Written by an expert on livebearing fish, this comprehensive yet easy-to-read guide offers advice on a wide range of care issues from diet and nutrition to species selection and health care. Livebearer species covered include the popular platies, mollies, swordtails, and guppies. T.F.H. has teamed up with Animal Planet(TM), the only television network devoted to the unique bonds between humans and animals, to present an exciting new series of family-friendly, comprehensive guides to superior pet care. Each book features newly written text from animal experts on a variety of topics, including feeding, housing, grooming, training, health care, and fun activities. Useful tip boxes in each chapter show every member of the household how to make the most out of owning a pet.
Freshwater nano tanks, or tanks under 20 gallons as the authors define them, have become increasingly popular over the past few years. There are hundreds of species available to aquarium keepers on a regular basis, so figuring out which ones to choose for these specialized tanks can be a daunting task. The 101 Best Freshwater Nano Species is the only field guide that helps you choose and keep fishes, plants, and invertebrates specifically for nano tanks. Written by two leading experts in the field of nano tanks, this fully illustrated guide will prepare you to keep these wonderful and fascinating animals successfully.
Organising and examining different segments of the brackish population, this book offers information on each species and its habitat, salinity tolerance, diet and behaviour. In addition, it includes recommendations for themed tank setups and tankmates for each species.
Livebearers focuses on four families of fish which contain many of the most attractive and popular species in the tropical fish hobby today, including guppies, mollies, swordtails, and platies. The families include Goodeidae (Mexican livebearers), Anablepidae (four-eyes and others), Poeciliidae (guppies and others); and Hemirhamphidae (halfbeaks). Author David Alderton explains that hobbyists have applied the term livebearer to these four families for convenience even though there are fourteen families in the wild that reproduce by bearing live young. The chapter “Where in the World?” focuses on the natural history of these families, their distribution, and lifestyles. Hobbyists looking to begin an aquarium of livebearers or to expand their existing communities will find useful information in the chapter called “The Different Groups,” in which Alderton discusses age considerations, health matters, and sex. The chapter also describes the four families and the most common genus/species of each. Included are sixteen representatives of the Family Goodeidae (e.g., Allodontichth, Characodon, and Skiffia), three genus of the Family Anablepidae (Anableps, Jenynsia, and Oxyzgonectes), twenty-six representatives of the Family Poeciliidae (e.g., Belonesox, Fiexipenis, and Limia); and three genus of the Family Hemirhamphidae (Dermogenys, Hemirhamphodon, and Namorhamphus). This colorful, user-friendly guide offers basic information on the anatomical characteristics, housing options, required aquarium equipment for livebearers as well as their feeding habits and food requirements (greenstuff, carotene-rich foods, live foods, meat, etc.). The breeding habits of livebearers have ensured their popularity with hobbyists, and the chapter on reproduction describes the various breeding habits of livebearers and outlines successful breeding strategies for interested hobbyists. In the chapter on health care, the author offers solid advice about caring for livebearers to maximize their lifespan in captivity, which is typically only a few years. He also gives information on signs of illness and some basic diseases that can be treated by the fish keeper. The final chapter offers photographs and distribution maps for sixteen popular livebearers of all four families, including information on size, physical description, natural habitat and behavior, and required aquarium conditions. The author’s livebearer hit parade includes the butterfly goodeid, rainbow goodeid, black-finned goodea, four-eyed fish, guppy (millions fish), black molly, sailfin molly, swordtail, platy (moonfish), mosquito fish (dwarf and large), humpbacked (black-barred) limia, black-bellied limia, pike livebearer (piketop minnow), knife (Alfaro’s) livebearer, and wrestling halfbeak. Resources, glossary, and index included.
First published in 2001, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums has become the bestselling reference in its category, offering an easy-to-understand look at setting up and maintaining a successful first freshwater aquarium. Now in a completely revised second edition, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums offers comprehensive and authoritative information that will guide new hobbyists to guaranteed success. Written by a renowned aquarium hobby expert, this indispensable guide contains many ideas for tank setups and stocking schemes—with brand new text that makes the subject material even easier to access and understand for the beginner hobbyist. An all-new preface reflects changes in the hobby since the first edition, while two brand new chapters discuss the benefits of routine large water changes as well as what to expect when progressing further into aquarium keeping. The book also adds mention of all new species that are especially recommended for beginners, plus over 150 full-color photos, captions,
Literally hundreds of different tropical freshwater fish are shown in vivid color photos and described for aquarium hobbyists. Readers will also find information on general aquarium maintenance. More than 300 color photos. Titles in the Compass Guides series are handsome and practical quick-reference sources for pet owners, pet fanciers, and aquarium and terrarium hobbyists. Books feature brief descriptive profiles of their subject animals, each profile consisting of a color photo, the animalï¿1/2s place of origin, its basic housing and feeding needs, and its physical traits and temperament. In addition to the profiles, each Compass Guide also contains general information on animal species and their families. 200-to-300 color photos and index.
A detailed and comprehensive guide. Freshwater and saltwater fishkeeping are challenging and tremendously rewarding hobbies. Aquariums is a big book that covers every aspect a fishkeeper needs to know. Step-by-step technical instructions are illustrated with hundreds of color diagrams as well as hundreds of color photographs of fish in their natural habitats. The book features: Choosing equipment Preparing the water and setting up the aquarium Saltwater and freshwater requirements Types of fish and their families Freshwater fish directory Saltwater fish directory Fish reproduction Plants for the aquarium Balance is the key to the successful aquarium, and Aquariums suggests fish mixes in combination with appropriate plants. Quite often, an aquarium will be thrown out of balance with the introduction of improperly prepared rocks and wood decorations. Simple instructions are offered for the preparation of such decorative objects for the aquarium. Packed with practical advice and useful tips, Aquariums shows how to set up a fish tank of stunning beauty.
Hello, and welcome to the ever-wonderful field of aquariums. Thank you for allowing me to share with you the basics of goldfish care. You will find that though they've been human pets for centuries, and often referred to as "easy to keep", modern Goldfishes are quite different than commonly perceived. These minnows require a good deal more room than bowls can provide, attention to filtration, restraint in not over-feeding, and regular upkeep of their systems water quality. Not to worry; all will be revealed here.
