Tag Archives: tropical fish

Betta Fish Basics

If you’re interested in a colorful aquarium pet, betta fish are a popular choice. Maybe you’ve seen rows of little glass jars at the pet store, each one with a bright, flowing-finned fish inside? Those were probably betta fish. The betta fish (otherwise known as Betta Splendens or the Siamese Fighting Fish) comes from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and parts of China. In the wild, the betta fish is found in rice paddies, swampy areas, shallow ponds, and some slow moving streams. The waters here are warm — between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (24-30 degrees Celsius). In waters … Continue reading →

Tropical Aquarium Tips

Here are some tips to help keep your aquarium running smoothly from start to finish. Starting an aquarium hobby isn’t easy — and it doesn’t happen quickly. You’ll need to take a few weeks to prepare the tank and water before you add any fish. Get the biggest tank you can afford — and the biggest tank that can fit in your space. A larger aquarium usually means the water parameters will be more stable. Water temperature also stays more stable in a bigger tank. Make sure you know and understand the nitrogen cycle. Always use your water test kit … Continue reading →

Tips For Choosing Fish

Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken a look at some easy “beginner” fish if you’re new to the aquarium hobby. Some popular starter fish include zebra danios, platy, gold and cherry barbs, and tetra. But as the old saying goes, there are many fish in the sea. And out of the sea! With such a wide variety of fish available at your local aquarium shop, pet store, or online retailer, how do you choose the best fish for your tank? Doing your research can make a big difference. If you know as much as possible about a particular species … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Oct 8-14

Today marks the middle of the month. Say what? Didn’t it just start? Where the heck is the time going? I have no idea, but if you’ve been as busy as I have and didn’t have time to stay on top of the Pets Blog this week, no worries. Here’s the Week in Review that summarizes what Aimee and I wrote about on: Monday, October 8 In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, I gave six reasons why you’ll never regret adopting a dog. Aimee’s been doing a great job with a series of blogs on tropical fish, in … Continue reading →

White Cloud Minnows

Also known as the meteor minnow, the white cloud mountain minnow, or the Chinese danio, white cloud minnows are very hardy. They can tolerate far colder temperatures than other tropical aquarium fish, and usually get along peacefully with other tank dwellers. White cloud minnows can live in an aquarium without a heater — as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). They don’t do well in overly warm water, either, but can live quite happily in a relatively small desktop aquarium. These omnivores will happily eat fish flakes, frozen foods, freeze dried foods, and … Continue reading →

Gold Barb

The cherry barb isn’t the only good beginner fish in the same family. The gold barb is another hardy freshwater fish that would make a great addition to a beginner tropical aquarium. This is a long lived tropical fish — expect your gold barb to live between five and seven years! The gold barb is colorful — not only golden in color as the name might suggest. The body is mostly gold but will have dark or black patches running down the sides of the body. It is a relatively small fish that won’t grow to more than three inches … Continue reading →

Platy

Another great tropical fish for the beginner is the platy. This brightly colored fish originates in Central America and is known by many different names. Names are usually based on color patterns: red wagtail platy, red tuxedo, topsail rainbow platy, golden platy, calico platy, salt and pepper platy, coral red platy, blue platy, black platy, and more. Some have more unique names like the moon fish and the Mickey Mouse platy. Platies are very easy to care for and have a lifespan between two and three years. They tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and hardness levels. With the … Continue reading →

Cherry Barb

One more easy beginner fish for your tropical aquarium is the cherry barb. These fish can tolerate a wide range of water parameters. They are active and peaceful, and get along well with other fish — cherry barbs will mostly stay out of the way of bigger fish. Also known as the crimson carplet, the cherry barb is a smaller fish — between one and a half and two inches long (up to five centimeters) when fully grown. Because they are on the smaller size, they can live a long and happy life in a smaller tank of five gallons … Continue reading →

Bloodfin Tetra

The bloodfin tetra is a popular fish for aquarium owners of all skill and experience levels. What makes them a great beginner fish is their ability to tolerate a wide range of water parameters — so if you don’t get your tank conditions perfect right away, your bloodfin tetra will probably survive. Also known as the true bloodfin, the glass bloodfin, and the red finned tetra, bloodfin tetra are on the small side — the average size of a fully grown bloodfin tetra is around two inches (5 centimeters). This breed is relatively peaceful, and can be in danger from … Continue reading →

Dwarf Gourami

Looking for a beautiful fish for your tropical aquarium? Dwarf gourami are colorful and hardy — which makes them a fantastic choice if you are a beginning hobbyist. You may see these fish called blue dwarf gourami, sunset gourami, powder blue gourami, or neon dwarf gourami. As you might guess, the names generally indicate color. It is the male gourami that has the amazing colors — females are often gray in appearance. Males come in a wide range of colors, from bright blues to warm oranges and fiery reds. You’ll often find your dwarf gourami swimming in the middle and … Continue reading →