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I have been involved with aquariums for many years.
I have created my own ocean in the salt water tanks with all the beautiful
marine fish. I have raised large Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz, 1831.)
and tiny guppies, goldfish made their homes in my tanks.
I am now raising freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare):
Angelfish are one of the most beautiful varieties of freshwater aquarium fish.
I bred many types of African cichlids; many are very aggressive
and need rocks to lay their eggs on. |
| The Majestic Discus,
King of the Aquarium
Coming from the Amazon River basin these species are a prize for
anyone's aquarium. These amazing freshwater fishes are nothing like your common fish
found in the pet stores.
First they have a flattened dish shaped body with iridescent greens,
reds, browns and blues.
Discus can grow quite large, up to 20-25 cm in a large aquarium.
They are very peaceful and shy in a community tank so care must be taken not to allow
them to be |
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bullied by their tank mates and beware of the sucker mouth fish which
will try to attach themselves to the sides of the discus.
There are two species: Symphysodon aequifasciatus the blue discus,
and Symphysodon discus (red). They are very similar and have
been interbred to create many hybrids that are available in the pet stores.
Discus are not for the beginner, they are demanding in their care
and will succumb to disease if not provided with the correct food and water. These
fishes need soft, acidic (~ pH 6.0) water; with the correct temperature (26-30 degrees
C). |
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Discus will never tolerate polluted
water and will die if the water quality fails. Once you can provide
your discus the home they required a breeding pair will surprise you
with their new family.
Both the male and female care for the young in an amazing way.
They produce a secretion on their bodies that the larvae live attached to the parents
until they are free swimming. This is very amazing to watch and all of the work you
put into caring for your discus is returned over and over in the fantastic site you
will behold.
The information on aquariums and fishes that is available is never
ending and can be found in books, CDs, DVDs, e-books and of course the Internet. |
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If you decide to try your hand
with an aquarium there are several items you will need. You will probably
start out small but you will end up with the largest tank you have
room for before you are finished. It is just the way this hobby works!
One of the most important things to remember is what kind of fish
you want to raise. If you do not want to replace fish every week make sure the ones
you pick out are compatible with each other.
Freshwater aquarium
plants will make your fish tank look like a real tiny piece of nature.
A heater to maintain the tropical temperatures your fish will require,
plants and rocks for decoration. Aeration to keep oxygen in the water and also the
fish enjoy the movement of the water.
A filtration system is very important so be sure to purchase one
that is large enough to accommodate the size of the aquarium you are putting up. |
