FAAS Publication Awards Form 1st Rev 11-2011

Author Joel Antkowiak

Society (NO Abbreviations) Aquarium Club of Lancaster County

Category 29 - Best Continuing Column Age (Junior Only)

Date of Publication 2011

Title of Publication (NO Abbreviations) Tank Tales

Title of Article Bread 'n Butter

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For Junior Entries, e.g Junior Level 1: J1-013-002.pdf Bread 'N Butter The by Joel Antkowiak

This is the first in a series of articles on those living things that commonly carry the label of a "beginner's" item and often times are among the first of that type that are kept in an aquarium. The , Carassius auratus, is Thus, sometimes the budding aquarist never very often the first fish owned by a budding actually blooms. aquarist. It can be a long lived pet. In fact, The death of the fish is usually due to a the Guinness Book of World Records puts the combination or things. These goldfish are oldest goldfish ever at 43 years. This raised in huge quantities to be intended as goldfish, which was named Tish, was food for larger fishes. As such, they are sold fortuitously won by Peter Hand of the United very cheaply, and shipped as though they Kingdom in 1956 at a fairground stall, and are not very valuable. The fish are stressed lived until 1999. That is usually how these by shipping to the local wholesaler where the fish are thrust upon us-while we enjoy local shop got the fish, which may be done watching our youngsters win at a game of with the fish packed 500 or more to a box. ping pong ball throwing at the annual Strees also occurs in shipping from the carnival. The ball "fortuitously" lands in a wholesaler to the shop, and then from the small ivy bowl containing the fish, and the shop to the carnival. The "carnies" are not fish goes home with the youngster. I put experienced aquarists, and usually do not fortuitously in quotes because, well, YEA, the treat the fish as they should. The fish are child wins! But usually the fish is not as kept bulk packed until they are placed in the lucky as Tish. It ends up losing…its life.

An albino goldfish in a pond at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA. Bread 'N Butter (cont) grossly undersized ivy bowls. Further, these scales; normal finnage, butterfly tail, carnivals are usually held outdoors in the and even double tail varieties exist. Body summer, causing heated water in the bowls shapes can vary from the normal and keeping containers, which results in shape to the egg shaped body common to increased fish metabolism (translation-more many of the fancy varieties. The fancy egg fish wastes) as well as a lack of oxygen in shaped fishes are better suited for the the water. When the fish arrives home, the aquarium, as they stay smaller, usually new owners usually do not know how to around 8 inches or less. properly care for them. They are kept in Even the head can differ, with the growth of containers that are woefully small for this a "mane" on the lion headed varieties. Other species, with insufficient filtration, and the domestic strains include the black moor, fish usually dies within a few days. , , , and Unfortunately, it's a sad tale that does not pompom among many others. The varieties always need to end in the death of the fish. with egg shaped bodies are not as hardy as The goldfish has several requirements, not the normal body types. the least of which is a tank of sufficient size. Most people do not realize that goldfish are Goldfish can get up to 19 inches long, in the family Cyprinidae. This is the same although a foot to 15 inches is more family as barbs, danios and rasboras. As common. A fish of this stature will produce such, goldfish are, like their aforementioned large quantities of waste, so filtration must cousins, schooling fish and will do better in a be efficient, especially if the tank is large group. The schools formed by undersized. The species is omnivorous, but are looser than those generally will eat almost any plant. However, feeding formed by other Cyprinids, but nonetheless, them dry food such as pellets or pond sticks they are schools. will be much less expensive. Be careful not to over feed, as goldfish are opportunistic Again like all Cyprinids, goldfish are egg feeders. That is to say, they will eat as long layers. It is not easy to distinguish between as there is food available, and this will often the sexes. Females are generally a little result in the demise of the specimen by plumper than males. Mature males also have blockage of the intestines. tubercles on their heads; little bumps that turn white and are easier to see while the One thing that you need not worry about fish are spawning. They will spawn best after with your goldfish is heating the tank. They a prolonged cooling period, usually outdoors will do well from 65F to 85F, and can even in a pond in the spring. I am reminded of a survive over winter outdoors in a pond. If story from my days in the Greater Pittsburgh yours are kept outdoors, remember to stop Aquarium Society, when a young boy kept feeding the fish when the water temperature his bedroom window open during the winter gets down to 55F. At this temperature, the to get his goldfish tank cold so he could then fish's digestive system is operating very close the window, warm up the tank and poorly, and undigested food in the intestinal breed his goldfish. tract will just rot inside the fish, causing disease and possibly death. This is a good Goldfish are egg scatterers and will, guideline to follow for all outdoor pond unfortunately, eat their eggs. A common creatures. method employed to save as many fry as possible is the use of spawning mops. The Selective breeding over the last few mops are placed on the bottom of the tank centuries has produced many color, eye, and the adhesive eggs fall into the mop. scale, fin and body shape varieties of the There can be as many as 1,000 eggs laid in goldfish. There are fish that are orange, one spawning. The mops are then removed white, black and combinations of colors; to a hatching tank after spawning is there are normal eyes, telescopic eyes, and completed. The eggs will hatch in 5 to 7 days eyes with bubbles; normal scales and pearly at 68F to 72F and the fry will still be

Bread 'N Butter (cont) attached to their yolk sac. They will feed with other size appropriate foods. Maintain a from the yolk sac for another 3 days or so. clean tank by performing water changes Once the yolk sacs have been absorbed, you once per day. If you feed them heavily and can begin feeding your baby goldfish. maintain the water quality, the young should be ready to spawn by the next spawning The first foods will need to be very small, season and you can start the cycle all over such as infusoria, green water, rotifers, again. "sponge scrunge," liquid fry food or very fine powdered food. As the young fish grow, baby Now take a drink of water-it's time to wash brine shrimp can be added to their diet along this bread 'n butter down.

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ACLC IS SATURDAY APRIL 30TH! THE BOWL SHOW CLASSES ARE RAINBOWFISHES AND MALE BETTAS Bread 'N Butter Guppies by Joel Antkowiak

Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. The guppy is among the most popular of environments. They can sometimes be found aquarium fishes and are often recommended in temperate areas where they can survive in as a beginner's fish. Their combination of waters artificially heated, for example by small size, bright colors, peaceful disposition, waste water from power stations. Many of adaptability and general hardiness are to be the introduced populations were accidental, thanked for their position in the hobby. although some were planned introductions However, very rarely does anyone keep a meant to control mosquito populations. wild type guppy in their aquarium. This The guppy prefers an aquarium with hard species, Poecilia reticulata, has been bred water on the alkaline side, and will benefit into so many different colors and patterns from salt in the water. Indeed, guppies have that there is little interest in the wild fish been known to tolerate water with salt levels anymore, except as a food for other fishes. up to 150% that of sea water! They are Unfortunately, the tales of hardiness and sometimes adapted to life in saltwater and adaptability were really born from the wild kept in marine aquaria, or used to cycle type, and domesticated strains are much marine tanks. less tolerant. But mostly guppies are kept as beginners' There are actually three species of fishes fish. They are seen as easy to keep, and that are referred to as guppies. The other easy to breed. They are often times the first species known as guppies are Poecilia fish that a budding aquarist breeds and can wingei, also known as the Endler's livebearer be kept in small table top aquaria. In an or Endler's guppy, and Micropoecilia picta, aquarium that provides many hiding places the swamp guppy. This article will deal only for the newborn fry, a growing population with the common guppy. will soon be confirmed by the apparently The common guppy is native to Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela. It takes its common name from Robert John Lechmere Guppy, who collected the fish in Trinidad in 1866 and later it was later described by Albert C. L. G. Gunther as Girardinus guppii. The fish had been previously described by Peters in 1859 as Poecilia reticulata, but the common name "guppy" stuck. The guppy has now been widely distributed around the world and is established on all continents except Antarctica, usually in tropical or subtropical Male Black Moscow guppy at the 2011 ALA convention sudden appearance of small guppies. color can be solid, spotted or show an irregular pattern such as snakeskin. Virtually Guppies do best in water that is slightly every color in the spectrum is present alkaline, with a pH of 7.5 suiting them well. somewhere in the genetic make-up of the The water should be moderately hard, with a guppy, so the possible color combinations reading of up to 20 degrees GH. They have a are virtually endless. wide temperature range of 55 F up to about 100 F. That said, they will tolerate and even The development of so many different thrive in conditions that vary vastly from varieties is made possible by the guppy's these. As mentioned earlier, they can prolific nature and the fast reproductive cycle tolerate a large amount of salt in their water, of the species. Because they reach sexual which can be used as a tonic to prevent maturity so quickly, it is easily possible to diseases. And being omnivores, they will eat back cross the younger generation to one of just about anything. They do have a the parent fishes. When attempting to fix a preference for insect larvae and small certain trait, it is imperative to isolate virgin aquatic crustaceans such as daphnia. females as early as possible. Once a female has been fertilized by a male that does not Breeding guppies does not present a carry the desired characteristic, she is ruined problem. They are live bearing fishes and until she drops all of his young. This may give birth every 3 to 5 weeks, depending on take 6 months or more, as guppies are able the temperature, water quality and diet. to bear multiple broods from a single Each brood will contain 20 or more fry, with fertilization. a large female capable of giving birth to 50 or more babies at one time. The fry are easy Breeding fishes for specific traits requires to rear on a diet of newly hatched brine mating of the 2 best (as in those specimens shrimp nauplii and powdered dry foods, and showing the trait to its fullest) closest can reach sexual maturity in as little as 2 relatives. In the case of the guppy, this is months. It is more often the case that often the father - daughter combination, as females will start producing young at 5 or 6 the mother must continue to purge herself of months of age. the offspring from her previous mating. This often times leaves the female too old to mate with one of her sons. The next most common match is of brother and sister. When delving into a breeding project, it is best to select the breeder fishes carefully. Starting with healthy fishes that show some of the characteristics that you desire will increase the chances of a success. Sometimes called the "million fish", the guppy is one of the most common species kept and bred by aquarists. They are a Even female guppies have color these days. prolific species that will bear young under a One of the main attractions of breeding vast array of environmental conditions, but guppies is the chance that the hobbyist can their tolerance for poor water conditions can develop a new variety. Many beautiful easily be overestimated. With availability in strains of guppies have been developed by a vast array of colors, color patterns and hobbyists in the United States and abroad. finnage, there quite possibly could be a They may vary in fin development and/or guppy for everyone. If not, try to make your coloration. The caudal fin alone can be fan own! shaped, delta shaped, have a double sword or single sword - which can be either at the Now take a drink of water-it's time to wash top or bottom of the fin; or can be rounded this bread 'n butter down. or a number of other possibilities. The tail Bread 'N Butter Scalare: Freshwater Angelfish by Joel Antkowiak

Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. There are several species unique shape and myriad of freshwater fishes of color strains that have known as angelfish. The been developed not generic name unlike the subject of our Pterophyllum means last installment of this "winged leaf", a very apt column, the guppy. From description for these a silver fish with black cichlids. There are stripes, the angelfish is currently 3 accepted now available in gold, species of Pterophyllum black, silver, blue, green, that are known as platinum, marbled freshwater angelfishes: varieties, blushing Pt. altum, Pt. leopoldi and strains and so on. There Pt. scalare. You may also are also veil tail and hear the names Pt. super veil tailed dumerilii and Pt. eimekei varieties, as well as the bandied about. Pt. pearl scale effect that dumerilii is now accepted raises the scales on the as a junior synonym of body of the fish to give it Pt. leopoldi, and Pt. a pearly appearance. eimekei a junior synonym of Pt. scalare. With proper knowledge of angelfish genetics, one could produce several types of angels in All three species originate from tropical quantity from just one breeding pair! South America. The altum angelfish, Pt. altum, comes from areas of southeast Whereas most specimens of altums and Columbia, southern Venezuela, and extreme teardrop angels are wild caught, the opposite northern Brazil. It is by far the largest of the is true of scalares. The majority of this angelfishes, with wild specimens having species that are seen in the hobby have been caught that were as much as 20 inches been commercially produced or bred by high. It is also the most laterally compressed fellow hobbyists. As such, the scalare can of the angelfishes. tolerate and even thrive in a much broader range of environmental conditions than its By comparison, the teardrop angel, Pt. sister species. It is not uncommon to see leopoldi, is more elongated than the other scalares spawn in water with a pH as high as two species, and it is the smallest. It will 7.6 and hardness as much as 200 ppm, grow to only about 3 inches. when they are usually considered a species By far the most common of the angelfishes is that requires soft, acidic water. This Pt. scalare. When a person says angelfish in flexibility has only added to the popularity of reference to the freshwater aquarium hobby, the species. they usually mean this species unless they The flexibility of the scalare does not end qualify their statement. It is also the most with tolerance to varying water chemistries. commonly seen cichlid in the hobby, It is a somewhat peaceful fish and is quite a although at first glance it does not appear to striking addition to the community aquarium. be a cichlid at all. They are sought for their It will only bother fishes that are small

enough for it to consider as food. Otherwise, temperature to about 82F and the fish unless spawning, the species is usually quite should soon spawn. peaceful and outgoing. It can also be Angelfish like to spawn on a nearly vertical displayed in a 'species' tank containing only surface. It is not uncommon for a pair to lay other scalares. This type of aquarium can be their eggs on a power filter siphon tube or a very impressive when it contains a variety of heater. Plant leaves, especially those of angelfish colors and finnage types. Being sword plants, are often used. Most breeders from Pittsburgh, I am partial to a display will place a piece of slate in the tank that is containing only black and gold scalares. about 3 inches or so wide and long enough Breeding Pt. scalare is not to reach near the top of very difficult. Sexing them the tank when leaned can be. If breeding is the against the glass. This goal, then it is best to makes it easy to remove start out with 6 or more the eggs if the parents are young angels and let them not the best care takers. grow up together. When it The fry hatch out within 3 is time, they will pair off days and are free naturally. If you would swimming 2-3 days later, rather try to purchase 2 depending on the adult fish to acquire your temperature. breeders, then there are Once the fry are free several methods that can swimming they can be fed be useful in sexing the newly hatched brine fish. First, when looked at shrimp nauplii 3 or more head on, females will tend times per day. There are 2 to be a little thicker in the keys to getting great area just above the pelvic growth on your baby fins. A second method angels: 1) frequent that sometimes works is feedings and 2) frequent to compare the angle of water changes. The water changes should be the body between the pelvic fins and the at least 50%, and many of the best known beginning of the anal fin. On males, the breeders do 75% or more on a daily basis. If angle is slightly steeper than in females. Of the water changes are not performed, your course, if all the fish in the tank are the young angelfish will look more like monos same sex, this will not work. People that than angels. With daily 50% water changes have experience with angelfishes can usually and 3-5 feedings per day, your angels will tell the sexes apart reliably, but it takes reach dime body size within 4 weeks, nickel practice. size body in 6-8 weeks and quarter size Of course the most reliable method of sexing within 3 months. Although you may be able angelfishes is to observe them when they to sell dime sized angels to your local store, spawn. The female's ovipositor will be blunt, they would prefer nickel size or larger. Once and the male's will sharper, almost like a the angels reach quarter body size or larger, pencil point. water changes can be reduced to twice per week, assuming that the young fishes have Once you have a pair, condition them with a been moved to an appropriately large tank. variety of quality foods. These days, there is The next generation of angels will begin a wide variety of nutritious fish foods pairing off at about 8-9 months of age. available, so live food is not necessary. I have had scalares spawn consistently every Now take a drink of water-it's time to wash 2 weeks on a diet of flake foods. Raise the this bread 'n butter down.

Bread 'N Butter Betta: Siamese Fighting Fish by Joel Antkowiak

Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. One of the most interesting behaviors that But the betta is also well known for the can be observed in the tropical fish hobby is rainbow of colors in which they are available. the flaring associated with the sparring of Red, blue, green, yellow, white, black and two male Betta splendens, the Siamese just about any combination of these and fighting fish. When left together, the males more. They also come in many color of the species will continue to flare at each patterns, such as solid colors, a butterfly other, sizing one another up for a piscine pattern, where the body color is different battle royale. If left from the fin color and together long enough, extends a short way into one of them surely will the fins; marble, which meet its demise. allows a smidgen of one color mixed over the In some parts of the base color, typically with world, fighting bettas is the head lighter than the considered a sport. body; and the Some strains of B. 'Cambodian' betta, splendens, or betta, which has the body one such as the plakat, are color, usually lighter bred specifically for this colored, and the fins pugilistic trait. There another, but with the are even websites body color limited to the available to help you train your betta to Typical red fish store betta. body of the fish. Last fight, and breeders that but not least is the specialize in champion fighter stock. In the multi-colored betta, which can have any United States, we stop short of fighting combination of colors with any pattern. these beautiful creatures. In trying to put it simply, the color of a betta Once bettas were bred to bring out their is based on the color pigmentation in aggression, fights could last for hours. different types of cells. These different color Today's bettas have much more of the cells are present in different layers within the aggressive tendencies than their wild skin of the fish. There are basically four ancestors. A contest pitting two wild types of color layers in a betta, each with its specimens together would only last a few own type of color cells. In wild bettas these minutes before one of them would retreat. color layers are: This is also true, for the most part, of Iridescent layer (top layer) modern day bettas while they are being raised together. Young males will spar in a Red layer tank where their brothers and sisters are Black layer being raised with them as a group. Once the males are separated to be raised singly, their Yellow layer (bottom layer) pugilistic tendencies become more In our domesticated bettas, the distribution pronounced. of these layers is a bit different from the wildtype:

Iridescent layer (top layer): This layer is also pattern. For instance, to breed black bettas, known as the blue layer and controls the you must breed a black male to a steel green amount of blue pigments. The iridocytes, or female that is carrying the melanistic trait. guanophores, which are the blue/green cells So if you want to breed bettas for a in this layer, control the following traits: particular color trait, you will need to know iridescent colors, spread iridocytes, non- the genetic make up of your fishes, and blue. know what to breed together to get the result you desire. Black layer: The black layer contains melanophores, or black cells, which control This is just the basics on betta coloration, the amount of black pigment. They contain which is all this article is intended to provide. the following traits: Cambodian, So enough on color. But you have a similar blond/bright, and melano. situation with betta finnage. Bettas have been bred to display spectacular finnage in Red layer: The red layer contains the modern aquarium. The original short erythrophores, or red cells, which control the amount of red pigment in this layer. They control the following traits: extended red, reduced red, non-red, and variegated finnage. Yellow layer (bottom layer): The yellow layer contains xanthophores, or yellow cells. So far, no genes have been identified that control the yellow layer of pigmentation. It will be expressed only through the absence of the red, black and iridescent/blue layers Female cambodian betta with crown tail. of cells.

Each of these color layers has its own finned, round tail fish has been bred for genetic code which is determined by a series much longer fins, or perhaps a double tail. of genes which, when combined, eventually Tails also exhibit the comb and crown determine the color of the betta. The effects, where the rays of the caudal, and different genes either increase or decrease even the dorsal and anal fins, extend beyond the pigment in the different layers. Suffice it the fin webbing. The myriad of combinations to say that betta color genetics is a of color, color patterns, and finnage types, complicated subject, and there are entire along with their simple care requirements books written on the topic. It doesn't have made Betta splendens perhaps the necessarily follow that if you want to breed a single most widely kept fish in all of the certain color of betta, that you should have a tropical fish hobby. I mention the simple care requirements. Bettas are labyrinth fishes; that is to say, they have an auxiliary breathing organ that allows them to take in air from the atmosphere. Thus, no aeration is required for these little beauties to live. They are also small, with a body size around 2 inches in length. This allows them to be kept in small containers. Although some folks keep them in ivy bowls, a larger container would suit Female blue crowntail betta. them better. If you are willing to perform a water change every day or two, depending male and female of that same color or on the size of the container, no filtration is

required. And they will eat just about any if you want to raise as many fish as possible food that is offered, from flakes and granules from the brood. If just a few fish are desired, to live worms and mosquito larvae. adding a clump of java moss to provide microorganisms for the fry to feed on, and Breeding Betta splendens is not overly using newly hatched brine shrimp as a first difficult. A five gallon tank is sufficient, food will usually result in 30 - 50 fish. As although I like to use a 10 gallon tank. I they grow, at about 6-8 weeks the males will have had success using a lid from a plastic begin sparring and should be separated into butter tub as the base for the male to build their own container to be raised is show fish his nest. Others use a styrofoam cup cut in are desired. They usually will not do serious half from top to bottom. The lid or cup is damage to each other while being raised then floated in the tank. On the opposite together. But once separated, they can not side of the aquarium, I place a small drum be housed together again. bowl into which I place the female betta. I usually have a small clump of java moss in One important point that should be noted: the tank as well. The moss will provide some the fry tank should be kept warm and cover for the female when she is released covered at all times for the first month. This into the tank. allows the labyrinth organ to develop properly. This is the organ that allows The pair are fed heavily on frozen foods and anabantoids to breath air. The fry use their live black worms. The temperature is set to gills exclusively until this organ is developed. 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit. The male starts blowing his bubbles and, using the lid as an The Siamese fighting fish is one of the most anchor, places them under the lid to popular, if not the most popular, of aquarium construct his nest. When the male has the fishes. The range of colors and many types nest built, and the female is ready, she is of finnage, along with its innate desire to released into the tank with the male. fend off others of the species, makes it one of the more interesting fishes as well. How do you know when the female is ready? She will become very round in the abdominal NEEDED IMMEDIATELY region. Also, in the area of the pelvic fins, you will notice a small white egg spot. Membership Chairperson Soon after releasing the female, the male We need someone to be able to get to the will try to seduce her under the nest. She meetings at least 30 minutes ahead of the eventually cooperates. While under the nest, scheduled start time to greet our members the two fish go into an embrace where it and sign them in, distribute name tags, and appears that the male is squeezing the eggs talk to prospective new members about the out of the female. Upon releasing the female club. Contact Kurt Johnston if you can help. from his embrace, the male then collects the eggs and places them into the nest. This SWAP SHOP goes on for a couple hours and several hundred eggs are laid. After spawning, the FOR SALE: 100 gallon tank, 72" x 18" x 18". males takes over care of the brood. It is best Does not leak. Tank only. $75. to remove the female at this time. 40 gallon breeder tanks. Drilled at rear The eggs will hatch in 2-3 days, with the upper left corner for central system. 2 male diligently caring for the eggs and the currently available at $20 each; more fry. When the fry become free swimming, available soon. the task of gathering the fry back into the nest becomes too much for the male and it is Tanks are not show quality. best to remove him at this time. Contact Joel Antkowiak at 717-354-2274 or Many people begin feeding the tiny fry with by e-mail at [email protected]. paramecium or other tiny foods. This is fine

Bread 'N Butter Aquarium Plants by Joel Antkowiak

Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. I am taking a step away from the swimming difficult to grow than anacharis and temple type of bread and butter species to keep plants. more in line with this month's newsletter Sword Plants theme of aquascaping. In the modern aquarium shop, there are hundreds of These plants are usually used as show pieces species of aquatic plants available for in a display aquarium. The sword plants hail hobbyists to grow in their home displays. from the genus Echinodorus, and most will This article will serve as an introduction to grow 12 - 18 inches high. The exception to some of the most common and basic types. this rule is the pygmy chain sword, E. tenellus, which will produce a carpet of small Bunch Plants 3-4 inch high plants and is a great One of the first groups of plants that the foreground plant. beginning hobbyist encounters is the 'bunch The sword plants are some of the many plants'. Although many of these plants are plants available for aquarium cultivation that unrelated botanically speaking, they are have multiple growing forms in their natural usually grouped together. They consist of state. Most commonly, plants that are sold in plants that are sold as a small bunch of stores have been grown emersed, or with stems or cuttings that readily put down roots their roots in water and the plant above the in their new homes. Often times they are water line. Rarely will you find a plant weighted by a strip of lead, which should be available commercially that has been grown removed. The most common of these is submersed, or entirely under water. This is Egeria densa, or anacharis. It can also be because the availability of carbon in the found under the names elodea and Brazilian atmosphere is much greater than it is in waterweed. This is a quickly growing species water. Therefore, the plants will grow more when offered moderate lighting and kept quickly if grown emersed. Sword plants are between 55-77F. It will also thrive while free among the many species that will benefit floating. greatly from the use of carbon dioxide The temple plants of the genus Hygrophila injection in the aquarium, especially if given are also easily grown. Species commonly ample lighting. encountered include H. polysperma, H. There are about 26 known species of sword corymbosa along with its 'compacta' variety, plants. Of these, there are about a dozen and H. difformis. H. difformis is also called that are commonly available the most water wisteria and has bright green, ferny popular of which is the Amazon sword plant. looking leaves. H. polysperma has leaves Two species are sold under this name. E. that are lanceolate and about 1-1 1/2" long, bleheri and E. amazonicus. Others most and can be green or pink depending on the commonly available are the radican sword - variety. H. corymbosa has larger leaves than E. cordifolius, the ruffled sword - E. major, H. polyspperma, perhaps to 3" in length. and the rosette sword - E. parviflorus. Other plants that are commonly sold in The Crypts bunches include Rotala sp., Cabomba sp., Ambulia sp., Ludwigia sp., and Bacopa The water trumpets from the genus caroliniana. These are all a little more Cryptocoryne, or 'crypts', are also usually available in the emersed grown form, but

can be found in the submersed form as well. are usually the most desired species. Such is There are about 60 or so species of Crypts, the case with the Aponogetons. The lace though maybe a dozen that are readily plants are more difficult to cultivate, and available. The name 'water trumpet' is a only the most experienced aquarist will be reference to the shape of the inflorescence, able to grow their lace plant multiple times or flower, of the plants. These plants will from a single bulb. The Madagascar lace generally grow well in lower light conditions plant, A. madagascariensis, may also have a than the sword plants. They will also stay a tendency to grow algae on its leaves if the bit smaller, maybe 8-12 inches as a general lighting is not correct, filling in the lattice rule, though some species will grow larger. structure of the leaf. Some crypts have been cultivated into More common and much more easily grown different color forms that can make species include A. ulvaceus, A. boivinianus, interesting additions to the aquarium without A. crispus, A. natans, and A. rigidifolius. having to provide different growing The Grassy Stuff conditions. The most common of these is Crypt. wendtii, which comes in red, bronze, There are two genera of plants that are green and the "Mi Oya" variety that is a almost grass-like that are very popular for reddish bronze color. Other common crypts the aquarium. The genus Sagittaria contains are Crypt. blassi, Crypt. ciliata, Crypt. parva, about 30 species and is closely related to the Crypt. lutea, Crypt. lucens, Crypt. sword plants. It consists of mostly pontederifolia, Crypt. moehlmanni, and the amphibious marsh plants that have long more grassy species such as Crypt. stemmed aerial leaves that are oval to arrow balansae, Crypt. spiralis, and Crypt. shaped. But the smaller submerged species retrospiralis. Several other species are have more linear shaped leaves and multiply occasionally seen in the hobby. rapidly by runners in the aquarium. S. subulata is the most common of these in the A phenomenon that frequently occurs with aquarium, whereas its larger cousin, S. crypts when they lose their leaves when platyphylla, is also frequently encountered. transplanted is called 'crypt melt'. It may take a newly planted crypt up to 30 days or The second and more popular grassy plant more to generate new leaves once it has genus is Vallisneria. The corkscrew val, Val. melted. All emerse grown plants will go tortifolia, is a medium sized plant with bright through the melt, and sometimes submerse green tightly twisted leaves. Val. spiralis is grown forms. Crypt melt makes it imperative similar in size but a slightly darker green in that, when buying crypts, the root stock is color and not as tightly twisted. Very popular healthy. Crypt melt is so common that some as a background plant is jungle val, also growers are now shipping crypts without called giant val. Most are usually sold as Val. leaves to save on shipping cots, and because gigantea, but are actually Val. americanus. the leaves will be lost anyway. The leaves of this plant can reach 3 feet in length and it will quickly form a living wall at Aponogetons the rear of your aquarium. These plants are fully aquatic. They may live Anubias sp. in temporary still or flowing waters and will survive a dry period in the form of a bulb or Plants of the genus Anubias prefer low light tuber. The bulbs are sometimes available in conditions and are sometimes difficult to stores as 'mystery plant' because the keep because algae tends to grow on their distributer lost track of the species of some leaves faster than they grow, which is about bulbs and sells them as a 'see what you get' 1 leaf per month or sometimes less. They fun type of marketing strategy. They are are characterized by broad, sturdy, dark generally easy to grow and require period of green leaves that come in many different dormancy. Of course, there are always forms. The Anubias like to be attached to a exceptions to every rule, and the exceptions piece of porous rock or driftwood, as

opposed to burying their roots in the given the proper growing conditions and are substrate. Most often encountered are excellent plants for breeding killifish and various forms of An. barteri, including An. livebearers. They grow totally submerged barteri var. coffeefolia and the diminutive and a single stem can reach up to 3 meters An. barteri var. nana. in length. Floating Plants Crystalwort, Riccia fluitans, is also commonly used to provide cover at the water surface Last but not least in this short introduction to for fry. However, more recently and more aquarium plants, let's talk a bit about some popularly, it is being used as a 'ground of the common floating plant species. There cover' in planted aquaria. It is placed on a are several species that are very popular rock and wrapped with netting that allows it with aquarists because they provide cover to grow through, forming a lawn like effect. for fry born in their tanks. Others are used primarily as pond plants but can be over Last but not least, water sprite ( wintered in the aquarium. The most Ceratopterus thalictroides) is a great plant to commonly available pond plants are water use either rooted in the aquarium substrate, lettuce, Pistia stratiotes, and the water or allowed to float freely. Moderate light and hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. These plants soft, mildly acidic water will make this plant float at the water surface and send roots grow and multiply, providing all of the down into the water. These root systems can previously mentioned advantages of floating provide ample spawning sites for killifish and and of rooted plants. Small plantlets develop other egg placers, and hiding places for fry. at the edge of the plant leaves and quickly They require high light levels to over winter develop into miniature water sprite plants. in the aquarium. There are 4 other floating plants that I want to touch on. Hornwort, Ceratophylum demersum, and guppy grass, Najas guadalupensis, will fill a tank in short order if

Bread 'N Butter Tiger Barbs by Joel Antkowiak

Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. There are several species of barbs that are shade of red. The fin color is more intense in very popular amongst beginning aquarists. males. The rest of the body is brownish Perhaps the species that is most sought after orange color. The scales viewed under the is Puntius tetrazona, the tiger barb. The tiger right light have an iridescent gold or brass barb has been a popular fish for a long time. look to them. It is a standard favorite in the aquarium world. However, the tiger barb is believed by As with many fishes that have been kept in most aquarists to be a very aggressive aquaria over a long period of time, man has species and an avid fin nipper, but when developed some color morphs of the tiger kept properly, this species is actually very barb. The two most commonly available are much a good community aquarium fish. The the albino tiger barb and the green moss same can be said about the other popular barb. The albino tiger barb is cream and gold barb species. with white stripes and red to orange The barbs are schooling fishes, and as such, accented fins. It is not as popular as the they need to be kept in groups. When not natural coloration, but is still widely kept in groups, the individuals become a bit available. The green moss barb, which is more territorial and will attack other fishes. also sometimes referred to as the green They are not as comfortable in the aquarium barb, the moss barb, or moss banded barb, and will tend to hide amongst the plants or is more fashionable than the albino version. other décor. However, when they are kept in They have a deep fluorescent green to blue- groups of 6 or more, they tend to confine green body color, with a black dorsal fin and their aggressive behavior to the other red edging to the pelvic fins. In some members of their own species. Because of specimens, the green may not fully cover the the large size of the school, and the high body, resulting in a marbling effect that can activity level of these species, it is best to be striking. keep these fishes in a tank of at least 20 All color forms of the tiger barb can be kept gallons in size. with relative ease in the aquarium. They are not fussy about water parameters, nor the The tiger barb was originally described by food they eat. They are also easily bred by Bleeker in 1855. It is found in southeast separating the males and females for a few Asia. It will eat all kinds of foods and is fairly days to condition them and reintroducing the easy to breed. A great fish for the beginner sexes in the breeding tank that is set up with and advanced aquarist alike, but as course gravel or marbles as the substrate. previously mentioned, if they are not kept in An alternative is to cut a piece of egg crate schools they will be nippy. to the size of the tank and position it several inches off the bottom of the tank. This allows As the common name suggests, the original the eggs to escape the munching parents. tiger barb is striped. Counting the eye stripe, The eggs hatch in 2-3 days at 80F and can there are four wide black bands running be fed powdered food or infusoria when they vertically across the body. The third band are free swimming 2-3 days later. After a starts at the black base of the dorsal fin and week, baby brine shrimp and microworms extends down to the start of the anal fin. can be added to their diet, and in a couple The dorsal and anal fins are a bright red- months you have a whole new school of orange and the rest of the fins are a paler barbs to put in your display!