How to Buy Healthy Fish

Written by William berg


Well, of course there is no guarantee thatrepparttar fish you see, you are interested in (and you are going to buy) is totally healthy. A Fish can appear as healthy as it could be but in fact it has invisible inner problems. There are many ways, many things you should seek out to determine if a fish is healthy.

And here's a list of some:

Firstly, look for physical characteristics of good health. A healthy fish should have bright body color, not pale or dull. However darker or patchy coloration may be an indicator of stress and not of bad health. Before you buy a fish, find out how it should look under normal conditions. No open sores, boils, ulcers, peeling scales or blemishes. No visible parasites, such as tiny white crystals that look like salt or tiny black nodules that look like "blackheads". There are also viruses, likerepparttar 125610 Lymphocystis (cauliflower-like growths onrepparttar 125611 edge of fins). Be sure to examinerepparttar 125612 fish before buying it.

Eyes should be clear, not cloudy or popping out ofrepparttar 125613 sockets. Fins are erect, especiallyrepparttar 125614 top fin (dorsal). Buckled fins can mean trouble. No ragged, torn or ripped fins. All of them should be intact.

Scales are flat and smooth, stomach is well rounded, girth ofrepparttar 125615 entire body is of normal size, not bloated or sunken. Visible fish waste should be dark in color, not pale.

You should also examine their behavior! Healthy fish should breathe normally, not guzzling for air or hanging aroundrepparttar 125616 top ofrepparttar 125617 tank where its mouth kissingrepparttar 125618 top ofrepparttar 125619 water. Comparerepparttar 125620 gill movement of a fish with other fish inrepparttar 125621 tank. Extremely rapid gill movement may be a sign of stress.

Breeding Piranhas

Written by William berg


Breeding Piranhas

Piranhas are a unique creature that has won its so popularity, not only because of its appearance, but also due torepparttar many myths they are told in. Unfortunately only a few species having been breed, some ofrepparttar 125609 species that have commonly bred include Serrasalmus nattereri, S. spilopleura, S. gibbus, S. rhombeus. Another species that is considered relatively easy to breed is S. maculatus.

Whichever you choose, you should have an aquarium that is at least 100 gallons. A group of 5-6 piranhas is quite appropriate, however if you want them breeding,repparttar 125610 best is to keep them in pairs so that there are no other fishes to bother them. To find ae mating pair, you can pick two adult Piranhas, one is thick andrepparttar 125611 other is thinner. In most cases, thick piranhas represent females and thinner Piranhas represent males. Just make sure you are not looking at them after they have been fed. Though having found males and females doesn’t automatically mean success, it is however a step onrepparttar 125612 way.

The ideal temperature is between 73-83F. Standard fluorescent bulbs are fine forrepparttar 125613 lighting. Notice that they also like some protective cover. You should also makerepparttar 125614 lighting of half ofrepparttar 125615 aquarium darker thanrepparttar 125616 other. Piranhas are hardy fish but it iss a good idea to maintainrepparttar 125617 water clean and clear. In their original habitat, Amazon River, rainy season isrepparttar 125618 time when most fish spawn. Frequent and bigger water changes seem to have an immense effect onrepparttar 125619 success of breeding (as they simulaterepparttar 125620 rainy season) and most likely gettingrepparttar 125621 piranhas into breeding condition.

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