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If you want to have the most wonderful marine aquarium in your own home, you have to first choose what kind of fishes you will put in it. More over, you have to be able to maintain your aquarium. This requires patience and motivation. Having a salt-water aquarium is not that hard after all.

Choosing the Right Fish for Your Saltwater Aquarium

The first step is to decide on the number of fish you want to house in your aquarium. Make a rough estimate on how many fish will fit spaciously in your aquarium. As a rule, you have to allow two inches of fish with every gallon of water in the tank.

Buy all the fish you need from a licensed pet shop or a reputable dealer. Buying from a good source will save you all the hassle and troubles. You will clearly buy the best and healthy fishes rather than the ones who are sick and may be more likely to die after a few days. The credibility of the seller is determined in his showcase aquarium. The look of the seller’s tank may become a motivational source for you.

Research and read more about the type of fish you want. Some fishes require particular needs such as diet, compatibility, temperature, and chemicals.

Buy a school of fish for there are only minimal compatibility problems. In addition, it will be easy to determine if any fishes are indicating an illness or whatsoever. Try the cardinal tetras or neons, loaches or pearl, Corydoras catfish, zebra danios and any of all the barbs.

Do not risk buying one of anything you like. Just stick to the school of fish rather than get different kinds of fish. The aquarium will be difficult to manage and maintain when there are different species of fish.

Try to get a clown plecostomus or bristle-nose. You may also want to get two otocinclus catfish to control the algae in the tank.

You may also want to raise a killifish. This kind of fish is easy to maintain and perfect for beginners though the killifish is very difficult to find.

Always ask you dealer about the fish compatibility in your aquarium. Take good caution of the cichlids for some of them can grow large. In addition, the angelfish need aquariums more than ten gallons. A type of fish called “Oscars” is quite messy and not preferable for your tank. Oscars tend to eat fish and can be particularly messy.

Keep away from buying piranhas. Piranhas are impressive creatures but they tend to eat a lot of goldfish as well as other fishes in your aquarium. In addition, mixing piranhas with other fishes may cause issues on parasites and diseases. If you really want to buy piranhas, you must watch their diet and quarantine them in a different aquarium. Piranhas are considered a school fish but they tend to eat one another if they are not fed properly.

You may want to get bala sharks. This type of fish looks fierce and wonderful plus it is not really a shark. It grows over twelve inches. This is recommended to those who want to grow large fishes.

In general, avoid buying a catfish. This fish can be nasty predators. Catfish tend to grow bigger and bigger over time. So, if you rally want a catfish, be prepared for the problems that may arise.

Sailfin mollies are beautiful creatures with metallic colors. The males are blue-green with orange and black fins. The female sailfin mollies are have bluish grey fins. These fish are characterized by their long and high dorsal fins.

Aquarium conditions: Sailfin mollies enjoy warm water. The temperature should be between 73 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH between 7.5 and 8.2. You should have many plants in the aquarium because these bizarre fish enjoy plant life. You should also regularly add salt to the water to promote the growth algae because these are omnivorous creatures.

Feeding: These bizarre fish will eat live bait, but enjoy vegetables as well. You can add some zucchini, peas or spinach to their tanks. You can leave algae in the tank because the sailfin mollies will eat it.

African lungfish are another group of bizarre fish people might want to own. They are generally bottom dwellers and in their natural habitat, feed on animals from the bottom of the sea such as mussels, small fish and worms. When you first buy your African lungfish, it may just be a few inches to a foot long. These fish can grow up to 10 feet, so make sure you have a big enough tank.

Aquarium conditions: These fish like quiet and dim areas. They are commonly found in the Zaire River basin, so try to emulate that type of environment. The water should be around 75 degrees and have fresh mud in the tank. It can thrive in different water conditions, but try to keep it constant. Keep fish that need the same environment with the African lungfish for optimal results.

Feeding: These fish tend to prey on other small animals. You should feed it worms or lean meats. You can also give it beef heart.

Piranhas aren’t everyone’s favorite fish. They are well known for biting its prey with its razor sharp teeth. They are an interesting fish to own, though, if you are looking for bizarre fish. If you are just starting out in the fish world, don’t get piranhas. They might bite your hand if you are not careful. Also, try not to have too many other fish with your piranha. They can be very aggressive fish and territorial.

Aquarium conditions: Piranhas are found in the Amazon and need to have warm water to thrive. Keep the tank around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You need a heater and a thermometer to keep track of the water. Be careful not to overheat the tank because if it gets too hot it can result in oxygen deprivation. The other thing about piranhas is that you need to clean the tank often. These bizarre fish are messy. You need a good filter to keep the water from getting toxic.

Feeding: Piranhas will eat just about anything. It’s important to give the piranhas a varied diet. Most frozen fish foods are good for piranhas. They also eat vegetables. You should try to give piranhas different foods to eat to try to make their contained environment feel as much as the natural environment as possible. Piranhas only need to be fed once a day.

Water Conditions

Sailfin Mollies prefer to dwell in warm climates. The water temperature should be set at 73 and no higher than 82 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the water density should be around the same as the Ph balance. You should add up to 3 teaspoons of salt with 10 liters of water and replace the water regularly with fresh water. The fish dwells well in substrate areas, comfortably furnished environments, good lights, and human and detritus at the bottom of the tank. Plants attract this fish as well.

Feed:

The fish will eat live bait, vegetable matters on occasion, and foods that relate to his omnivorous nature. The fish has schooling and lively nature that makes him feel comfortable in social surroundings. The male fish do not like to gather; therefore, you may want to separate the fellers. The fish require natural habitats where fish of their own kind reside.

African Lungfish are snake like critters, which come from the family of protopteridae. The fish are named under the Protopterus Dolloi. These fish are commonly found in the Zaire River Basin. The fish has joining anal, dorsal, and caudal fins, which form at the tail area. In addition, the fish has pelvic fins, as well as pectorals that resemble threads. Most African Lungfish are darker brown, which changes slightly during maturity. The fish grows at 2 feet and up to 10 feet.

Water Conditions

Lungfish enjoy quiet environments. The fish adapt to dense creek areas, which include running waters. The fish also enjoy dry seasons at various times. The water temperature should be set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit and not above 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish should have fresh dry mud supplied at all times. The water desired is hardness, as well; the fish can dwell under radical conditions. This particular fish requires a lower volume of oxygen; therefore only house him with compatible creatures.

Feed:

This fish comes from the wild, therefore he will prey on fish that move in the waters slowly, snails, worms, mussels, and so on. You can feed him beef heart, or related lean meats to break him in, and stripped fish. You want to make sure the water is flowing at all times. This fish differs from many other fish, in that it will care for its young, as well as the spawns.

Serrasalmus Rhombeus

This fish group is commonly known as the Spotted Piranha and White Piranha. The piranhas were taken captive out of the Amazon Basins and South America waters. Piranhas grow up to 10 inches in size, yet in captivity, the largest piranhas grow six inches in size. If you’re just starting in fish care and aquarium upkeep, avoid this fish. Piranhas should not be held in captive tanks where passive fish dwell. Piranhas typically have deep pressed body. The body has silvery or olive green colors. The piranhas have razor sharp teeth, which they will make good use of to devour, or tear prey, including human hands or flesh. Piranhas resemble bulldogs, yet the fish have a lower jaw lines will threaten all approaching parties. Piranhas are aggressive fish. The fish will dine on large or small fish without a problem. Brachydanio is another group of fish we can consider.

For the most part if you choose the Characidae, make sure that you do not include in your tank, smaller fish such as the Angelfish, Fighters, etc. The Characidae tend to use their teeth to gnaw at smaller objects, including other fish. Piranhas’ fish are similar to the Characidae species. Piranhas come from South America and freshwater, which these fish also have sharp teeth. The piranhas also have strong jaws, which these jaws are dangerous, just as the jaws of the Characidae species. The fish are predatory species, which attack in large groups. The Characidae tend to attack on their own or sometimes in groups. Yet the jaws and teeth could easily rip apart terrestrial species in a relatively quick time. If you are a beginner, fish collector stay away from this specie, as well as the piranhas.

What they eat?

Characidae enjoy dining on meats, such as worms, etc.

What type of water they enjoy?

Characidae tend to enjoy soft swampy waters. The waters make it easy for breeding, which the fish will lay eggs that will stick to the bottom of the tank. Be aware that Characidae eat their own. Therefore, if the eggs are in the tank don’t be surprise if the Characidae devours the youngsters. If you are thinking of Characidae to breed, make sure you learn skills before you purchase the fish.

Serrasalmus Rhombeus

The fish are commonly called Spotted Piranha and White Piranha. The piranhas derived from the Amazon Basins and South America. Piranhas grow up to 10 inches in size. The aquarium fish only grow six inches in size. Piranhas are not ideal for those starting aquariums or fish care. These fish should not habitat with passive fish as well. Piranhas have a deep pressed body. The body has silvery or olive green colors. The piranhas have strong teeth, which they use to devour, or tear apart other creatures, as well as tanks.

The fish rather resemble a bulldog, which they also have a lower jaw line that makes a person feel threatened when approaching the fish. Piranhas are aggressive fish. The fish will dine of large or small fish.

How to net

When using a net it is important that you take extreme precaution. The fish will gnaw at your hand.

Piranhas feed from lean meats and other fishes. The fish are carnivorous, which makes them a showpiece rather than a pet. The upside is piranhas are not picking with water conditions, and the fish will not breed in aquariums. Be aware that if you put two piranhas in the same aquarium, Mary will feast on George or vise versa. In other words, they will eat each other as well. Piranhas include the Red-Breasted and Natterer Piranhas. The Red-Breasted and Natterer Piranhas feast in the same way as the Serrasalmus Rhombeus. Do you need more help?

Print reselling is becoming increasingly popular, so it would make sense if there was actually good money to be made in this way. There are a range of print reseller schemes available on the internet but how to you find a good one?

You could start by looking at the odd printing blog, there are plenty of these articles on the internet and a lot of them are very helpful in pointing the best schemes and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

One slight problem that we have in the UK is that a lot of companies source their products from similar reseller schemes but use companies from abroad, the issue with this being that you are both contributing to the damage of the planet and may well be sourcing printed products that are not from managed forests and also you may find the quality is not what you had hoped for.

Do your research when choosing a company to source your products from, one of my person favourites is piranha printing, its a simple flat rate of about fifty pounds which entitles you to the discounted prices on products that are already unbelievable value! The products come totally unbranded so your customers have no idea you are using a reseller scheme and they can even produce all the design work on your behalf. Only of course, if you don’t have the technical knowhow!

As long as you choose the right reseller, have the right branding and know your target market and sell to them in the right way, there is certainly plenty of money to be made in this way. As long as you remember that aside from price, your customer service and the quality of your products will be the biggest factors in your success.

We wish you the best of luck in your new venture and hope that this information has been helpful, feel free to digg this article or send a link to anyone else who may be interested.

If you want some more details, or even some example schemes to compare to any you may have found, just try and google some of the companies we have mentioned that provide this service. Most sites usually have a link to the service on the footer of their website.

Aquarium fish which is small is usually of bright colors and feed on fish flakes more than fish meat. They could range from angel fish to tetras and are chosen for decorative purposes due to their shine which reflects a bright silver under the particular aquarium lights. The fish species are simple and no fun to watch as they have no personality. These fishes are suitable for decoration and for simple aquarium set ups and usually people wanting a tank with low maintenance go for it.

It is a bit more difficult to maintain the larger fish like African fish and cichlids. But they generally are sturdier fish so their mortality rate is very low compared to other smaller weak fish. The main attraction or rather the problem of cichlids is however their cannibalism. They will gobble up the smaller fish in the tank in no time at all. If you feed them anything less than fish meat, they will not like it. Cichlids have different types and their looks also differ. Oscars which find personal favor with many people; can be red, tiger or albino. Then there are jaguar cichlids as well as black belts, and so the list goes on. These fish types need a lot of gravel cleaning and filter since they create lots of waste. Cichlids’ breeding pair costs a lot of money! Cichlids are generally the more expensive fish as they are larger (one tank can accommodate 5-6 cichlids and one half foot Oscar). One thing to remember is that these fish prefer to arrange the tank just the way they like it. So initially though the tank caters to your taste, it won’t stay the same for long. There is so much more to know about cichlids which have a distinct personality.

So the type of fish that you should get for your aquarium depends on the purpose of your getting the aquarium. Decorative small tanks need decorative small aquarium fish. But if you have a bigger tank, you should get bigger fish. Put in some larger fish and see the fun you will have watching them!

They had it even before we knew what was happening. My rod bowed
in prayer to something below the tea-colored water’s surface.
The six-pound test line danced like a cat on a hot pavement. All
hell had broken loose. Beads of sweat rolled down Doris’ back.
Her clothes were now a second skin, clinging to her every move.
We panted for breath. We had fish on. The silvery oval-shaped
body and red belly of a Piranha broke the surface. I reached for
it. “Don’t let a finger get near their mouths or you’ll lose
it”, our native guide barked.

Minutes earlier, I shuddered from a breeze escaping from
somewhere up ahead despite 85 degree-plus heat. The double-digit
humidity didn’t help either. A maddening buzz filled my ears,
but thanks my coating of Vick’s Vapor Rub, the blood-suckers
wouldn’t feast on me. My eyes burned. My nose dripped. A
coffee-table-sized leaf or hanging branch slapped into me every
few steps. Curses burst from my lips even with my best efforts
to become as one with the rainforest, as the indian had.

Our fishing rods extended from 18″ to five and a half feet. I’d
hoped the light mono would suffice, although I’d squirreled away
spools of twelve and twenty pound test as an afterthought. If we
tagged into a 50-plus pound Tambaqui even that wouldn’t be
enough. Vines as thick as my wrist dipped into light
coffee-colored waters making little ripples as it slid past
roots and fallen branches. Tangled growth matted the gentle
slope of the bank into tea-with-milk colored wetness. I’d
flicked a thumbnail-sized chunk of bloody chicken liver on a
barb-less hook with a split shot into a dinner plate-sized swirl
just beside a snarl of mangrove roots jutting upwards through
the surface.

Minutes later, his tanned skin gleaming with moisture, our
guide demonstrated the efficiency of the scissor-like teeth. A
green leaf held near the gaping mouth instantly sported a neat,
crescent-shaped bite. Three heavy blows to the head prepared the
killer for cleaning. After cleaning, the Embera made a series of
diagonal cuts along each side of the fish. Into these he
carefully rubbed a mixture of salt, garlic, and ground roots
from a small gourd he carried. A simple shaved branch frame held
the fish over a smoky fire of glowing coals. The firm toasted
flesh tasted smooth and a bit earthy, like a seasoned and
mellowed catfish. With a wink and a sly nod towards Doris he
said. “Make these heads into soup and you will need many wives”.
She glanced at me with a puzzled look. I smiled.

Ranging through South America from Brazil to the lowlands of
Peru, they also inhabit waters in Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia,
Ecuador and Bolivia. In the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers of
Brazil and the Orinoco River in Venezuela, no creature is safe
from the Piranha’s razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws. The
serrated teeth fit together like scissors, enabling Piranha to
cut the flesh from their prey. Like a shark, a Piranha’s teeth
are replaceable, when one breaks off a new one grows in its
place.

The Yagua Indians of Peru often use the sharp edges between the
teeth of a Piranha jawbone to sharpen the point of their blowgun
darts. A fish that is dying or swimming erratically will be
quickly attacked by a large school. Piranha will also attack
without warning to defend their eggs and territory. A wounded
animal that strays into the water will be stripped to the bone
so quickly it seems almost to “dance” on the surface as it’s
ravaged from beneath. A bird that falls into the water will be
gone, feathers and all, in three minutes or less. A trapped fish
struggling in a net will be chewed clean to the head in a matter
of seconds. Attacks on large animals and humans are often
dramatically portrayed, but are rare. In some regions Piranha
are known as “donkey castrators”.

“They will rend and devour alive any wounded man or beast.” U.S.
President Teddy Roosevelt said, adding, “Piranha are the most
ferocious fish in the world.” Piranha, also called Caribe or
Piraya only furthered their fearsome mystique when Roosevelt
encountered them during his exploits in 1914. There are about 35
known species of Piranha but only five species represent a
danger to man. Species range from the Red-Belly Piranha
(Pygocentrus nattereri) with its characteristic red belly to the
largest of the carnivorous species, the Black Piranha with its
demon-red eyes and a 17 and a half inch long dark body weighing
up to ten pounds. It could remove a man’s hand in two or three
bites.

Most species dine on fruit or seeds that fall into the water
from overhanging trees. The fish are not always aggressive.
Women wash clothes in knee-deep water where men spearfish while
children bathe or swim in these same Piranha-infested waters
without harm. Further adding to the Piranha’s mystique, Indian
men with half a dozen wives and up to a score of children
attribute their potency to Piranha-head soup, although no
scientific justification for the soup’s potency yet exists.

Fishing for Piranha

Piranhas are usually part of indigenous peoples diet in the
areas where the fish are found. All you need to go Piranha
fishing are lines with a metal leader next to the hook so the
fish doesn’t bite through the line, a supply of red, raw meat
(worms or cut-up fish will do too) and a bit of luck. Piranha
swim in large schools and are attracted by movement and blood.
In May of 1999, hundreds of anglers armed with rods, reels, and
raw steak flocked to the Brazilian town of Aracatuba near Sao
Paolo for a one-Sunday piranha fishing tournament. The
townspeople had declared open season on the flesh-eating fish,
which had decimated other species in the local river. The prize
for the tournament was an outboard motor. But “most fishermen
were content to go home with plenty of the reputedly aphrodisiac
piranha”, claimed then town spokesman Nelson Custidio.

Piranha, earning their notorious reputation by reportedly
killing 1,200 head of cattle every year in Brazil, is some of
the best eating in South America. Whatever name you call them
and no matter where you try them, when cooked in a variety of
ways, their firm light flesh with its smooth, slightly nutty
flavor, is a taste you’re sure to enjoy.

The Characidae is a member of the Ostariphysi species. This fish has small adipose or connective tissues, known as fins. Their jaws have teeth. Their weberian small bony structure (Ossicles), link to the bladder area and also the inner part of the fish’s ear. The Characidae originate from Central and South America, but some may also be found in other smaller parts of the world, like Central Africa. There are two types of these fish which you can purchase, i.e. the carnivorous or the omnivorous ones. Carnivores feast on meat whilst omnivores prefer vegtables and/or animals. Characidae fish are predominantly herbivores so it is best to avoid this variety, as your aquarium will be virtually destroyed once this fish has nibbled its’ way through your tank.

By choosing the Characidae, you should avoid having other, smaller fish in the tank like the Angelfish, Fighters and others, as the Characidae like to gnaw at smaller object with their teeth. This includes eating other fish. Piranhas are from freshwater and also South America, and they are very similar to the Characidae species, in that they have sharp teeth. The piranhas’ strong jaws makes them dangerous, very much like the Characidae, and are categorised as a predatory species. In large groups, they like to attack their prey. The Characidae attack in groups as well as on their own – they have jaws and teeth which make easy work at ripping apart a terrestial species in such a short time. As a beginner at keeping an aquarium, avoid buying this species and the piranhas.

Feeding the Characidae

They mostly enjoy meats so feed them worms, etc.

What Type of Water is Best for Them

Soft swampy waters are ideal for the Characidae, as they can breed easier, by laying their eggs on the bottom of the tank as they will stick there. You should be aware that Characidae feed on their own. Eggs in the tank will be devoured once they emerge as youngsters, so don’t be surprised at this action. You will need to learn how to breed the Characidae before you buy any, as the skills are better learnt beforehand.

2. Serrasalmus Rhombeus

These fish are more commonly known as the Spotted and the White Piranha. They come from the Amazon Basins and also in South America. Piranhas will reach their full size of about ten inches. Aquarium fish will only grow to about six inches. When you are just starting an aquarium, piranhas are not the ideal species that you should begin with in fish care. These fish should be separated from the habitat of passive fish. Piranhas are olive green or silvery in colour and have deep pressed bodies. Their strong teeth are used to devour and tear apart other creatures, and they will have a good go at the tank as well. The fish look like bulldogs in resemblance, with a lower jaw that is quite threatening on approach. Piranhas are, by nature, aggressive and their food consists of other large or small fish.

Netting

When using a net to catch the fish, you need to take extreme precaution as they will try to gnaw at your hand which they see as prey. It is necessary to use a net if you need to clean out the aquarium.

Piranhas like to feed on other fishes as well as lean meat. As they are carnivorous, these fish are mainly for show and not as a pet. On the upside piranhas do not special water conditions and in aquariums they do not breed. Having two piranhas in one aquarium is not a good idea, as one will feed on the other. Species of the piranha include the Natterer Piranha and the Red-Breasted Piranha. These types of piranha are similar to the Serrasalmus Rhombeus in the way that they feast.