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The Freshwater Fish Magazine
YOUR FIRST AQUARIUM:
WHAT’S NORMAL AND
WHAT ISN’T
OSCARS
PARROT FISH
SPINY EELS
DRAGON GOBIES
PLECOSTOMUS
SILVER DOLLARS
RED DEVILS
ELECTRIC CATFISH
Contents
1) Parrot Fish, Red Devil
2
2) Plecostomus, Electric Catfish
3
3) Oscar, Spiny Eel
4
4) Your First Aquarium
5
5) Silver Dollar, Dragon Goby
7
6) Subscription
8
7) Green Terror, Jack Dempsey
9
8) Clown Loach, Flower Horn
2
10
Parrot Fish
The
parrot
fish
is
a
man-made
hybrid,
surprisingly mild as far as cichlids go, and
created by breeding a Midas cichlid (also known
as a red devil) with a redhead cichlid. Sadly, this
hybrid could not survive in the wild, due
to it’s squished mouth, but it does make a
beautiful, vibrant addition to aquariums, and is
suitable with most types of fish. Anything small
such as a guppies or neons would likely fit into
this fish’s mouth and would not be advised, but
other fish will remain unharmed, because the fish
cannot fit them into its mouth and its deformed
lips prevent it from biting and bullying tankmates.
Funky Colours
You
may
have
seen
pale
green
or
purple
variations of this species at your local petstore.
These are unnatural colours created by humans
who think the fish need to be more aesthetically
pleasing. The fish’s protective slime coating is stripped off,
and then a needle is utilized to inject the dye into the body. Sadly, parrot fish are one of many victims of this
animal cruelty. Fish tattooing is also common. These techniques are not only cruel, but they also
decrease the fish’s lifespan by half, because the dyes are toxic, and removing the slime layer makes fish
immune to disease. You can help protest against this unethical behaviour by refusing to purchase these
fish from the store. The only normal, healthy colours you should see for parrot fish are orange and black.
Red devils are South American cichlids, known for their beautiful, rosy pink colour. As the
suggests, these are aggressive fish that should be kept with other cichlids of the same size or larger.
possess tiny,black, needle-like teeth, which can harm tankmates and even the tank owner, so
reaching into the tank or cleaning the tank, it is best to keep an eye on this one.
average size is fifteen inches, and should be kept in a fairly large tank to
reduce aggressiveness. They generally live for up to ten years.
Sexual Dimorphism
Some cichlids possess features that make it easy to
determine their gender. These differences are known as sexual
dimorphism. For species such as the red devil (right) and
flowerhorn (above), males have large, growth-like bumps on their
foreheads. Male guppies and betas have longer fins than their
female counterparts, and male peacock cichlids have yellow spots
on their abdominal fins, counterintuitively known as egg spots.
3
name
They
when
Their
Red Devil
3
Also known as ‘pleco’ for short, these are the most
common bottomfeeders in aquariums. Their rough
bodies are armoured with little spikes to help
protect them from tankmates. When this fish
sucks on the glass, sand-papery lips help
the fish to scrape off the algae. This is their
primary food source, however if they are
hungry enough they will join the other fish at the
urface of the tank for pellets or flakes. These fish
are ideal for most tanks because they are not
aggressive and do not attempt to eat
smaller fish. They grow to a decent size and
are an excellent addition to a large tank.
Plecostomus
In The Blink Of An Eye
Thanks to Christine Horne for the awesome photo
capturing the rare sight of a plecostomus blinking!
This species is native to the tropical waters of Africa and
the Nile River. In fact, this fish was once used by the ancient
Egyptians, who thought the fish’s electric jolt could cure diseases in the
nervous system. Heiroglyphs of these fish can even be found in
tombs! Their shocking abilitiy comes from a gland which
they control at will. Their 400 volt shock is utilized to stun
their
prey,
protect
them
against
predators,
and
navigate, as their eyesight is poor. Unlike ecolocation
(navigation via soundwaves), they navigate via electric impulses. If you purchase one at the pet store,
don’t be surprised if they hand you the fish in
a bag inside of a bucket; believe it or not, it
could shock you through the bag! Their shock,
luckily, is not fatal, but it’s still not a fun experience.
Electric
Catfish
4
Like
most
catfish,
this
species
is
mainly nocturnal, preferring to hide and
eat after the other fish have eaten.
They are not an aggressive species,
and do well with most fish. In terms
of sexual dimorphism, males are slimmer
than females. In the wild, they will
eat anything, but in the tank, they are
content with pellets, and as long as they
are
fed
consistently,
they
won’t
be
eyeing your other fish as a tasty snack.
Oscar
One of the more impressively sized South American
cichlids, the oscar is also known as a tiger oscar, velvet
oscar, and marbled oscar. Their full grown size ranges from
12-16 inches, they can weigh up to 3.5 pounds, and
come in either black/brown and orange, or white and
orange, with eye colour ranging from intense yellow in
some individuals, to an ambery-brown in others. Some
oscars even have exceptionally fancy fins. Depending
on the pet store, your choice of oscars might only be
young ones, which often leads to uninformed shoppers
purchasing them thinking they will stay small. This usually results in shoppers returning them to a store upon
this discovery. Make sure you are informed before you
purchase one of these, you’re looking at owning a 60
gallon tank or larger just for one of these fish, as they
need plenty of room to turn around and live comfortably.
Sadly, this is another species fallen victim to the dying trend.
If you see oscars that are bright pink, pale pink, or pale blue,
these are artificially dyed. Please do not support this behaviour.
Sadly, it’s also common for oscars to develop dent-like
holes in their heads. This is known as ‘hole in head’ syndrome.
Luckily, these unsightly bumps do not interfere with or harm the fish.
Spiny eels are one of few freshwater species of eel that can be kept in the home aquarium.
Despite the name, they are not considered true eels. They originate from Thailand, Sumatra, and
Indonesia. They are a peaceful species, though the standard rule applies: don’t put them with
anything they can fit in their mouths. Spiny eels adore bloodworms, and as they get older, will also
eat flakes and pellets. They have a lifespan of 5-10 years, are easy to care for, and hardy. All are brown
with several darker brown patterns (tire track, banded/belted, black spotted, peacock, etc.), with the
exception of the fire eel, which is black with orange/red markings. The max size of this fish is around 8
inches, making them suitable for larger tanks. Tiny spines run down the length of their backs, which serve as
protection against predators. There is one thing you should take caution for, however: on occassion, these
eels decide to make a run for it and will literally leap out of the water to try and escape, so make sure you
have a closed lid on your tank. Oh, and did we mention they can be taught to
eat handfed peas?
Little Diggers
If you have trouble spotting your spiny eel, it might
be because your eel is hiding in the gravel or sand
to feel safe. Consider investing in sand; it won’t
scrape against your eel’s skin like rocks do and is
easier to dig through. Your eel will thank you for it!
Spiny Eel
5
Your First Aquarium
There is so much about owning a fish tank that most first
time fish keepers don’t know about. Did you know every
time you add clean water to the tank you need to add a
percentage of dechlorinator? Do you know what Ick is?
How about aquarium salt?
Don’t feel deterred! If you take the time and patience,
aquarium keeping is a rewarding, enjoyable experience!
In this section, we’ll work through the basic requirements
of your first tank and what to expect.
First Purchases
The Tank-Prior to purchase, do research on what tank size
the fish require. The general rule is 1 inch of fish per
gallon of water, as a minimum. Keep in mind that larger
fish need ample room to be able to turn around
comfortably.
Cabinets/Table-Ensure the base of the table/cabinet
is sturdy enough to support your tank, and no corners
should be hanging off the edge, because when water is
added it will be even heavier and could break the stand!
Purchasing a piece of plywood to sit between the tank
and the table will better support the tank when it is filled.
Sand Or Gravel-Both come in a variety of colours.
Filter-Should come with the tank upon purchase. If not,
ask someone at the pet store to help you find the right
one for your tank.
6
Heater-This is a must, regardless of the fish you
buy. If the water is cold, your fish are vulnerable
to sickness. The temperature should be kept
around 75o .
Stick-on thermostat-One of the cheapest
assets of the tank. These are easy to apply sticky
thermometers no thicker than paper, that you can
stick to the outside of the tank to observe the water
temperature.
Dechlorinator-Another absolute must. Invest in
highly concentrated bottles rather than diluted
ones. They will cost a little more, but you’ll
go through them at half the speed. SeachemTM
dechlorinator is great for this.
*Note if you are purchasing betas or goldfish,
you can omit almost everything on this list.
They are satisfied with just a glass bowl or vase
with some gravel or sand. Dechlorinator is still
required.
Cloudy Water
When you first set up your tank, it’s a good idea to add your sand or
gravel, fill with water, and then wait a week for the water to establish
and the sand to settle. When you add your first few fish to the tank,
the tank will probably seem pretty normal, but after about a week or
two, you are likely to notice the water has become cloudy. This is
nothing to be concerned about; it’s a phenomenon known as ‘New
Tank Syndrome’, and it happens to all new tanks. The bacteria that live
in the water are just beginning their life cycle, which will make your
tank inhabitable for the fish. When they die, they build up,
making the water cloudy. You might be tempted to do a water change
or purchase something to remove it. Don’t. It’s an eyesore, but it will
go away with time. This can take months, but it will go away eventually.
One thing you can do safely if you’d like, however, is take a sample of
the water from an already established tank and add it to your own.
If the cloudy water doesn’t go away after a year, by that point, you
should consider investing in a product to help. A product called the
Green Killing MachineTM is a little motor with a UV light inside, which
will bake algae and eliminate cloudiness. You can use this as needed
for a temporary, routine solution.
How To Execute A Proper Water Change
Water changes will become a part of your weekly routine. You will
need to go out and purchase a water removing tool. A popular brand
is the PythonTM, which is a hose that can be attached right to the tap
in your sink for easy removal and addition of clean water to the tank.
The one downside to this time-saving product is the price. If the cost is
outside of your budget, cheaper, plastic versions can be found at pet
stores that will require manual delivery of the water to the sink.
Because you won’t have the luxury of moving the water with the turn
of a tap, a large pail is needed (5 gallons is ideal).
After dirty water is removed and drained, clean water will need to be
replenished, either by bucket or using the PythonTM. Depending on the
type of dechlorinator you buy, the amount of dechlorinator you use
will vary. Some brands will provide a measuring cup with the product
to help you measure. If you’re using the PythonTM, you will need to add
drops as you go, but with the pail, you have the benefit of waiting for
the solution to do it’s job before you add. Wait about 2-3 minutes after
adding drops for the dechlorinator to settle.
Ick
One of the most common sicknesses in the aquarium. There are many
causes of ick, including not having or using a tank heater. If your fish
look like they are covered in salt, unfortunately they are suffering ick.
Ick is a parasite that breaks down the fish’s protective slime layer and
eats away at the body, eventually causing death. Luckily, ick medicine
is easy to come by at pet stores and goes away quickly with treatment.
7
Silver Dollar
An appropriately named fish, their bodies are very thin
and round like a coin, and they possess a beautiful,
metallic silver colour with bright yellow eyes. Silver
dollars may also have black spots or red-tipped tails and
fins. Easy to take care of and gentle by nature, they are
a must if you’re looking for something large yet laid
back, as they can grow up to six inches but are quick
enough to get away from aggressive tankmates like
cichlids, and they are a hardy fish that tolerates
water changes well. They are a schooling fish, and
do better in groups of four or more. If you are
purchasing live plants for your tank, choose java fern
or wormroot. Silver dollars are herbivores, and like to
chow down on greens in your tank, but java fern and
wormroot are unappetizing to them. Because there
is so little diversity, sexing them is near impossible.
They won’t attempt to breed unless they find their living
conditions suitable. If you are hoping to breed a pair,
you will need to execute a large water change to
simulate the rainy season of their natural habitat, and
seperate them from the rest of their tankmates. Unlike
cichlids, silver dollars will abandon their eggs after laying
them, and other fish, including other silver dollars, will eat them.
*Fish eggs are light grey, and turn darker over time as the
offspring grow. If eggs turn bright white, the egg has mold, and all
of the eggs will be contaminated and die. A male doesn’t have to be
present for a female to lay eggs. If the right conditions are met,
the female will think it’s breeding time and lay eggs anyway.
Despite their angry-looking faces and spiked, dragon-like top fin, violet gobies (more commonly known as
dragon gobies in pet stores), are surprisingly timid, preferring to hide most of the day and avoid interaction with
other fish. Certainly not for beginners, they have extremely delicate immune systems and don’t do well with
change. The water temperature must be kept warm, and ammonia levels should
remain low. It’s frequently debated amongst aquarium hobbyists whether
these fish can survive a freshwater environment. The answer is yes, but,
they will do much better kept in their natural, brackish environment.
In a freshwater tank, they will remain a grey colour, but in brackish
water, their vibrant colours of purple-blue will show through.
They prefer to eat after other fish have had their share, and
if they do not feel safe to come out and eat, they will
remain hiding, eventually starving to death. Despite their
extremely sensitive needs, the work can be rewarding. These
fish are an eye-catching addition to the aquarium and get
along peacefully with other fish. If you’re interested in
purchasing one, be prepared for a heads or tails
scenario: either you’re lucky and your goby pulls
through and adapts to its new freshwater home, or the
fish is overwhelmed by the sudden changes and dies.
Dragon
Goby
What Is Brackish Water?
8
In some parts of the world, freshwater rivers
empty into the salty water of the ocean, mixing together and
creating brackish water. Brackish water can be simulated at
home by adding marine salt to fresh water (make sure to use
dechlorinator!) and a hydrometer, which measures the salinity.
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9
Green Terror
Green Terrors, as the name suggests, are
particularly aggressive cichlids, with grey
bodies with luminescent green markings, and
orange-tipped fins. These fish grow quite big, with
a full-grown male reaching anywhere between 10
and 12 inches long. For this reason, they should
be kept with other equally aggressive cichlids
such as red devils or jaguar cichids, or larger fish
that can hold their own, such as oscars or pacus.
They are a hardy species that adapt well to their
tank environment. As per usual for a cichlid, they
are excellent parents that look after their offspring.
This fish is not recommended for beginner or
intermediate tank owners.
*Cichlids become quite aggressive when they
are raising their eggs. From the day the eggs are
laid to the day they hatch, cichlids will bite and chase
away other fish, and will not abandon their children
until
the
offspring
have
matured
enough
to
survive on their own. Also unique to cichlids, both
parents play a major role in raising the offspring.
Named after the famous boxer, jack dempseys are a South American species known for their exquisite colour
scheme of black bodies with luminescent blue scales, which turn blue-green as they mature. Males also tend to
have more of these spots than females, as well as red tipped fins. When young, they have some blue colouring,
but are more black at this stage in their lives. In terms of aggressiveness, it really depends on the individual,
as stories of both laid back jack dempseys and aggressive jack dempseys have been reported, but this type of
cichlid is definitely less aggressive than the infamous red devil and jaguar cichlid. Jack dempseys are compatible with other cichlids and large fish such as parrot fish and plecostomus, and grow to about the same size as a
full-grownfemale red devil (10 inches). They are a hardy fish that endures a range of tank
conditions. This fish is suitable for an intermediate tank owner.
What A Shock!
An alternate form of the jack dempsey, known
as the electric blue jack dempsey, possesses a
mostly bright blue body. They are twice the price
of a regular jack dempsey due to their colour being
considered rare and more beautiful. The fish was named
after the boxing champion Jack Dempsey, due to it
formerly being considered one of the most aggressive
cichlids in the home aquarium. Today, there are many
more species that are more aggressive than this fish, and
so the name doesn’t quite have the same affect today.
10
Jack
Dempsey
The flower horn is a man-made hybrid that cannot be found
in the wild. It comes in a range of spotted colours similar
to the jack dempsey’s patterning. Colour combinations
are mostly rosy pinks, reds, and golds, but blue flower
horns also exist. Amazingly, unlike the parrot fish and
many other hybrid animals, flower horns are actually
fertile and healthy! They are a hardy fish and easy to
care for, but they can grow impressively large, ranging between 12 and 16 inches! Because it is a large,
strong fish, similar to oscars, flower horns enjoy digging, and you will likely find the tank looking like
a bulldozer came through. Plants in the same tank
with a flower horn should be plastic, as these fish
enjoy snacking on them. They should be kept alone,
as they are one of the most aggressive cichlid breeds
known today, and can even hurt humans.
Flower Horn
*Have you noticed there’s a price difference between a
full grown fish and a juvenile? The reason for this is that
it takes time for a pet store to care for them, which takes up
resources such as food and extra space in the store. Another difference can be found in how likely they are to breed. Silver dollars
and dragon gobies are quite picky about breeding, which makes them
more expensive. Guppies, on the other hand, are very cheap because
they will continue to breed, regardless of their environment.
A peaceful, hardy species native to Indonesia, clown loaches get surprisingly big, reaching up to 10 inches in size,
and living up to fifteen years. They take a considerable amount of time to reach their max size, usually experiencing
a growth spurt at first, and then reaching a dormant state of five inches for a while. A schooling fish, they feel safer
in schools of four or more. A wonderful bonus of owning these beautiful fish is that they feed on snails, so if you
decide to add live plants and there are snails hiding amonst them, the clowns will sniff them out and take care of
them before they can overpopulate and become a snail infestation.
Clown
Loach
White Stripes
Most aquarium hobbyists are understandably surprised
when they notice their clown loaches turning a sickly
pale white. This is no reason to panic, the fish are not
sick! Most fish have some control over changing their
colours, and clown loaches are no different. They
utilize colour change in their stripes to establish
dominance amongst other clown loaches in the
community. The palest one in the group is the most
dominant. This is common with many fish. Jewel cichlids, for
example, are a brighter strawberry red if they are more dominant.
11
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