigments and becoming more of the ornamental type. 

The two main ornamental color types in goldfish can be classified as the: Metallic group: These type of goldfish can either be self-colored or red, orange, yellow, blue, brown and black, or even a combination of colors with a dash of silver and a splash of patterns. Metallic goldfish have scales that reflect thanks to what is called the guanine layer present in their skin and make their color look like gleaming, burnished metal. Calico group: The Calico type of goldfish can have different kinds of patterns of either reflective scales, matt scales because of the absence of the guanine layer in their skin and nacreous scales when the guanine layer is partly present. The common color effects of the goldfish with matt scales depending on the color pigments that are present are pink; blue and colors like violet, gray and brown. The ideal calico goldfish is believed to be the Shubunkin which is a combination of red over blue The Goldfish look and form The Goldfish might be common but there is hardly one average on the looks side! Apart from being available in different kinds of colors, Goldfish also have different types of body structures. These are the most common types of goldfish available according to their body type: 
Single-tailed: This kind of Goldfish have, as the name suggests, a single, short and sleek tail. They have a very slender body and are very hardy. Singletailed goldfish include the popular Comets, Commons and the Shubunkins.

Double-tailed: This kind of Goldfish are also slender but their tail fins are split giving it a fan like look. The double tailed variety includes the Wakins and the Jikins that usually come in white, red and white and orange.

Double Tailed with Dorsal Fin Goldfish: This type of Goldfish has a very egg shaped body with long doubled or short tail fins. These are hardy but more of the fancy kind of goldfish. Their midsections are larger than other goldfish and some of them have a head growth or a hump on the back. Some of common types of this variety are the Fantails, the Pearlscales, the Orandas, the Ryukins, the totally black Moors and the Telescopes.

Double Tailed with No Dorsal Fin goldfish: This type of Goldfish also have egg shaped bodies but no dorsal fins. Instead they have flowing fins like the rare Eggfish, head growths like the Lionheads and the exotic Celestials and Bubble Eyes.
Article Source: http://goldfish-kiki.blogspot.com/search/label/goldfish%20color

Home Aquariums: Why They Are Handy by Jeanie Smith

The practice of keeping fish in the home came about in the late 1800's. These fish were usually kept for short periods of time, and were used as a food source. Home aquariums were generally kept only in coastal towns where the fish were readily accessible. Today, however many things of changed. We wouldn't dream of dipping a net into an aquarium and frying up the family pet for dinner. That's what Red Lobster is for. Home aquariums are for our personal entertainment and enjoyment. Aquariums add life and color to any room. They soothe sick patients at doctor's offices, and entertain small children while their parents are shopping at Nordstrom. 

When considering adopting a family pet, think fish. They are a good compromise when your children are eying that puppy in the window of the local pet store. Aquariums need little care in comparison to cats, dogs and even birds. When going out of town, it is acceptable to leave the fish alone for a week or even longer. Just have a neighbor feed them once or twice. There is no grooming or bathing needed for fish. While a home aquarium does require regular maintenance and cleaning, it is minor compared to the care required for larger pets. Aquariums are usually less costly, as well. Dogs and cats require regular visits to the veterinarian, vaccinations, flea and tick medications, etc. Last year the purchase of pet toys was a billion dollar industry. We don't have to worry about buying a tug rope or a stuffed friend for our fish. 

An aquarium is less of a commitment than larger pets, and can still be a welcome addition to the family home. Aquariums are great learning tools for small children. Kids get excited if they are involved in process. They can learn responsibility by having to help with the chores associated with aquarium care. Teach the children how to feed the fish and how to clean the tank. Aquariums are very handy for helping kids develop language skills, as well. It's amazing how much conversation can take place between a two-year old and an aquarium. Let the kids name the fish. Have discussions and ask questions like, what color is that fish? What are the fish doing today? Count the fish. Just be careful with counting. If one of the fish has decided to eat some of its tank mates that could turn into a different type of learning experience altogether. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing; you just have to be prepared for it. After all, kids do have to learn about the cycle of life and death somehow. It would certainly be a lot easier to cope with the death of goldfish as a child's first loss, rather than a human family member. 

In these times of having five hundred plus cable channels and excessive video games, an aquarium can be a refreshing touch to a home. The next time you sit down for a family dinner, try looking at the aquarium instead of the television. You never know, it may just start an actual conversation.
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1008190

Using The Right Fish Tank Equipment

Are you new to the fine art of owning fish? Having your own fish aquarium is an exciting hobby that will teach you a lot about nature, but the key to proper fish care is using the right fish tank equipment. In order to keep fish alive and in their optimum health condition, you need to accommodate them by producing an environment that mimics what they are used to as closely as possible. This means that their water condition, temperature and surroundings must all match what they are used to. This also means that using the right fish tank equipment is absolutely vital if you want to keep your fish healthy and give them the quality of life that they deserve.

Using the right fish tank equipment means implementing all of the following pieces of equipment in your aquarium set up:

- A proper filtration system.
- A heater.
- A thermometer.
- Aquarium plants or Airstone.
- The right Décor.

Filtration- is a necessary part of keeping your aquarium properly equipped. Filtration pulls the water through, filtering out impurities, waste and other bits and releasing clean water back into the aquarium. Not only should you have the fight filter in your aquarium, but you have to make sure that you are using the right filter media as well. Most filters use charcoal to purify the water before releasing it back into the aquarium, sans waste and debris.

Heater - Most tropical and salt water fish prefer warmer waters. Goldfish are usually more than happy to be in colder waters, but if you want to keep your tropical fish happy, keep them warm. Most heaters for aquariums are set up so that they only click on when the water needs a boost of warmth. Make sure that you also have a thermometer installed inside your aquarium so that you can make sure that the right temperature is being reached at all times. Different fish species have different temperature requirements, so keep that in mind when setting your heater.

Aquarium Plants and Airstones - These two pieces of equipment are not necessarily vital to the health of your fish, but they are nice and helpful additions. Plants and airstones both introduce oxygen into the water and while fish do not need to breathe the air we breathe, they do need the oxygen in the water in order to survive. Airstones release oxygen into the water by way of bubbles, and plants naturally produce oxygen as part of their normal life cycle. So while not exactly necessary, these props are still worthwhile additions to your aquarium setting.

Décor - Some people would tell you that décor is not a vital part of any aquarium setting, but some fish do require it.

For example, African Cichlids are aggressive fish that take up territories in an aquarium. If you plan to house numerous Cichlids in the same aquarium, giving them different territories and boundaries is a good way to keep them from harming one another. Another less than vital aspect of the aquarium setting, but still worthwhile if you want to create a safe haven for your fish.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/using-the-right-fish-tank-equipment-436525.html

How to Create An Awesome Aquarium

Fishes are cold blooded vertebrates. This means that they remain at approximately the same temperature as the water surrounding them, in contrast to the whale or the water rat, which like us maintain a much higher temperature. Aquarium fishes share with ourselves and other mammals, however, the possession of a backbone, or vertebral column, and are built on the same fundamental plan, having the same basic system of bones and organs as we do. 

Fishes breathe oxygen, but it is usually absorbed only from solution in water by the gills, which are leaf like organs, normally four on each side of the neck in a pouch covered by the operculum, or bony gill cover. The gills are richly supplied with blood vessels, and water is swallowed from the mouth and forced over the gills, leaving by a slit between the operculum and the body. The rate of fishes` respiratory movements is partly determined by the need for oxygen and its concentration in the surrounding water. 

Fins

There are two paired and (in all but fancy goldfish and a few other fishes) three unpaired fins. The paired pectoral and pelvic (ventral) fins correspond, respectively, to the arms and legs of human beings and connect with bony girdles in the body which correspond to our own pectoral and pelvic girdles. The unpaired fins are the dorsal, the anal, and the tail or caudal fins, as shown in the accompanying figure. These fins are supported by rays, sometimes bony and sometimes made of cartilage. In some families the dorsal fin is split entirely into two parts, the forepart with spiny rays and the hind part with soft rays. In the characins and some others, there is a small adipose fin, composed of fatty material with no fin rays.

Body

The fish body is composed mainly of a large lateral muscle on each side of the backbone, divided by sheets of connective tissue into segments corresponding to the vertebrae, which give rise to the typical flaking of the cooked fish. This is the main organ for swimming. The internal organs often occupy a very small volume, toward the front, so that much of the apparent trunk of the fish is really its tail (as distinct from the tail fin). This is indicated by the forward position of the beginning of the anal fin, which marks the end of the digestive tract. Fishes possess the usual organs familiar to students of human anatomy, with the exception of lungs and chest cavity; they have a stomach, intestines, a liver, a spleen, kidneys, and so forth.

Skin and Scales. The skin may be naked, or it may be covered by scales or by bony plates which in turn have an outer layer over them. The scales may be opaque or transparent; if they are transparent, the appearance and color of the fish may be due to skin pigments, not to scale color or formation, as in the calico goldfish. Bony plates may be seen in the Corridors, or South American armored catfishes.

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All The Secrets About The Ranchu Goldfish

The ranchu goldfish is one of the most precious goldfish on Earth and is a treasured household pet all across the world. So what makes the ranchu goldfish special from any other breed? Well one of the main things that sets a ranchu apart from any other goldfish is its bazaar appearance. It has an unusually large head that closely resembles the look and shape of a lionhead. In fact the only thing that makes a ranchu goldfish different from a lionhead is that it has a much more curved posterior dorsal contour. Basically first glimpse of a ranchu would have you believe they are the same as a lionhead, but once you take a closer look at the tail, you will be able to tell them apart easily.

The lionhead has a tail much like the fantail goldfish that is shaped like a butterfly. The tail of a ranchu goldfish looks more like that of a comet, much smaller and simpler. Most ranchu goldfish a colored gold and white, however they have been known to be black in some cases. They grow to about the same size of a lionhead, sometimes bigger however you won't be able to notice any different due to the fact a lionhead has a much larger tail.

It's common to hear people refer to ranchu goldfish as buffalo heads, especially in the Far East. In fact they first originated in China and were kept in outside ponds and treated with much respect. Later the Japanese imported ranchu's into their country and further developed there until they finally achieved the look we see today.

So How Much Do They Cost?

Ranchu goldfish are far more expensive then most other breeds of goldfish, some retailing for over $300 each! One of the cheapest ways to buy ranchu's is to go on the internet and purchase one online as they are much cheaper. You may be able to buy one for under $200 if you are lucky, the only problem is that you can't be sure what you are going to get, however 99 out of 100 times you are going to get what you paid for. Just to make sure, check first if the site you are buying from has a return policy, that way if there is a problem, you can just return the fish you just bought and get your money back.

Most of these sites also include photos of the fish you want to buy. In most cases you are going to have to drive to where they fish is to pick it up, however you should also be able to pay a fee that will enable the fish to be delivered to your doorstep if you don't want to travel out to pick it up. Try to make sure the place you are buying from isn't too far away as that will end up costing you more money that you can handle. If you are unsure where the shop is, give them a call, as their number should be on their website somewhere, and ask them for directions. I personally would take the time to drive out there in person, especially if you are spending $200 on a ranchu goldfish.

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