Lively Aquarium Blog | Freshwater Fish Guide

Description of Microrasbora Galaxy

The Galaxy Rasbora is a spectacular fish only that would be ideally suited to a smaller aquarium. The fish’s bright colors, schooling nature and tiny size make it perfect for small planted tanks. This species shows some sexual dimorphism: males have a bright blue background color (dull blue-green in females), and their fins are more brightly colored. The tail end of their bodies (the caudal peduncle) is also higher than in females. The body is sprinkled with small, pearly dots. The back is bronzy green, and the belly in females is yellowish-white. The gill covers are transparent, letting the blood-red gills shine through. The males’ fins (except the pectoral fins), which they will prominently display to conspecifics, show two parallel black lines with a bright red area in between; on the tailfin this pattern is present twice (once on each lobe) and the outer black band is vestigial. Females have a weaker version of the pattern in the tail and dorsal fins only, sometimes in the anal fin too.

microrasbora galaxy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Class: Actinopterygii
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Superorder: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Danioninae
Genus: Danio
Species: D. margaritatus

Choosing Freshwater Fish - Great Tips To Get The Best Fish

Executive Summary about Freshwater Fish by Abhishek Agarwal

aquarium freshwater fish

Freshwater Fish are available in many different species. Big fish are just as easy as small fish to keep. Fish enthusiasts usually go for the popular varieties such as Cichlids and Malawi’s, although they both need different types of fresh water so you can’t put them in the same tank.

One of the more expensive types of freshwater fish is the Discus and it is much more difficult to maintain. The pH level of the water in their tank must be kept at a constant level throughout their tank, life otherwise it could result in their death and they also require a higher water temperature than most of the other freshwater fish, of almost 30 degrees. This could pose quite a challenge for any fish enthusiast.

Fresh Water Fish Care - Useful Tips For Beginners

Freshwater are a lot easier to take care of than saltwater fish. If you are just deciding to own fish for the first time, start with freshwater fish. There are many different types of freshwater fish available. There are tropical fish, which come in an assortment of colors, and cold water fish that don’t need to have the temperature regulated too much.

When deciding between what types of fish you want to get, think of the differences between fresh and saltwater fish first. Saltwater fish thrive in reef tanks that have underwater ridges with rock and coral. Freshwater fish wouldn’t really do well in reef tanks because, like goldfish, they receive oxygen from the surface of the tank.

Goldfish are ornamental fish, which generally resemble a gold hue with their color. You are going to need other items for the tank such as a water filter (very important), gravel, test kits and other equipment. You have to get the right filter for a freshwater tank. Make sure the filter is going to clean the water if any impurities and it is going to handle the size of the tank. Filters can be internal, external or under gravel. If you use tap water, you might want to use a water purifications system before putting it into the tank. You should consider an external filter is you have many elements in the tank besides the fish such as plants, rocks or a school of fish. One of the benefits of an external filter for a freshwater tank is maintenance. Internal filters are most popular though because they are cheaper than external filters and more efficient than under-gravel filters. There are different varieties of internal filters. For cold-water fish, such as gold fish, this isn’t necessary. However, if you have any sort of tropical fish or fish that come from warm parts of the world, you will need a heater to sustain the fish. If the temperature is too cold, the fish will die, but there opposite if also true. You have to maintain a very specific temperature for these fish.

Freshwater Fish Care - Tools That You Must Have

If you are going to own freshwater fish, filters and heaters (and don’t forget the food) are going to be the most important elements for a fresh water tank.

If you are just starting out in the aquarium hobby, you probably want to consider getting a freshwater fish to start. They are easier to care for than saltwater fish and can usually withstand different water conditions. When deciding on what kind of fish to get, you should get fish that are similar in needs. Get fish that need the same kind of water temperature and pH. Also get fish that are similar in size. If you ever go to your tank and find the smallest fish missing, another one probably ate it.You will also need a filter and possibly a heater, depending on the fish.

Once you acquire the fish, you have to feed it. Freshwater fish only need to be fed two times a day and only give a tiny amount. If you put too much food in the tank, remove it with a net.The water of the tank needs to be carefully watched. Check the temperature of the new water. You want this water to be within two degrees of the tank water.You should scrub the sides of the tank regularly to avoid a dirty tank.

Filters tend to collect leftover food and waste. Don’t add too many new fish to a tank right away. Let the fish get used to each other before you start assembling an entire underwater community in your freshwater tank. Get fish that can handle different water conditions easier to start so they will last longer. Be careful with your freshwater fish and take care of them properly. You can have many good years with the fish if you do so.

Introduction to Doctor Fish Garra rufa

Garra Rufa

The Doctor fish (Garra Rufa) are unique freshwater fish that live to serve you! While eradicating dead skin naturally and gently, this pedicure treatment is here to stay.

Originally found in the pools of a hot spring near Kangal, a small town in Turkey, the Garra Rufa fish or Doctor fish, as they are commonly known have made quite a name for themselves.

Discovered in the early 1800s, these amazing fish have been reported to be beneficial in battling skin diseases, muscle trauma and joint disease, as well as rheumatic and neurologic disorders. People suffering from Psoriasis have seen results after therapeutic sessions with the Doctor fish over a period of time spent in the spa waters.

Garra Rufa live and breed in the outdoor pools of some Turkish spas, where they feed on the skin of patients with psoriasis. The fish are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. The spas are not meant as a treatment option, only as a temporary cure for symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months. Some patients have experienced complete cure of psoriasis after repeated treatments, but due to the unpredictable nature of the disease, which is strongly influenced by endogenous factors, this may simply be regression towards the mean.

Garra rufa occurs in the river basins of the Northern and Central Middle East, mainly in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. It is legally protected from commercial exploitation in Turkey due to concerns of overharvesting for export. Garra rufa can be kept in an aquarium at home; while not strictly a “beginner’s fish“, it is quite hardy. For treatment of skin diseases, aquarium specimens are not well suited as the skin-feeding behavior fully manifests only under conditions where the food supply is somewhat scarce and unpredictable.

In 2006, doctor fish spa resorts opened in Hakone, Japan, and in Umag, Croatia, where the fish are used to clean the bathers at the spa. There are also spas in resorts in China, such as Hainan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. In 2008, the first widely known doctor fish pedicure service was opened in the United States by John Ho in Alexandria, Virginia and later in Woodbridge, Virginia, and has trademarked the treatment name of ‘Dr. Fish’

Benefits Of Garra Rufa

• heal skin diseases
• relieve unpleasant itching
• better blood circulation
• improve to reduce rheumatism

What Does A Fish Pedicure Feel Like

Once feet have been placed in the warm water, the Doctor fish begin to investigate. This pedicure is certain to bring a smile to your face. Once you have passed the point of feeling ticklish, the fish begin to act as a stimulating, yet relaxing massage with one hundred twenty five of them running their little suction cup mouths along your feet and toes. Rest assured, these inch-long fish have no teeth! They seek out and remove dead skin, bacteria and calluses while rejuvenating healthy skin. The initial feeling of trepidation dissipates quickly as the tingling sensations mimic a massage. The only way to understand it comes from experience. Bring your camera, you’ll want to share it with your friends and family! You won’t regret it.