If you’re serious about your aquariums, you might want to add (aside from aquarium plants) some other aquarium creatures, such as the snail, to complete the look of your fish tank. Having snails in the aquarium provides some advantages and disadvantages as well. Following are the reasons:
Advantages: - Snails eat algae so the more algae you have, the better for your fishes - Snails are natural aquarium “cleaners” and can reach out into crevices of your aquarium (unlike other fishes) and acts as scavengers - Snails are naturally carnivorous, but the good thing is they don’t like eating fish eggs. Instead they opt to eat univalves and gastropods. - They prefer decaying plants over healthy ones
Disadvantages: - Snails reproduce very fast thus, some people would end up like having a snail farm instead of a fish aquarium
Tips:
- Never place a pond snail in your aquarium because besides eating decayed plants, pond snails also subsist on healthy aquarium plants - Always check the pH level of the aquarium in order to stop the rapid snail population growth - Check the amount of food you feed your fishes. When overfed, the excess fish food are eaten by snails thus, this adds to the list of disadvantages. - Drop in some lettuce in the aquarium. For some reason, snails don’t like lettuce, thus, if the snails have been eating your healthy plants, they will stop doing so now
To remove snails, consider decreasing the fish’s food supply. Never feed the fishes twice a day or even everyday because this will only attract your snails in the long run. You might also want to try introducing predators (like feeder goldfish and lionfish) in your aquarium to thwart any efforts of the snails and to get rid of them.
Recommended Reading: There's this really good site that details the role of snails in aquariums that you can find here.
For additional information on fish tanks and snails, view this video by Stuart Collins:
Are aquarium plants really important? What benefits do fish get from them? Are they really needed? I own a local fish store and these are the most common questions I encounter from my customers regarding aquarium plants. Let me point out the importance of aquarium plants and the benefits they provide in your fish tank.
Aquarium plants, also known as aquatic plants, serve as cover for fish. In a fish tank with full of different fish species, food rivalry occurs. Live plants serve as food storage for fish especially for smaller and less assertive ones. This decreases stress among fishes, which eventually create a better environment. They also prevent fish from becoming sick because less protection causes anxiety that may lead to diseases.
Live plants in your aquarium contribute to the natural gas exchange inside your fish tank. Plants take in carbon dioxide to make food and energy, and in return, give off oxygen. This maintains the dissolved oxygen in the tank needed by your fish. On the other hand, artificial plants do not go through the process of photosynthesis, thus, they do not produce oxygen.
Plants also provide a natural view of your aquarium, adding aesthetics quality to your aquarium - giving your fish tank a superb and unique design. The movement of water and fishes add to their usefulness, too. As expected, fishes prefer real plants than artificial ones although synthetic plants provide them the same environment just like in their natural habitat. They also serve as nesting place for the fish, too.
A fish tank that has plants only needs a full mechanical form of filtration as plants help in chemical and biological filtration. Aquatic plants achieve these types of filtration by absorbing the chemical and biological waste products that are harmful to the fish (by preventing ammonia accumulation). They are also used as means for beneficial bacteria to grow.
Another benefit you can get from aquatic plants is that they assist in stopping algae to grow in your tank because of nutrients in the water and lighting. Plants compete with algae in regards with nutrients, thus, reducing their production. By reducing the growth of algae, you maintain the quality of water in your fish tank. This also prevents you from changing water constantly.
Do I need to say more? I don’t think so. With all the benefits of aquatic plants in your fish tank, surely, you will definitely find yourself looking for different aquatic plants that will complement with the look and design of your aquarium.
Being an aquarist, one of the important things you need to check often is fish diseases. When I started maintaining my own aquarium, I was not really meticulous when it came to color and fish behaviour. For me, seeing my fishes swimming and eating fish food were enough reasons to believe they are well. However, there were clear signs that something was wrong, but I never took notice of them until it was too late.
What are some signs that your fish is unwell?
- Ulcers on the body - White spots around the fins - No appetite and swollen belly - Pallid colored gills - Protruding eyes - Jutted scales - Abnormal swimming angle - Floating on one side or upside down
What are the usual causes of the above symptoms?
In general , improper care of your aquarium could lead to the above symptoms, including:
- Fighting among incompatible fishes - Rough-handling - Over-stocking of fish in fish tanks - Poor water quality - Sudden changes in water temperatures and composition - Microbial infection - Low oxygen levels - Intestinal problems - Poor diet, for some species, not having enough vitamin C or protein in the diet
How should you resolve these problems?
- If the problem is the outside of the fish, then you may apply antibacterial or phenoxyethanol-based medicine. In some instances, the disease may have already affected the internal organs, then it is better to give your fish antibiotics. A word of precaution though: check with your pet store what antibiotics may be given to your fish before applying any treatment. Better yet, consult with a professional aquarist.
- Try to separate the fish afflicted with infection so as not to spread the disease to other fishes and prevent a possible outbreak. Ensure that the fish gets adequate amount of food and is in a clean water environment. If you do not see any improvements, check with your pet store about appropriate antibiotics for the fish.
- Give the fish a “bath” in a container of water with salt or medication. You may use Formalin for the bath, which are readily available in stores.
Whenever people visit my shop, they always tell me how beautiful my fishes are. They are stunned by different colors, sizes and physical traits of each fish. A lot of people were asking me, which is the easiest kind of fish to maintain. I always tell them that there are some things to be taken in consideration before they can handle any kind of fish. Let me share with you some ideas about choosing your own fish.
The first thing you have to learn is know which fish you want. Then, when you are decided which fish you want, you need to know some things about that fish. You must identify the type of food they want, kind of water condition they prefer, how big they grow and the required care for each fish species.
Food is necessary for every life form here on earth to survive. Regular feeding schedule is required so that overfeeding is prevented. When left uneaten, fish food rots and might produce stomach problems resulting to infection and eventually death. So always remember, never overfeed your fish!
Another thing to consider is its specific water condition. Never put together fishes from different water conditions because they will never survive. This is very important. Salt-water fishes will not thrive in fresh water and vice versa. Also, fish from soft-acidic water form cannot be mixed with fish from hard-alkaline water state.
Moreover, if you are about to add a different type of fish into your aquarium with existing fish in it, you must know if they are compatible with each other. Compatibility is when they can get along with each other and exist harmoniously in combination within the same fish tank. Observe the new fish in your fish tank if it does not disturb or annoy other fishes. Incompatibility will surely bring you problems.
An additional factor to consider regarding compatibility is your fish behavior. A slow swimmer is at a disadvantage in terms of feeding than a fast swimmer. The dominant ones are likely to grab more food quickly than the timid ones. The less aggressive ones will surely be undersized and weaker than expected.
There are also some fish that have territorial behavior. This means that they do not want other fish to be in their own domain. They have the tendency to inflict harm to those that they think “intrude” their space. So, know what fish species have this behavior in order to avoid conflicts.
So, with the factors mentioned above, you are now ready for the next step and that is to decide what type of fish you want to have and the means for them to survive. Consider every little thing about them and your fish will be happy, thus, providing you with their best qualities.
Is it necessary to keep your fish tank clean? Is it hard and time consuming to clean your fish tank? These are some of the questions many are asking when they decide to have their own aquarium. Isn’t it nice to see your aquarium free from dirt or any unwanted waste? Cleanliness is not only crucial for sanitation purposes, but is also important in keeping your fish from getting sick and dying.
How to keep your fish tank clean:
1. Clean your fish tank
Replace water in your fish tank every two weeks at the minimum. If possible, replace at least 10% of water on the first week, and then at least 20% the following week.
Do not overfeed your fish. Left over foods may decompose over time and this could bring about diseases to your fish. Food collection causes the tank to become dirty and unhygienic.
Add dechlorinating solution and neutralizer to your tap water before adding it into your fish tank. Harmful elements are present in our tap water such as phosphate, copper, chloramines and other minerals. Chlorine is a form of gas that is also present in tap water. Pour water in one container and let it stay for a few hours to allow chlorine to evaporate.
In case of death, remove the dead fish immediately to prevent contaminating the whole tank.
2. Buy a healthy fish.
Avoid buying fish that does not look healthy.
Damaged and folded fins are indications that the fish is under a lot of stress and is sick.
Dull and vague scales may show some signs of distress and disease.
Instead, choose fishes that have gills that expand regularly but not hastily.
3. Adding a new fish to your fish tank.
Do not release your new fish into your fish tank right away.
Introduce your new fish to its new friends and environment. Add some water from your aquarium into the plastic bag (where your new fish is), place the bag into the fish tank, and let it stay for at least 15 minutes.
Cautiously and carefully release your new fish into your fish tank.
Observe the behavior of your new fish as well as the existing fish. They should not show any signs of annoyance and irritation.
4. Quarantine tank
This will enable you to separate unhealthy fish from other fishes to prevent spread of bacteria.
Use this tank to observe the behavior of your new fish before adding it to your existing fish tank.
5. Lighting
Ensure there is light on the fish tank for at least a minimum of eight hours a day.
Timers are advisable so that it will not be more than or less than the required amount of light by your fish.
6. Medication
Never mix two different medicines because they may do harm instead of good to your fish. Ask qualified person in case you need to add more than one medication at once.
Frequently change water in your fish tank during medication to avoid residues.
By following these simple steps, you will have a clean, hygienic and healthy aquarium. A healthy aquarium will definitely produce a healthy and a well-nourished fish.
I'm Jacob and a fish hobbyist for several years now. Welcome to my blog.
Aquarium Fish Digest is the result of my over 5 years experience with fish and fish tanks. I took the long way when I started becoming an aquarist. Although I had friends to run to or talk to regarding my queries in setting up an aquarium, I opted to go online and scour the net with information about fishes and their natural habitat.
At first, I wasn't serious at being an aquarist. I just started the hobby because most of my friends were into it, and I was the odd-man out. Thus, when I began, I totally had zero knowledge about it. But not anymore.
Through this blog, I will share with you lessons I have learned along the way - all my experiences and learnings from the readings I did in the past.
