Lemon Tetras

by: Linda Paquette

Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish.

Photo by: CK Yeo

One of the most distinguishing features of the lemon tetra is their large eyes. The upper part of the lemon tetra’s eye is brilliant red, which is a sharp contrast to the yellow pastels it displays in its body colors. Actually, though, the lemon tetra is quite colorful on close inspection. Body coloring is a delicate pale yellow, flanks are silver, and the leading edge of the anal fin is shiny-bright-yellow and sharply divided from the other rays, which are black. In the male, the rest of the anal fin is broad and fringed in black, a characteristic that is missing in the plumper female. As many male characins do, the male lemon tetras also have tiny hooks on their anal fins. Both males and females have the tetras’ characteristic adipose fin, which is also pale yellow in color.

Although omnivorous and able to exist on a diet of flaked food, the pale yellow color of the lemon tetra displays best if the fish’s standard diet is well supplemented with live treats. The lemon tetra is an egg-scatterer. However, breeding can be tricky since females often have a problem expelling their eggs and after spawning, the lemon tetra like many others of its species, is quick to cannibalize its eggs if not removed from the breeding tank. However, eggs will hatch in about 24 hours after spawning. Fry should be fed a live diet and if they survive, they’ll be about two inches long as adults.

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About The Author


Linda is an author of AquariumGuides.com Hundreds of especially written articles about your aquarium fish and aquarium hobby.

Aquarium Fish Health: White Spot Disease Symptoms And Cures

by: Nathan Miller

Fish death is one of the main problems that beginner aquarist and even some expert aquarist face. It’s frustrating to the extent that most quit keeping aquarium fish.

Photo by FJP

But fish death can be avoided. Most fish deaths are caused as a result of both an internal and external types parasites that compete with the fish in tank.

As a result if you watch your aquarium fish often you should be able to discover when they have been infected by this parasite and be able to treat them to avoid fish death.

Look out for the following White Spot disease behavioral symptoms in your fish:

- Constant lying on the bottom or hanging at the surface.

- Rubbing of the body against rocks

- Gasping at the water surface

- No response to feeding

- General dullness and lethargy

- Hovering in a corner

- Fish swimming with clamps up

The most common of the visible signs is the development of the pin head-size while spots on the body or fins. This ailment is referred to as White Spot disease and is caused by the parasite - Ichthyophthirius Multifillis.

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 per cent 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 all at once. Repeat after one or two days.

The fishes must remain in this bath until every while spot has disappeared. A water change after treatment is necessary or else prolonged contact with the chemical may affect the fertility of the fish.

Another tip if you are using a side filter with activated charcoal should remove it to prevent the coal from absorbing the Methylene Blue.

Another tip... during treatment you should use artificial aeration with coarse bubbles near the surface, since a dirty bottom would inactivate the medicament by absorption. A better measure is to remove all dirt from the bottom before treatment.

Methylene Blue is harmless to young fish and unlike the general belief, it does not affect plants if used in weaker concentration.

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About The Author


Nathan Miller


For more great aquarium related articles and resources check outhttp://freshwaterfish.aquariumspot.com

5 Tips For Your Goldfish Aquarium Maintenance

by: Abe Hensley 

Photo by:  axlbxl  

A hobby like that of maintaining a fish aquarium is something that gives one a real pleasure and takes one close to nature. But, sustaining aquatic life in conditions like that of a fish aquarium is not easy if you don’t have an exact idea of what exactly to do. Goldfish is one of the all-time favorites and needs a lot of care. Here are some general tips for keeping and maintaining a goldfish in aquarium.

1. The life for a goldfish is around 5 to 10 years. It highly depends on the fish aquarium conditions and also upon your way of maintaining it.

2. Goldfish is a very active fish and keeps on moving around in the fish aquarium. Therefore you need to give it a lot of space to swim in the fish aquarium.

3. As the goldfish lives at normal room temperature therefore you would need a heater to maintain temperature in the fish aquarium. The goldfish cannot bear any kind of rapid and abrupt changes in temperature so you need to have a good system for maintaining favorable conditions for fish.

4. Remember to put some of the ornaments or plants to your fish aquarium. This would also provide the fish with hideouts. These hideouts will make fish more active and have a positive effect on them.

5. Now, something about the water, that is the most important thing. As the water in the fish aquarium gets old, it develops some very useful and beneficial bacteria. These make fish healthy but it is a very time taking process. Also look for the extra leftover food that is left over and starts rotting up. This also produces lots of toxins that are harmful and may affect your fish badly.

http://www.aquariumhow2.com

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About The Author

Some people just have a calling, they're born with a adoration of something without knowing why. My family never lived near the ocean, however I always enjoyed fish. I recollect getting my very first fish on my 9th birthday, from my grandfather and grandmother; unfortunately the fish perished inside a couple of weeks. I was so annoyed, but that made me study more about how you can take care of them. Subsequently I have studied and built my personal freshwater and saltwater aquaria, made heaps of mistakes, but had so a lot fun. I have assisted plenty of young families build their personal home aquariums...they've been shocked at the difference it has made to their lives. An aquarium just gives this quiet and peace to the room, I suppose that's why I really like it so a lot.

Regardless, please look into my blog and get involved

http://www.aquariumhow2.com

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