Mr Fish Aquarium Info

AVOIDING DEATHS IN NEW TANKS   Starting a new aquarium is an exciting venture, but for many amateur aquarists, the joy can be cut short by the mysterious premature death of their new fish. The secret to success, often overlooked, lies not in the fish or the plants, but in an invisible, living foundation: The colony of beneficial bacteria in your filter. Source: kb.rspca.org.au Here are some essential steps to avoid deaths in your new tank; 1) The Critical First Week and the "Bacteria Boost" Many people do not realize that the best aquarium they can buy is one that has been set up to operate for over seven days! The reason has to do with the amount of breakdown bacteria present in the filter bed. These bacteria are essential for converting fish excrement, urine, and waste food into harmless by-products that plants use as fertilizer. To prevent premature fish death, any aquarium should have a fairly large quantity of these bacterial colonies. Experienced fish keepers with aged ...

  ELECTRIC FISH For aquarists looking for an unusual pet, few creatures are as fascinating as electric fish. But can you safely keep them in a home aquarium? A classic reader question delves into the realities of owning these living power generators. A Reader's Question on Electric Fish:  "I would like some information on the Electric Catfish. Can you give some idea of other kinds of fish that discharge an electric current? Would it be wise then, to keep them in an aquarium with other fishes?" The Powerhouses: Electric Catfish and Electric Eel 1. The African Electric Catfish (Malapterurus Electricus):  This species "grows to about two feet in length and lives exclusively on small, live fishes." Its powerful electrical system is a key feature: "Its electric organs... serve as an attack/defense system... and the creature can discharge between 100 and 300 volts, depending on its size." Source: Naturenews.africa 2. The Electric Eel (Electrophorus Electricu...

  EGRETS AND RATS IN MY POND If you keep an outdoor pond, you may have faced a puzzling and frustrating problem: your fish start disappearing without a trace . A reader recently shared this exact concern, and the advice given remains just as relevant today for any pond owner. The Reader's Problem: A Pond Culprit;  "I have lost a few medium-sized goldfish recently: they just disappeared from my pond. My house guard tells me that an egret often sits on my house roof and that a rat occasionally takes a swim in the pond. I wonder who could be the culprit." The Usual Suspects: Egrets, Rats, or Herons? The investigation into the disappearing fish looked at two main suspects: 1. Egrets: While not commonly known as fish predators, an ornithologist confirmed that "the egret has been known to take fish," especially those near the water's surface. Source: andreattawaterscapes.com 2. Rats: The idea of a rat eating a live fish in the water was largely dismissed. It was n...

  THE IDEAL WATER If you're new to the world of fishkeeping, you might think the key to a healthy aquarium is the purest, cleanest water you can find. It’s a common assumption, but it’s also one of the most dangerous misconceptions for your aquatic pets. I can't tell you how many times a concerned fish owner has come to me with the same story: "My fish are breathing fast, refusing to eat, and none of the disease treatments are working." After a few questions, the root cause almost always becomes clear. The problem isn't a strange parasite or a rare illness; it's the water itself. But not in the way you might think. The issue is that the water is too clean .   THE MYTH OF "PURE" WATER Many beginners don't realize that "pure, clean water—like distilled, fully desalinated, or even collected rainwater—is highly detrimental and can even be fatal to fish." Why? Because fish don't live in H₂O alone. They live in a complex, biological soup....

USE OF WELL-WATER IN OLD AND NEW TANKS   A common question from fish keepers, especially those with access to natural sources, is about the suitability of well water for their aquariums. This reader's query from our archives tackles this very issue, offering timeless advice on how to approach water safety with caution. A Reader's Question on Well Water : "I have a well in my compound, which is about 14 years old. The water seeps in from rain and underground water, and it is crystal clear. Do you think it would be safe to use this water in my aquarium, which is 3 ft long and contains various tropical fishes? Also, where could I get the water analyzed?" The reader also noted that their tank was initially set up with water from their local pet shop, a good practice for starting a new aquarium. The Expert's Cautious Advice:  "It is impossible for me to say whether the well-water would be safe to use in your aquarium." Appearances can be deceiving. Even cryst...

  LIGHTING IN YOUR TANK Lighting deserves careful attention not only for the added aesthetic pleasure it may give, but because fishes need it and it is essential to plant growth. The total amount of light required is a matter of trial and error, and how much of it will turn the water green, while too little stunts plant growth. The lighting may be artificial or natural daylight. When using the latter, the best position is near a north-facing window. This should provide the ideal amount of indirect light, which can be supplemented by artificial lighting, if necessary. This additional lighting should be housed in a hood placed above the tank and may be switched on for three to four hours in the evening. If there is little or no natural daylight, the lights should be left on for approximately 10 to 12 hours per day. If the water goes green, you must cut down either the natural light or the artificial light. Aquarium lighting is usually achieved using either small bulbs of 15-25 watts ...

  AQUATIC QUERY Every aquarist has a story about a fish that turned from a peaceful pet into a fin-nipping tyrant. An aquarist's letter gives us a look at solving this common problem: I recently bought a beautiful 32×25×3×30 centimeters aquarium. The tank was initially stocked with one red platy, a black molly, and two silver shares. I later purchased a blue gourami. Shortly after introducing the fish into the aquarium, it started pursuing all the other fishes relentlessly.  One of them (the red platy) got wounded and died two days later. I had to remove the gourami to prevent a further attack of the other occupants. Could it be that all blue gourami are carnivorous? What do I do to this bully? ADDISSI, O.    Lagos. Expert Diagnosis   Your problem has to do with inexperience in knowledge about the type, size, nature, and habits of the new fish you bought. The blue gourami (Tricogaster Tricopterus) is a naturally gentle, adaptable, and well-behaved community fish...

HOMESTEAD FISH POND On building a functional fish pond, the core principles are; * Keeping costs and Depth in check The cost involved in constructing a fish pond depends on the type of material to be used, which could be clay, concrete, or liners. For a concrete pond type, you are likely to spend a lot of money. Your depth dimension should not be greater than 4ft to prevent stratification (sharp difference between the water temperature at the top and bottom of the pond), which can create oxygen-poor conditions at the bottom, which is detrimental to fish health and could adversely affect fish life. * Chemistry of pond preparation As for chemicals, you would only need agricultural limestone. But a good alternative would be finely ground quicklime (CaO), which is a strong alkali used as whitewash by painters. You only need a minimal proportion for this. This serves two key purposes; I) It acts to kill parasites, providing a basic level of disinfection. II) It helps neutralize the acidity ...

POISONOUS SUBSTANCES IN AQUARIUM WATER  As we are all aware, atmospheric air is made up of about 23 per cent oxygen and 76 per cent Nitrogen, together with a host of other gases in very minute quantities. It follows that when we put on the air-flow system of our aquarium, the air pumped in contains a little oxygen and a lot of nitrogen. This atmospheric nitrogen can be lethal to fish when the water is oversaturated (over 100 per cent saturation) with this gas. Research has shown that nitrogen embolism, otherwise known as NITROGEN GAS BUBBLE DISEASE, can occur with 103-118 per cent nitrogen saturation and cause a lot of fish casualties. Source: The Spruce Pets This condition can affect an aquarium fish when one is replacing the old aquarium water with slightly warm fresh water. The infection is characterised by the presence of small bubbles of nitrogen beneath the skin, in the fins, tail, or mouth, behind the eyes, and in the blood vessels. Source: Fish Pathology One can prevent the...

  HOW TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT SICK FISHES Apart from some visible disease symptoms of the fish, which we shall talk about in this guide, the fish will sometimes display behavioral symptoms like: * Gasping at the water surface. Source: TotalPond * Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface. Source: bunnycart.com * Rubbing of the body against rocks. Source: Aquariadise * General dullness and lethargy * Non-response to feeding.  The most common of the visible signs is the development of pinhead-sized white spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot caused by the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifillis. Source: ARKA Biotechnologie GmbH This parasite has a free-swimming stage, which attaches itself to the fish. The most common chemical used in treating infected fishes is Methylene Blue . You could buy a one percent stock solution from a reputable chemist or aquarium shop and apply at 0.8 to 1.0ml per gallon of water. This amount should be added a...

HOW DO I KNOW AND CURE FISH ILLNESS? Reader's Letter I gave up the fish-keeping hobby about three years ago after only eight months of very limited success. I would now like to try again after having read a series of your columns on Aquarium care. I am aiming to buy a new Aquarium equipped with natural plants from your company, but how do I know when the fishes fall ill? MARTIN D.B.(Dr) LAGOS. Expert's Response "Many diseases that commonly affect aquarium fish are stress-induced. The micro-organisms which cause these diseases may be present in the water part of the normal microfauna and seize the opportunity to infest or infect the fish when it is stressed and its normal defenses are weakened. Fishes fall ill because of stress suffered during: 𑇐 Handling at breeding farms and all stages of transport through the wholesaler, retailer, and purchaser. Source: Tetra Fishkeeper Blog 𑇐 Cold weather after a heavy rainfall. Source: Pixabay 𑇐 A drastic change in the water chemist...

HOW DO I HATCH FISH EGGS?   Reader's Letter I have a pair of Hemichromis Fasciatus, which I previously kept in a two-foot aquarium with an Oranda Goldfish and two Costello Tetras, but they became too aggressive, so I moved them to an 18"x12"x12" tank on their own. Since I bought them from a friend 4 months ago, they have spawned relentlessly every 14 days or so. However, they eat their eggs within 48 hours. I once tried to raise the eggs myself by removing the pair into a bucket after spawning, and then aerating the eggs with an air stone, but a white cotton mass soon covered them up. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? Expert's Letter It could well be that both of your Hemichromis are females; pairs of females will spawn together. This species is reasonably easy to sex; however, the difference in body shape is that males are flat underneath, and females are more rounded. The males tend to develop a heavier head profile and have a well-developed finnage as the...

  LETTER FROM AQUARIST II The following letter touches on several of the most common challenges faced by those new to the aquarium hobby. The Letter:  "I AM a beginner, and I have tried to build a tank on my own, but then I've been having a lot of problems. The major one is the cracking of the tank (24x12x12), probably due to the 3 millimeters thickness of glass used. Please tell me, how do I know the right thickness of glass and the best type of aquarium sealant to use?  I wonder if my fish will survive in tap water? If the answer is no, how do I treat the water, or can I use borehole water from our neighborhood?  Assuming I want to make a 9-hour journey, how can I transport my fishes? Is there any special tank, or a bucket is just enough, provided it is half filled with water?"  — AKOJI ONEKUTU, Markudi. Our Expert Advice Dear Akoji, The cracking of your aquarium glass is one common mishap that happens to amateur aquarists using the wrong glass thickness and n...

LETTER TO AQUARIST Welcome to our "Ask the Aquarist" column, where we tackle your toughest fishkeeping questions! Today, we're addressing a heartbreaking but incredibly common problem from a fellow hobbyist: "Why do my new fish keep dying within a few months?"  Mrs. Chyoma Onyenakazi from Owerri, Imo State, is a classic case that many beginners face. She wrote to enquire why her fishes did not stay up to six months in her aquarium before they died. She wondered whether the fish died because she fed them with cornflakes or because she didn't change the water for about seven weeks. She also wanted to know how to detect that the fishes are sick and the type of treatment to be employed. Let's dive into the real culprit and its solution. Dear Mrs. Chyoma The Real Reason Your New Fish Are Dying While feeding fish cornflakes is not recommended (they need specific nutrients), the primary cause of fish death in new tanks is rarely a single feeding mistake. The t...