The water is not the only thing that can need some cleaning before you begin to photograph you aquatic pets. Giving the glass a good scrub in advance is recommendable
since the camera can catch traces of algae or small dirty spots that are to minute to be noticed by humans. Remember that it is not only the inside of the glass that
can need to be cleaned.
You should also consider the background that you want to catch you fish against. You can naturally edit out the background digitally afterwards, but a lot of fish
species actually look better when you photograph them against a natural background, e.g. rocks or healthy looking plants. The background can also affect the quality of
your picture, since the light will be affected by the background. Electric cords, air tubes, heaters and other types of equipment will look ugly in most pictures and
draw attention from the fish.Pond Fish
A pond is a beautiful and fascinating addition to any garden and ponds can be kept in most parts of the world, as long as you choose your species wisely. In many
regions, fish will be able to spend the cold season in the pond. In climates where your pond might freeze across the entire surface it is better to house the fish
indoors during the coldest months. Even cold tolerant species can suffocated in a small pond when gas exchange between the water and the air is prevented by a layer of
ice. Species adapted to a very harsh climate can however survive by hibernating and staying in a dormant state where their metabolism is extremely low and they consume
very little oxygen.
The two most commonly kept fish types in garden ponds are Goldfish and Koi. Goldfish can be kept with most aquatic plant species, while Koi fishes like to eat plants
and can be kept only with a few plant species. Since Koi grows larger than Goldfish, Goldfish is a better choice if your pond is small. Koi fish should not be kept in
ponds smaller than 1000 gallons, and the pond should be at least three feet deep, preferably even deeper. Goldfish can be housed in a pond that is no deeper than two
feet, but if you live in a colder climate and you plan to let your Goldfish stay in the pond during the winter the pond must be deeper. Goldfish need at least 12-16
inches of water below the freeze zone to survive.
If you create a garden pond from scratch, you should ideally make it quite large since a large pond is easier to maintain than a smaller pond. A large pond will
provide your fish with a more stable climate. Pollutants that enter the pond from outside will be diluted by larger water mass, and the same is true for plant and fish
waste. A large pond is more resilient to rapid temperature changes and there will typically be easier for the fish to hide if a predator, such as a cat or raccoon,
venture into the pond. With a large pond, you will also be more flexible when choosing fish and plant species. It is also safer for fish to stay in a large pond during
the winter.
Location is important when creating your new pond. If you place your pond under trees or bushes, you must regularly remove leaves and other debris from the water since
it will carry to much organic compounds to the small water mass. Fish-only ponds can be placed in shaded areas of a garden, but if you want to keep plants they might
have other requirements. Water lilies will for instance do best in a pond that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Fish-only ponds will require
more maintenance work than planted ponds, since waste products from fish are consumed by plants. Unplanted ponds will therefore require more filtration and they are
more prone to algae growth. If this is your first pond, you should ideally choose a sturdy plant species that is capable of consuming a lot of fish waste and produce a
lot of oxygen. If your pond receives a lot of sunlight, it sResponsible Fish Keeping
In this section of the articles library you will find articles regarding responsible fish keeping and environmental issues linked to the aquarium hobby. We will for
instance try to cover subjects such as invasive species, problems within the aquarium trade, cruelty to animals, over fishing and unsuitable fishing methods, breeding
programs, and how aquarists can help endangered species and avoid causing environmental problems.
Many subjects in this part of the library can be controversial and different experts, as well as hobby aquarists, have different opinions. If you disagree with the
opinions found in the articles, you are welcome to discuss them in our forum. If you have new information regarding the various issues, or feel that certain aspects
have not been mentioned in the articles, you are naturally also encouraged to share your information with our visitors in the forum. Do not hesitate to contact us if
you feel that an article regarding a specific issue should be included in this part of the articles library.
One example of an environmental issue that is of importance to the aquarist is the problem with over fishing and unsuitable fishing methods. Some fish species have
been heavily harvested to supply the aquarium trade, and is now on the brink of extinction. Another problem is that the aquarium trade sometimes gets blamed for the
decline of a popular aquarium species, when it is actually urban development and habitat destruction that have caused the population to become minimized. This is for
instance the case with the Red tail shark, Epalzeorhynchos bicolor. When the species suddenly vanished from its native waters in Thailand, many people assumed that it
was due to over fishing since the Red tail shark is very popular among aquarists. Later research did however show that the main factors behind its disappearance were
more likely to be habitat modification, dam building and the draining of swampy areas. This shows us that we must be careful before we jump to any conclusions. This
watchfulness naturally works in both directions – the fact that an area has been affected by habitat modification does not mean that the aquarium trade is not
responsible for a decline in a certain species. When an area is seriously impacted by habitat modification it can also mean that we should refrain from removing the
few surviving specimens from it to place them in our aquariums.
Cruelty to fish and other living creatures is another field that we will cover in this section of the articles library. Some people might find it a bit strange to
oppose cruelty to fish, while simultaneously having absolutely no objection against a tasty meal of Fish & Chips or purchasing tropical fish that have been more or
less kidnapped from its native home and transported to another part of the world in a small plastic bag. Most aquarists do however develop strong bonds to their fish,
and wish to treat them as good as possible. This can for instance mean that you avoid purchasing a Betta in a tiny vase, since Bettas need plenty of space to swim
around in and a decorated aquarium with hiding spaces. It can also mean that you refrain from purchasing dyed aquarium fish, such as the neon coloured “Painted
Glassfishes” or “Fruit Tetras”, since these fishes have been subjected to wounding dyeing methods that do not only subject the fish to suffering, but reduces its
lifespan as well and make it more prone to illness. Rainbow Fish
Rainbowfish is group of small and usually colourful fishes found in the southern hemisphere. They did not grew popular among aquarists until fairly recently, which is
actually a bit strange considering their beauty and sturdiness. Some species stay below 3 cm in length even as adults, while other species can attain a length of up to
20 cm. An additional plus with Rainbowfish is that they leave plants alone – they will not eat them nor uproot them. Rainbowfish is also an excellent choice for
aquarists who like their fish to spawn in the aquarium.
Rainbowfish belong to a subfamily named Melanotaeniidae and are found in Australia and New Guinea, as well as on some of the Southeast Asian Islands. Rainbowfish are
closely related to the Blue-eyes of the subfamily Pseudomugilinae and both subfamilies belong to the same family, Melanotaeniidae, according to a taxonomic revision
made by Joseph Nelson in 2006. The order Atheriniformes – the order to which Rainbowfish and Blue-eyes belong – has undergone a lot of changes during recent years
and is expected to see some action in the years to come as well.
Since Rainbowfish are peaceful creatures they can be kept in community aquariums with other non-aggressive species. Really small species can however find it hard to
compete in an aquarium with larger species and should therefore be kept in their own aquarium, or together with other really small and peaceful species.
Rainbowfish are schooling fish and should be kept in groups consisting of at least six individuals, preferably no less than 10-15. This is not only beneficial for the
fish; a large school of shimmering Rainbowfish is also much more stunning to look at than a few shy individuals that spend most of their time hiding. Keeping several
males together will also make them develop more vibrant colours since they need to compete with each other for female attention.
rainbow fish
Rainbowfish (M. boesemani)
Copyright fishaliciousfish.blogspot.com
One of the reasons behind the scarcity of Rainbowfish within the hobby is probably the fact that young Rainbowfish look quite dull. Fish stores usually sell small
Rainbowfish that have yet not developed their true colours. If you buy young Rainbowfish and take good care of them, they will mature and develop their adult
colouration.
It is unfortunately quite common for fish stores to place their fish in aquariums that are too small or too crowded; conditions that can easily make even an adult
Rainbowfish look pallid and unappealing. Barren aquariums without suitable hiding spots, or aquariums with aggressive species, can also make the Rainbowfish dampen its
colours, since it will feel highly stressed.
All the various Rainbowfish species are quite similar when it comes to feeding requirements, desired water chemistry, temperature, breeding habits etcetera. There are
however minor differences between the many species so it is always a good idea to research your particular species before you bring them home. Generally speaking, the
horizontal length of the aquarium is much more important than the depth, since Rainbowfish spend most of their time near the surface and rarely venture any deeper
down. As mentioned above, the size varies considerably between the different species and it is therefore impossible to recommend an aquarium size.
Keepers of Rainbowfish usually opt for a dark substrate in the aquarium and strong lighting since this make the Rainbowfish look more vibrant. The natural Rainbowfish
habitat is filled with aquatic plants and rainbows will therefore appreciate a planted aquarium. There should also be some open space available for these active and
enShark Fish
In this section of the site you find articles about true sharks (see articles below) and "freshwater sharks". When you purchase so called freshwater sharks from your
local fish store, they are usually not sharks. Several types of small and silvery shark-like fish species are marketed as freshwater sharks even though they only have
a body form that resembles that of a shark. There are true shark species that lives in freshwater, particularly in Australia, but these true sharks are not recommended
for hobby aquarists. They will grow very large and you will need a huge aquarium if you want to provide them with a good home. Several species are also endangered and
should not be removed from their natural environment unless needed for conservatory reasons, e.g. for a public aquarium. A majority of the most well known true shark
species, such as the Great White shark and Hammerhead shark, are marine species.
There are also a few true shark species that can live in brackish waters and the Bull Shark can even leave the ocean and migrate several miles up in freshwater rivers
and into lakes. The Bull Shark will usually do well in captivity, but due to its size it is only kept in public aquariums. It can reach a length of 3.5 meters and
require plenty of space to thrive. It is also included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and considered near threatened by CITES (Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).