Aquatic Care

About Koi.

Koi also known as Nishikigoi is a Cold fresh water species of fish. Belonging to the Cyprinus Family.

Originating in Japan. 

Features;

Approx. Size; 12-15"/ 30-39cm.

Origin; Japan.

Family; Cyprinus

Temperament; Calm.

Lighting; Moderate.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-8.5.

Ideal Temperature; 18-24°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Moderate.

Ease of Care.

Koi are very resilient making them very easy to care for. However if water conditions are not well maintained they will become prone to getting health problems and this is not good for any fish. So it is best to water test regularly and any problems to resolve these as quick as possible.     

Diet.

Koi have a lot of feeding options this is good because it gives a good variety of nutriments. Algae and flake is the primary source of food they usually have in aquariums but you can also feed earthworms, plants that are in the aquarium as well as bloodworm and brine shrimp this can be live or frozen they like both.

Compatibility.

There are 5 main species that can coexist with Koi. These are normal Goldfish, Mosquito fish, Coldwater Plecostomus, White Cloud Minnows and Coldwater Catfish. 

Breeding/Sex.

Male Koi often have more vibrant and more brighter colours than Females. This is a lot more visible in breeding season when they will develop a deep red or orange hue on their pectoral fins and head known as Beni. Whereas Females have lighter and more subdued colours but bare in mind this is harder to tell when they have not reached maturity.

Lifespan.

Koi can live up to 47 years given the right care and water conditions. 

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About Shubunkin's

Shubunkin's also known as Red Brocade or Harlequin Goldfish is a popular Cold fresh water fish known for its bright and unique colours. Belonging to the Cyprinidae Family.

Originating in Japan. 

Features;

Approx. Size; 5-6"/12-15cm.

Origin; Japan.

Family; Cyprinidae. 

Temperament; Friendly and Peaceful.

Lighting; Low ( to much light can cause issues to their scales.)

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.4.

Ideal Temperature; 18-22°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Moderate.

Ease of Care.

Shubunkin's are very nice and easy to look after due to their peaceful and friendly nature. They get on with most species of standard goldfish which makes this nice and easy for beginners.

Diet.

Shubunkin's like a variety of diffrent foods due to being omnivores. This can include high quality fish food designed for Shubunkin's.  Live foods such as bloodworm brine shrimp and daphnia. As well as things like Peas and Cucumber as these provide fibers and vitamins.

Compatibility.

The best tankmates for Shubunkin's are other peaceful fish. It is best to stay away from mixing fancy and regular Goldfish. So best to stick with other peaceful regular Goldfish and to definitely stay away from tropical species.  

Breeding/Sex.

The best way to to try and tell the difference is that males will have more slender elongated bodies whereas females have more rounded silhouetted bodies especially around the bellies. 

Lifespan. 

With the right care and water conditions Shubunkin Goldfish can live up to 10-15 years. In some cases they can live longer but on average it is up to 15 years.

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About Weather Loaches

Weather Loaches also knows as Pond Loach, Dojo Loach or Misgurnus Anguillicaudatus is a Cold fresh water species. Belonging to the Cobitidae family (loach family)

Originating in East Asia.

Features.

Approx. size; 5-8"/12-20cm.

Origin; East Asia.

Family; Cobitidae.

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Low-Moderate.

Water Conditions;

Ideal PH; 6-7.5

Ideal Temperature; 15-25°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Fast.

Ease of Care.

Caring for weather loaches is a very easy thing to do. The only thing you really need to understand is substrate and water requirements. But just because they are a hardy species  that does not mean you should push them to their limits. 

Diet.

The main diet would be flake or sinking pellets. they also love Brine-shrimp and as a treat they can have cooked skinned peas which they absolutely love.

Compatibility.

Weather loaches are a community tank fish. they are very peaceful and do not really have issues living with other fish. they do not like tropical conditions for more than a week or 2 so its best to keep them to cold water tank mates. These include Goldfish, White Cloud Minnows. Coldwater Plecostomus and other types of Loaches.

Breeding/Sex.

To sex Weather Loaches it is best to look at the pectoral fins. Males have visibly larger pectoral fins than females. Males also tend to be more thin and delicate compared to Females.

Lifespan.

Weather Loaches will live up to 10 years. 

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About Goldfish

Goldfish also known as Carassius auratus is a Cold water freshwater fish. Belonging to the Cyprinidae family. 

Originating in East Asia.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1-14"/2.5-36cm.

Origin; East Asia.

Family; Cyprinidae 

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Moderate.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.4. 

Ideal Temperature; 16-19°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Moderate.

Ease of Care.

Goldfish are easy to care for. this makes it nice for beginners which is contributes to them being so popular. A well maintained tank is key to helping your goldfish live so its best to do regular water changes and making sure the water conditions are up to standard.

Diet.

Goldfish diet mostly consists of flake food(goldfish not tropical) as well as live or frozen things like bloodworm, brine-shrimp and Daphnia.

Compatibility.

Goldfish get along with most other goldfish but its best to make sure they are not to small that the goldfish can eat them. Cold water Plecostomus and loaches also go well with goldfish and it also adds a variety of different of species in your tank. 

Breeding/Sex.

Breeding Goldfish is not as easy as it sounds. As creating the right environment is very difficult as it times quite a lot of time to do. It is also recommended that you buy your fish a year in advance before starting to breed as you want them used to their environment and want to be de-stressed as much as possible. It is always recommended to visit your local fish seller to give a bit more information on this as well as dong as much research online.

To get the best results when trying to sex your Goldfish is it recommended to do it in spawning season. This is usually around Spring and Summer time. Males develop tubercles (White spots on there gills and pectoral fins although some people mistake this as the disease White spot so always make sure your other fish do not have that. 

Lifespan.

The average lifespan of a goldfish is up to 10 years. sometimes they can live up to 20 years but a lot of factors come into this. 

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About Silver Dollar's

Silver Dollar's also known as Metynnis argenteus are a tropical range of freshwater fish. belonging to the Characidae Family.

Originating in South America.

Features.

Approx. Size; 6-8"/15-20cm.

Origin; South America.

Family; Characidae

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Moderate.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.5

Ideal Temperature; 24-28°C

Ideal; Waterflow; Moderate.

Ease of Care.

Caring for Silver Dollar's is very straight forward and very low maintenance and very hardy fish as long as you provide them with enough space. This makes is nice and easy for beginners and people who just want a nice easy tank.

Diet.

In their natural habitat they will eat the surrounding plants as they are Herbivores. In aquariums they will eat the plants in the tank as well as vegetables such as peas, cucumber and lettuce but they can also be fed fish flake. 

Compatibility.

It is best to keep Silver Dollars in with fish that cannot fit in there mouths. They can be in a community tank they can be with larger barbs, gourami's and tetras they are quite compatible as long as they are a similar size. 

Breeding/Sex

Sexing Silver Dollars is relatively easy. males have a bilobed anal fin whereas females anal fins does not have a second lobe about halfway down the total length of the fin.

Silver Dollars are easy to breed if you can make the right conditions they need. It is best to purchase half a dozen babies and raise them together this will aid in helping them breed. The parents will not eat the eggs or fry but other fish will so its best if you are breeding, to have a separate tank so that this does not happen. 

Lifespan.

On average Silver Dollar's will live up to 10 years sometimes they can live a few years more but its very rare. Well maintained water conditions will aid them living longer.

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About Galaxy Rasbora's.

Galaxy Rasbora's also known as Celestial Pearl Danio's or Galaxy Danio's are a Tropical range of fish. Belonging to the Cyprinidae Family.

Originating in Myanmar and Northern Thailand.

Features.

Approx. Size; 1-1.5"/2.5-3.8cm

Origin; Myanmar and Northern Thailand. 

Family; Cyprinidae.

Temperament; Peaceful.

Lighting; Moderate lighting.

Water Conditions.

Ideal PH; 6.5-7.5.

Ideal Temperature; 22-27°C.

Ideal Waterflow; Gentle.

Ease of Care.

Ease of care for galaxy rasbora's is very easy. As they are a very peaceful fish which means you do not have to worry about issues with other fish as long as they compatible. 

Diet.

In their natural habitat they mostly eat tiny shrimp and algae. In aquariums they can be fed crushed fish flake and mini granules. They also like small live foods this includes micro-worms, Daphnia and Brine-Shrimp. Due to their size it is advised to make sure the food is small.

Compatibility.

Galaxy Rabora's are great community fish due to their peaceful nature. It is best advised to keep them in a school of at least 6. It is also advised to keep them with other peaceful species. Bigger and aggressive fish should be avoided. The best tank mates to have with Galaxy Rasbora's are neon tetras, danios, guppies and corydora's as these are similar size. 

Breeding/Sex.

Sexing Galaxy Rabora's can be very challenging due to males and females looking the same. One way would be to watch the behaviour adn look for and difference in colouration. Males are usually more colourful. Females also have slightly larger fins and rounder bellies.

Breeding this species is quite simple as they are also apart of the danio family which jhave been reproducing for years. Its best to have a well planted tank with lots of moss as this is where the female will lay her eggs.

Lifespan.

The average lifespan of Galaxy Rasbora's is 3 to 5 years. Living in large groups as well as having good water conditions will help with this. 

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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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