Aquatic Care

About Blind Cave Tetra's.

Blind Cave Tetra's also known as Mexican Tetra's or Astyanax Mexicanus. Is a Tropical Range of fish. Belonging to Characidae Family.

Originating in Mexico.

Features.

Approx. Size; 3.5"/9cm.

Origin; Mexico.

Family; Characidae Family.

Temperament; Highly Active and Social.

Lighting; low

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-8.

Ideal Temperature; 20-25°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Slow.

Ease of Care.

Blind Cave Tetra's because they are blind they can be put in the most basic setup you can have. which makes this species a very easy fish to look after. Also being a hardy species helps with this as a beginner. 

Diet.

With most Tetra's they like a variety of different food their main diet will consist of dry flake/pellets but to give them a variety of supplements this can include live Bloodworm or frozen Brine Shrimp.

Compatibility.

Its best to have subtle tank mates these can include neon tetras as well as bottom dwellers such as corydoras catfish. Its best to avoid types of fish like betta fish due to their long fins this may encourage fin nipping.

Breeding/Sex.

Sexing Blind Cave Tetra's is pretty straight forward due to Males being slimmer and having a curved anal fin. Females are slightly larger with more of a straighter anal fin as well as having rounder bellies especially when carrying eggs.

When breeding Blind Cave Tetra's it can be relatively easy the parents should be removed when the female is exhausted of eggs (finished laying) and the eggs will hatch within 24-72 hours and it will most likely occur in the early hours of the morning.

Lifespan.

On average Blind Cave Tetra's will live 3-5 years in optimum water conditions.

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About Purple Emperor Tetra's.

Purple Emperor Tetra's are a Tropical range of Freshwater fish. Belonging to the Inpaichthys Kerri Family.

Originating in Colombia.

Features.

Approx. Size; 2"/5cm.

Origin; Colombia 

Family; Inpaichthys Kerri.

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Moderate.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 5.5-7.

Ideal Temperature; 23-27°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Low.

Ease of Care.

Purple Emperor Tetra's is very easy to care for which is the main reason they are so popular with most aquarium not only because they have lovely colouration but because they are very low-maintance.

Diet.

They will happily accept fish flake/pellets as a main but will also eat a variety of live and frozen fish food this will help supplement different nutriments. 

Compatibility.

It is best to try and keep them with other South American species which include small tetras, dwarf cichlids corydoras as well as smaller gourami's and peaceful barbs. 

Breeding/Sex.

Breeding these types of fish can seem easy but it can get quite complex. This is because its recommended to only have one male and one female in a breeding tank at one time due to male aggression to other males. After the female has laid her eggs usually around 50-100 the male will fertilize the eggs at this point both male and female need to be removed as they tend to eat the eggs.

It is very easy to sex Purple Emperor Tera's as males have a blue adipose fin and a blue sheen on the body. While females have a red one and lack the blue sheen that males have. 

Lifespan.

On Average Purple Emperor Tetra's live up to 5 years but this is managed by making sure the water conditions are up to standard.

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About Red-tailed Black Shark's

Red-tailed Black Shark's also known as Red-tailed Sharks or Epalzeorhynchos bicolor is a unique range of Tropical Freshwater fish. Belonging to the Carp or Cyprinidae Family.

Originating in Thailand.

Features.

Approx. Size; 4-6"/10-20cm.

Origin; Thailand

Family; Cyprinidae Family.

Temperament; Feisty.

Lighting; Moderate to Low.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.5.

Ideal Temperature; 24-26°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Rapid.

Ease of Care.

Red-tailed Sharks are pretty straightforward fish to look after due to being hardy and can deal with a range of water issues which makes this easier for the owner.

Diet.

Red-tailed Sharks thrive best of live or frozen food such as Bloodworm or Artemia as well as high quality flake supplemented with vegetables like cucumber but this should not be done to often. 

Compatibility.

Some of the best tank mates for a Red-tailed Shark would be Barb's, Danios, Mollies, Swordtails and Platies these are considered some of the best tank mates for Red-tailed Sharks. 

Breeding/Sex.

Breeding Red-tailed sharks in a home aquarium is almost near in possible due to their aggressive nature. Commercial breeders usually use hormones in there ponds to aid with aggression which is something that cannot be replaced in a home aquarium.

Lifespan. 

Red-tailed Sharks on average life 6-8 years but with the right cycle and well maintained tank they can live up to 10 years.

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About Dwarf Puffer Fish.

Dwarf Puffer Fish also known as Dwarf Pea Puffers or Carinotetraodon Travancoricus are a cute range of freshwater fish. Belonging to the Tetraodontidae Family.

Originating in Southwest India.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1"/2.5cm.

Origin; Southwest India.

Family; Tetraodontidae Family.

Temperament; Territorial and Feisty.

Lighting; Bright overhead lighting.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.

Ideal Temperature; 22-28°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Low.

Ease of Care.

Due to being very small fish they do not need a lot of space unlike larger breeds of puffer fish. This makes is relatively easy to look after, Although if you are just starting out it would not be recommended to get dwarf puffer fish due to them being sensitive to water changes. So it would be best to start of with more of a hardy species just while you are still learning.

Diet.

Dwarf Puffer fish are carnivores and should NOT be fed any type of flake. Their main diet will consist of live or frozen foods such as Bloodworm and Brineshrimp.

Compatibility.

Dwarf Pufferfish are not community fish and its best to keep no more than 3 in the same aquarium. They can be very territorial so its always best to check before housing with other species. They can get on with danios and neon tetras but they do eat invertebrates.

Breeding/Sex.

Dwarf Pufferfish as long as they are well feed and kept at their ideal temperature they will breed on there own so it is not difficult to breed these fish although like all breeding its best to always keep an eye. 

To sex Dwarf Pufferfish is usually pretty easy once they have matured as males wil;l havve lines around their eyes as well as a yellowish belly while females will not have this.  With smaller and younger Dwarf Puffers it is best to try and tell from temperament as males will usually be more aggressive than females

Lifespan.

The average lifespan of Dwarf Pufferfish is 4 years but they can live longer if tank conditions are well maintained as well as a high quality diet.

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About Albino Tiger Barb's.

Albino Tiger Barb's also known as Golden Tiger Barb's or Puntigrus Tetrazona are a very popular range of Tropical Freshwater fish. belonging to the Cyprinidae Family.

Originating in Southeast Asia.

Features.

Approx. Size; 2-3"/5-7cm.

Origin; Southeast Asia

Family; Cyprinidae Family.

Temperament; Semi-Aggressive.

Lighting; Moderate.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6-8.

Ideal Temperature; 22-27°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Moderate. 

Ease Of Care.

Albino Tiger Barb's are relatively easy to look after. They like a well-planted tank but make sure its not overcrowd with plants so they have plenty of room to swim and move as they are very active fish.

Diet.

Albino Tiger Barb's are true omnivores. This means they will accept a variety of Tropical fish flake as well as frozen or live foods such as Bloodworm or Daphnia.

Compatibility.

As Albino Tiger Barb's can be Semi-Aggressive its best to have plenty of hiding spaces like caves and driftwood just to help aggression towards other species of fish. Good tank mates include Danio's, Rabora's, Catfish and Loaches. Its also best to stay away from long finned tank mates as they are prone to nipping the fins of longer finned tank mates.  

Breeding/Sex.

With Breeding Albino Tiger Barb's its best to set up a breeding tanks they will readily eat their eggs due to not having good parental instincts. But other than that its relatively easy.

Albino Tiger Barb's are very difficult to sex as even the females can get coloration of the males which makes this a lot more difficult to tell the difference. So the best way is to look at bellies as females will have more rounder bellies but this is not always the case.

Lifespan.

On average Albino Tiger Barb's will live 5-7 years.

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About Green Tiger Barb's.

Green Tiger Barb's also known as Moss Barb's or Green Barb's are a Tropical Freshwater fish. Belonging to the Cyprinidae Family.

Originating in Southeast Asia.

Features.

Approx. Size;  2-3"/5-7.5cm.

Origin; Southeast Asia.

Family; Cyprinidae Family.

Temperament; Can be aggressive.

Lighting; Moderate. 

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.

Ideal Temperature; 23-28°C

Ideal Waterflow; Slow.

Ease of care.

Green Tiger Barb's are not difficult to look as they are hardy only if kept in schools. If not kept in schools they become more prone to getting diseases due to stress.

Diet.

The best diet for Green Tiger Barb's is you common Tropical fish flake. You can also feed live food such as Brine Shrimp and Blood Worm. This is helpful for different nutriments which helps with the lifespan of the species. Its best not to overfeed as this can cause fungal and bacterial growth which is not good for the water levels and causes more issues for the fishes health. 

Compatibility.

Green Tiger Barb's can be aggressive and are sometimes called "fin nippers" so its best for their tank mates to not have longer fins. this can be maintained by having different schools and sufficient space. its best also to ask your local fish seller if they can recommend any good tank mates or see our chart to see what fish are compatible. 

Breeding/Sex.

With sexing Green Tiger Barb's males usually develope a red spot on their nose, this will be easier to tell once they reach maturity which is usually around the 6-7 weeks stage. To also help tell the difference is that females tend to have rounder bellies as well as being smaller in size.

Green Tiger Barb's are very easy to breed as they will naturally pair up making this experience very easy and the only thing is males and female will eat their eggs if left in the tank, So its best to get a little breeding separator for when they do lay their eggs this will make it easier. on average they lay around 300 eggs each spawn.

Lifespan.

The average lifespan is 6 years. the condition of the tank and how mainytained it is will also help with keeping them this long. Its also best not to overcrowd your tank so its best to have a decent sized aquarium.

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About Cherry Barb's

The Cherry Barb also known as Puntius Titteya is a species of Tropical Freshwater fish. Belonging to the Cyprinidae family.

Originating in Sri Lanka.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1.5-2"/3.8-5cm.

Origin; Sri Lanka 

Family; Cyprinidae Family 

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Low to Moderate. 

Water Condition.

Ideal PH; 6-7.5.

Ideal Temperature; 23-27°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Moderate.

Ease of Care;

Cherry Barbs are very easy to look after due to being peaceful. They can also tolerate water changes and also are not very prone to getting any diseases which helps beginners.

Diet.

Cherry Barbs are Omnivorous which means they like more live food like tiny shrimp and plant matter, but you can also use Tropical Flake Food these are all good for different nutriments which also help with the lifespan.

Compatibility.

The best tankmates to have for Cherry Barbs is Neon Tetra's and Cardinal Tetras as these are schooling groups of fish which is good for them to get along. These types of fish also have a variety of colours which makes the tank look very colourful.

Breeding/Sex.

Cherry Barbs are easier to breed than other types of fish as they spawn qquite often. they will usually lay eggs on rocks, substrate but mostly on plants as they do like a well planted tank. the can lay around 200-300 eggs.

Its fairly simple to sex Cherry Barbs when you know what your looking for. Females will have a more round body shape as well as being much closer to white and a shimmering green. Where as males will also be a much darker shade of red during mating season.

Lifespan.

On average Cherry Barbs will live around 4 years. However if maintained and looked after correctly they can live a maximum of 7 years.

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About Pristella Tetra's

Pristella Tetra's also known as known as Pristella Maxilaris Or X-Ray fish are a Tropical range of Freshwater Fish. Belonging to the Characidae Family like all Tetra's.

Originating in South America.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1.5-2"/3.8-5cm.

Origin; South America.

Family; Characidae Family.

Temperament; Peaceful and Social Nature.

Lighting; Moderate to Low Lighting.

Water Conditions.

Ideal Ph; 6.0-8.0

Ideal Temperature; 23-27°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Mild to Moderate.

Ease of Care.

Pristella Tetra's are one of the best fish for beginners due to their hardy and peaceful nature. It makes them one of the best starter fish.

Diet.

The main diet mostly consists of Tropical flake food or pellets but they're also known to eat insects in the wild and fallen fruit from trees. This means you can also feed them live food such as Bloodworm and Daphnia. This helps give them a change in nutriments which is good.

Compatibility.

Pristella Tetra's make amazing community fish so its best to put them with non-aggressive tank mates such as other Tetras, Mollies, Dwarf Gouramis and Guppies.

Breeding/Sex.

Pristella Tetra's are moderately easy to breed due to being egg layers. Female's can lay anywhere between 300-400 eggs.

When trying to tell the difference between sex like most fish it is always difficult. The main difference is the males will have have a more vibrant red stripe along their body. This is more visible in breeding season. So another way to help is male have larger dorsal fins.

Lifespan.

The average lifespan of Pristella Tetra's is 3-5 years proper care can help insure a heathier and longer life. 

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About Silver Tip Tetra's

Silver Tip Tetra's also known as Hasemania Nana are a Tropical range of freshwater fish. Belonging to the Characidae Family.

Originating in Brazil.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1.5-2"/3.8-5cm.

Origin; Brazil.

Family; Hasemania Nana

Temperament; Quiet and Peaceful 

Lighting; Moderate To High.

Water Conditions;

Ideal PH; 6-7.5.

Ideal Temperature; 24-28°C.

Waterflow; Moderate 

Ease of Care;

Silver TIps are relatively easy to raise and quite resilient.

Diet.

Silver Tips are Omnivores and adventurous so like a variety of food.

This can include fine Tropical Fish Flake, Live Food such as small worms, Bloodworm and Brine Shrimp as well as plants and algae.

Compatibility.

Silver Tips love peaceful and placid tankmates E.G. Gourami's, Corydoras Catfish, Rams and as well as other Tetra Breeds.

Breeding/Sex.

Breeding Silver Tips is relatively easy as long as the conditions are met.

Sexing Silver Tip can be quite challenging but the main way to tell a difference is male give of a more vibrant colours and in breeding season the show a slimmer body compared to females.

Lifespan.

The average lifespan of Silver Tip Tetras are between 3-5 years this will also help in a well maintained tank. 

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