When we walk into a fish store we expect to find a selection of beautiful, healthy fish for our aquarium. Unfortunately, some of those fish endure cruel processes or practices that we aren’t informed of. Not only do they cause the fish to suffer, they also shorten its lifespan and leave it more vulnerable to…
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia or Melaleuca leucadendron oil) has become quite common in households, either in its pure form or in products. It offers a host of antimicrobial benefits (primarily due to Terpunen-4-ol, alpha-terpineol and linalool constituants), which has made it popular for everything from minor injuries to acne. The popularity of Tea Tree…
To celebrate Earth Day, we’ve come up with a list of tips for environmentally-friendly fish-keeping. As a bonus, many of these suggestions will also reduce the cost involved with having aquariums. 🙂 Leaking aquariums can be resealed or reused as reptile habitats, terrariums, garden seedling shelters, etc. Sell, donate or swap equipment that you no…
We’ve covered a lot of information regarding Calcium Montmorillonite Clay (AKA bentonite / smectite) for internal use, including its function as a natural mineral supplement (over 60 macro/micro/trace mineral elements), antibacterial, detoxifier (radiation, aflatoxin, etc.), cleansing, internal parasite control, digestive aid, pH balance, prebiotic, allergy treatment, and so on. In honor of Pet First Aid…
Most fish commonly found in aquariums eat insects in the wild to one degree or another, including Livebearers, Rainbowfish, Tetras, Killifish, Betta, Gourami, Hatchetfish, and many species of Cichlids (such as Apistogramma & Convicts). Insectivorous fish primarily feed on aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, insect larvae and pupae. They may actively hunt insects by jumping out…
Information about natural treatments for aquarium fish diseases and parasites is tough to find, due to a lack of scientific study (although this is improving with the demand for organically farmed fish). It’s also more complicated than it is with other pets because tolerance levels can vary between the many species. However, there are some…
Fish do get constipated! It is a problem especially for laterally compressed fish and some fish species seem more prone to it, such as Goldfish and Bettas. It can also be caused by an improper diet, some manufactured fish foods, or overfeeding. Constipation can and will kill your fish if the blockage is not addressed.
Plants are an important part of the natural aquarium, but to say I have low-tech fish tanks would be an understatement. Most of my aquariums are built for natural function, not beauty. We breed aquarium fish and require plants that will provide security to fry (fish babies) and eggs. They also create territories, give harassed…
This is the second article in a series about keeping endangered fish species in the home aquarium. Read part one: Saving Threatened Fish Species in a Home Aquarium. We have had two aquarium births in one of our latest groups of (unofficially) endangered fish, Skiffia multipunctata! Knowing that we have increased captive populations is a…
Update – August 27th, 2012: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continues to update the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) in anticipation of new aquatic animal import requirements. The Agency has now published more than 2,300 HS-OGD codes for ornamental finfish species in AIRS. Importers are encouraged to use these new codes, rather than the…
