Silver carp is a filter feeder, and possesses a remarkably specialized filtration apparatus capable of filtering particles as small as 4 µm. Silver carps are produced worldwide in aquaculture. The gill rakers are fused into a sponge-like filter, and an epibranchial organ secretes mucus which assists in trapping small particles. A strong buccal pump forces water through this filter.

Like all Hypophthalmichthys species, this carp has no stomach, as they feed constantly. Silver carp are thought to feed largely on phytoplankton; they also consume zooplankton and detritus. Because of their plankton feeding habit, they have been successfully used as methods for controlling water quality, especially in the control of noxious cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).  For instance, millions silver carps have been released in the past in Taihu Lake, one of the nation’s most scenic lakes, that straddles Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, to feed on the blue-green algae plague due to the pollution from the sewage, agricultural and industrial waste. 

However, these efforts are sometimes not successful. Certain species of blue-green algae, notably the often toxic Mycrocystis, can pass through the gut of silver carp unharmed, and pick up nutrients while in the gut. Thus, in some cases blue-green algae blooms have been exacerbated by silver carp. Also, Mycrocystis has been shown to produce more toxins in the presence of silver carp. Silver carp, which have natural defenses to the toxins produced by blue-green algae, sometimes can contain enough algal toxins in their systems that they become hazardous to eat.

Silver carp are also considered as a highly invasive species, often reaching an extremely high population densities bringing undesirable effects on the environment and on native species. Considering the diet of blue-green algae this fish feeds on, one may think twice whether to feed on them as part of their diet.

The left photo specimen, taken by Tan Heok Hui from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research in Singapore,  is a mature female measuring just 7.9 mm from nose to tail.

This fish, which has its brain exposed, developed highly modified fins to survive in its acidic water environment. The males also have a tough pad on the front of the pelvic girdle that may be used to help them clutch onto females during mating.

Dr Maurice Kottelat warned that these tiny fish are at great risk of extinction due to the rapid destruction of Indonesian peat swamps for oil palm plantations. According to Dr Susan Page at the University of Leicester, at the current rate of burning, peatlands in Borneo, Sumatra and Papua New Guinea could be destroyed before 2040, releasing a vast amount of carbon into the atmosphere. (Right Photo courtesy of Maurice Kottelat, Carnol, Switzerland and Raffles Museum)

Puffers are interesting, intelligent and active fish, but they can be predators with nasty temperament.  In an aquarium, they can be fin nippers and become more aggressive as they grow older or if they are not well fed. In a freshwater community tank, Puffer Fish will thrive well with the fast swimming fish such as Danios, Rainbow Fish, or Barbs. Pufferes love snails, crabs and shrimps.

Puffers can live for several years if maintained in good condition. For the freshwater species, they thrive well with a little salt in the water, with temperature maintained at 24 – 26°C, but they are sensitive to low dKH and pH below 7.0. 

Puffers can be stubborn feeders, and most will need time to accept a variety of food given to them. Frozen food such as blood worms, dried shrimps, krill, brine shrimp are good recommendations for the Puffers. Their powerful teeth are used to crack open snail shells, so be sure to regularly add small aquatic snails in their diet to wear down their teeth. Adding snails will help the Puffers practice their hunting skills.

Sexing the Puffers can be difficult when they in juvenile stage. One way to determine the sex is to  to look at its body shape, with the female’s body much rounder than the male’s.  The males usually have a dark line that runs down their belly which are more yellow in colour. 

If you are attracted to this fish, you may consider keeping the dwarf puffers which reaches an adult size of about 2.5cm (1 inch).

This fish is live-bearing and are often bred for their natural colour. Breeding Guppy is very easy. Courtship starts when males spread their fins and curve their body in front of the females. The male will swim up against the female to mate. Once the female is inseminated, a dark area near the anus, known as the gravid spot, will enlarge and darken. The gestation period of Guppy is between 21 – 30 days which varies depending on the water temperature. Female Guppy drops the fry which are ready swimming, eating and capable of fending for themselves. The number of fry that a female Guppy can drop is between 2 – 100. As in other Poecilia family members, the females can retain the male sperm after a single mate and hence able to give birth many times in the absence of males.

The fry takes about one to two months to reach maturity and Guppy can live up to two years on average. Guppy feeds incredibily on anything, even with a small stomach and mouth. Its diet may consist of lettuce, bloodworms, tubifex worms, flakes, mosquito larvae etc. Feeding Guppy at least 3 times a day will keep the Guppy happy.

Guppy fares well in water temperatures of 23-24 °C (82-84°F) but they can also live in water between 19.0 – 29.0°C (69 – 86 °F). Guppy is a community fish and will live happily with a group of their own. Due to their small size, they are often targets of prey by the larger fish. Therefore, avoid placing Guppy with big fish. Recommended pH of 7.0 – 8.5 in the water is good for Guppy.

Guppy is an excellent choice for beginners and children.

Enjoy the Guppy video!

Goldfish are coldwater fish, and can live in water close to freezing temperature, although it prefers water temperature to be between 46 and 64 degrees F or 8 to 18 in degrees Celsius. 

A normal goldfish can grow up to about 16 – 20 cm long, but considerably shorter in captive condition in an aquarium. Goldfish may live more than 20 years if kept under good conditions, but most will generally live for less than six to eight years in sub-optimal living conditions such as that in bowls.  The oldest goldfish recorded to have lived is 49 years!

Goldfish will turn almost grey if they are left in the dark for a period of time. Goldfish have cells called chromatophores that produce pigments which reflects light, and gives coloration. The colour of a goldfish is determined by which pigments are in the cells, how many pigments molecules there are, and whether the pigment is grouped inside the cell or is spaced throughout the cytoplasm. So if a goldfish is kept in the dark it will appear lighter in the morning, and over a long period of time will lose its color.

Goldfish are opportunistic feeders. They will eat non-stop at many kinds of food and produce wastes and feces trailing from their cloaca. To prevent excessive production of waste from Goldfish, they should only be fed as much food as they can consume within one to two minutes per feeding, and no more than three times a day.

There have been scientific studies conducted on goldfish and demonstrated that they have strong associative learning abilities, as well as social learning skills. Interestingingly, their strong visual acuity allows them to distinguish between specific humans.  Goldfish are “friendly” towards each other and they rarely harm each other, even during breeding, although they do compete with each other for food.

Breeding usually happens after a significant change in temperature, often in spring. Goldfish lay adhesive eggs that attach to aquatic plants and the eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours. Dense plants such as Cabomba or Elodea or a spawning mop are usually used to catch the eggs. The eggs should be separated into another tank before the parents eat them. The fry grows fast and begins to look more like a goldfish in shape with metallic brown body colour after about a week but full body colour may take as long as a year to develop.

There are fancy varieties of Goldfish which include Black Moor, Bubble eye, Butterfly tail, Calico, Celestial eye, Fantail, Lionchu, Lionhead, Oranda, Panda Moor, Pearlscale, Pompom, Ranchu, Ryukin, Telescope eye, and Veiltail.

All Symphysodon species have a laterally compressed round body shape, with patterns of shades in brown, blue, green, and red. The length and height of a typical grown adult ranges from about 20–25 cm (8–10 in).  There are many notable colour variations, brown, blue/green, royal blue, red spotted green, heckel, red turquoise, solid cobalt, blue diamond etc.

The shy and peaceful Discus which makes wonderful aquarium inhabitants, are sensitive to the environmental stress and disturbances. Hence the discus aquariums should be ideally located in a quiet area, preferably with little movements in the surrounding areas of a home or office. Plenty of hiding places should be provided to this fish for retreat.  Careful selection of cohabitants with the Discus should be made with care. Some fish may introduce parasites, diseases without exhibiting any noticeable signs. In a stressed environment, Discus stop producing their stress coat and their immune system also stops, leaving them vulnerable to parasites and diseases, and may die easily as a result.  The ideal water temperature to maintain Discus should be in the range of 26-31 C, where young Discus fry should be ideally kept at 31 C (88 F) degrees. Water parameters should be very soft and slightly acidic with a pH value range 5.5 – 6.5.  Discus should live well in a well lit planted tank with adequate biological filtration, and some shaded areas for them to hide in. 

A good water quality will allow Discus to have good appetites, and accept any food offered to them. As the Discus are shy in nature, they may be difficult in competing for food against the more aggressive fast swimmers.  Small characides such as tetras are excellent cohabitants for discus. Tetras usually thrive in similar water parameters as that of the Discus, and their schooling behavior greatly help in calming the discus. 

As in all other cichlids, brood care is highly developed where the pair of Discus will care for the young. Discus lay their eggs in angled surfaces, and hence vertical surface should be be provided for them to do so. Diet for the breeding pair of Discus should comprise frozen blood worms, beef heart, frozen or live brine shrimps and some dry food such as Tetra Color Bits. Avoid worms like tubifex which carry the risk of introducing parasites or diseases into the breeding tanks. A healthy pair of breeding discus should spawn frequently. The eggs usually takes about 48 hours to hatch and the fry becoming free swimming after 72 hours later.  As soon as the fry becomes free-swimming, they will move to the parent’s sides to feed off the mucous secretion. The fry will be ready to take on newly hatched brine shrimp after 5 days of free-swimming.  It is good to remove the parents from the fry after 2 to 3 weeks, where the parents may be able to breed again. Fry should be fed no less than 6 times a day with newly hatched brine shrimp and chopped blood worms.

This beautiful fish is not suitable for the beginner though.

Apistogramma are quite peaceful, popular aquarium residents, making them ideal for inclusion in any community or planted aquariums with plenty of cover such as plants and driftwood. Apistogramma thrives in soft acidic water in its original habitat and are very sensitive to changes in the water chemistry. Recommended values for the water are a pH value range between 5.5-6.8, a water hardness from 0-8 dH, and a temperature from 75-84°F (24-29°C).  Peat filtration will help in improving the water chemistry. Dim lighting or partial cover of floating plants should be considered as these species thrive in shaded areas. In the home aquarium, there should be little water movement created by filter.  The substrate bottom preferably should be a darker tone.

During breeding and brood care, the female Apistogramma will have a shade of yellow colour. As in most Cichlidae, brood care is highly developed where all Apistogramma species spawn under rocks, in caves, or in holes in branches or sunken logs. A number of breeding strategies exist. Some species breed in polygynous harems, while other species form monogamous pairs. In most instances, the female is usually more highly involved with brood care, while the male defends the surrounding territory against predators. Development of the sex of the fry is largely affected by the water conditions, with warmer and softer water favoring more males to females.  The eggs usually hatch in 2-5 days and the young will be free-swimming about 4-6 days later.  The delicate fry can be raised on small Daphnia , Artemia nauplii, and roftiers. 

Apistogramma, as in all other Dwarf Cichlids, are not recommended for beginners though.

Click to view full pic

Doctor fish are used in fish spa resorts which opened around 2006 in various part of the world, including Japan, Crotia, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore etc.  The fish feed on the skin of patients with psoriasis, consuming only the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow. It is reported that some patients experienced complete cure of psoriasis after repeated treatments.  Despite this, the aquarium specimens are not really well suited for treatment of skin diseases, but only as a temporary cure for symptoms, since the skin-feeding behavior fully manifests only under environmental conditions where the food supply is somewhat scarce and unpredictable. 

In 2008, bans were imposed on fish spa services in certain states of US for safety and hygiene reasons. It is said that despite having rigorous safety protocol in place such as having a good filtration systems and ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in the water, there is no 100% guarantee to ensure that the fish will not carry the risk of infections from previous customer. In responding to the banning of such service, the Spa Association Singapore has said that banning fish-spa treatments is the way to go.  

Share your view with us if you have any thoughts on the banning of such service.

Meanwhile, have some fun and enjoy the youtube video below.

The head is bony and its elongate body is covered by large, heavy scales, with a mosaic pattern of canals. The dorsal and the anal fins have soft rays and are long based, while the pectoral and ventral fins are small. The name “bonytongues” is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth, the “tongue”, equipped with teeth that bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth. The fish can obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into the swim bladder, which is lined with capillaries like lung tissue. The arapaima is an “obligatory air breather”.

Arowanas grow very quickly, but the gender differences are indiscernible during their juvenile stage and become apparent only when the fish are more mature at around four years of age, measuring about 17 to 23 inches.  Males usually have a shallower body depth, bigger head and mouth, a longer anal fin,  more intensely coloured than the females, and exhibit more aggressions in competing for food.  The females tend to have slightly larger and broader body shape, and in particular during the mating season.

Several of this species of osteoglossid exhibit extensive parental care. Arowana builds nests and protect the young after they hatch. Some of them are mouthbrooders, where the parents hold hundreds of eggs in their mouths.  Arowana fry usually stay in the parent’s mouth for a period of one to two weeks, or until their yolk sacs disappear. The fry may then make several tentative trips outside the parent’s mouth to investigate the surroundings before leaving permanently.   The juvenile fry needs extra care as they are particulary fragile during this stage of their lives.

Osteoglossids are carnivorous, often being specialized surface feeders. It can glides through water with elegance and least effort, capable of moving with power and lightning speed. They are also excellent jumpers and has been reported that Osteoglossum species seen leaping more than 6 feet (approximately 2 metres) above the water surface to pick off insects and birds from overhanging branches in South America.  There are rumours that they can capture prey as large as low flying bats and small birds.  It is commonly known that the adult fish will eat practically anything that can fit into its mouth.  Young arowanas can be fed food like brine shrimp or bloodworms.  Arowana prefers live food, however it will also accept frozen or processed food with a balanced suitable diet consisting of crickets, centipedes, small frogs, freshwater prawns and the small fish such as guppies, supplements like vitamin—enriched krill, and pellet and flake food and so on.

Arowanas will merge in groups of five to eight and any fewer may exhibit signs of dominance and aggression. They are compatible with other semi-aggressive fish that cannot fit in the its mouth.

Culture wise, Arowanas are often used for feng shui to bring good luck in the eyes of the Chinese.  They have appearance and majesty of the Chinese Dragon, which a is a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

 

My aquarium hobby started in 1977 with Betta (pronounced BET-TUH, not BAY-TUH) Splendens, also known as ‘Siamese Fighting Fish’, discovered originally in its natural habitat of shallow rice patties in Siam. If this fish never fails to amazed its beholders and thrill its audiences, I will seriously wonder why, as it is the truly a very popular freshwater fish.

Betta lives comfortably in enough water to cover it, most popular being housed in small little jars sold in aquarium shops even in today’s practice. They are hardy, comes in multi-colours, but as in all other species, they deserve vigilant care.  The wild Bettas look different from those bred in captivity. In the natural wild environment, speed and agility are crucial for survival, rather than exhibiting colour and beauty.  Wild Betta have short fins and dark, mottled colouring and are very interesting and beautiful in their own way.

betta splendens

Betta’s hardiness trait resulted primarily from inhabiting the shallow, muddy water of the rice patties, which is not an ideal habitat for any other fish.  They use a special organ called the “labyrinth” which enables them to breathe oxygen directly from the water surface.  Gifted with this organ, are able to survive in their natural habitat in very low oxygen levels. That explains why Bettas can survive in little cups with just enough water, longer than other gill-breathing fish. Although this get away with the need to change water frequently, care is appreciated for better environment of the fish, to avoid ammonia built up from the decomposition of its waste contents.  Beautiful fish like them does not deserve to be ill-treated.

Male Bettas are very aggressive and territorial fish in nature. When two male Bettas are placed together, they will start intimidating each other by displaying aggression with their fins and gills wide spread and opened.  A challenge fight will only end when the loser admits defeat and escape with suffered enough injury.  If the escape fails, as in an enclosed environment, the loser will likely ended in death.  That explains why male Bettas are kept solo. Several female Bettas can be housed together since they are not too aggressive.

Bettas are kept for fighting in Siam as entertainment. Today, they are bred to bring out their beauty to capture your heart.  Stay tuned for new posts of Bettas in our blog.