18_793809 bindex.qxp 3/8/06 12:17 PM Page 125

Index

acidity, pH value checking, 62–63 lifestyle preferences, 19 acrylic tanks, purchasing, 43 lifting guidelines, 59 adding fish to tank, timeline, 65 lighting, 52–54 aeration, systems, 60–61 livebearers, 36 , fighting fish, 13–15 location considerations, 42 air pumps, 60 maintenance, 94–95 airstones, 61 new fish introduction techniques, 83 algae, 90–91 new tank syndrome, 82 alkalinity, pH, 62–63 nitrogen cycle, 63–64 Amazon swords (Echinodorus ), overstocking, 78, 80–81 69–70 plants, 66–75 ammonia, nitrogen cycle, 63–64 prefill cleaning, 57 anacharis (Elodea densa), 69 quarantine tanks, 83, 103–104 anal fin, 10, 20–21 secondhand considerations, 45 anatomy, 10, 12, 17–26 shape/type, 43–44 appetite loss, reasons for, 91 size, 41, 44–45 aquariums stands, 56–58 accessory equipment, 53–55 substrates, 46–47 acrylic tanks, 43 tankmate suggestions, 14–15, 34–37 aeration systems, 60–61 thermometers, 52 breeding tanks, 109, 110–112 water conditioning, 61–63 capacity, 44–46 water temperature preferences, 12 covers, 53–54, 111 aquascaping, 68 decorations, 58–60 arrowhead (Sagittaria species), 70 dividers, 42 artificial tank storms, 112–113 egglayers, 36 emptying before moving, 57 baby , food source, 87 environmental guidelines, 15–16 bacterial septicemia, 96 filtrationCOPYRIGHTED systems, 47–51 Banded MATERIAL (Betta taeniata), 33 financial considerations, 40–41 Barbs, tankmate, 14–15 fish addition timeline, 65 baths, saltwater, 105 fish-per-tank calculations, 79–80 behaviors, health indicators, 93 glass tanks, 43 bicolored Betta, 33 heaters, 51–52 biological filtration, 48 home built cautions/concerns, 43

125 18_793809 bindex.qxp 3/8/06 12:17 PM Page 126

126 Index

Blue (Trichogaster dorsal fin, 10, 20–21 trichopterisi), 37 dropsy, 97 body shapes, 17–18 Dwarf ( bottom-feeders, terminal mouth, 18 pumila), 37 breeding, 107–113, 115–120 (Colisa lalia), 37 competition, 113 rituals, 116–118 ears, 24 tanks, 109–110–112 earthworms, food source, 90 weather, 112–113 Edith’s Betta (Betta edithae), 29 Brunei Betta (Betta macrostoma), 29–30 eelgrasses (Vallisneria species), 70–71 bubblenests, 108 egglayers, 36 butterfly Betta, 33 electrical outlets, stand/tank location, 57 Emerald Betta (Betta smaragdina), 30–31 Cambodian Betta, 33 eyes, 10, 23–24 Cambodian-butterfly Betta, 33–34 canister filters, 49 feeding schedules, 87 capacity, aquarium, 44–46 females, 14, 107–118, 120 carbohydrates, 87 fertilizers, plant foods, 75 Catfish, 18, 35–36 fighting fish, territorial, 13–15 caudal fin, 10, 20–21 filtration systems, 47–51, 112 chemical filtration, 48 canister filters, 49 chlorine, 62 corner box filters, 47–48 , tankmate concerns, 15 fluidized bed filters, 50–51 Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus), 12 power filters, 48–49 Clown Rasboras (Rasbora kalochroma), 37 sponge filters, 51 colors, 21, 33–34 undergravel filters, 50 constipation, 96 fin rot, 97 Coolie Loach (Pangio kuhlii), tankmate, fins, 10, 20–21, 24–25 35 anal fin, 10, 20–21 corner box filters, 47–48 caudal (tail) fin, 10, 20–21 covers, aquarium, 53–54, 111 dorsal fin, 10, 20–21 Croaking Gourami (Trichopsis, species), pectoral fins, 10, 20–21 37 ventral (pelvic) fins, 10, 20–21 crypts (Cryptocoryne species), 70 fish lice, 97–98 currents, quiet preferences, 12 flakes, food type, 88 flooring, stand/tank location, 56–58 , tankmate, 14 fluidized bed filters, 50–51 dealers, 76–79 fluorescent bulbs, 52–53 decorations, 58–60, 111 Foershi’s Betta (Betta foershi), 29 dH values, water conditioning, 63 foods, 75, 86–91, 103, 113, 119–120 diet, improper, 103. See also foods freeze-dried foods, 90 disease, reference guide, 100. See also fright, 103 health problems frozen foods, 89 dividers, aquarium, 42 frozen seafood, food source, 87 18_793809 bindex.qxp 3/8/06 12:17 PM Page 127

Index 127

fry, care guidelines, 118–120 maintenance, 94–95 fungus, 98 males, 13–15, 42, 107–110, 113–118, 120 gill parasites, 99 marbled Betta, 34 Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhus), 35 mechanical filtration, 48 glass tanks, 43 medical supplies, 105–106 Goodeidae livebearers, 36 metal halide bulbs, 53 (Trichogaster, Colisa), 12, 37 Microsorium species (Java fern), 71, 73 gravel (substrate), 46–47, 58, 68, 112 minerals, 86–87 Guppies, 18, 36, 87 Mollies, 36 larvae, food source, 89 hardness, water, 63 , 107–108 Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromor- Mouthbrooding Betta (Betta pugnax), pha), 36 30–31 health, 77–79, 91–93, 105–106 mouth fungus, 99–100 health problems, 96–105. See also specific mouth structure, 18, 24–25 problems hearing, 10, 24 nest builders, 108 heaters, 51–52 nests, territorial aggression, 13–15 Hemirhamphidae, livebearers, 36 nets, 54 hornwort (Ceratopyllum demersum), new tank syndrome, 82 70–71 nitrates, 64 hygro (Hygrophila species), 71–72 nitrites, water monitoring, 63–64 nitrogen cycle, 63–64 ich, 99 non-submersible heaters, 51–52 incandescent lighting, 52 nostrils, 10, 24–25 insects, food source, 87 nutrition requirements, 86–87 intestinal parasites, 99 Nymphaea species (water lilies), 73–74

Java fern (Microsorium species), 71, 73 orientation, light interpretation, 23 osmosis, 23 labyrinth fish (Anabantidae), 12 overfeeding, 103 labyrinth organ, 12, 25–26 overstocking, aquarium, 78, 80–81 lateral line, 10, 24 ownership, popularity, 11 Libby Betta, 13 light hoods, 53–54 Painted Betta (Betta picta), 29 lighting, 52–54, 75, 83 Pangio kuhlii (Coolie Loach), 35 fluorescent bulbs, 52–53 Paradise Fishes (Macropodus), 12 incandescent, 52 Peaceful Betta (Betta imbellis), 29 metal halide bulbs, 53 Pearl Gourami (Trichogaster leeri), 37 livebearers, 36 Pearly Betta (Betta anabatoides), 28 live foods, 90 pectoral fins, 10, 20–21 Loaches, 36 pellets, food type, 89 pelvic (ventral) fins, 10, 20–21 18_793809 bindex.qxp 3/8/06 12:17 PM Page 128

128 Index

pH values, 62–63 styrofoam, tank support, 57 plants, 66–75, 90–91, 111, 116. See also submersible heaters, 51–52 specific species substrate. See gravel Platys, 18, 36 superior mouth, surface-feeders, 18 Poeciliidae, livebearers, 36 surface-feeders, superior mouth, 18 poisoning, 102–103 swim bladder, 19–20, 101 pop eye, 100 Swordtails, 36 power filters, 48–49 protein, 87 tail (caudal) fin, 10, 20–21 pumps, air, 60 tank capacity, 79–80 Pygmy Rasbora (Rasbora matculatus), 37 tankmates, 14–15, 34–37 tanks. See aquariums quarantine tanks, 83, 103–104 taste, 10, 24–25 temperatures, 12, 51–52, 62, 64, 75 Rasboras (Rasbora spp.), 14, 35–37 terminal mouth, bottom-feeders, 18 Red-Tailed Rasbora (Rasbora borapetensis), territorial fish, fighting trait, 13–15 36 Tessy’s Betta (Betta tussyae), 32–33 respiratory system, 12, 22, 25–26 test kits, 55 rocks, aquarium decorations, 58–59 , homeland waters, 12 thermometers, 52 Sagittaria species (arrowhead), 70 transporting fish, 81–92, 120 saltwater baths, 105 tuberculosis, 101–102 Sarawak Betta (Betta akarensis), 28 tubing, aeration system, 61 scales, 19 Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata), 36 undergravel filters, 50 scrapers, 54 seafood (frozen), food source, 87 Vallisneria species (eelgrasses), 70–71 sensory organs, 23–25 velvet, 102 shipping bags, transportation, 81–83 ventral (pelvic) fins, 10, 20–21 (Betta splendens), vision, 10, 23–24 13–14, 17, 30–33 vitamins, 86 siphons, 55 skeletal system, 22–23 water, 61–63, 75 sleep periods, frequency, 24 water conditioning, breeding tanks, 112 Slender Betta (Betta bellica), 28 water currents, 12 slime coat, 101 water hardness, 63 slime disease, 101 water lettuce (Pistia stratiodes), 73 smell, 10, 24–25 water lilies (Nymphaea species), 73–74 solid-colored Betta, 33 water sprite (Ceratopteris species), 74 spawning, 107–108, 116–120 water temperatures, 12, 51–52, 62 sponge filters, 51 weather, breeding, 112–113 sponges, aquarium accessory, 53 wood, aquarium decoration, 59–60 stands, 56–58 worms, food source, 87 stress, 96