Types of tropical fish. Warm beauties. Ocean Sunfish

Freshwater tropical fish, as their name suggests, originate in freshwater rivers and lakes in warmer parts of the world, especially South America and Central Africa.

There are literally tens of thousands of freshwater tropical fish species with new ones being discovered almost every day. With such a vast variety of fish, each living in its own particular environment, it's easy to see why fish owners are never lost for new areas to learn and new challenges to enjoy.

Fish names.

All fish are classified by the "binomial system" (two names). First there is the family name or generic name - which should always be written with an initial capital letter. This is followed by the variant name/s - which should always all be written in lowercase letters, (both names are ideally all in italics).

Thus Barbus tetrason and Barbus oligolepis are two different species within the genus Barbus. Most fish do, however, also have a lighter common name. Barbus tetrazona, for example, is commonly known as the Tiger Barb or Sumatran Barb.

There are over twenty families of commonly kept freshwater tropical fish and within each family there can be thousands of species - often living in very different environments. The family Cichlidae (cichlids), for example, is thought to have over 1,000 different species existing in the great African lakes alone.

main families.

While there are over twenty families of freshwater tropicals, most fish of interest to the aquarist are members of one of the following eight families.

Anabentide family.

Anabantoids are generally distinguished by the fact that they have a "maze chamber", a special organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air, which they must have in order to survive. Native to the waters of Southeast Asia and Africa, most of the family has "probes" - modified pelvic fins - which they use to detect food in dark waters. Most also create a "bubble nest" for spawning. Examples of the family include gourami, Siamese Fighting Fish and Paradise Fish.

The Callichtiide family.

Better known as catfish, it is probably the most popular tropical fish among hobbyists. Whilst most are hardy, adaptable bottom feeders, they require occasional gulps of air to help supplement their gills.

The catfish is also nocturnal and does its best in subdued light. Corydoras, one of the most popular aquarium species, have a bony plate along the side of their body. Other catfish have tricked mouths that allow them to set on rocks in the wild, which they use to brush against algae from the side of the glass of an aquarium.

The Charekide family.

Characins are one of the largest families of tropical freshwater fish native to Africa and North and South America. All Charakins have teeth, but no barbels or sideburns. Many also have a small extra fatty fin on the main back of their body. Due to their training habit, Characins such as Tetras are often kept in numbers in single species tanks.

The Sichlide family.

Most cichlids are carnivorous and territorial and have a reputation for being aggressive. Many species, however, are very popular and ideal for the aquarium. The family occurs naturally throughout North America and South America and throughout most of Africa especially in the Great Lakes of Malawi and Tanganyika.

The Kobitide family.

Known commonly as loaches, this is a family of bottom living fish. Their mouths have probing lots to help locate food, and their bodies often have protective erectile spines. They are widely found in Asia, Europe and parts of Africa.

The Ciprinide family.

Although a large family of fish, the Cyprinids, which include Barbs, Rasboras, Danios and Minnows, generally have barbs that allow them to sort of eat from the bottom. The family also includes cold water species such as goldfish as well as those who need warm tropical waters.

The Cyprinodontide family.

Found in Africa, North America and South America and Asia, this is a family of Killifishes or Egg Laying Toothcarps. Because they sometimes preaetorial on smaller fish, care must be taken when introducing them to a multi-species aquarium. They prefer slightly acidic water.

The Poekilide family.

This is a family of Live Bearing Tooth Carps - small fish such as Guppies, Swordtails, Mollies and swordtails. As the name implies, this family produces lively young that are capable of swimming and feeding immediately after birth.

Choosing Your Fish.

There are two main areas you need to consider. First there is a limit to the number of fish your tank can support without putting pressure on the oxygen levels in the water and the level of pollution the fish create.

You must also remember that fish grow and, as they do, will put even more pressure on their environment. The best advice is to always start with just a few fish and add more over the course of a few months. As a rough guide allow about 20 inches of combined fish body length for every square foot of surface water. Wide You should not exceed 60 inches of fish.

The second consideration is fish habit. Fish lead very different lives in their natural habitat, and these natural habits will show up in your aquarium. In a multi-species aquarium, you might, therefore, want to have fish that live and feed on all levels - top eaters such as mid-water eaters such as Barbs, and fish that live and feed on the bottom of the tank such as Catfish.

Buying Your Fish.

Buy locally if possible. Long journeys and drop in water temperature on the way home can easily stress your fish. If you later have problems, it's also much easier to resolve them if your fish supplier is nearby.

Choose an aquatic retailer with good stocks and a wide variety of fish - they are more likely to have specialist knowledge. Check that the fish have been properly isolated before being sold. The disease often takes several weeks to show, and fish not isolated can easily introduce diseases that infect all of your fish.

Look at the fish carefully. Check that they swim peacefully and do not rub against the glass of the tank - often a sign of infestation.

Top 12 most beautiful fish in the world

One of the main reasons why people spend so much time, effort, and money on setting up an aquarium is the desire to enjoy beautiful fish in their homes and workplaces. Today it's easier than ever to keep stunning tropical fish in your living room or office. However, due to the fact that these fish are very popular, they disappear in nature because they are sold to aquarists. Fortunately, soon fish lovers will be able to breed them at home, and fish will no longer disappear in nature.

The most beautiful fish in the world

1. Chinese perch

Also known as the dragonet, whose homeland is the southeast Pacific region in northern Australia. This fish has the most beautiful fins and bright colors. The Chinese perch is very difficult to keep in an aquarium as it only eats live food. It is also very hardy and resistant to some fish diseases.

2. Discus

Discus is a species of cichlid that lives in the Amazon. Discus is one of the most popular freshwater fish in aquariums. It comes in many colors, but can be very expensive, sometimes 50-80 dollars for one discus fish. Since these fish are freshwater, they need good care, which is expensive. The discus is also known as the Pompadour fish, which is named after Madame Pompadour, who was the lover of the French King Louis XV.

3 Moorish Idol

One of the most distinctive and beautiful fish is the Moorish idol, the only survivor of the prehistoric Zanclidae family of fish. Despite being a popular fish, the Moorish idol is difficult to keep in an aquarium because it has a short lifespan. The fish was named so by the Moorish people of Africa, who believed that this fish is a good luck charm.

4. Fire centropig

It is known that the Angelfish fish got its name in honor of the Japanese pygmies Angelfish. This is one of the brightest and most colorful fish in the world. This fish lives in the Pacific reefs, which can be found in the far west, in Hawaii. Fire cetropigas are easy to keep in an aquarium as they will eat just about any food.

5. Blue surgeon

The fish is called the blue surgeon, which was seen in the cartoon "Finding Nemo", in which she played the main role. Like many other fish that live in an aquarium, the blue tang lives in the east in the reefs of the Pacific Ocean. This is a very fragile fish that is prone to infectious diseases, despite its popularity.

6 Parrot Fish

There are 90 different parrotfish. This fish got its name because of the beak-shaped hook. She is difficult to keep in an aquarium due to her unusual feeding habits. They survive in coral reefs by eating algae and other pests that can destroy reefs. Ecologists would not want this fish to disappear into nature so that it can save coral reefs.

7. Clownfish

Clownfish is one of the popular aquarium fish and is considered one of the most beautiful fish in the world, about 43% of clownfish are sold, about 25% of them live in nature. Clownfish can be female and male. These fish create their own families and take care of each other. The male guards the eggs, which are laid on top of the sea anemones that protect them. Experts believe that successful breeding of clownfish will help them survive in the wild.

8. Tulle apogon

His homeland is the island of Bangai, which is located in Indonesia. This is one of the popular fish to keep in an aquarium and one of the fish that lives in the wild. This fish is on the verge of extinction in nature, as it is caught too often. The tulle apogon is unusual in that the fish groom each other before breeding. Like other fish species, the female lays the eggs and the male guards them.

9. Yellow-masked angel

The fish is also known as yellowface because its head is brighter than its body. In nature, this fish is found in the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Australia, Micronesia and as far north as Japan. In nature, she lives in caves and lagoons.

10. Lyalius

This beautiful fish originated in the Indian subcontinent but is found everywhere today due to its great popularity. This fish is easy to keep in an aquarium as it feeds on algae, meat and mostly fish food. It comes in a variety of colors such as blue and bright red, making it more popular.

11. French angel

Despite its name, this fish was actually found in northern New York waters. Unlike some fish that live in an aquarium, this fish is rarely sold in the markets. She mostly lives in nature. It grows up to 41 centimeters in length, which is considered the largest fish in the aquarium.

12. Flag perch

Also known as Scaltefin, Sea Goldie or Lyretail Coralfish, this fish is a popular saltwater fish that is difficult to keep in an aquarium because it feeds on live and frozen food. This fish has been found in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the Pacific Ocean. It usually lives in coral reefs and, like other types of aquarium fish, sometimes changes sex.

No matter how many abilities fish have, there is one universal rule: They are tied to water. Mangrove rivulus have found a way around even this immutable rule. A small tropical fish that lives in the mangroves of North and South America can survive about 66 days without water and still remain active.

Small tropical fish Marble rivulus (lat. Kryptolebias marmoratus)

Marble rivulus reaches about 7.5 cm in length. Photo credit: D. Scott Taylor.

Marbled rivulus find shelter in shallow pools formed, for example, in crab holes or coconut shells. But when their habitat dries up, they settle in fallen trees.

The fish get to the right place by jumping, pushing off the ground with their tail, and in the same way they get into the trees through the holes made by insects.

On land, marbled rivulus undergo changes in gill morphology and their gills cease to function. After that, the fish breathes through the skin, and the animal becomes able to retain moisture and nutrients in its body for a long time. However, as soon as they are back in the water, they begin to breathe with the help of gills.

According to scientists, during the week spent on land, these fish do not have a decrease in metabolic rate at all, and they remain quite active.

However, marble rivulus are remarkable not only for their ability to live without water for a long time. These fish are hermaphrodites, and can produce both eggs and sperm, laying eggs fertilized by themselves.

Interestingly, some other fish can also live without water. For example, the frog clariid catfish, which inhabits water bodies in southeast Asia, can be on land for many hours.

And some lungfish living in the waters of Australia, South America and Africa (in particular, the protopter) are able to live out of water longer, but only at rest, they have to fall into a state of dormancy, a kind of fish hibernation.

As for the reason why the mangrove rivulus jumps onto land, Canadian scientists have suggested that he does this in order to cool down, since in hot climates the water temperature sometimes rises to 38 degrees Celsius.

To better understand this strategy, Canadian scientists at Brock and Guelph Universities heated water and then filmed the behavior of the fish with a camera that measures body temperature.

The fish were thrown out of the water when the temperature reached about 36 degrees Celsius. It became clear to the researchers that it was a reaction to heat. For 30 seconds, the fish rested on the damp filter paper they landed on.

The researchers did not repeat the experiment in the wild, but they believe the same thing happens there.

Ordinary fish die when overheated, so it is quite possible that this mechanism was developed by animals to escape in hot conditions.

Rivulus have also been found to leave the water for other reasons. Fish that live in small pools among mangrove trees jump to the ground if the water becomes acidic - when there is too much carbon dioxide (CO2) or too little oxygen.

They can also leave water if they want to avoid confrontation with the enemy. In order to make their maneuver, they arch their tails, and on land, enterprising fish move around wriggling their whole body.

A scientific paper on the rivulus' unusual strategy was published in Biology Letters.

Biologists also add that other "amphibious" fish can do the same. However, scientists have not caught any of them yet.

In this section, you can get acquainted with various types of aquarium fish and their description, find out the names, conditions of detention, behavior and compatibility with other inhabitants, how and what to feed, differences and recommendations for breeding them. Ornamental fish that are kept in aquariums are aquarium fish with bright and varied colors, various body shapes and sizes. In nature, each body of water is a habitat for representatives of the "fish kingdom", and thanks to their diversity, aquarists have been able to keep a wide variety of tropical fish in home aquariums. For the convenience of finding information, the section is divided into categories by types of Aquarium fish, such as "Catfish", "Barbs", "Goldfish" and others. Here on the pages of interesting, illustrated and informative articles in the section "Aquarium fish" you will find a lot of useful information, selected specifically for people who are passionate or taking their first steps in such an exciting activity as Aquarium.

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Acanthophthalmus Kühl- a fish with a very unusual body structure and bright colors. It is better to keep in a flock, and the more fish, the better their individuality is manifested and the freer they feel. For an aquarium, it is not so much about ...

shark ball- a beautiful and hardy fish of the carp family appeared in domestic aquariums recently, in 2002. Large sizes require keeping at least 200 liters in a spacious aquarium, the fish are peaceful and compatible with any calm...

Ancistrus, belonging to the chain catfish family, is very popular among aquarists. Due to the special structure of the mouth, it was called the sucker catfish. Very peaceful and can be kept with any fish similar in terms of conditions...

Apistogramma Borelli beautiful dwarf cichlids from the Amazon basin. They are great in the aquarium and are generally quite peaceful. Keep one male with several females as they are polygamous. They are one of the calmest dwarfs ...

Apistogramma cockatoo- one of the most popular cichlids in the aquarium hobby. A very beautiful and bright fish with many color variations is so named for the peculiar structure of the dorsal fin, reminiscent of a cockatoo parrot. He likes shelters made of stones and ...

Butterfly Ramirezi one of the most elegant cichlids, this, along with its small size and peaceful demeanor, makes it extremely popular with aquarists. Ideal for moving into an aquarium stylized as a rainforest pond...

Astronotus- despite the rather large size, the fish is unusually popular due to its unusual intelligence - it is not only able to recognize the owner, but even allows itself to be stroked. The volume of the aquarium for one individual should be at least 100 liters ...

Aquarium fish are popular among pets. Silent and do not take up much space, do not require specific care and a lot of time. Having caught fire with the idea of ​​​​acquiring a couple of ornamental fish, you need to find out in detail about the features of each species and the requirements for maintenance, and when buying, navigate the names of the fish.

The title of favorites deserve unpretentious or interesting inhabitants. The most popular aquarium fish get along well with their neighbors and are adapted to different conditions. Studying the catalog with a list of fish, a novice aquarist can be confused due to the huge number of varieties. Therefore, we have compiled the names of all common aquarium fish in an alphabetical list for easy perception.

A distinctive feature of these loaches is an elongated body, reaching 12 cm in length in adults. Unpretentious and non-conflict, they do not require a large space. The period of activity of aquarium fish falls at night, during the day they are rare. The behavior is characterized by digging among the soil in search of food, which plays a role in cleaning the aquarium.

Akara

Won sympathy among lovers of aquatic pets due to grace and conspicuous appearance. reach 25 cm in length, grow rapidly. Fish of this species are difficult to care for and need a large aquarium, designed for 300-500 liters. You will need deep water filtration. It is highly not recommended to add fish of other species. It is worth avoiding sharp decorations and providing them with shelters.

Small specimens of aquarium fish of the carp family amaze with a variety of species. They are omnivorous, love subdued light and easily adapt to different conditions.

The presented species of loaches will look very impressive in a spacious aquarium due to the yellow-orange color with dark stripes. In nature, bots live in flocks, therefore, for a comfortable existence, three fish are placed in one vessel. Difficult to content.

cichlids

Combination of several thousand species. Often aggressive, while caring parents. A popular family of fish with specimens of different shapes, colors and sizes. Unpretentious and easily adapt to any conditions.