NUTRAFIN Nr.4-USA 22-03-2004 10:29 Pagina 1
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NUTRAFIN Nr.4-USA 22-03-2004 10:29 Pagina 1 Aquatic News 2,50 US$/3,50 Can$/2,50 Euro/2 £/5 Aus$ £/5 2,50 US$/3,50 Can$/2,50 Euro/2 ÉÄw@ÉÄw@ ZZ y|á{xáy|á{xá #4 Issue #4 - 2004 Issue NUTRAFIN Nr.4-USA 22-03-2004 10:29 Pagina 2 DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS OF LIGHT? A strong, vibrant light is essential to the growth and health of your aquarium. This much you probably already know. But did you know that the average fluorescent tube loses LIFE-GLO 2 High-noon spectrum for aquariums, terrariums & vivariums about 50% of its lighting output quality within one year? This results in a distorted spectrum, inefficient plant and coral growth, and less intense fish colors. POWER-GLO Promotes coral, invertebrate and plant growth GLO offers a wide variety of tubes for every aquarium setup. They also provide you with a re- minder sticker to place either directly on the tube AQUA-GLO Intensifies fish colors and promotes plant growth or on the aquarium itself to remind you when it’s time to replace the bulb. FLORA-GLO Optimizes plant growth Or, if you prefer, sign up online at www.hagen.com and we’ll send you a reminder when it’s time. MARINE-GLO Promotes marine reef life So, replace your tubes regularly. You’ll love the results and your fish will love their home. SUN-GLO General purpose aquarium lighting NUTRAFIN Nr.4-USA 22-03-2004 10:29 Pagina 3 Editorial Editorial Dear Reader, "silent as a fish in water", fishes The first three issues of can communicate, often better NUTRAFIN Aquatic News than people... As I write, the have been a hit worldwide. The film is making equally great positive e-mails, faxes, and waves in Europe. People young letters continue to pour in. and old are standing in long A further five countries have queues at the cinema box of- asked us about NAN, we may fices. There seems to be no end have to think of additional to the fascination, and there are versions in the future... now all sorts of "spin-off" toys It occurs to me that NAN could and games – even models of be riding on the success of each individual fish species. Finding Nemo. You will People are besieging the pet undoubtedly be aware of shops and demanding Nemos, Disney’s latest cartoon film or putting their fishes down the Finding Nemo is conquering the hearts of millions, just like which took more than 330 toilet thinking they will really the aquarium hobby. But Nemos are definitely not for the million dollars at the box office gain their freedom... This high- beginner’s aquarium. A goldfish (our “thread” this issue) in the first few weeks in the USA lights the only two problems alone and has become the most or guppy (NAN no. 2) is infinitely better. with this film. Firstly, children successful animation film of all shouldn’t be allowed to buy time! This fast-moving under- clownfishes. They are marine water adventure has had a huge fishes, and although they are impact through its fascinating Contents now bred all over the world, it scenes in incredible colours requires a high degree of techni- such as have never been seen in cal knowledge on the part of an a cinema film before – only in Fishes in nature and in the aquarium 4 advanced aquarist to maintain nature or in our aquaria. Goldfishes and their history such fishes (in a saltwater "Nemo" is an entertainment aquarium). This also requires a spectacular, which demon- lot more experience and more strates that monsters are "out" The aquarium hobby on the Internet 5 equipment than for a freshwater and fishes "in". In their fifth film This time in the Goldfish article aquarium. Novices should al- the Oscar-winning team from ways begin with the latter. And the leading computer animation PLEASE NEVER put a fish company Pixar (Toy Story, A Aquatic plants – 7 down the toilet, as it is bound to Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Mon- cultivation in the Aquarium die, as even in Sydney the sters Inc.) transport their public Some helpful tips (fresh) water from the toilet to the Great Barrier Reef off the doesn’t flow directly into the Australian coast with its strange sea. A saltwater fish will be and varied marine creatures. Do-it-yourself 8 long dead before it gets there.... During the course of the film Setting up an aquarium... But "Nemo" does demonstrate almost 700 different shoals of ...decor material - planting - CO2 that fishes are "in" and that fishes (!) were introduced in they, like any animal (or per- different places, practically son), need a little fuss. And 100,000 fishes (!) were comput- New practical products 10 believe me, it is possible to er simulated. This game of num- Life Glo 2, Fluval Tronic Heaters, accustom fishes to being bers can be continued ad infini- New foods, Aqua Clear Filters stroked. I have been doing it for tum (290,000 air bubbles, more years. Once they have settled in than 12,000 corals, etc.). In they will not only feed from your "Nemo" they again demonstrate New in the trade 11 hand, but they actually like to their eye for detail, for fishes Fishes and plants be stroked! You can easily try it and their intelligence. Nemo is for yourself with goldfishes. The no clown – although the species Chinese have been doing it for of this group are known thus – Biotope aquaria 12 thousands of years, as you will but highly intelligent like most read, inter alia, in this issue. For goldfishes (or all) fishes. Something very few people know. And in contra- Yours aquatically, diction of the German proverb Aquarium history 13 Heiko Bleher Part 4: What happened at the start of 1800? NUTRAFIN Aquatic News Scientific adviser: Dr. Jacques Géry Publisher: Aquapress Layout: Rossella Bulla & Heiko Bleher Copy editor: Heiko Bleher Editor-in-Chief: Heiko Bleher Nutrafin news 14 Printer: Grafiche Dessì. s.r.l., Italy Editorial address: Nutrafin Aquatic News Nutrafin visits Photos: Cover Burkard Kahl/Aquapress Via G. Falcone 11, Aquapress archives 27010 Miradolo Terme (Pavia), Italy Aquarama 2003 in Singapore unless otherwise stated [email protected] - www. Hagen.com NAN is printed on paper produced using Tel. +390382 754707 - Fax +390382 754129 chlorine-free bleach 4 NUTRAFIN Aquatic News 3 NUTRAFIN Nr.4-USA 22-03-2004 10:29 Pagina 4 Fishes in nature and in the aquarium Ornamental fishkeeping began with the goldfish. It is said that in the 2nd year of his rule (769 BC) dur- ing the eastern Zhou (Don-Zhou) period (770-720 BC), King Zhou Pingwang wrote about Kin Yu in the first Chinese script. The name translates as “red fish” – as it is still called today in Italy (pesci rossi) and France (poissons rouges). Linnaeus (1758) gave it the scientific name Cyprinus auratus. The Ger- mans first of all called it Silberkarausche and today Goldfisch, while in English-speaking countries it is likewise the goldfish, and pez dorado wherever Spanish is spoken. Meanwhile the Portuguese call it the Japanese fish (peixe Japonés), even though it didn’t reach the Land of the Rising Sun until 1500 AD. It first “landed” in Europe in the 17th century. Nowadays there are more than 125 varieties of different shape and colour, and the latter now rarely matches the name. It was illegal, under pain of punishment, to By this time too the various cultivated ZÉÄwy|á{xá eat them or use them for any other pur- forms of the goldfish, such as the bubble- pose.Then, round about 1163 AD, they eye, the celestial, and the lionhead with the and their history started to be maintained in private ponds as double tail, had already been developed. The well. At first it was chiefly the feudal lords Chinese cultivated forms of the goldfish by Heiko Bleher that kept them. But by around 1547 the were – and still are – short-finned fishes It is no exaggeration to say that some goldfish had become a regular pet. The no- with rather globular bodies, reminiscent of a aquarium fishes, for example discus and bility, such as dignitaries and mandarins, bizarre dragon or a corpulent domestic deity. coral fishes (see Nemo), are nowadays kept them in wonderful garden ponds, They are a manifestation of Chinese taste, a worth their weight in gold. They are sometimes of fabulous design, while the liking for the grotesque and demonic. colourful, attractive in form, or have well-off utilised vessels of precious jade. The goldfish is said to have probably unusual habits. And above all they are in Among average folk, by contrast, they reached Japan via Korea around 1500. But fashion. were kept in earthenware tubs, vats, and Japanese taste is very different from that of But amidst all these diversions there is bowls. These containers were popular, as the Chinese. It is lighter, more playful, and one fish we should never forget: more harmonious. The Japan- the goldfish and its numerous ese moulded the goldfish ac- “sports”, in both colour and form. cording to their own ideas. Of course it is possible to buy From the “Chinese dragon” beautiful common goldfishes, they created charming, “flow- veiltails, and celestials for only a ery”, elegantly-formed fishes little money, but for really good with smaller bodies and longer specimens, as conceived by the fins, intended to be viewed al- creators of these oriental beau- most exclusively from above.